Knight's Prize (46 page)

"Teach
me the ways of Chinese warfare."

"You're
serious."

"Of
course." He grimaced in false regret. "Unless you wish me to reveal
the secret of
huo yao."

She
arched a brow. " 'Tis extortion, you know."

"Aye."

************************************
*

Miriel
turned her back on Rand and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Very
well."

Forsooth,
naught thrilled her more than the prospect of sharing her knowledge with Rand.
Though she was loath to admit it, being The Shadow had been an enjoyable
diversion. Now that Sung Li had seen fit to kill the outlaw, some of the
purpose had vanished out of her life. Teaching would give new direction for
her talents.

Of
course, she wouldn't tell Rand that. She'd pretend 'twas an awful inconvenience.
And he'd pretend revealing the secret of
huo yao
was a terrible temptation.
They were incurable liars, the two of them.

But
despite their lies and trickery and word twisting, despite the coy coaxing and
sly manipulation that came to them by nature, one thing between them remained
true. They loved each other with purity of heart, clarity of spirit. Their
passion might spark and flash and flare like the fleeting flames of
huo yao,
but
their love would burn as slowly and sweetly as a steadfast fire on the hearth.

She
grinned like a kitten with cream as Rand drew her
back
into
his arms, pressing his loins warmly against her buttocks. Nested beneath the
furs as snugly as a pair of
bronze
tuns,
Chinese shields, they gazed out the open
shutters
toward the clear night sky beyond.

Rivenloch
didn'
t need the power of
huo yao,
Miriel
real
ized. Between
the
skills of the knights of
Cameliard and
the Warrior Maids
of
Rivenloch, the renown mercenary—
Rand la Nuit, and
the
infamous
outlaw—The Shadow, the
keep would
be well
protected
for years.

And if Sung Li was
right,
if Miriel and Rand spawned a whole new brood of gifted warriors, Rivenloch
would stand for all eternity.

Somewhere
against the black sky, a bright star streaked across the heavens, leaving a long
dragon tail of sparks.

But
the lovers were too engaged to notice. The Shadow had swallowed The Night
again. The first of the next generation of Rivenloch warriors had been
conceived.

************************************

About
the Author

Born
in Paradise, California, Sarah McKerrigan has embraced her inner Gemini by
leading an eclectic life. As a teen, she danced with the Sacramento Ballet,
worked in her father's graphic arts studio, and composed music for
award-winning science films. She sang arias in college, graduating with a
degree in Music, then toured with an all-girl rock band for CBS Records. She
once played drums for a Tom Jones video and is currently a voice-over actress
with credits including "Star Wars" audio adventures, JumpStart educational
CDs, Diablo and Starcraft video games, and the MTV animated series, "The
Maxx." She now indulges her lifelong love of towering castles, trusty
swords, and knights (and damsels) in shining armor by writing historical
romances featuring kick-butt heroines. She is married to a rock star, is the
proud guardian of two nerdy kids and a pug named Worf, and lives in a part of
Los Angeles where nobody thinks she's weird.