“Then all has been peaceful?” Challen was asking the older man.
“As well as can be with so many women under one roof, yet here you bring us another.” There was frank disapproval in this warrior’s expression, and he went on to add, “Best to see to the disposition of-”
“I know, Lowden, I know,” Challen interrupted with a sigh. “And it will be seen to when there is time for such things. But this woman is special and not to be treated like the others. She is a challenge loser.”
“A-”
That was as far as Lowden got before the rumbling laughter started. An exact copy of Tamiron’s mirthful reaction forced down Tedra’s throat again. She stood there tapping one foot and wondering how much wallop her bound hands would give if she used them as a club. The very idea that this fellow should think she was being gifted to theshodan.And her grinning warrior hadn’t said anything to the contrary, except that she was to be treated differently. If he dared …
“I’m going to get mighty tired of being the butt of this particular joke—”
“He laughs atme,woman, not you,” Challen said before she could work up a good steam. “To be a challenge loser, challenge had to be accepted. This is what amuses him, that I would accept.”
Well, that was all right, and she was even magnanimous enough to point out, “What choice did you have after I tossed you over my head?”
Lowden stopped laughing abruptly, but Challen picked it up after seeing his incredulous expression. “Best—best you explain—”
Challen couldn’t get it out, but she caught his drift. “I think he wants me to admit that I took him by surprise,” she told the older warrior, then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Of course, it takes a real lummox to get caught by that particular move—”
“Woman!”
That from both of them, although only Lowden seemed indignant over what she’d said. There was still laughter in Challen’s eyes, and as Challen was the only one she cared to worry about just now, she widened her eyes at him before asking, “Was it something I said?”
He tried to look stem, he really did. “You know exactly what you implied. What has happened to the respect you promised?”
“It’ll be there when you—Stars!” she gasped.“He’snot yourshodan,is he?” She turned her wide-eyed look on Lowden, who in trun looked even more indignant.
“Me?” Lowden snorted. “Woman, it was theshodanwhose skill you belittled.”
“Now how do you figure that, when I was talking about—” She paused, swinging back to Challen, her eyes narrowing the tiniest bit, not much indication of the temper about to erupt. “I hope I’m drawing the wrong conclusion here, babe. You wouldn’t neglect to tell me you were theshodanif you actually were theshodan,now would you?”
“The matter was of no import to our dealings,kerima,”he stated calmly.
“Don’tkerimame, you son-of-a-cracked-tube!” The rage broke free. “How dare you not tell me who you were when you knew I had business with theshodan,knew I’d eventually be seeking him? You even had me promise my best behavior so I could meet him! Well, that’s off, if you hadn’t noticed. In fact, I farden well ought to challenge you again!”
He stood there taking her abuse, but when she paused for breath before continuing, he grasped her bound wrists and bent to place them over his head. When he straightened, she was pretty much locked in place against him, with no way to get her arms out of that forced embrace around his neck. It was no position to rant and rave in, which was what he had probably counted on, and in fact, she was done yelling. But she wasn’t in the least bit cowed by this new restraint.
“There’s something you should know, warrior,” she said quietly now, looking up at him without expression. “When we fought, I didn’t take advantage of certain moves because I felt, you being a man and me being a woman, it wouldn’t have been sporting. I’ve changed my mind.”
That was all the warning he got. Her knee came slamming up between his legs, instantly freeing her as he doubled over in pain. Lowden, watching this, quickly grabbed her arm, thinking she had done it to escape. But since she had no intention of going anywhere, nor could she if she meant to honor her challenge loss, which she still did, she objected to being restrained by another warrior, one to whom she owed no obedience or anything else. And just as Challen had been easy to surprise before he knew what she could do, so too was this Lowden.
With a sharp twist and a foot placed behind his knee, that knee collapsed, bringing him enough off balance in her direction that she was able to send him the rest of the way simply by his hold on her arm. He went down, but didn’t stay down, was back on his feet almost instantly and facing her again. He might be older, but he was still a warrior, and still as big and brawny as Challen. And the look on his face said he’d like to see her try that again. She wasn’tthatdumb.
“Tell him to back off, Challen. I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t kick a man when he’s down, so he had no need to restrain me.”
Challen had straightened partially, but was still experiencing a good deal of discomfort. “My uncle … did not see it … so.”
“Is that my fault?” she retorted. “And by the way, if Ihadchallenged you, I’d say you just lost.” A well-satisfied smile came with that remark. “Be glad I only said ‘ought to’ and leave it at that.”
When he didn’t answer immediately, Lowden did. “The woman needs be punished.”
“Says who?” Tedra demanded, rounding on the man with baleful eyes. “And what’s with all this farden interference, anyway? This is between me and the warrior here, who got exactly what he deserved for the dirty hand he dealt me by not owning up to who he is.”
“Woman-”
“Forget it, Lowden uncle,” she cut him off. “Punishment is uncalled for in this case and won’t be accepted, so keep your suggestions to yourself, why don’t you. Andhecan get away with calling mewoman,but to you I’m Tedra De Arr.”
Challen stepped between them at that point, recovered enough to take command. “Leave be, Lowden. The woman feels she had good reason for her anger, and in part she does. I cared not to discuss with her what she has to discuss with theshodan,so she was not told that I am he. Such was not the doing of ashodan,but of a warrior more interested in other things.” The way he looked at Tedra just then, no one had to ask, “What other things?” “I admit my wrong, woman,” he then said to her. “Has your honor been satisfied?”
