“No, I’d draw the line at that.”
She had the feeling he was actually considering it when he didn’t answer right off. She hadn’t expected that. She’d really been no more than teasing him. But, of course, if he wanted to be foolish enough to even up the odds between them, she wasn’t about to stop him from doing so. She was feeling quite pleased with her barbarian just now, but that could change so easily, and having him handicapped would definitely be a blessing if her feelings did change.
“I find your reasoning sound,kerima.”He actually looked pleased that he could say that, which Tedra didn’t appreciate one bit. “Thus you need not declare your intent to challenge beforehand, if such is your intent.” He leaned down then to give her a short, sweet kiss before adding, “It is my hope you will find no reason to challenge me again.”
“You keep that up and I certainly won’t.”
They grinned at each other before he sat up again. She hated to see him go, especially when she had confinement in this room stretching out before her for the whole day.
She caught his hand when he started to get up. “You’ve been full of surprises this morning. And as long as I’m being surprised, I believe there was mention last night of a gift you had for me?”
“Indeed,” he said, and hauled her across the bed until she was sitting beside him. “Dress yourself and I will take you to it.”
“Dress myself, as in putting clothes on?”
Both of those golden brows shot up. “You find the suggestion unreasonable?”
“Sure it’s reasonable. I’m all for it. But I’m not setting myself up for further punishment just because you seem to be forgetting that already given.”
If she was annoyed at his obtuseness, he was fast catching up. “Woman, explain,” he demanded curtly.
“Explain what? I was only reminding you of the rest of my punishment. No clothes, remember? For the full duration of my confinement here?”
She expected him to look shamefaced at forgetting, not sigh and shake his head. “I begin to see you were not deliberately flaunting your body before me last darkness.”
“Flaunting?” she gasped indignantly, but ended snorting, “As if I would.”
“No, I see now that you would not be so brazen, though a warrior could wish it were otherwise.”
“Challen …”
“I do but tease you,kerima,which I will not apologize for. But for the rest, in truth, I remember not the giving of additional punishment, nor was such called for. I have admitted what was done was overdone, thus would further punishment make it more so. You will ignore those additions and accept my apology that they were given.”
“I’ll ignore them, but accepting your apology should be mine to do.”
“As giving my word last darkness was mine to give?” he reminded her.
“Quits!” she cried quickly. She could debate commands later, when those she had given him weren’t so fresh in his mind. “Let’s bury this one and plant a tree on it, okay? Apology accepted as ordered. Now what was that about taking me to my gift?”
He chuckled even as he dragged her onto his lap, holding her loosely, but only for the moment. “You have sat too long beside me,kerima.The sight of you in your brazen nakedness has decided the matter. The showing of your gift will have to wait until other matters are seen to.”
“Such as?” As if she didn’t know.
He didn’t answer. He demonstrated instead.
Chapter Thirty-three
Tedra was still smiling over the barbarian’s bemusement as he escorted her down the wide hallway. She’d decided to wear her kystrals with a whitechauritoday, after Challen informed her they would take food with the rest of the castlefolk this morning. He’d given her enough clues, without actually admitting it, that he wanted her to make friends in his household. The warrior was looking at the long term, while she was still working on the temporary—which includednotgetting involved with the Sha-Ka’ani. She’d already made one colossal mistake in that area. It’d be foolish to make any more. But when the master spoke, the challenge loser had to obey.
So putting on her kystrals was for morale. But having them change color in front of Challen was “getting even” for this latest high-handedness she was annoyed with. And she was quite satisfied by his reaction.
His expression, watching the clear red rocks transform into a brilliant aquamarine, was truly comical. He simply didn’t know how it was done, but he was determined to find out. He’d taken the necklace off her without asking, without even sparing her a glance, and proceeded to examine each and every kystral. He spent a good long while doing it, too, but couldn’t find a single mechanism or device for operating them.
“How did you do it?” he finally demanded of her.
“Where were your ears, babe? Didn’t you hear me request the color to change?”
“The necklace is a computer, then, like your Martha, progalled to do as you say?”
