‘Then why are you with us?’
‘That should be obvious,’ he told her, reaching out to touch her arm. She shrank back instinctively and his face darkened.
‘You were not so coy back in the settlement, as I recall. Many was the time you invited me to your bed on cold winter evenings.’
‘That was then,’ she said, holding her back stiff against the tree.
‘And what has changed? We were good together, Tanaki. You were the best I ever had. And did I not satisfy you?’
‘Yes, you did. You are an unselfish lover, Harokas. You know how to wait. But I have changed.’
He laughed and shook his head. ‘Changed? No, not you. You are a lusty wench, and in any civilised land you would be the king’s courtesan. No, don’t fool yourself. You will never change.’ He moved back from her, his dark eyes scanning her face. ‘At first I thought it was the rape, but it’s not, is it? It’s the farm boy. Tanaki of the Blades has fallen for a virgin!’ He chuckled. ‘There’s a story to liven a dull evening.’
‘Be careful, Harokas,’ she warned him. ‘My patience is not much spoken of – and with good reason. Leave me alone.’
He shook his head and his face grew grave. ‘I could never do that, Princess. You are in my blood. I want you more than I ever wanted anything.’
For a moment she said nothing, then she rose. ‘What we had was good. It was more than good. But it is in the past; there is no more to be said.’
He pushed himself to his feet and bowed elaborately. ‘I think you are wrong, Tanaki. But I will not push myself at you; I will be here when you come to your senses. The farm boy is not for you, he never could be. What does he know? I have seen you holding hands. Sweet! But take him to your bed and he’ll rut like the peasant he is. And without his innocence what will he be, save yet another farmer? You know what the attraction is for you, don’t you? It has been the same since the beginning of time, my love: the desire of the experienced for the innocent, the magnetic lure of virginity. There is an excitement there, you become the first and therefore unforgettable. But what then? No, Tanaki, it has not all been said yet. Good night to you.’
*
Chien-tsu watched the small group as they angled their horses across the pass. He noted that the lead rider paused often to study the trail: left and right, front and back. A careful man, then. Chien nodded in appreciation. He stood, beckoned Oshi and walked out to meet the riders as they reined in. A huge man on a sway backed gelding lifted a double-headed axe in both hands and slid from the saddle, but Chien ignored him. He reached the lead rider and gave a bow which was a fraction lower than required.
‘You would be Chareos the Blademaster,’ said Chien, looking up into the man’s dark eyes.
‘And you are from Kiatze,’ responded Chareos, stepping down to stand before the small warrior.
Chien was both gratified and annoyed. It was good to be recognised as a superior human being, but the man had not returned his bow and that spoke of ill-breeding. ‘Yes, my name is Chien-tsu. I am the ambassador from the court of Kiatze. The shaman, Asta Khan, asked me to guide you to him.’
‘I don’t like the look of him, Blademaster,’ said Beltzer, moving alongside Chareos.
‘And I am not overly impressed with you,’ remarked Chien. ‘Save for the smell, which is truly awe-inspiring.’
‘You have a large mouth for such a little man,’ Beltzer hissed.
‘Better that than to be a giant with a brain the size of a pebble,’ replied Chien, stepping back and dropping into a hand-fighting stance.
‘Be silent, Beltzer,’ said Chareos, ‘we have enough enemies without adding more.’ He turned to Chien and bowed deeply. ‘It is a pleasure to meet you, ambassador. You will forgive, I hope, the words of my companion. We have been riding for weeks, with little food, and we have lost three of our comrades. We are short on provisions, on stamina, and on courtesy.’