She wanted to leave before Challen reached her, she really did, but that smacked of cowardice, and so she stood her ground. Being brave was a pain sometimes; so was pride nudged with stubbornness. All she could do was hope Challen wasn’t too angry with her for being where she wasn’t supposed to be.
But as he got closer, she could see that the fire in his eyes had nothing to do with anger. She relaxed, and even began to be faintly amused, recognizing that look by now. The barbarian was inflamed with lust, and Tedra had little doubt that it wasn’t just her but the chauri that had inspired it. He liked her in the farden thing, oh, did he ever. His eyes told her so as they moved all over her.
When he reached her he didn’t say a word, just took her elbow and led her out of the room. He didn’t stop outside it either, but started off down the wide corridor, her elbow still in his hand.
“Where are we going?” she asked with a knowing grin that he didn’t turn around to see.
“To my chambers,” was all he said.
“Now why would I want to go there?”
“Woman—”
“No, I mean it. Will you hold up a minute?” When he stopped to look back at her, she stated flatly, “I’ve got no reason to go to your room, Challen.”
“I do.”
“Then go ahead. I’m not stopping you.”
He had his desire under control, but in no way had it diminished. “You will come with me, kerima,” he said in a reasonable tone.
“Why should I?”
“Woman, you know very well why.” This in a less reasonable tone.
It was all she could do not to laugh at this point, but her expression didn’t reveal how amusing she found this situation. “Maybe I do, but you have to look at it from my viewpoint, babe. Your sudden need of me isn’t at all flattering. It’s actually insulting, since I know very well it’s not me who brought it on, but this damned outfit I’m forced to wear. If I were able to dress in something of my own, which I could retrieve from my ship, by the way, if you’d just give me back my communicator, you wouldn’t have been willing to leave your business for a little sex-sharing break. You’d probably have just barked at me to leave the room, instead of leaving it yourself.”
She waited a moment while it dawned on him that he had left a room full of warriors awaiting his attention. It was comical, really, to see exasperation and chagrin mix with desire, but still she didn’t laugh. This was “getting even” in a splendid way, and she didn’t want to spoil it by letting him know she was getting even.
“And another thing,” she continued, “is that I’m presently acquainting myself with your castle and really enjoying the tour, so I don’t see your request as being at all reasonable just now. You did tell me I had the option of refusing unreasonable requests, didn’t you, as well as being able to refuse you my service if we aren’t in a place where you sleep? Now, if you’re going to tell me you’ve slept in this hall—”
“Enough, woman,” he cut in, for once doing nothing to hide his displeasure. “Do I carry you to my bedchamber, the matter will be settled.”
“Well, yes, you could do that,” she said, feigning surprise before she closed the door on that option. “But if you did, I’d see it as a breach of our agreement, which it would be, and that would release me from my service as far as I’m concerned. So if you want to find out what it’s like to have a fight on your hands every single time you get near me, go ahead and carry me off.”
He stared at her for a long moment, and she suddenly knew without a doubt that he was remembering the last time he’d joined with her in a place other than “where he slept,” and how she’d admitted to him that she hadn’t been able to even think of refusing once he kissed her. Warily, she tried to pull back, but he was still holding her arm, which meant she could forget about getting loose until he decided to release her.
“Now you can just get those thoughts right out of your mind, warrior.”
“What thoughts?”
“You know farden well what thoughts. I’m going on record right now as saying no, so any advantage-taking on your part would still be breaking the rules this time.” At his sigh and the release of her arm, she relaxed again, enough to say, “Cheer up, babe. It’s not so many hours until moonrise, and then I’ll be right where you want me.”
“The thought of this does not help at the moment, kerima. ”
He said this so wistfully she almost changed her mind. His wanting her made her want him, too, which was strange when she considered that other men had wanted her without having that effect on her. But she wasn’t going to lose this opportunity of getting even for being forced into wearing the hated chauri. She’d just have to see that they both made up later for the loss of mutual enjoyment now.
She stepped closer to him now that he wasn’t holding her, and was even so bold as to run a finger down the center of his chest, from the base of that large golden medallion to the point of the V of his comtoc, just above the rim of his bracs.
“You should be glad I made you see reason, Challen. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed returning to that room so much later that every man in there would know why you had kept him waiting? Now they’ll only think you took me out of there to chastise me for showing up where I wasn’t supposed to be.”
“No warrior awaiting me would have thought I left him for any other reason than the one I had, woman, not after seeing you for himself. But do you mean to tell me you were aware you had trespassed where you did not belong?”
She thought about lying, she really did, especially with him suddenly looking like a man who had found the means for some “getting even” of his own. She stepped back, frowning, but she had hesitated too long in answering, leading him to assume the correct one.
“As you do so well at remembering rules a warrior could wish you had forgotten, I will do as well at remembering rules broken.”
Tedra’s mouth dropped open, then snapped shut for some teeth grinding. “If you mean to punish me, Challen, you can farden well do it right now. It’s not my fault you got all heated up because of this damned chauri, which I hated wearing in the first place!”
He chuckled, his humor returned now that hers had flown. “Much as you assumed otherwise, kerima, this had no bearing on my sudden need for you. I see women every day dressed as you are, but none have ever given me such a powerful urge to fill them with my heat, not as you do.”
“But that urge came only because you saw me as you deem proper, in clothes you insist I wear. Admit it, Challen. It’s still the fault of the chauri. ”
“I cannot deny I find you both beautiful and desirable in the clothes of Kan-is-Tran women, but no more desirable and beautiful than when you wear no clothing at all.” Hot color stole into her cheeks, but he wasn’t finished. “Nor can I deny I still wish you would reconsider and come with me to my bedchamber now.”
“If I did, you’d forget about punishing me for trespassing, wouldn’t you?” she said, thinking darkly that blackmail was prevalent on all worlds.
“No.”
She hadn’t expected that answer. “At least you’re honest,” she replied grudgingly. “But under the circumstances, you’ll understand why I’m not in the mood to reconsider.”
“Of course.” He nodded and started to return to his business.
“Wait a minute.” She caught his arm. “I meant what I said. If you’re going to punish me, do it now. I’m not going to have the rest of my day ruined by worrying about it all afternoon.”
At that a single golden brow rose to taunt her. “Did you not tell me it was not so many hours until moon-rise? That is when you will be seen to, kerima, not before.”
She gave him a fully loaded glare he couldn’t mistake before turning on her bare heel to stomp away, noting with disgust that Jalla hadn’t waited around to receive any of the punishment being doled out. Smart girl.
“Woman?”
“What?” she snapped, swinging back around, her glare still in place.
“Had
I warned you against entering the petitions chamber, you would not have disobeyed, would you?”
That was debatable, but all she said was, “So?”
“So it was not a warrior you ignored, only a Darash, a small matter that will require only minor correction. You have no reason to look with dread upon that correction.”
Having said this, he disappeared back into the forbidden-to-women room. Tedra stared at the closed door incredulously. He had given her as much as a promise that her punishment would be no more than a slap on the wrist, or the Sha-Ka’ani equivalent. He had no reason to tell her that except that he didn’t want her to worry about it. She smiled, filled suddenly with a warmth that threatened to bubble over. She wanted to laugh in sheer pleasure. She wanted to call Challen back and say she’d changed her mind after all. She did neither. She savored his concern for her peace of mind, but didn’t lose track of the fact that if she didn’t make her displeasure felt over the things she seriously objected to on his world, at least those things that directly affected her, then they would just continue. Now he knew how strongly she hated the chauri, and now maybe he’d make an exception in her case and find something more acceptable for her to wear.
Chapter Twenty-three
Jalla never did make a reappearance, so Tedra continued her tour of the castle by herself. But she soon got bored without the servant’s input to explain what rooms were for what purpose and who was who of the people she happened to come across. She was left with few choices to fill the rest of the day: either return to Challen’s bedroom and do nothing, or return to that large room she had passed through earlier that seemed to be a gathering place for the women, the free women at any rate. There the orphans, young widows, and old women who had outlived their children and husbands, all now under the protection of the shodan, sat around gossiping while they applied needle and thread to cloth.
Tedra couldn’t see herself doing the same, especially after the less than friendly welcome she had received from those free women, several of whom had been downright frigid during the introductions. And out-and-out doing nothing had never appealed to her, so she elected to do neither. She’d seen the castle. Now she’d see the town.
That decision was easier made than done, but after a little more exploring, she finally found a room on the ground floor with no one in it and access to the outside by some handily open windows. Next to negotiate was the gate, but having left the castle from a room near its rear, she quickly discovered another gate, one not so wide or heavily trafficked. In this back area of the castle, where deliveries were made, were mostly Darasha; the males determinedly didn’t notice her, and the females only looked at her curiously.
Tedra wasted no time in crossing the wide yard and slipping out the open gate. It didn’t take long before she was wishing some type of footgear had gone with her outfit, but she didn’t think of turning back. If knowing full well she was doing something she shouldn’t hadn’t stopped her, sore feet certainly wouldn’t.
There was a market of sorts outside the back gate. It was a street of merchants, apparently, and each one had at least half his goods on sale in front of his shop, on tables and carts, in baskets or whatever was handy, or just spread out on blankets on the sidewalks. Of course, there was more to see inside the shops, probably the more expensive stuff, but a glance in all directions showed a wide variety of goods being offered, from food and cloth to jewels and weapons.
She was relieved to see again mostly Darasha here, doing both the buying and the selling, but there were some free women shopping, too, moving casually from shop front to shop front, their brightly colored cloaks tied at the throat and set back over their shoulders. Tedra would have personally used a cloak to cover up if she had one, but she supposed it was a matter of pride for these women to let their chauri be seen clearly, since the chauri was a mark of freedom. Some freedom, when they all had a warrior or two escorting them. The fact that she didn’t shouldn’t be a problem, though. As long as she stayed reasonably close to a woman who did, who was to say the woman’s escort wasn’t hers as well?
She picked one couple and kept up with them. She even took into account that the warrior with the woman would know he wasn’t guarding her, too, so she managed to keep to his back and out of his notice while still seeing what she wanted to see of the marketplace.
This went on for all of five measly minutes before a big hand fell on her shoulder and turned her about, and she knew even before she looked up to see the two warriors that her tour of the market was over. One was grinning down at her, the other displayed disapproval. Both were unknown to her but were typical giants, though not of Challen’s caliber—just lots bigger than she. Tedra still figured she could take them, if it came down to that. What she wanted to know was how they had found her out when she had stayed so close to that other warrior and his lady. So maybe they hadn’t found her out. Maybe they just wanted a little friendly conversation.
With that thought, she said, “Yes?”
“Yes, she says,” the grinning one replied to no one in particular, but then, to her, “Woman, you were given enough time to make your choice. Since you have not taken that time to ask protection from one of us, I now claim you.”
“Oh, for Stars’ sake, do I have to go through this again?” Tedra said in disgust.
Her tone didn’t get rid of that grin. It was still firmly in place as the warrior reached for her. Instead of his hand connecting with her arm, however, her hand caught his, and with one swift turnabout, she had his digits twisted in an extremely uncomfortable position.
“Don’t take this personally, warrior,” she said calmly to the big guy, not even having to strain to keep him from moving an inch. “But I’ve already been claimed, so to speak, or at least my time’s all booked up for the next month. So you understand why I can’t go with you, don’t you? My own warrior wouldn’t like it, and that leaves me honor-bound to stop you from trying to make off with me.”
“Bullan!” was all he said to this, but he said it quite loudly and in the way of requesting aid.
Bullan had to be the warrior’s disapproving friend, and Tedra turned to warn him off, only to find he’d gone. Where he’d gone she discovered in the next instant as steellike bands wrapped around her from behind, getting her upper arms inside that circle to more or less immobilize her—or so he thought.
“Release him, woman,” Bullan told her in a voice sharp with anger.
“And if I don’t?”
There was a long pause, as if the man were struggling to overcome shock or just plain disbelief that she wasn’t jumping to do his bidding. “Do not make me hurt you.”
That warning got her just a little bit mad. “Hurt me? Oh, no, warrior, you aren’t going to ease your conscience by putting the blame for hurting me on my shoulders. I didn’t ask you two clowns to detain me, and I’ve already told you I’m not available for claiming. So any hurting you do to me is your idea, not mine. Of course, that goes both ways,” she added magnanimously. “Any hurting I do to you I’ll take full credit for.”
“Bullan!” the no-longer-grinning warrior cried out again.
He was already the recipient of some of the hurting she could dish out, and he’d just as soon it ended. His friend started seeing about ending it, slowly tightening those massive arms around her. But Tedra had already guessed that would be his move, to steadily apply the pressure until she either released his friend or blacked out. Before that pressure got too bad, she shoved up a bit more on her victim’s wrist, eliciting a moan from him that worked to distract Bullan into easing his hold on her just long enough for her to twist her free arm back and behind her where her fingers locked onto something soft.
With just the tiniest squeeze she got released right quick. The trouble was, she might have both men at her mercy now, but both her hands were tied up keeping them that way. As far as she was concerned, being in control of things had not improved her situation very much. Frankly, she had no idea what to do next.
&nbs
p; Chapter Twenty-four
“And how long do you think to hold them like that before some other warriors notice and come to their aid?”
Hearing “some other warriors” made Tedra think this new voice behind her belonged to a Darash male. No such luck, as a glance over her shoulder showed her. She hadn’t recognized the voice, but she certainly recognized Tamiron, Challen’s friend. She just didn’t know if she was now extricated from the vexing situation she had got into or was in more trouble. Likely the latter, if the cold look he gave her was any indication.
She decided to be prudent and release her victims. Maybe an apology was in order, too.
“Sorry about that, fellas, but Tamiron here can verify what—”
The words were choked off abruptly. She hadn’t actually hurt the warrior Bullan, just made him nervous as hell. So he was quick to react as soon as her hand let go of his soft parts, and his reaction was to put her out of commission. Only one arm circled her this time, but so tightly her breath was cut off. The other hand made sure her own couldn’t reach anything else he held dear, not that she had much strength to try, fighting for breath as she was.
The other warrior, meanwhile, was shaking the circulation back into his wrist and numb fingers, and glaring at her with murder in his light brown eyes.
Fortunately, Tamiron stepped between them at that moment, before the fellow could put thoughts to deeds. But if he didn’t do something quickly, she wouldn’t care one way or the other. She was already seeing spots before her eyes.
“The woman has a protector, Kogan.”