But he broke the kiss, an odd look of pain in his eyes.
"Keir," I asked softly, reaching up to cup his face, "what is it?"
"Skies, I thought I'd sent you to your death." His eyes were filled with pain.
"Stop." I rolled to my side, and started stroking his chest. I could feel him take a breath, and relax into my touch. "I'm here, alive and well."
Keir buried his face in my hair, nuzzling my neck with a soft murmur of enjoyment. He reached out and pulled me closer so that our bodies touched. His hand moved down my back, to rest his fingers at the base of my spine, and toyed with the lacings.
I wiggled a bit, at the faint teasing touch of his fingers as they eased through the lacings to caress my skin.
"Keir, don't tease."
"Tease?" His breath was warm on my neck. "And where are your underthings, my proper Xyian woman?"
"They might have been seen." I moved my hips, trying to escape his teasing. "A proper Xyian woman does not expose her underthings to the world."
"Mmm," Keir mused. "So my very proper Xyian woman is open and waiting for me, under this dress." His hand stilled.
"Oh, yes." I smiled slowly, and spread my hands out over his chest, to tease the sparse hairs. I made sure to run the tips of my fingers over his nipples. "Unlace me, and you will see how open. How willing." His fingers pulled at the knot. "It may take some time to work my way through this tangle. I must have a care." Keir leaned in and brushed his lips over mine. "Marcus will have a fit if I harm this dress." I squirmed again, as he started to pull the laces through. "Keir. That will take forever."
"I can think of a way to pass the time." His blue eyes gleamed, and he kissed me. They were long, slow kisses that left me moaning. Try as I might, I couldn't get him to hurry. I shifted my legs within the confines of the dress and the soft fabric slipped over my skin. "Keir," I begged. His fingers tugged at the next bit of lacings as his fingertips caressed the skin below. "So when I reach the end, and slowly pull your dress down, your breasts will be taut, and eager for my touch." Keir licked just below my ear, and I shuddered. "And when my hand slips under your dress, I will find you warm and ready." There was such satisfaction in his rough tone, a certain arrogance. I blinked at him, dazed with passion. His eyes were blazing, bright blue in his bronzed face. "Thus do I claim my Warprize." I moaned again, and closed my eyes, surrendering to the pleasure of his touch. But just before I lost myself, I remembered.
Thank you, Goddess . . . Lady of the Moon and Stars, thank you.
I awoke in the morning, feeling wonderful. Warm and safe, spooned against Keir, his arm over my waist. There were faint sounds from outside. Horses perhaps. The distant sound of someone working around a fire. That had to be Marcus, seeing to our meal. I lifted my head, and took a deep breath. Marcus was making bread tarts.
My stomach rumbled.
Carefully, I eased out of Keir's arms and reached for his cloak. I'd wrap up just long enough to get some thing from Marcus, and crawl back into bed with Keir. As I tied it at the neck, I smiled to see him sprawled over the bed, sleeping. Seems I'd worn my Warlord out the night before. I smiled even wider to see those white trous cling to his skin. Perhaps I could persuade him to take them off for me. After I got some food.
I stepped out onto the flattened grass, and looked about. We were along the shore, a fair distance from the Heart. I couldn't see any movement in that direction. To my right, I could see a far smaller tent set up by the shore. That had to be Marcus's. There were horses there as well, grazing. One of them, a brown one, lifted his head and neighed a welcome. It was sure to be Greatheart. I started walking in that direction, clutching the cloak to me, and watching where I put my feet. There was a path of flattened grass that I followed, between the tufts of taller grasses. It wouldn't do to cut my feet on anything. I'd never hear the end of that from Marcus. Or Keir, for that matter. Marcus emerged from his small tent, and saw me coming. He waved in recognition, but started to work on some pans at the fire pit. I quickened my step, lured by the promise of warm bread tarts. The air was crisp, and the sun had not yet warmed the earth. I really should have put on my slippers, but the grass was soft enough.
Marcus straightened as I approached, a pleased look on his face as I walked up to his fire. "Kavage, Warprize?" His voice was low. "The bread tarts will be done in a moment." I nodded. "And gurt, if you have some." I moved to stand in the area that had been cleared between the fire and the tall grasses. "Keir's still asleep."
"No harm there," Marcus noted. He moved about the fire, and reached for the kavage pot. "Hisself could use the—"
The grass behind him rustled with movement.
With no other warning, Iften leapt out, armored, with a dagger in his hand, soaking wet, and covered in dirt and grass. Before I could even react, he lunged at Marcus from his blindspot. Frozen, I watched in horror as Iften plunged his dagger into Marcus's side. For one long horrible moment we stood, silent and stock-still. Iften jerked his blade free, and time flowed once again. Marcus clutched at his side. He staggered back from the fire, managing a harsh whisper before he collapsed. "Run!" I ran, screaming Keir's name.
Iften lunged for me, his hand reaching out for the hem of the cloak. He caught it and jerked. I stumbled back, jerking the cloth from his hand. But he was now between me and the tent where Keir lay. Iften's teeth gleamed as he snarled in satisfaction, his lips stained with brown spittle. I darted off, straight away from the shore. The cloak flared out, the ties pressing into my throat. I risked a backward glance to see Iften's fingers just miss the hem. I used what spare breath I had for another scream, a warning to Keir. But the only response came from behind, an answering cry from one of the horses.
Iften hit me then, and bore me down to the ground. I rolled, coming up with my face to the sky, with Iften trying to pin me to the ground. He sat on my hips, and pinned my right arm under his knee, pressing it into the dirt. The cloak had fallen open. I was naked and that made his touch seem even more revolting. My breath fled as his full weight came to bear on me. I had one hand free, but Iften grabbed it with his crippled one. There was still strength in that hand. I struggled to pull free as he waved the dagger before me, still dripping with Marcus's blood.
"So now, Xyian," he hissed, his eyes the merest pinpricks. "I save the Plains and my people." Iften raised the dagger to strike, aiming for my chest.
Something thundered up from behind him. Iften hesitated for but an instant, but it was long enough—
Long enough for Greatheart to appear, and bite deep into Iften's shoulder. Iften screamed in rage, his dagger falling from his fingers.
My horse, my sleepy old brown horse, almost seemed to growl, and then wrenched Iften off me with a jerk of his head. Iften was dragged back, far enough that I was freed. I fumbled for the dagger and scram bled to my feet to see Greatheart swing Iften off in a half circle, so that the horse ended up between me and my attacker.
Greatheart released his hold and danced back, snorting and tossing his head. Iften's face was a grimace as he came to his feet. Cursing, he reached, and pulled out a sword. He took a few steps in my direction, but Greatheart snapped at him, then neighed in defiance.
There was an answering roar from the direction of our tent as Keir emerged, running at full speed. Iften's attention shifted then. Cursing, he unstrapped a shield from his back, and jammed his crippled arm into the straps. Keir raced over the grass, swords in both hands, clothed in naught but white trous. In horror I watched, clutching my cloak around me as I realized that Iften was armored, and that Keir had none. But Keir never paused in his charge. He closed in, swiping at Iften with first one blade then another.
Iften dodged, using the shield to fend off the second attack. He grinned, and there was madness in his eyes.
