A deep growl sounded from outside the main door and Karis strolled across to it. Outside, Stealer was baring his fangs at a huge figure.
‘Call off the hound before I break its neck,’ said Forin.
Karis bade Ozhobar good night, then stepped out into the night with Stealer padding alongside her, still keeping a wary eye on the man. ‘What do you want?’ she asked wearily.
‘To talk,’ said Forin.
‘I have no time to talk.’
‘No time or no desire?’ he asked, pausing in his walk. She moved two paces ahead, then swung back to him.
‘We shouldn’t have made love,’ she said. ‘It was a
mistake, and I cannot afford such mistakes. If it is any consolation to you, it was a wonderful night, and I will never forget it. But it will never be repeated. So stop following me around like a moonstruck idiot!’
She expected anger and his laughter surprised her. ‘I am not moonstruck, Karis. I never was a great believer in love at first sight – or indeed at any sight. And, to be honest, I don’t know what I feel for you. Had you stayed that night, and we had talked, there might have been no need for a meeting like this. But you didn’t. You ran. Why? Why did you run?’
‘It is late, and I am too tired for this,’ she said, turning away.
‘Not afraid to die, but terrified to live. Is that it?’ he asked her.
She whirled on him then. ‘What is it with you men?’ she sneered. ‘Why can your egos never cope with rejection? I don’t want you, I don’t need you. You helped me to relax. That was your role and you did it well.’
He laughed again, the sound rich and unforced. ‘Of course no man likes rejection. And I have known my share. What I find hard to understand is not that you reject me, Karis; it is that you are frightened of me.’
‘Frightened? You arrogant pig! Nothing on this earth will ever frighten me again. My father saw to that. Now get out of my sight!’
He gave a rueful smile and turned away. She heard his voice drift back across the moonlit street. ‘I am not your father, Karis.’
Angrily she strode back to the palace and to her apartments, where Necklen was waiting. ‘You have chosen the men?’ she asked, stepping inside. Stealer had to leap aside as she slammed the door.
‘Yes. A hundred stretcher-bearers, and sixty orderlies
to assist with the wounded. You know there are only four surgeons left in the city?’
‘I do now.’
‘You want me to come back tomorrow, princess?’
‘Don’t call me that!’ She slumped into a chair. ‘Do you think I am frightened to live?’ she asked the old man.
Necklen gave a wide grin. ‘What do you want to hear?’
The truth would be pleasant.’
‘I never met a woman yet who wanted to hear the truth. Are we talking about Vint, or the dog-ugly brute in the dung beetle armour?’
‘You think he is ugly?’ she asked, surprised.
‘You think he is not?’ countered Necklen. ‘He has a nose that looks as if it has been kicked by a bull, and a broad flat face and small eyes. Green, if I recall. Never trust men with green eyes.’
‘How did you know it might be him? Has he been speaking of me?’
‘No, princess. But, if you want the truth, I learned it from you. Whenever he is close you cannot keep your eyes from him. Did he accuse you of being too frightened to live?’
‘Yes. You agree with him?’
‘How would I know?’ asked Necklen. ‘But you do surprise me, girl. You obviously want him, and I’ve never known you to be coy.’
‘I slept with him once. Now he wants to own me,’ she said. ‘I won’t be owned. I won’t be used in the name of love.’
‘Did Giriak use you?’ he asked, softly.
‘Of course he didn’t. But then I didn’t love him.’
‘And you love Forin?’
‘I didn’t say that!’ she snapped.
‘I’m not sure what you are saying.’
Relaxing into her chair, Karis let out a long sigh. Then she chuckled. ‘Neither am I. Pass me the jug, my dear old fool. It is time to get drunk!’