The Golden Barbarian (24 page)

“I … see.” She should have not been surprised. She had discovered that
kadines
were completely accepted even by wives and concubines. “Have they arrived from Zalandan yet?”

Viane shook her head. “Tomorrow. But I must make sure their tent is comfortable and suitably furnished. They receive many visitors.”

“I imagine that’s true enough.”

“I brought a trunk containing suitable clothing for you and also your jewel box.” Viane said briskly, “Naturally, you’ll want to add to Galen’s consequence by appearing in proper attire.” She cast a disapproving glance at Tess’s habit. “I suggest you change at once. Half the sheikhs have already arrived.”

“There’s still time.” Tess glanced thoughtfully at the
kadine’
s tent. “Are they very beautiful?”

“Of course, I selected them myself,” said Viane, surprised. “Why else would they be considered as prizes?”

“I don’t know. It seems—”

“Greetings, Viane.” Galen reined up beside them, his glance taking in the order and cleanliness of the encampment. “You’ve done well,”

Viane flushed with pleasure, “There’s still much to do—I was explaining to Tess—but all will be ready by tomorrow.” She frowned sternly at Tess. “Change your clothing.”

“Oh, very well.” Tess made a face. “But I refuse to smother my face in a veil, regardless of Galen’s consequence.”

“A pity.” Galen’s eyes twinkled. “I’m sure old Hakim would regard such a concession as a major victory for me.”

“No veil.” Tess’s tone was firm. Her glance fell on the
kadine’
s tent again, and she added carelessly, “However, I see no reason why I shouldn’t change into a gown.”

“I’m grateful,” Galen said gravely.

“After all, I’m quite weary of these habits after wearing nothing else for the past two months. And I’m not unreasonable.”

Pearls framed the low square neckline of the gold brocade gown, the only ornamentation disturbing the graceful simplicity of the high-waisted garment.

Not that she had overmuch to fill the bodice, Tess thought ruefully as she gazed into the polished bronze mirror. Still, the gold did seem to make her hair shimmer in contrast.

Galen shifted his position on the divan, leaning his chin on his palm as he watched. “Quite splendid.”

“It has a matching fringed shawl and even a foolish gold parasol to carry with it.” She touched her bare throat. “It’s not at all modest. Perhaps I should wear the shawl. Hakim will glare at me again.”

He lifted his brows. “Do you care?”

“Well, Viane said I mustn’t damage your consequence.” She looked straight ahead at her reflection and said casually, “She seemed to think you would follow the traditions of the
carobel.”

“Whenever possible.”

“She said most of the men visit the
kadine
tent.”

“True.”

“Will you?” She still avoided his glance as she rushed on, “Not that it matters. I only wanted to know.”

“If it doesn’t matter, why are you interested?”

She scowled at him. “I don’t like … it bothers me.”

“Why?”

“How should I know?” she asked in exasperation. “I just don’t like to think of you with—” She broke off. “Are you going to them?”

“It would break tradition not to visit them.” He stood up and started toward her. “The other men might doubt my virility.”

“Nonsense.”

“Hakim would think me crazed.”

“Stop toying with me. Are you going to visit them?”

His index finger traced the pearls on the bodice of the gown. “Did you wear this to persuade me not to visit them?”

“Certainly not.”

“That’s good. Because it would have been a mistake.”

She frowned uncertainly, “It would?”

He nodded. “If you wished to persuade me, you should have worn nothing at all. I much prefer you without clothes.” He smiled. “But it pleases me that you don’t wish me to fornicate with another woman. You do realize that if I make this supreme sacrifice, it’s only fair that you make a special effort to please me? The
kadines
have been taught many delightfully wicked ways to pleasure a man.” He slipped a finger into the bodice and rubbed it back and forth across her nipple. “Would you like to learn them?”

She could feel her body flowing helplessly toward him. “Would I find them interesting?”

“I guarantee it.”

She moistened her lips with her tongue. “Then I see no reason why I shouldn’t—”

“Galen, Tamar is here!”

Kalim burst into the tent.

“Tamar?” Galen’s hand fell away from Tess, his muscles tensing. “Are you sure?”

Kalim nodded. “I saw him riding into the encampment myself.”

“How many?”

“Alone.”

A little of the tension ebbed from Galen’s stance. “Good. Then there’s no immediate threat. Bring him here.”

Kalim nodded and strode out of the tent.

“Tamar,” Tess whispered. “Dear God, and the festival hasn’t even started.”

“I expected him to appear sometime. Now is better than later.” Galen turned to face her. “Go to Viane’s tent. I don’t want him to see—”

“Galen, how could you be so unkind?” Tamar walked into the tent. “Would I have had a
carobel
and not have invited you?”

Galen’s face became expressionless. “Your raids have made you less than popular to the majority of my guests. I doubt if you expected to be welcomed.”

“Not by those swine!” Tamar shrugged as he strolled over and selected a plump fig from a large
wooden fruit bowl. “But you’re always glad to see me, aren’t you?” His strong white teeth sank into the fig as his gaze wandered to Tess. “How grand you look. Like the princess you are.” His voice was low and silky. “It was truly wicked of Galen not to tell me of his plans for you. I hear you’ve been traveling the countryside with my old friend. Have you properly impressed these fools with your splendor?”

“I believe we’ve had a certain amount of success,” Tess said coolly. “And possibly my presence contributed to it.”

Tamar took another bite of the juicy fruit. “So haughty.” His white teeth flashed in his bearded face. “I believe I like the princess better than the strumpet, Galen. Shall I tell you why?”

“No, but you can tell me why you’re here.”

Tamar’s gaze shifted back to Galen. “Why, to give you one more chance to turn your back on this foolishness. Send these sheep back to their own encampments and forget trying to persuade them to a unity nobody wants but you.”

“One you certainly don’t want.”

“I admit it wouldn’t suit me. My nature wouldn’t tolerate the chains of union.” His smile widened. “And neither would yours. I’d wager you’d break your own fine laws within six months after a union was formed.”

“You’re wrong, Tamar.”

Tamar shook his head. “Oh no, I know you very well, my friend. Your silly ideals will stand only as long as the provocation is not too great.”
His smile faded. “And I assure you I’d provide that provocation. Send them away, Galen.”

Galen squarely met his gaze. “By the time they leave, there will be a united Sedikhan.”

Tamar muttered a curse. “And it will declare me an outlaw?”

Galen nodded.

Tamar glared at him. “This is ceasing to amuse me. You’re going too far. I warn you—” He struggled with his rage. Finally, a tight smile curled on his lips. “Unfortunate choice, Galen.” He turned and moved toward the opening of the tent. He stopped in the entrance to look back at Tess. “You didn’t want to know, but I think I’ll tell you anyway. The reason I like the princess better than the strumpet is that I’ve never rutted with a princess.” He paused. “Yet.”

The next instant he was gone.

Tess tried to suppress the shiver that rippled through her. No knife had been drawn, but this meeting had been inexpressibly more menacing than her last with Tamar.

“I’m sending you back to Zalandan,” Galen said flatly.

She whirled to face him. “Because of Tamar’s ugliness?” She shook her head. “I won’t go. I have a purpose here. No matter whether they disapprove of me or not, whenever those sheikhs look at me, it reminds them of your connection with Tamrovia.”

“You leave in the morning. I’ll tell Kalim to escort you.”

“And when he leaves me in Zalandan, I’ll be ten minutes behind him riding back here. Would you rather have me traveling alone and unescorted than under your protection?”

His hands clenched into fists. “You don’t know Tamar. I won’t have—” He broke off as he saw her set lips and squared jaw and muttered a low oath. “Lord, you’re obstinate. Don’t you understand? Tamar doesn’t make idle threats, and he
threatened
you.”

“And you also.”

“It’s my battle, not yours.”

She didn’t answer.

He threw up his hands and uttered another curse before turning on his heel and striding from the tent.

He was wrong, she thought. Didn’t he realize that his battles would be hers always? As long as she lived she would be

As long as she lived.

Shock made her go rigid as she stared blindly at the tent opening through which he had disappeared.
Merde
, what was she thinking? She wanted to be bound to no man.

Yet she was bound to Galen Ben Raschid, not only by vows and the pleasure of the flesh, but by a deeper bond.

“No!” She wanted no bonds that would hold her to either Galen or Sedikhan. She wanted to be free. It was not love. What she felt was only lust and respect for a man possessing unusual qualities. Their companionship and joint purpose
had brought them closer than was common, but it couldn’t be—

And he did not love her.

Pain swept through her, catching her off guard. If she didn’t love him, then why did that realization hurt her?

She glanced down at the brocade gown she had donned to keep him from going to another woman. She should have realized how dangerous a reaction that had been.

She was only dazzled by the pleasure he gave her. Pauline had been similarly besotted with one of her swains for a full two weeks before she came to her senses.

But Tess was not Pauline, and she did not forget easily.

She would not think about it. She would keep herself so busy that she would not have time to think about Galen or this mysterious link they had forged. She would distance herself from him.

Yes, that was the thing to do. As she had kept Dala active in her time of trial, so she would treat her own affliction.

It was after midnight when Tess heard Galen enter the tent and begin disrobing. She breathed shallowly, hoping he would believe she was asleep.

Soon he slipped onto the divan beside her and lay there without speaking for a few moments.

“You’re not sleeping.” Galen turned over to look at her in the darkness.

“No.”

“I would have returned earlier, but Hakim wished to discuss the laws of justice of—”

“It didn’t matter.”

He was silent a moment before he said haltingly, “I didn’t mean to swear at you. I was … concerned.”

“My feelings aren’t so tender as to be damaged by harsh words.”

“Aren’t they?” He reached over and gently touched the plane of her cheek. “I believe they are,
kilen.”

She shut her eyes tightly to keep back the tears. Foolishness. This wave of emotion sweeping through her was madness. Just because he touched her with tenderness was no reason to weep like an infant not yet out of swaddling clothes. Yes, the decision to distance herself from him had been even wiser than she had thought. “You’re mistaken. I’m only awake because it’s too hot to sleep.”

“Odd. I thought the night cool.” His hand reached out and cupped her breast. “Your flesh isn’t warm.” He chuckled as he felt her nipple hardening beneath his palm. “But I do detect a certain heat.”

“You’ve trained me well, haven’t you? You should be very proud.” She removed his hand and edged away from him. “I doubt that even Daphne learned her duty so quickly.”

“Duty?”

“To pleasure you, to bear your child. Isn’t that my duty?” Her voice was uneven, and she quickly
steadied it. “Well, I’ve been thinking, and I believe I’ve done enough for the time being to demonstrate my compliance.”

He stiffened. “And?”

“I do not wish you to touch me.”

He muttered an oath. “Dammit, Tess, I told you I regretted—”

“Your words had nothing to do with my decision. Bed play was amusing, but I’ve grown weary of all this fondling.”

He gave a disbelieving laugh. “You weren’t weary early this morning when you rode me like a wind demon on a—”

“I do not wish to speak of it.” And she did not want to think of that joining. The memory was already starting a tingling through her body. “However, I’ll tell you if my feelings change.”

“Thank you.” The irony in his voice verged on sarcasm. “I’ll be grateful for any small crumb you deign to toss me. I believe we’d best come to an understanding. I have no intention of—” He abruptly fell silent. When he spoke again, his tone was coaxing. “Talk to me, Tess. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing.” She closed her eyes and edged a little farther away from him. “I’m weary. I wish to sleep now.”

“Now
, you wish to sleep?” Exasperation and frustration had banished gentleness. “You throw me into this turmoil and then you decide you’ll just go to sleep?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s not going to be—”

She sensed he was subduing emotion, gathering control about him again.

“Very well, sleep.” He turned over and presented his back to her. “I can wait.”

He had been waiting all his life. Waiting for affection that never came, waiting for the wars to end, waiting for his task to be done. Dear Lord, she wanted to touch him in comfort. She wanted to hold him close and rock him and tell him …

Her nails bit into her palms to keep herself from reaching out to him. She must not touch him. If she could endure this night, tomorrow would be better.

She just must not touch him.…

Chapter 10