His eyes twinkled wickedly. “Yes, and much more,” he said, giving her a slow once-over that made her skinwarm.
“You sound like you are homesick,” she said casually, trying to steer the conversation in a more productive direction. “Do you plan to return to the Empire before the eastern passage freezesover?”
Itolas sighed wistfully, his smile turning sad. “My ship’s crew is eager to depart, but alas, I cannot indulge them. I have been condemned to this chilly exile, and must live my days out here, away from myhomeland.”
“That’s terrible,” Tariel said, feeling a wave of sympathy. “Is there nothing you can do to convince them to let youreturn?”
“I’m afraid not,” he said, shifting forward. Suddenly, he was mere inches away, and her heart beat faster as his spicy, exotic scent filled her senses. “But perhaps you could help make it more bearable?” His voice was a barewhisper.
“I—” Tariel began, but then he was lifting her chin. His mouth slanted over hers, soft and persuasive, and heat flooded her body. Her arms lifted instinctively, wanting to twine around his shoulders, but instead she flattened her hands against his chest and pushed himaway.
“I’m sorry,” she said, yanking a mask of composure over her features. “But I am a respectable woman. I cannot offer myself to you merely for youramusement.”
His gaze shuttered. “Very well,” he said, sketching a bow. “I shall find my amusement elsewhere,then.”
Tariel’s cheeks burned with shame as she returned to Riann, who waited across the room. Her blood was still pounding with desire, and she knew that Riann could feel it through the bond, probably Calrain as well, though he was not here to see thecause.
“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered, forcing herself to meet Riann’s glittering gaze. His jaw was tight. “I don’t know what’s come overme.”
“I do.” He nodded to Itolas, who was already engaged with another woman. But his gaze softened, and he put an arm around Tariel’s waist. “But I suppose if you had sent me to flirt with an attractive woman for information and she had kissed me, I would have a similar reaction,” he admitted. “I do not hold it againstyou.”
Tariel let out a breath of relief. “Thank you,” she said, leaning against him. She soaked up Riann’s warmth and silent strength, steadying herself. “I don’t wish for you to be angry withme.”
“I’m not.” He kissed the top of her head. “Now, what did he have tosay?”
“He is an exile,” she said, “and has no plans to return to the Empire.” She sighed dejectedly. “I don’t think he is going to be of any help to us, especially now that I’ve rejectedhim.”
“Hmm.” Riann stroked his jaw as he considered the problem. “It seems a shame to give up so soon, since he is our only option. Perhaps I should talk tohim.”
Tariel raised an eyebrow. “Do you think you’ll be any better at charming him than Iwas?”
Riann laughed. “Feminine wiles are not the only way to get a man’s attention,” he said. He pulled two coins from his pocket and rubbed them together, the metal glinting in the light, then hid them from sight. “Let’s see if I can get him to talkbusiness.”
Tariel hung back as Riann approached. Itolas greeted him politely enough, but as Tariel watched them converse, his expression turned sour. Abruptly, he cut off the exchange, then turned away, heading straight for the count and hiswife.
Riann returned to her, his expression grim. “We’d better leave now,” he said, looping his arm throughTariel’s.
“Why?” she asked, hurrying to keep up. They moved just fast enough to disappear into the crowd without drawing attention to themselves. “What did hesay?”
“He said that he was not for hire, and that he came to this ball for entertainment, not to discuss business,” Riann said in a clipped voice. “I believe that he has gone to ask the count and his wife who we are. It would be best to leave, before they become too interested inus.”
Tariel nodded, her heart sinking into her slippered feet as they retrieved their coats and asked the valet to call their carriage. This avenue was truly closed off to them, then. They had no choice but to slip out of the city, and hope Sir Jerrold and the royal guard did not catch them on the wayout.
23
“Is there nothing betterto be had than this bland fare?” Yarim asked aloud as he poked at his breakfast with a fork. He did not expect an answer, of course—there were no servants in the breakfast room to hear him as he spoke. Sighing, he brought another bite of plain fish and potatoes to his mouth, and sent up a silent prayer to Mother Earth that one day the Fjordlanders would relinquish their stubborn ways and incorporate real seasonings into their cuisine. There was so much more one could do with dishes if one was willing to venture beyond salt andpepper.
“Sir.” His butler came into the room and gave a shallow bow. “You have a visitor at the door thismorning.”
“Send him away,” Yarim said with an irritable wave of his hand. Normally he was not so grumpy in the mornings, but he was nursing quite a hangover from last night. The blonde he had spoken to at the masquerade ball had dredged up feelings of homesickness for the Empire, and he had unsuccessfully tried to drown his sorrows in copious amounts of his host’s wine. Even the strong coffee he’d imbibed did nothing to help hisheadache.
“I’m afraid this man will not take kindly to such treatment,” the butler said. “It is Sir Jerrold theRelentless.”
“The witch hunter?” Yarim frowned, his curiosity piqued. What did such a man want with him? He had heard of his fearsome reputation, but had never had the chance to meet the man in person; nor had he particularly wanted to, considering what he did with women who were suspected of havingmagic.
“Yes. He has some questions foryou.”
“Very well,” Yarim said reluctantly. “I’ll meet him in thestudy.”
