“This is not what I want to hear,” Fallontold them.
Meynard shrugged. “You know there’s no way totell. It’s up to the gods at this point.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Cadenasked carefully.
Fallon ran one large palm along the back ofhis neck. “There’s no choice at this point. Too many people knowwhat she’s done. If I let it go unanswered, they’ll assume I’m weakand challenge my authority. I can’t punish her in the traditionalmanner without losing any trust and loyalty she might have afterthe last few months. The Trateri’s venom is considered enough of apunishment, while having the added benefit of making her a Trateriin full.”
“You really think we hold any part of herloyalty?”
“She could have disappeared at any point. Hermen say she saved them time after time. Something had to have kepther here. Whatever it is, I intend to capitalize on it.”
Shea took her time in the bath, luxuriatingin the warmth, something she hadn’t done in ages. A sweet jasminescent wafted from the water, coating her skin and relaxing hermuscles.
Trenton had given her orders to wash wellbefore putting on the garments lain aside for her. Shea intended totake her time in the water, feeling a near bliss as the heatsoothed her aches and pains.
The water had begun to cool before shestirred, reaching for the soap to begin washing. She took her timeas for the first time in months there was no reason to rush. A manwasn’t going to come charging in intending to take advantage of thecommunal bath the Trateri set up at every stop. There was nopressure to keep her gender hidden.
It was just her and the water.
Bliss. Definite bliss.
“I would never have guessed you’d be the typeto take a long bath,” an amused voice said beside her ear.
Shea squeaked and sank into the water untilonly her shoulders and head were sticking out. She wrapped her armsaround her breasts and drew her knees up to her chest.
“It’s such a feminine trait.” Fallon drewcircles in the bathwater beside her knee.
Shea glared. Perhaps she should have beenworried about one person intruding.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
She refused to act like some virginal maiden.She was a scout, one of the most coveted positions. She’d faceddown beasts that made others turn and run. This was nothing.
“I’m the Warlord. I can go anywhere Iwant.”
He flicked water at her. She ducked and thenglared harder.
“My little tomboy has an ounce of softness inher after all,” he murmured as he stood.
She sunk lower, feeling vulnerable in themilky water.
Shea had never been particularly body shy. Inthe wilderness, things happened. People saw each other’s naked bitsoccasionally. You got used to it.
With Fallon, it was different.
“What do you want?”
Why wouldn’t he just leave?
“You know what I want.”
She rolled her eyes. For her to be hisTolroi. Yeah, right.
“What do you want from me? Really?” Feelingvulnerable and off balance by her nakedness, she attacked the onlyway she could. Verbally. “We both know it’s not to be your Tolroi.My face and body aren’t the type to engender such passion inanother. So tell me, what do you really want?”
The water sloshed against the sides of thetub as she moved restlessly.
“How long have you been with us?” He brusheda strand of hair from her face. The back of his fingers traileddown her cheek, her neck and across one shoulder in a stray caressthat sent shivers racing down her back.
