“Our camp was ambushed by bandits on our way to here,” Itolas said sadly. “Most of my household were killed, save these three.” He gestured to Calrain and Tariel. “We are on our way to visit my sister, in Barania, and hopefully seek treatment for myfriends.”
The guard’s stern face softened. “I am sorry for your loss,” he said, stepping aside to let them through. “Be on your guard while you travel through our lands. There are bandits on this side aswell.”
Calrain shuddered as they passed through. “I wish Tariel were awake so she could disguise us,” he said once they were out of earshot, drawing his horse alongside Riann’s. He glanced down at Tariel, his features tight with concern. “She spent herself trying to protectus.”
“Tariel’s magic is a blessing,” Riann said, “but we should be careful not to use it as a crutch. We have gotten along just fine without magic before this, and until Tariel has regained her strength, we will get along without itnow.”
They rode for an hour, until the sun tinged the sky with hints of gold, illuminating the landscape around them. It didn’t take long for their surroundings to change from frozen tundra to verdant fields and lush forests, and Riann was shocked at the temperature difference. Soon, he was forced to remove his cloak to keep from getting drenched insweat.
“It’s a good thing I packed tents,” Itolas said after they’d stopped in a clearing in a thickly wooded area, where they’d decided to camp for the night. He and Riann unloaded their baggage while Calrain watched over Tariel. “These will shield us from the elementssome.”
“I am grateful,” Riann said. The tents were a bit too colorful for his liking, but Riann could hardly complain. “I apologize for getting you caught up in ourproblems.”
Itolas snorted. “You did not force me to provoke Sir Jerrold into a fight. Of course, if Tariel had not been in the room, his little magic finder would not have gone off, but I’m certain he would have found another reason to try to gut me with his sword.” His lip curled. “He came to my home the night after you and Tariel tried to get me to give you passage on my ship, askingquestions.”
“Oh?” Riann raised his eyebrows, though he wasn’t entirely surprised. “And what did you tellhim?”
“Nothing very useful,” Itolas said, “but his interrogation prompted me to do an investigation of my own, and I found out some very interestingthings.”
“Likewhat?”
The men spun around at the sound of a weak female voice. “Tariel!” they cried inunison.
Tariel smiled as she sat up, assisted by Calrain. The two of them reclined against a log, Calrain’s arm wrapped possessively around her shoulder. “I see the three of you managed to get us to safety,” shesaid.
“Relative safety,” Riann said, dropping to his knees next to her. “Sir Jerrold survived your attack, so we do not know when he will strikeagain.”
Tariel’s gorgeous blue eyes clouded. “Survived?” she echoed, her exotic features going taut with strain. “But I could have sworn I’d killedhim.”
“He is like a roach, apparently,” Itolas said, his voice thick with disgust. When Tariel turned her gaze to him, he gave her a brilliant smile. “And you are radiant, like the sun. Far more beautiful in your natural form than in the guise you wore when we firstmet.”
Tariel blushed, and Riann and Calrain exchanged glances. There was no question that Tariel was attracted to Itolas, and vice versa, and the thought made Riann’s heart ache with jealousy. And yet, Itolas had proven to be a staunch ally. Riann was not certain they would have survived Sir Jerrold and his men without Itolas’s superb sword fighting, and if he had not been there, Sir Jerrold would have certainly found them out with that strange device. He was also rich, and a nativeMaroyan…
“I think you should join our band,” Riann blurtedout.
“What?” Calrain’s eyes widened, and even Tariel blinked in surprise. “Join…asin…?”
“Of course, only if Tariel wants him to,” Riann said quickly, meeting her gaze. “You are our mage, so it is up to you. But I’ve seen the way you look at Itolas, and there is no question he would be a valuablemember.”
“I was going to ask if I could join your band,” Itolas said, blinking in surprise. “But it sounds like what you are actually asking is for me to join yourharem.”
Tariel blushed furiously. “I would neverpresume—”
“You should absolutely have him join the harem,” Zolotais said, startling everyone as she materialized in the air. “It has been a good five hundred years since I was last in the Maroyan Empire, and times may have changed. It would behoove you to have someone who knows the lay of theland.”
“A desert spirit?” Itolas exclaimed, staring at Zolotais. “Where did you comefrom?”
“I am bound to the abacus that Tariel carries,” Zolotais explained, “and have been responsible for much of her education. I daresay she would not have gotten this far without me,” she added with a smugsmile.
Tariel laughed. “No, I would not have,” she agreed. “Zolotais has been a wonderful guide for us. But Riann and Calrain are right,” she said, taking Itolas’s hand. “I could use a man likeyou.”
Itolas stared at Tariel for such a long time, Riann worried he would refuse. But then he slowly sank to one knee and took her other hand in his as well. “It is not generally the custom for a mage to invite a stranger into her harem,” he said. “However, I feel as if I know you, Tariel, though we have not metbefore.”
“We did meet before,” Tariel said teasingly. “At theball.”
Itolas smirked. “You know what I speak of,” he said, and Riann did his best not to show his annoyance at the meaningful note in Itolas’s voice. “And you are brave and fierce and absolutely stunning. I would be a fool to say no. However,” he added, a look of chagrin on his face, “I am afraid I would be more of a hindrance to you than a help. I was framed for a crime I did not commit, and sentenced to death. If I return to the Empire, I will be arrested andexecuted.”
“I don’t see why that is a problem,” Calrain said, surprising Riann. His shock at Riann’s suggestion seemed to have faded away, and Riann could see the wheels turning in that big brain of his. “Tariel can disguise you with her magic, as she has done for us sooften.”
