Men of Anderas II: Dak the Protector (9 page)

He wished he knew more about the powers of a
crystal witch and how far he could push them. The more time he
spent with her, the more he had to alter his initial assumptions.
Her power wasn’t the stone itself. She didn’t touch it when she
zapped him or Talon. The more he thought about it the more
convinced he was that her crystal was an amplifier or targeting
device. Her power was her own. Like her telepathy. Now,
there
was a new wrinkle to his little crystal witch. If she
could actually read minds she would have known Talon meant her no
harm long before he explained himself. He figured her power was
more thought projection--which would also explain the dream.

He would have jumped and shouted with
excitement if not under the control of the amulet. The pieces of
the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. He was on the right
track, he knew it and a plan was already forming in his agile mind.
Kierin was telepathic whether by genetic design or crystal
enhancement really made no deference. Her power made her receptive
to the thoughts of others. What would happen if he seduced her in
his mind? All he had to work with was the one kiss they shared in
the bath tent, but he could be very creative. Was it enough to make
her remove the stone?

With a final inspection of the road, the
meadow and the increasing number of trees for possible ambush, Dak
let his mind slowly ease into the fantasy he was about to create.
He would have to be subtle or she’d know what he was up to and put
an end to the game--and be on her guard for any further intrusions
from him.

Slow and easy. Not your usual style but how
hard can it be? If it works when she’s not touching her own
crystal. Hell, let’s just see what happens. So, little witch,
what’s your pleasure?

Dak stroked the cool rock, remembering the
scene Kierin planted in his head aboard the shuttle. Since it was
already part of her memory, maybe he could use it--refine
it--expand on it--without setting off any of her internal alarms
until it was too late. He quickly discarded the idea. That image
was too much, too soon.
Slow and easy.

He smiled when he caught sight of her
stretching her back and rolling her shoulders to loosen muscles
unused to long hours in the saddle. He knew just what she
needed.

Dak settled Kierin into the cradle of his
legs, taking her slight weight from the saddle onto his lap. She
held the reins, leaving his hands free. Covering her hands with his
own, he stroked his thumbs across her delicate wrists. Sliding his
hands slowly up her arms, he urged her to relax against his chest.
Her hair smelled of soap and sunshine and he filled his lungs with
its fragrance. Using the sensitive pads of his fingers, he sought
the areas tight with strain. With firm pressure, he massaged until
each muscle was once again soft and pliable. From her neck to her
shoulders, his hands healed the healer.

She rested her head against his shoulder
with a soft sigh. He nuzzled the tender skin beneath her ear,
placing whisper soft kisses along the slender column of her neck
until he could feel the blood pounding through her veins and see
her increased heart rate in the pulse fluttering at the base of her
throat.

As slowly as he began the fantasy, he eased
them back into the real world, surprised when he realized she was
once again stopped in the middle of the road. The surge of
protective tenderness that washed over him when he saw her confused
expression was completely unexpected--and not entirely appreciated.
He didn’t want to care about her. She was his captor--his owner.
She was keeping him from finding a way home.

"It will be dark soon. We need to find a
safe place to make camp."

She blinked several times before he was sure
she was really seeing him in the present and not still caught up in
his fantasy. Every time she glanced in his direction her cheeks
flushed a bright pink.

"We’re still more than an hour from the
public camp. I don’t think we can make it before it gets dark.” She
glanced at the setting sun and the thick forest only a few miles in
front of them.

"Why in the name of all the planets do you
stay in a
public
area? With the bounty on your head, every
greedy bastard for a hundred miles could be waiting for just such
an opportunity to grab you. I’m surprised you’ve managed to stay
alive this long."

"There’s safety in numbers, and Draagon
doesn’t like witnesses. I admit I’ve been fortunate in that anyone
I’ve happened to encounter has been more afraid of me than of
Draagon. My father and brother …."

"Are dead. What makes you think Draagon
would refrain from killing a camp full of strangers if they stood
between you and him?"

Dak’s softly spoken words twisted painfully
through her heart. "You don’t understand. There are too many things
you don’t know."

"We finally agree on something. What I
do
know is that we
are not
staying in a public camp.
Unless you give me a direct order to stay put, I’m going to scout
around and find an area where we can be relatively assured of a
quiet night’s rest."

She felt overwhelmed by his hostility. There
was nothing in his voice or actions. The amulet still controlled
those. This was something she
felt
. Acknowledging his
concerns, she nodded her agreement.

"As long as you make no attempt to escape.
How long do you think you’ll be gone?"

"I’ll be back before dark."

He untied the packhorse, handed the rope to
Kierin and wheeled his horse toward the trees. He hadn’t gone more
than a few yards when he suddenly turned and came back to her.

"Keep moving north but keep to the edge of
the road. There’s not much protection here. We would be in a better
position if we were deeper into the forest. If you hear anyone
coming, move off into the tall grass and trees. Stay as quiet as
possible. And Kierin," he paused until she looked him in the eye,
"I’ve never left a woman alone and unprotected in my life. Your
command was unnecessary."

Kierin watched until he disappeared in a
cloud of dust. She had the definite impression that she’d just
insulted him. He had no reason to feel that way. She was perfectly
justified in her assumption that he might try to escape. He told
her quite plainly on Safe Haven that he would escape. Were all men
so confusing? Or only Anderan men? Or just Dak?

Confusion seemed to be her constant
companion today. It was bad enough when she couldn’t get her mind
off of Dak’s kiss. That she could understand. There was absolutely
no excuse for the daydreams that continued to fill her head. She
had to get control of herself before he came back. This trip was
beginning to take a toll on her, both physically and mentally. She
was tired and stiff from the afternoon in the saddle. Her longest
ride was no farther than the four villages near her fortress where
she sold her healing crystals, herbs and potions. A two-hour trip
once a month didn’t prepare muscles for such extended activity.
Stretching her back, she wished her latest daydream could be
real--at least long enough for him to rub the stiffness from her
back.

She was picking her way through the edge of
the forest when she sensed his presence. She stopped and waited for
him to reach her, never questioning that he was near. Within
minutes, he appeared through the trees beside her.

"I found a spot less than a mile from here.
Did you see anyone?"

At the shake of her head, Dak headed back
the way he came expecting her to follow him. For the life of her,
she couldn’t come up with a single objection to him being in charge
of their safety. It felt so good to have someone to lean on for a
change. Too good. She was in big trouble.

Chapter Eight

Kierin stirred the pot of vegetables stewing
over the fire and tried hard to ignore Dak. She desperately needed
a focus session, preferably somewhere isolated, somewhere he
couldn't intrude. She needed to regain her mental balance. In just
a few days together, she’d come to depend on his presence in her
life. He was everything she’d ever dreamed a man could be and more.
Very soon he’d be on his way back to Anderas. It was what she
promised herself when this insane idea first occurred to her.
Knowing what she had to do before she could let him out of her life
and back into his own didn't make it any easier. She was afraid Dak
was already and forever a permanent part of her heart and soul.

Satisfied that their dinner wasn't in any
danger of burning, she settled back against her saddle to sip the
fragrant clover tea. Finding a patch of fresh pink clover in the
shade of the thorn vines this late in the year was a rare treat.
What they didn't use tonight she'd take home with her. It would be
a warm welcome during the coming winter.

Dak chose well for their camp. The horseshoe
shape of the clearing came from a copse of tangled thorn vines and
thick evergreens. Across the back there was a section of trees
petrified from the subterranean mineral springs. Unless Draagon's
Phantom Riders wore body armor, they would have to come at them
straight in from the meadow. The hot water that bubbled up into a
shallow rock pool would make a perfect bathing spot--if it were
more than six inches deep.

The open end of their camp gave a
spectacular view of the vast open plain separating the populated
area and the frontier beyond the mountains. The waist high grasses,
swaying golden in the late afternoon sun, were silent evidence of
approaching winter. So supple were the stalks that not even the
small
kava
could move through the grass without notice. It
was beautiful and peaceful and she felt safe here with Dak. She
hated to admit that in all the trips she'd made between her
fortress and the city, she'd never noticed this beautiful
meadow.

Dak noticed. He always noticed what wasn't
readily visible and reacted accordingly. In spite of the stone
around his neck, he never stopped being a warrior. He would be a
valuable asset to his king. Someone with his skills and abilities
wouldn't be easy to replace. How soon before search parties reached
this far from Anderas? How soon before he was no longer part of her
life?

Despite all of her internal instructions to
ignore him, she couldn't stop watching him prepare their camp for
the night. At some point in the process, he'd removed his shirt.
The muscles across his back and shoulders bunched and flexed with
his movements. There was little visible evidence of his treatment
at the slave market and she took pleasure, even a small measure of
pride, in her ability to heal the mighty warrior. Sweat glistened
on his skin and every few minutes he'd wipe his brow with his
forearm.

Kierin decided that she liked watching Dak.
Liked it a lot. "As soon as you finish with the horses, you need to
clean up. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

"Whatever you want, little witch."

The man was impossible. From the minute he
led them into this haven his attitude had been--different. Nothing
specific. Nothing she could identify. Just--different. Was every
word out of his mouth loaded with double meanings? Or did her
daydreams have her hearing more than he was saying? The soft tone
of his voice hadn’t changed since Safe Haven. So why did she
suddenly believe each word dripped with unspoken promises? She'd
have a better chance of regaining control if she knew exactly
what
those promises were about. Innocence was a distinct
disadvantage.

"Another day like today and my innocence
will be strictly physical.” Her mumbled complaint didn't stop the
images racing around in her head nor cool the fire in her blood.
She really had to stop thinking about her daydreams.

Kierin was no stranger to rugged conditions
and Dak had to admire the quiet, efficient way she assumed her
share of getting them ready for the night. By the time he’d
unloaded the packhorse and unsaddled their mounts she had a small,
smokeless fire burning and a pot of something simmering for their
dinner. It was then, when she had nothing to keep her mind
occupied, that Dak began to feel her interest.

He felt Kierin’s gaze as surely as if she’d
touched him. Every few minutes he’d catch a fragment of her
thoughts and knew she was still thinking about him and the gentle
massage from earlier in the afternoon. It was her constant
attention that prompted him to remove his shirt. It was time for a
little more mental seduction. Nothing elaborate nor too
intimate--just enough to keep her imagination spinning and her body
wanting more.

Murmuring quietly, Dak caressed Kierin’s
mare with the scrap of cloth, drawing the soft material across the
quivering shoulder muscles.

"That's a good girl. Just relax and I'll
make you feel better.” Dak whispered endearments to the docile
animal and carefully slipped into Kierin’s thoughts.

"Are your muscles sore from the ride, little
witch?” Dak dropped to his knees in the soft grass behind Kierin.
"Let me help."

With slow, sure strokes, he massaged the
tight muscles in her neck and shoulders. When Kierin relaxed
against his chest, Dak eased her down on her bedroll, silencing her
mumbled protest with a fingertip against her lips. "Relax. I'm just
going to make you feel better."

With a lingering caress of her bottom lip,
Dak turned his attention to her back, working the tension out one
muscle at a time. He felt the soft moans reverberate through her
chest. In one smooth move, Dak straddled her thighs and slid his
hands beneath her tunic. Gradually, as each muscle group softened
beneath his palms, he altered his efforts until his therapeutic
massage turned into a lover's caress. From the small of her back to
her shoulders, Dak stroked and petted until she arched her back in
response to his touch. The silky material of her tunic bunched
beneath her arms as Dak bared her back to his gaze.