“You’re to go see Sir Lathan,” instructed Harald, jerking a thumb at the inn. Several armored knights could be seen pacing about, testing their weapons, or clustered in groups, talking, keeping themselves aloof from the crowd of worried townspeople.
“Lathan?” said Rega, lifting her eyebrows. “Reginald’s younger brother? I don’t believe it!”
“Yeah, I didn’t think we were worth that much to him,” added Roland.
“Reginald who?” asked Paithan. The three moved toward the inn, the dwarf following, staring around him with his dark, shadowed gaze.
“Reginald of Terncia. Our liege lord. Apparently he’s sent a regiment of knights down here under his little brother’s command. I guess they figure on stopping the tytans here, before they reach the capital.”
“It may not be those . . . those creatures that brought them,” said Rega, shivering in the bright sunlight. “It could be anything. A raid by the SeaKings. You don’t know, so just shut up about it!”
She stopped walking, stared at the inn, the people milling about, frightening themselves and each other. “I’m not going in there. I’m going home to … to … wash my hair.” Rega flung her arms around Paithan’s neck, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips. “I’ll see you tonight,” she said breathlessly.
He tried to stop her, but she left too quickly, practically running, shoving her way through the milling crowd.
“Perhaps I should go with her-”
Roland put his hand on the elf’s arm. “Just leave her alone. She’s scared, scared as hell. She wants time to get a grip on herself.”
“But I could help her-”
“No, she wouldn’t like that. Rega’s got a lot of pride. When we were kids, and Ma’d beat her till the blood ran, Rega never let anyone see her cry. Besides, I don’t think you’ve got a choice.”
Roland gestured to the knights. Paithan saw that they had ceased their discussions and were staring straight at him. The human was right, if the elf left now, they would think he was up to no good.
He and Roland continued their walk toward the inn, Drugar tramping noisily behind them. The town was in chaos, some hurrying toward the barricade, weapons in their hands, others hurrying away from it, families moving out, abandoning their homes. Suddenly Roland stepped in front of him, halting him with outstretched arm. Paithan was forced to either back up or run the man down.
“See here, Quindiniar, after we talk to this knight and we convince him that you aren’t in league with the enemy, why don’t you just head out for home . . . alone.”
“I won’t leave without Rega,” said Paithan quietly.
Roland squinted up at him, smiled. “Oh? You going to marry her?”
The question caught Paithan by surprise. He firmly intended to answer yes but a vision of his older sister rose up before him. “I … I-”
“Look, I’m not trying to protect Rega’s ‘honor.’ We never had any, either of us; couldn’t afford it. Our ma was the town whore. Rega’s done her share of bed hopping, but you’re the first man she’s ever cared about. I won’t let her get hurt. You understand?”
“You love her very much, don’t you?”
Roland shrugged, turned abruptly, and resumed walking. “Our ma ran off when I was fifteen. Rega was twelve. All we had left was each other. We’ve made our own way in this world, never asking help from anybody. So you just clear off and leave us alone. I’ll tell Rega you had to go on ahead to see about your family. She’ll be hurt some, but not as much as if you . . . well . . . you know.”
“Yes, I know,” said Paithan. Roland’s right. I should leave, leave immediately, go on by myself. This relationship can come to nothing but heartache. I know that, I’ve known it from the beginning. But I never felt about any woman the way I feel about Rega!
Paithan’s desire ached and burned inside him. When she’d said that about seeing him tonight, when he’d looked into her eyes and seen the promise there, he hadn’t thought he could bear it. He could hold her tonight, sleep with her tonight.