Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

She stared at him. He was fully clothed, even in his boots, exactly as he had fallen asleep last night. She wore nothing but a slender chain around her hips. In her dream, he had held her down when she tried to remove his shirt. She sat up, hurting in a way that had nothing to do with physical pain. Tears blurred her eyes as she felt around the carpet for her robe.

He knelt and pressed the robe into her hands. “Dont cry.

“Why do you care? She wiped at the tears. “You got what you wanted.

“I thought you wanted it, too. He brushed her hair back from her face. “What did you mean by starvation?

“Ive hardly eaten in days.

“We ate on the ride yesterday.

“Trail rations. I had nothing but water in the morning. The TAmbera hardly fed me more than once a day, usually only soup.

“Dragons breath, he muttered. “I didnt know. Whenever youre hungry, just tell me. Ill get you food.

Allegra wasnt certain she believed him, but she so much needed it to be true, for him to be the decent man he sometimes seemed. She said only, “Yes, please. Id like to break my fast.

He studied her face. “Will you be able to ride with me today? We dont have a litter to carry you.

“Why would I need a litter?

He touched her inner thigh. “I wondered if you were sore.

“Oh. Her face heated. “Ill be all right. She actually had no idea, but given how ready her dream and the miradella had made her for him, she thought she would be all right.

“Ill see what I can do, he said.

He turned away, and she hoped he would leave. She needed time away from the force of his presence. She also wanted to wash up and put on real clothes if she could find any that would fit. Maybe she could use one of his shirts.

He didnt go outside, though. Instead he rummaged in a trunk across the tent. He came back with a blanket, some filmy scarves and a bundle of fur. Crouching down, he showed her the blanket. It had fleece on its inner side.

She brushed her palm across the fleece. “Its so soft.

“I can put it over the saddle blanket.

His unexpected consideration touched her. “Thank you.

He showed her the scarves. “You can wear these.

Wear what? Perplexed, she took the clothes. The fur turned out to be a pair of knee boots, soft rather than heavy, with crisscrossing thongs to keep them up. They were designed to be sexy rather than useful, and she doubted they would hold up well if she walked in them. At least the fur was light enough that the boots shouldnt be too hot during the heat of the day. The scarves were a skimpy skirt and halter sewn from red silk and inlaid with jewels, garments she had no more desire to put on than she had wanted to wear the jeweled chain-skirt.

She regarded him dubiously. “Do you always carry clothing like this?

He laughed softly. “No. I bought it from the TAmbera along with you.

“Trousers and a shirt would be more practical. Theyll protect my skin from the sun.

He stared as if she had suggested she grow a third arm. “Good gods. Do you want to look like a man?

“I dont mind. Id rather be comfortable.

“It pleases me for you to wear what I give you.

She scowled at him. “It doesnt please me.

She thought he would get angry, but instead he smiled. “You can wear the robe to protect your skin.

“Fine, she muttered. “Make me look like an idiot.

“Allegra, youll look beautiful. He indicated an ewer across the room. “You can wash up there. Ill go to the hot springs. If youre ready when I return, well have time for breakfast.

She just nodded, too hungry to argue.

After Markus left, though, Allegra just sat. The bruise on her face throbbed, the gouge on her stomach stung and her buttocks ached from Markuss belt. She hated to think what condition she would be in if he had struck her thirty times instead of two. How could he hurt her and then expect her to want him in bed? And it had been obvious his officers expected him to treat her much more harshly. If all men here felt that way, it was no wonder they had a shortage of women.

She thought of the soldier who had stolen the knife. Markus had said lashes, which implied a whip rather than a belt. Even if the man lived through his sentence, she doubted he would survive being chained and forced to run behind someones horse for three days. Yet none of Markuss men seemed surprised by the punishment. Such a cruel place. Its people were like the land, hardened by the stark desert they refused to let defeat them.

Finally she went over to the ewer. It held beautiful, clear water. After she drank her fill, she used washcloths and soap from Markuss chest to clean up. Then she dressed. The translucent red garments slid silkily over her skin. The skirt fit low on her hips and came to midthigh. The halter just barely covered her nipples and pushed her breasts together in a most embarrassing manner. Rubies, diamonds and topazes sparkled on the skirt belt and in the chains that formed the halter. She felt like an ornament.

The entrance flap crinkled as Markus entered. He froze when he saw her. Then he strode over and, with no preamble, took her into his arms and kissed her deeply, with his tongue, while he ran his hands up her sides. Water dripped off his hair onto her cheek.

Flustered, she pushed against his upper arms. He wore a sleeveless leather thing that resembled a jerkin, and it left his arms bare. His huge biceps felt like rocks under her hands. A wide armband circled his left arm as if he were some barbarian warlord. Which, she supposed, was apt.

She drew back her head. “I thought we had to leave.

“Hmm. He put his hand behind her head to hold her in place and went back to kissing her. He slid his other hand up and caressed her breast through the silk.

“Let me go. She tried to twist away. When he held her in place and kept stroking her, she hit his shoulders with her fists. “Dont be such a bastard, Markus.

He released her as if she had a plague, and for a moment she felt only relief. Until she saw his fury. Then she realized what she had said. Bastard. He was, literally; it was why he was the prince regent rather than the atajazid.

She looked up into his smoldering, furious gaze. “Im sorry. I didnt mean that the way it sounded.

“My birth may have not been royal, he said tightly, “but my father gave me full rights to his name.

“I know. The word is used differently where I came from. It means a boor. Her voice cooled. “A man who forces his attentions on a woman.

He grasped her chin. “Adapt, Allegra. You have no choice.

“Why? she asked, bewildered. “Surely many Jazidian women would jump at the chance to be with you. Why do you want one who fights you?

“I wish I knew, he muttered. He took her arm and pulled her across the tent.

They came out into a crystalline morning. The sun had yet to rise, though the sky above the mountains on the horizon was lightening. A large man with a sword on his back waited nearby, and Markus drew him aside. Allegra couldnt hear their discussion well, but she gathered something had happened last night, and this man, apparently one of Markuss bodyguards, feared the princes reaction. Markus, however, seemed more intrigued than upset.

“Ill check it, Markus said. “You did well to let me know.

“It is my honor to serve, Your Highness. The guard sounded nervous.

Markus stood for a moment, lost in thought. Then he came back to Allegra. “The sergeant just told me something odd.

“I didnt hear much, Allegra said. “Your guards left their posts last night?

He traced his finger along her lower lip. “Such a lovely mouth to sing such sweet songs.

Where had that come from? Her spell couldnt have put his guards to sleep. They had been outside the tent, farther away than any spell she had ever done could reach. But what if it had affected them, and Markus suspected? Sweat gathered on her palms, and she wiped them on her thighs. Her spells were her secret defense. If he realized what she could do, he might learn to counter them.