He rubbed his chin, a barely visible shadow against the starlit night. “It has been rather dull. Nothing I’d like more,” he said in his most affected Rankene.
“You’re so easy to follow.”
“When I want to be,” she acknowledged. “I figured you couldn’t keep your eyes off me.” She stared upward, craning her neck, guessing what was going through his mind as he rose to stand in the notch. She admired his daring, if not his sense, as he balanced above her.
“A date, you say?”
She stroked the Tros again. “How about a ride?” She put on a big grin. Zip wore the shadows like a cloak, but she was limned in Sabellia’s light. She knew he could see her smile. “You can help me with my prank on Tempus Thales. Make up your mind, though.” She cast another glance over her shoulder at the darkened estate. It occurred to her to wonder why all the racket had roused no one. She didn’t particularly care to wait around to find out-not on Zip’s account. “This isn’t a very good neighborhood, I’m told, and a lady has to guard her reputation.”
“You expect me to ride behind you?” His voice was incredulous. “After what I just saw?”
Chenaya leaned forward, scratched the horse between’its ears. “It’s all right,” she assured. “We’re good friends now, aren’t we, horsie?” The Tros didn’t contradict her.
Zip hesitated. She wondered if he had ever ridden before, or if he was daunted by the fact it was Tempus’s horse he was being invited to help steal? In either case, she couldn’t wait around for Zip to find his balls. Dismas had assured her that Tempus was inside Ischade’s house. At this very moment he might be struggling into his breeches, reaching for his sword….