VirtualWarrior (16 page)

Deleh wandered around the chamber, wringing her hands. “Tol
would not have accepted such a room for me. I cannot sleep here. It is too
cold. There is no window. I cannot see the sky.”

“Deleh. Settle. We must get some sleep. The goddess plans
for us to dine at first light. I have no wish to be stupid with fatigue—”

She was interrupted by a light rap on the door. Deleh opened
it a crack, then stepped aside to admit the caller. “What are you doing here?”
Ardra asked Lien. “Where are you sleeping?”

Deleh interrupted. “Have you a window or view of the sky?”

Lien smiled and swept a hand out to the door. “I have a small
room down the hall, but it does have a window, or a big slit of some kind.
Maybe for archers.”

“An arrow loop,” Ardra supplied.

“Would you like to trade?” Lien asked Deleh. He leaned on
his stick and grinned.

“You cannot sleep here,” Deleh said, her hand to her throat,
eyes wide.

“No. But I can sleep on the floor outside Ardra’s door, like
a guard.”

Ardra sighed. “Go, Deleh. Go, but bring Lien’s belongings
here. I will find him other quarters.”

Deleh did as bade, scuttling off with her things, then dropping
Lien’s pack into his arms before dancing away again, muttering about seeing the
heavens.

“She should have remained back at the border,” Ardra said.

“Look, I meant it when I said I’d sleep outside your door.
Nilrem seems to think I should protect you. I’m just not sure how I’m going to
be very effective against someone with a sword, but I’m willing to give it a
try.”

“I thank you, Lien.”

“Before I sack out, can I talk to you? It really can’t
wait.” He leaned in the doorway, half in, half out of the chamber.

“Aye, come in.”

“Do you want me to leave the door open?” Lien asked. “In
case anyone passes by?”

Ardra pressed a finger to her lips. They listened a moment.
No voices were heard, no laughing, no men hauling their belongings to chambers.
The thick wood doors muffled any sounds.

“I believe the household has settled,” she said.

“What about sentries? Guards?” He had his head turned to the
open door as he spoke.

The light from the hall torch outlined his jaw, shadowed
again with his beard. How the look of him drew her. Even so, she might have
been able to resist his physical allure, but his kindness, represented by the
pack in his arms, ensnared her.

“Guards will make their rounds,” she said. “If you feel more
comfortable with the door open, then leave it so.”

“I’m thinking about you. What would make
you
comfortable?”

“Close the door.”

When he had done so, he set his pack down. She kept her feet
curled beneath her, else she might be tempted to…do what? “You needed to speak
to me?”

“Yeah, but what I have to say sounds like madness.”

“And visiting the Goddess of Darkness does not? Say what you
need to say.”

Lien propped his stick against the wall. “I saw Cidre in the
woods when I was bathing.”

“Cidre?”

“I saw the goddess in the forest.”

“Not possible.”

“Agreed, on the face of it. But I know what I saw. I was
dressing, and a woman stepped out of the foliage. She just looked at me for a
moment, then left, not on the path, but through the trees again—almost parted
the roots as if they were nothing but cobwebs.”

Ardra examined his face. “You are not playing a game with
me, are you?”

He paced the chamber. “I’m not playing a game.”

“Then it was magic. But I do not believe in magic.”

“Neither do I. So, let’s say it wasn’t magic and Cidre was
really there. When I asked Ralen if he saw any sign of other travelers, he said
nothing recent.”

“You think Cidre is in league with Ralen?”

“I don’t know. The man’s an experienced warrior. Wouldn’t he
be able to tell old tracks from new ones?”

“He would.”

“And right before I went into the water, there was this huge
blue bird, and did you notice? There’s one in the tree here.”

“The blue-hawk. They are not so rare. Sit, Lien. Your pacing
is distracting. You may not need that stick, but surely you can use some rest?”

“I’m too hyped up to rest.” He lifted the pitcher of wine
and frowned. “Did you drink any of this yet?”

“Deleh availed herself of it, but I have not had time. A
pilgrim interrupted me.”

He smiled, and something turned in her belly. But as she
watched, the smile became a frown. “Back in a moment,” he said.

He was as good as his word. But his frown had become scowl.

“Deleh is fast asleep. A bomb wouldn’t wake her.”

“A bomb? What is a bomb?”

“A bomb is a weapon in Ocean City. It makes a lot of noise.”

Ardra jumped up and headed for the door. “Is she ill, do you
think?”

“Wait. I don’t think she’s sick; I think there was something
in the wine. It’s way too quiet here.”

“You think the goddess put everyone to sleep?”

He nodded. “Don’t drink it.” He took her hand. “And one more
thing: When I saw Cidre, she was coming from the direction of camp. I thought
it was Einalem at first.”

Ardra stood there, separated from him by the length of leir
arms. “Einalem is very beautiful.”

“She’s a raptor.”

“You found her beautiful.”

“How do you know?”

“I am not blind.”

“Ardra, men react to naked women. It’s a fact of life, but
not very meaningful. Einalem may be beautiful, but she’s also cold and
calculating. She scares the living daylights out of me.”

A laugh bubbled in Ardra’s throat. She put her fingertips
over her lips to hold it in. “I do not believe you.”

“Okay. I lied. Her brother scares me.”

“Samoht scares me too,” she whispered and placed a hand on
Lien’s chest. “The thought that the goddess put everyone to sleep scares me.”

“I’ll be right outside in the hall.”

“Stay here.” The words were out of her mouth before she
could stop herself.

He looked down at her hand, then up at her face. “There was
nothing going on between Einalem and me.”

The fortress was silent around them. She felt hidden from
the world. From its censure. From its rules.

“What’s going on between you and me?” He kissed her
forehead.

“Nothing, Lien. You are a pilgrim.” His lips were so warm,
so soothing.

“Yeah. I’m supposed to be celibate. In Ocean City it doesn’t
work like that.”

“Here it does.”

“Here in general, or just here in your room?”

A tremor swept through her. She must choose. Now was the
time. Treat him as a pilgrim, or treat him as a simple man.

“I am very confused,” she finally managed.

“I’m not. I want you in my bed, but you only want a kiss.”

“I know what follows the kiss, Lien. It is a man’s
business.”

Lien held her by the shoulders. “Do you think Einalem would
spend so much time in Ralen’s drawers if she didn’t get something out of it?”

“You are speaking your Ocean City language again, but you
are wrong. Very wrong. You believe Einalem enjoys Ralen’s lovemaking, and I
believe she merely wishes him for a lifemate. He may rival Samoht one day in
power, and Einalem knows that. She revels in power. That is all she seeks from
Ralen.”

His hands kneaded her shoulders, and she wanted nothing more
than to move closer.

“Ardra,” he said and bent his head. “I wish you’d let me
show you how wrong you are.”

His mouth moved over her lips to her cheek, her temple, her
ear. His breath was warm on her throat. His fingers entwined with hers.

“You wanted to leave us,” she said when he touched his palm
to her breast.

He dropped his hand and shook his head. “Look, Ardra, you
made it clear you didn’t need me.” He picked up his cloak. “Maybe I’d better
sleep outside.”

He would leave if she did not stop him.

“What is it Einalem gets from Ralen?”

The cloak slid from his fingers. “Why don’t I show you?”

He reached her in two steps and wrapped her in his arms.
They stumbled backward to the bed couch, and she felt as if all the air had
been snatched from the room.

“Wait.” He pulled away.

She almost cried aloud at the loss of his warmth. He jammed
a chair beneath the latch and placed his stick on the floor beside the couch.
Still her protector.

“You are beautiful,” he murmured and pulled his tunic over
his head, then dropped it on the floor.

On his chest rested the gold chain. And the red roses.
Samoht’s emblem.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“You wear the red roses.”

“Back to that?” He wrapped his hand around the chain.

“Inside, I know you are not Samoht’s man. It is just hard to
ignore something I have been raised to fear.”

Lien turned around and pulled the chain over his head.
“That’s the first time you’ve admitted I’m not Samoht’s man.” He knelt by his
pack and stuffed the chain inside. “It’s all I have from my family. I’ll leave
the roses off, but I won’t part with them. Think of them as I think of your arm
rings.”

She rubbed her upper arm as she went to his side. It was
easy to forget the mark of her status. When she looked into Lien’s pack, she
saw only his spare tunic. He truly had nothing.

She pulled out the chain. The roses glinted in the meager
light of her single candle. “Wear them.”

He took the chain from her and slipped it over his head.
When he embraced her, she spread her hands across his chest and touched the
roses. They were naught but cold glass—a marvel, but not sinister. She had
nothing to fear from them.

Or him.

He had done naught but defend her. Three times.

His nipples pebbled when she rubbed them with the flat of
her thumbs.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.

She looked up at him. “I am not sure what it is we will do.”

“Kiss. Touch. Nothing you’re uncomfortable with.” They
returned to the narrow couch and lay down. Nose to nose. Chest to chest. He ran
his fingers through her hair, combed it back, and studied her face.

“You have black and gold in your eyes, Lien,” she said.

“And you have gold and gold and gold in yours,” he said,
then kissed her.

He tasted forbidden. She could not prevent a small moan when
his tongue entered her mouth. She arched against him. His body was ready for
lovemaking.

“Is this meaningful, Lien?” she asked, pressing against the
hard ridge that lay along his belly.

“Very. God, Ardra, yes. It’s meaningful.”

“I am…frightened…nay, not frightened. I do not know what I
am. I want to touch you, and I want to run away.”

He was hungry. She recognized that. She knew the feel of an
aroused man.

“I’ll look after you,” he said and ran his hand over her
breasts. Again and again.

Each pass of his hand raised a need she could not express to
him. “I want…I do not know…”

“Shhh,” he whispered. “You’ll understand. Later.” He slid
down and pressed his lips to her breast. His mouth, hot, eager on her, made her
insides ache.

A quick, sharp jolt from her breast to her groin startled
her. A liquid heat followed it.

It took one heartbeat to decide she wanted to do as he had.
She must taste him.

The moment she ran her tongue across his nipple, he arched
and shifted his hips on her. Ready? Nay, she had deceived herself before.
Now—now he was ready.

He put his hands on her head, and every breath he took was
harsh and loud in the silence of the room.

“Ardra?” he whispered. His hands cupped her face; his thumbs
skimmed her lips. “This is the time when you can say stop…if you wish to.”

“I do not wish to stop, Lien.”

He ran his hands down her body, over every curve to her
ankles. Then he ran his hands up her legs, her gown going with it.

He bared her to the waist and leaned down to kiss her hip
and then her thigh, the inside of her knee.

“More?” he asked, moving up her body to claim her lips
again.

She could only nod, lost in the depth of his eyes, now black
in the faltering light. He placed her hand on his waist.

Together they fumbled his laces open. She spread his
breeches and skimmed her fingers along the smooth pale skin of his belly. She
tasted him from his throat to his waist.

He drew her gown up as she tugged his breeches down.

She got caught up in her gown, and tore at it. Then she was
free and he was too.

They lay again, face-to-face. His chest heaved with each
breath he took.

He skimmed his thumb over her nipple again and again. It
maddened her, and she slapped her palm over his hand to still the motion. A
small smile curved his lips but disappeared when she bit on his lower lip.

Another jolt of something both painful and pleasurable
twisted her insides. She gasped, and did it again, took his lower lip between
her teeth and bit down.

He groaned. His fingers clenched on her shoulders.

She sat up, nearly tossing him onto the floor. She threw her
legs over the side of the bed couch and wrapped her arms around her middle.

“Forgive me,” she said. “I did not mean to hurt you.”

He sat behind her, putting his legs on each side of hers.
His arms hugged her like a warm cloak. Her feet looked so small flanked by his
large ones on the cold wood floor. His whole body embraced her, the hard length
of his manhood nestled against her back. He held her so snugly she could not
fail to feel every inch of him.

“Do I act like I’m in pain?” He kissed her neck. “I’m sorry
for scaring you. It wasn’t pain I was feeling, it was great pleasure.”

She leaned her head back and arched into his warm palms when
he cupped her breasts. “Have you a brazier in your chest?”

“Why? Am I hot?”

“Very.” The word was hard to say, for he had slid his hands
down her. His fingertips stroked closer and closer, urging her to something she
did not understand. She spread her hands over his hard thighs and hung on.
“What of you?”