Lynn Flewelling - The Oracle's Queen

She could still feel the hardness against her thigh, but Ki seemed content just to lie next to her, as they used to. Without thinking, she shifted her leg a little to get a better sense of his body.

It’s bigger than what I had , she thought, then froze as Ki let out a soft sigh and shifted a little against her.

Arkoniel sat in the doorway of his workroom, gaze fixed on the tower door, and wondered if he dared leave long enough to fetch Tharin. He ached here and there from his tumble down the stairs and his ears were still ringing from the spell he’d cast to seal the door.

No, he decided. He’d stay until dawn, then go down and make certain the others didn’t worry at finding Tamír’s bed empty.

And what will I do if Ariani does come looking for her child again?

It had been Ki who’d saved Tamír, not him. He’d only driven the ghost off after Ki had her safe.

Blessed Lightbearer, what was your purpose, putting that into her mind? You couldn’t mean for her to die, so what was it you were trying to show her? Why open up those old wounds now?

His bruised limbs were beginning to stiffen. He stood and paced the corridor, pausing a moment outside the bedchamber door. All was quiet inside. He reached for the latch, thinking to check on them, then drew it back. He stood there a moment longer, debating, and cast a wizard eye instead.

Ki and Tamír were fast asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms like lovers.

Lovers?

Arkoniel took a closer look. They were both still dressed as they had been, but he could make out the faint smiles they both wore in sleep. Ki had a smear of dried blood on his chin that matched nicely with the cut on Tamír’s chin.

Arkoniel dispersed the spell and turned away smiling. Not yet, but there’s been a change. Perhaps some good will come out of this night, after all .

Ki had intended to get Tamír downstairs to her own bed before anyone noticed they were gone, but instead he fell asleep, and woke just after dawn with Tamír still in his arms. She didn’t stir when he tilted his head back to see if she was asleep.

Her face was half-hidden behind a fall of black hair. The cut on her chin was scabbed over, the area around it bruised and a little swollen. She’d have a new scar there, to show for last night’s adventure.

Even in daylight, Ki felt a chill as he thought of the spirit haunting the tower room. He’d never met Ariani in life. Last night he’d seen no sign of the woman Arkoniel described, only a vengeful specter. He unconsciously tightened his arm around Tamír’s shoulders.

“Ki?” She gazed sleepily at him for a moment, then gasped and sat up, taking in the fact that they were still in bed together. The lacings of her bodice were still undone, showing the swell of a breast.

Ki looked hastily away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stay all night.”

He started to untangle himself from the bedclothes, but the way she colored and looked away made him stop. He stroked the hair back from her cheek, then leaned in and kissed her on the mouth again, the way he had last night. He did it as much to reassure himself as her, and was glad it still felt right in daylight. Her hand came up to cradle his cheek and he felt her relax against him. Blue eyes met brown and widened in unspoken acknowledgment.

“I’m sorry about Afra,” he said.

She closed a hand over his on the comforter. “I’m sorry about last night. I just hoped—Well, I suppose I’ll have to try again. But I’m not sorry about—” She waved a hand at the rumpled bed.

“Neither am I. First decent night’s sleep I’ve had in months.”

She grinned, then threw back the covers and got up. Ki had another glimpse of those long bare legs before her skirt fell into place. She was still very slender and coltish, but those were girl’s legs now, the muscle subtly rounder on the long bones, though just as taut. How could he not have seen it before?

She turned and caught him staring. “You look like you swallowed a fish bone.”

Ki climbed out of bed and went to her, looking her over again, as if he’d never seen her properly before. She was just a handspan shorter than he was.

She raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

“Nari’s right. You have gotten prettier.”

“So have you.” She licked her thumb and rubbed at the dried blood on his chin. Then she ran a finger over his sparse moustache. “This makes my lip itch when you kiss me.”

“You’re the queen. You can ban beards if you want.”

She considered this, then kissed him again. “No, I think I might get used to it. We don’t want anyone saying that all my court turned into girls along with me.”

Ki nodded, then voiced the question hanging between them. “What now?”

She shrugged. “I can’t take a consort until I’m sixteen, but that’s scarcely two months away.” She stopped, blushing hotly as she realized what she’d said. “Oh, Ki! I don’t mean to—That is—”

He shrugged and scratched nervously at the back of his neck. Marriage was too big a thing to contemplate right now.

Her eyes still held a question. He took her face between his hands and kissed her again. It was chaste, as kisses went in his experience, but his body warmed to it and he could tell by the way her eyes fluttered closed that she felt it, too.

Before he could think of anything to say, Arkoniel knocked and came in. They jumped back from each other with a guilty start.

Arkoniel grinned. “Ah, good, you’re awake. Nari was a bit frantic, finding your bed empty—”

Nari pushed past him and gave the two of them a narrow look. “What have you two been up to?”

“Nothing you need upset yourself over,” Arkoniel assured her.

But Nari was still frowning. “It won’t do, her getting a big belly so young. She hasn’t the hips for it yet. You ought to know better, Ki, even if she doesn’t!”

“I suppose you have a point,” said Arkoniel, looking like he was trying not to laugh.

“I didn’t do anything like that!” Ki objected.

“We didn’t!” Tamír exclaimed, blushing scarlet.

Nari shook a finger at Tamír. “Well, see you don’t, not before you know how to keep from catching. I don’t suppose anyone’s even shown you how to make a pessary yet?”

“There’s been no need,” said the wizard.

“Fools, the lot of you! Any girl who has her moon times ought to know that. Out, you men, and leave me to have a proper chat with my girl.”

She all but pushed Ki and Arkoniel from the room and shut the door after them.

“I know what a pessary is!” Ki grumbled. His sisters and the servant women had sat around the fire, making the little hanks of wool and ribbon and soaking them in sweet oil. With the whole household sleeping all but on top of one another, there’d been no mystery as to their use either. If a girl didn’t want a baby, she put one up her cunny before she bedded her man. The thought of Tamír in that light still left him feeling very odd. “I only kissed her. I wouldn’t touch her like that!”

Arkoniel chuckled and said nothing.

Scowling, Ki folded his arms and settled himself to wait for Tamír.

She emerged at last, looking a bit pale. Nari leveled an accusing finger at Ki. “You just keep your trousers laced!”

“I will, damn it!” he called after her as she stomped off downstairs. “Tamír, are you all right?”

She still looked a little stunned. “Yes. But I think I’d rather go into battle naked than have a baby, if all Nari says is true.” She shivered, then straightened up and glanced over at the tower door. “Is it locked?”

Arkoniel nodded. “I’ll open it, if you like.”

“I have to try one more time. You two can come up with me.”