by Anna Kashina
She met his gaze.
“If you can’t even let me see it,” she said quietly, “I must assume the worst.”
He threw a side glance into the fire and withdrew his staff, flicking the blades back into their sheaths. A distant smile creased his lips.
“You can assume whatever you want, Aghat,” he said. “But I suggest you leave it be. It’s really not worth it.”
“If it wasn’t worth it, there would’ve been no harm in me seeing it, would there?”
He grinned. “Perhaps not. But then, we would have missed all the drama. Wouldn’t that be a pity?”
The drama. She felt a blush rise into her cheeks as she remembered last night.
“At least,” she said, “you can now stop questioning me about staying behind.”
His eyes showed regret.
“If we assume, for argument’s sake, that they are really going to kill me,” he said, “there’s nothing you could do by siding with me against out entire Guild. If you come with me, you’ll die. It will be a waste.”
“That bad, eh?”
He didn’t respond.
She stepped forward and paused just short of reaching him. His closeness was dizzying, but she forced herself to distance from it, looking into his eyes.
“I’ll stay behind,” she said, “if you do.”
He went very still. “You know I can’t. If I do, both of us will have to run forever.”
“You are doing it for me, aren’t you?”
He smiled. “Honestly. It concerns me too, doesn’t it?”
“But it all happened because of me in the first place.”
His brief glance stirred with a gentleness that made her heart quiver. “It happened because you chose to do the right thing. So did I. We both made our choices. I wish you’d stop feeling as if it’s all your fault.”
“And you expect me to stay behind?”
“I don’t believe you can help by coming with me.”
She lifted her chin. “You underestimate me, Aghat Mai. Don’t you?”
He softened, a wave of warmth washing over her as she met his gaze, caressing like a touch of summer wind.
“I know exactly what you’re worth,” he said. “That’s why I will do anything in my power to stop you from coming.”
She smiled, feeling lightheaded from his closeness, from the way he looked at her.
“There isn’t much you can do to stop me,” she said. “Is there?”
He held her gaze, the smile suddenly gone.
“Of all the bad things I can imagine happening to me at the Guild,” he said, “watching you being killed stands pretty high on the list. In fact, I don’t think I can imagine anything worse. And, as we both know, it’s quite likely to happen if you insist on coming.”
“How about getting killed yourself?”
He shrugged. “Comparatively speaking, that possibility doesn’t bother me at all.”
“It bothers me.” As she said it, she realized with surprise how deeply she meant it. It was unthinkable to imagine that he would die, because of her. “And I intend to prevent it from happening.”
His lips twitched into a smile, but his eyes were in shadow. “You’ll be risking your life against very heavy odds. I’m not worth it.”
“As you once said to me,” she said quietly, “this is my call to make. Not yours.”
After they fitted the cracked shoe to the hoof of Mai’s horse, the ride to Middledale was uneventful, even if much slower than normal. With no more need to hide his tracks, Mai agreed to return to the main road. They rode quietly side by side, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the fresh mountain wind, fragrant with the smells of aemrock, pine, and ice from the distant snow caps.
It felt so easy to ride next to Mai. His horse obeyed him without any visible signals, matching Kara’s speed down to a single beat. He sat relaxed in the saddle, emanating calmness – a special technique of stilling the mind that helped so much to restore upheaved balance. Kara knew she should do it too. Yet, she couldn’t resist riding on her emotions for just a bit longer. In a week or so she was likely going to die. Could there be so much harm in enjoying her feelings just a touch more than appropriate?
In all her life, she had never imagined being close to a man. All her training had been directed against it, teaching her to channel her emotions, to project an aura that warned men from getting close. Kyth’s innocence had originally cut through this shield, catching her by surprise. He was the only man she had ever met who saw a beautiful woman where everyone else saw a deadly fighter, and his admiration had swept her away into his fairytale world, where her training did not matter and where she could think of herself simply as a woman. With Kyth, she had been living somebody else’s life – one, she now realized, she would never be able to fully fit into.
It was so different with Mai. He knew exactly what she was, and he shared her training down to the last detail. He never saw her for anything else. With him, she could fully be herself. And yet, it was hard to understand how all their training, all the ruthlessness they both were capable of, could go hand in hand with the tender passion of the previous night.
Better not to think of it too much, she finally decided as she, too, subsided into her trained aura of calmness. What happened between them was no more than a fighting incident, and she should never think of it any other way. Top ranked Majat were trained to channel their sexual energy into their combat skill. Both she and Mai had learned it well, that was all. And if they took it a little bit too far this time, no harm done.
By the early evening, wisps of smoke up ahead signaled their approach to Middledale. Kara narrowed her eyes, peering into the domed roofs drowning in the greenery. The gusts of wind carried a mild smell of sulfur. The town was built on hot springs, providing luxurious accommodations and rooms with private baths, drawing tourists from all over the kingdom.
She knew that no blacksmith could shoe Mai’s horse until morning, which gave them an opportunity to spend the night in the local inn. After days of camping in the wilderness, she couldn’t help but look forward to it.
The streets of Middledale were so crowded that Kara and Mai were forced to dismount and lead their horses, pushing through the thick throngs. Garlands of colored lanterns floated overhead, and here and there they could hear the popping of firecrackers exploding into the night sky.
“The Lantern Festival,” Kara said above the noise. “I forgot all about it. Today should be the last day, I believe.”
Mai only nodded as he pushed his way to the inn, a large multi-domed building enfolded in sulfur-smelling fumes, its walls and roof richly covered by lichen.
A harassed-looking stable boy took their horses and led them into a side stall. Mai stayed behind to ensure the horses were well cared for and Kara went ahead to make arrangements for the night.
Warm fog enfolded her as she stepped into the inn’s common room. She paused, letting her senses adjust. She had never seen this inn so full. In the flickering light of lanterns hanging overhead she could see row after row of occupied tables, people laughing and talking. The festive mood showed in the ringing timbre of the elevated voices, in the rich colors of clothing, in the fumes of the best ales and meads floating in the air.
A large basin of bubbling water dominated the center of the room, the biggest hot spring that fed most of the baths in the inn and ensured that its patrons needed no other heat source even on very cold days. It felt good to feel the warmth on her face after the biting chill of the breeze outside; she didn’t even mind the humidity that clung to her skin in a mist of tiny droplets and made her hair curl against the side of her cheek. She tucked it behind her ear as she pushed her way to the counter.
The innkeeper, a slim man with pale eyes and a large damp towel hanging over his shoulder, paused as he saw her approach. His eyes widened as he recognized her.
“Mistress Kara?” The man licked his lips nervously and twitched the corner of his towel.
The Majat Guild pai
d many inns throughout the kingdom to ensure their Guild members received the necessary support on their assignments. She knew she could expect a warm welcome.
She smiled. “Hello, Master Olren.”
He bowed, looking at her with awe. She was used to it from those who knew about her ranking and had at least some understanding of the Majat Guild. Last time she was here she was still an active member of the Guild. She felt a pang of regret at the thought and forced it away.
“My companion and I will need two rooms for the night, next to each other, if possible.” She couldn’t risk getting separated from Mai. If they stayed close together, she could at least keep an eye on him and make sure he didn’t slip away. Of course, he had given his word. Besides, his horse was in no shape to continue until a local blacksmith could attend to it. Still, it didn’t hurt to be careful.
The innkeeper used the corner of his towel to wipe his damp forehead. His face wore an unsettled expression.
“I’m sorry, Mistress,” he stumbled. “Today’s the last day of the festival. All our rooms are full. Unless...” He paused, looking past her shoulder. She turned to see Mai walking toward them.
“Unless what?”
Master Olren briefly lowered his eyes. “Um, I was going to offer you one last option. It’s a two-room suite with a separate bath chamber. We had a last minute cancellation, and it is far too expensive for our regular patrons. Nothing for you to worry about, of course. But...”
“But what?”
“I... um... I didn’t realize your companion was a man.”
Kara shot a quick glance at Mai. A two-room suite with a separate bath might work out even better. After camping together in the wilderness they could hardly be bothered by the lack of privacy. Besides, the suite still gave them two rooms to sleep in, but in addition it also made it much easier for her to keep an eye on him. In fact, if she took the outer chamber between him and the door, she could sleep soundly, in the certainty that he would never be able to sneak out without her knowledge.
“A suite would be fine,” she said, sliding a questioning glance over at Mai and receiving a nod in response.
“I– I only have one key,” Master Olren stammered.
“That’s quite enough, thank you.” She reached over and took the key before Mai could grab it, putting it in her pocket.
“Room eighteen at the end of the west corridor,” Master Olren said. “I hope you will be comfortable there. The maids will prepare it while you are having dinner.” He gestured to a table by the wall and waved to the serving girl, who rushed over with a tray containing a pitcher of brew, a half-loaf of bread, mugs, and steaming bowls of stew.
10
HOT SPRING
The suite was even bigger than Kara had imagined. In fact, the outer chamber would have been quite enough to sleep a very large group. But there was also the back room, with a luxurious bed that beckoned with its freshly ironed sheets. The maids blushed and giggled as they looked at Mai, and made a lengthy show of arranging a bouquet of wild aemrocks in a vase before leaving them alone.
Mai threw down his pack and surveyed the large space.
“You take the bed,” he said. “I can sleep out here.”
She shook her head. “I will sleep between you and the door, thank you.”
He grinned. “Don’t you trust me, Aghat?”
“No.” She pushed a chair to the wall and put down her own pack, reaching inside for a fresh change of clothes. A gust of warm moisture from the side door carried the faint smell of sulfur, telling her of the location of the bath. After the strain of the last few days, she felt she really needed one.
“You want to wash first?” she asked.
He shook his head. “You go ahead. I’ll do it later.” He stepped past her into the bedroom. In a moment he reappeared with a long bath towel and tossed it to her across the room. She caught it as she fished the key out of her pocket to lock the door. He watched her from the inner doorway with an amused expression.
“You really think I’ll run away from you?”
“Now that we’re so close to a blacksmith, I can’t risk it.”
“I thought I gave you my word.”
She shrugged. “No harm in making sure, is there?”
“I suppose not.” He disappeared into the bedroom. She checked that the door was secure and put the key away before walking into the bath chamber.
The large stone basin was built level with the floor, with a few wide steps descending into the turmoiling water. It looked like this chamber had a spring of its own, its water less sulfuric than that in the inn’s common room, boiling with tiny bubbles that rose to the surface in smooth domes.
This suite must have been very expensive if no one else took it even on such a busy day. It was a good thing that the Majat Guild had such unconditional credit in so many places.
She left the door open a crack so that she could catch any activity by the entrance and stepped into the bath. The water was hot, and, as she submerged into it, it felt so good to her tired muscles. The tiny bubbles made her skin tingle, the swirl of the underwater currents pressing against her with a gentle massage. She lay back and relaxed, enjoying every bit of it.
She took her time before emerging out of the tub and wrapping herself in the bath sheet. The air was too damp to don her clothes, but fortunately the sheet was large enough to wrap securely in. She did not want Mai to think she was provoking him in any way, especially after what she had told him that morning. Most likely he wasn’t even interested, she reminded herself. What happened in the heat of a fight rarely had any connection to real life.
Mai was in the bedroom, with the door open, inspecting his gear. He had taken off his shirt. She paused, taking a private moment to gape.
His muscular torso was so perfectly sculpted that even Kara, used to seeing fit, half-naked men engaged in strenuous physical activities, couldn’t help feeling amazed. She hoped her awe wasn’t obvious as she tore her eyes away, turning her attention to her own gear. Dear Shal Addim, how could the mere sight of a man possibly affect her so?
Inadvertently her thoughts wandered to the previous night. She would never forget it. The hardness of his muscles against her, his warmth, his strength, his maddening scent... She shook her head. This was a dangerous path and she should do her best to stay clear of it.
She noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye and spun around to face Mai. He stood a few paces away wearing only his breeches, a bath towel thrown over his shoulder.
“If you’re done, I’ll take a bath now,” he said.
She nodded, hoping her flustered state wasn’t too obvious.
He left the door open. She made sure to keep her back to it, avoiding any possibility that she could see him naked. Once or twice she paused in her task of setting out her gear, struggling to quiet her unsettled mind. What was happening to her? How could she have allowed herself to get so far out of balance?
A dark cloth thrown over the back of a chair caught her eye. Mai’s shirt. Before she knew it, she had stepped over and picked it up. She should return it to his room. He may need it.
Unwittingly, her hand holding the shirt lifted higher, bringing its silky folds up to her face. His scent enfolded her, a natural smell of mountain pine and fresh river water, clean, and so sensual that she felt her head swim.
Most men she knew smelled of sweat, not altogether unpleasant but very down-to-earth. Mai’s natural smell was so different. She couldn’t get enough of it. She inhaled deeply, glancing toward the bathroom door to make sure he couldn’t see her.
Her thoughts raced. They were alone, under lock and key. If something were to happen between them, no one would ever know. And if anyone did, would she really care? They were both headed for their execution. If she was meant to die so soon, she wanted to make sure she died with no regrets.
Most likely Mai wasn’t even interested anymore. But in that case he would just say “no”, wouldn’t he?
Wrapping her sheet ti
ghter around herself, she crossed the room in a few strides and stepped into the foggy warmth of the bath chamber.
Mai turned and looked at her. She paused in the doorway. His body, submerged in the low vapors rising from the water, seemed tenser than expected for someone taking a relaxing hot bath after a day of riding. As she stepped closer, he turned around in the bath, watching her with a guarded look.
She continued to approach, holding his gaze. When she came within a few paces, he reached for his bath sheet heaped at the side of the basin and stood up, wrapping it around his waist with a quick move as he stepped out of the tub. His naked torso glistened with water, his slim body so graceful and powerful that it was hard to concentrate. She forced her eyes back to his face.
“What happened last night…” she began.
He stood very still, watching her. She couldn’t read his expression at all.
“I’m finding it hard to let go,” she said quietly. “Are you?”
His gaze wavered. “I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”
“Hurt me?”
His lips twitched. “In all likelihood, my chances of surviving this are low. I don’t want to do anything that would make it more difficult for you to forget me.”
She stopped mere inches from him, looking into his face.
“Too late for that.”
He looked at her with wonder. “Is it?”
Unwittingly, she lifted her hand and ran her fingertips down his cheek. His skin was smooth, but she could also feel the barely perceptible stubble of a clean shave. A ripple went through his body as she made contact.
“Yes,” she said.
She kept his gaze as she released her other hand, letting the bath sheet she was wrapped in slide all the way down to the floor.
He swallowed, his eyes sliding down her body with an entranced expression. She could see his muscles tense, a fascinating sight. Then he lifted his eyes to her face.
“I don’t want you to do things you’ll regret.”
