Heart of Fire (18 page)

“You do know, don’t you?” She looked
at him with new understanding. Perhaps she would forgive him yet.
“Does it make you afraid of me?”

The tremor in her voice pierced him.
“Nay, sweeting, it doesn’t make me afraid of you.”

“But I could burn you.”

He cupped her face in his hands.
“But you won’t. Just as I would never hurt you. I know you fear me,
at least a little. I don’t blame you. I would fear me
too.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. Her
gaze imprisoned him more tightly than the Legion ever had. “No one
ever wanted to touch me—”

“I want to touch you. Will you let
me?”

She nodded.

He kissed her firmly, trying to tell
her with his mouth that she had already branded him with the
sweetness of her mouth, already set him aflame with her silky skin,
already kindled a fire in him that wouldn’t be put out. She was
everything good that he was not. If ever he’d had a reason to leave
his past behind, she was it, and he wished for the thousandth time
since meeting her that he was a better man. A man worthy of
her.

A blasted clap of thunder broke them
apart. He searched the sky. “Rain won’t hold off much longer. We
should go.”

“I don’t feel like traveling but I
don’t want to camp here.” She rubbed her throat, but her fingers
strayed to her lips, still swollen from his kiss.

“We’ll go only as far as the next
town. There should be one on the other side of the passage.” He
brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. “You’re so
beautiful.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m
not.”

“Aye, you are.” He took her hand and
pressed it to his chest. “I swear it.”

Her eyes sparkled. “No one’s ever
told me that but my mother.” She took her hand back, brushed it
over her hair, and tugged the leather thong from the end of her
braid. “My hair is a mess.”

“Here, let me.” He moved behind her
and worked his fingers through her hair, unweaving the silky braid.
She moaned softly and leaned into his hands. He picked out the
debris, brushed it smooth with his fingers and plaited the top
section the way he’d once done his mother’s. He tied it off with
the leather thong. “There.”

She reached back, feeling the braid
with her fingers. She pulled it over her shoulder. “I’ve never seen
a braid like that. It’s lovely. Thank you.”

“It’s an elven plait.” He offered
her a hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

She started to rise but her legs
buckled. She dropped back onto the boulder and winced.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine, just a little sore.” She
groaned as she tried to get up again.

“It’s my fault.” He frowned. “I
should know well enough you aren’t used to this riding.”

“I’m fine,” she muttered through
gritted teeth. She stood, grimacing.

“Enough. You’ll ride with me.” He
lifted her onto his saddle and threaded Petal’s leads through
Dragon’s tack.

Easing up behind her, he put her
across his lap, supporting her with one arm around her back. She
nestled against him without argument. She soon drifted off, her
hand on his chest.

He held Dragon to a brisk pace until
they were through the pass. For Jessalyne’s sake, he hoped they
reached a town soon. She deserved a hot bath and a soft
bed.

She shifted just as a town appeared
on the horizon.

“Are you awake?”

“Mmhmm.”

“There’s a town ahead. Do you see
it?”

“No, but I believe you. How much
longer before we arrive?”

Ertemis checked the sun’s position.
“Probably before lastlight. You’ll have your hot meal and long soak
soon enough.”

“How did you know I wanted those
things?”

“You said you wanted a hot meal, a
bath and to sleep on a feather mattress.”

“I wished for those things but I
didn’t say them out loud.”

“You didn’t speak them?” He raised
an eyebrow.

“No.” She shook her head.

He muttered under his
breath.

She tipped her head. “What did you
say?”

“I said you infect my brain.
Mindsight has never been one of my stronger gifts.”

She went quiet. “I don’t want you
listening to my thoughts.”

“Do tell. Are they full of
impurities concerning me?” He teased. Just tell me what they are
and I’ll make them come true.

She gave him a wicked
look.

“I know,” he sighed. “I’m a beast.
Perhaps you should have considered that before you hired me,
sweeting.” He winked at her. “Are you feeling better?”

“A little. I’ll be fine
tomorrow.”

He patted Dragon’s neck. “We will
all be better tomorrow.”

Chapter Eight

They passed through the town’s gate
and Jessalyne’s curiosity at the sights and sounds took over. The
women wore delicate bell-sleeved gowns, the skirts split down the
front to reveal another decorative skirt beneath. She would gladly
replace her tattered outfit for one of those beautiful
dresses.

She realized the townspeople’s odd
looks were not just for Ertemis but for her as well. “Why are they
looking at us so?”

“Elysium is somewhere close to
Shaldar City, which we steadily approach. These people must see
light elves on occasion. With your hair covering the tips of your
ears, you pass for one. They stare because an elfess without a
large guard of male elves is rare. Not to mention you’re sharing my
saddle. They’ll leave us alone. We’re only gossip fodder to them.
They wouldn’t dream of bothering us.” He winked. “Little do they
know how dangerous you are.”

“It’s still impolite,” she said.
“They judge what they don’t understand.”

“You judge them by life in the
grove. That’s a high measure to live up to.”

“You’re right.” She stared back at a
few, making them turn their heads. “So we’re gossip fodder, are
we?”

“Aye,” he sighed.

“Sir!” She called out to a
well-dressed gentleman crossing the street.

“Jessalyne,” Ertemis
hissed.

The man looked over his shoulder as
if searching for someone else. He removed a hat of crumpled brown
felt, brushed his hand across his hair and swallowed. Tugging down
the points of his vest, he came toward them. “Yes, mistress
elf?”

“Where is your best guesthouse
located?” Fortunately, the front of her clothes was in better shape
than the back.

“Down two streets at the end of the
market quarter. The Gilded Rose, my lady.” The man’s gaze darted
from Jessalyne to Ertemis to the ground.

She nodded and gave him her best
highborn smile. “Thank you, sir.” She turned to Ertemis. “Shall
we?”

He grinned and shook his head.
“Impetuous wench.”

On the way to the inn, Jessalyne
noted several clothiers in the market quarter. The gowns in one of
the shop windows deserved a second look before they left in the
morning. She’d have to have something new after being
dragged.

Ertemis helped her dismount.
Jessalyne smiled as they walked into The Gilded Rose. The décor
reminded her of Valduuk’s private quarters; lush fabrics,
delicately carved woods, thick rugs. She tugged at Ertemis’s
sleeve. “Very nice.”

“And very expensive, no doubt.”
There was no one at the desk, so he rang a little crystal bell
dangling from an ornate brass stand. Jessalyne laughed when he
rolled his eyes at the frippery.

A thin man with spectacles came
through a door behind the desk. His eyebrows rose when he saw the
pair waiting for him. “Welcome to the Gilded Rose. What might I do
for you?”

Ertemis spoke. “We need one night
and stable space for two animals.”

“Yes, sir, let me see...” He paged
through a leather bound book. “Ah, yes, I have a fine room for you
and your...” His brows rose again, punctuating his unspoken
question.

“Wife.” Jessalyne grinned. Now that
was gossip fodder.

Ertemis narrowed his eyes at
her.

“Will you require anything else?”
The innkeeper asked.

“Have a hot bath sent up
immediately.” Ertemis answered. “Afterwards, we’ll have dinner in
our room. Send ale for me and honeyed wine for the lady.” He looked
at Jessalyne. “Does that suit you?”

“Do you have any of those little
chocolate cakes?” She asked the man behind the desk.

“We do, my lady.”

“Fine. A plate of those and some
cinnamon tea,” she added.

“Send breakfast at firstlight,”
Ertemis finished.

“Very good, sir.” The proprietor
handed them a key and rang for a groom to collect the
animals.

Ertemis gave Jessalyne the key and
went to get their bags.

The innkeeper busied himself behind
the desk, glancing up at her occasionally. “Lovely inn you have,”
she commented.

“Thank you, my lady. Have you
traveled through our town before?”

“No.” She pursed her lips, giddy
with the charade of being an elf. “My lord husband rarely lets me
out. He has such a jealous temper. So quick to draw his blade.” The
man’s eyes went big and she bit her cheek to quell a
giggle.

Ertemis came in, bags slung over one
shoulder. “I thought you would have gone up to the
room.”

“Not yet.” She gestured toward the
innkeeper. “We’ve been chatting.”

Ertemis looked at the man, who
blinked furiously. The proprietor nodded, muttered something about
his wife calling and scurried back through the door.

“What have you been up
to?”

She walked toward the stairs leading
to the rooms. “Nothing. Nothing at all,” she called over her
shoulder, unable to suppress her laughter this time.

The room met Jessalyne’s
expectations, but the bed exceeded them. Never had she seen such a
bed. Carved of some pale wood, the bed stood high off the ground,
with matching stairs on either side. At each corner, tall posts
supported a gossamer silk canopy and silk curtains to close the
sides of the bed for privacy.

“Oh,” she sighed. “I’ve never seen
anything so lovely.” She ran her hand over the pierced work
coverlet. “This bedding is silk.” A delicate pattern of roses and
vines edged the linens. “It’s beautiful.”

“It should be considering the coin
this room cost.” He threw his cloak across a nearby chair and
unbuckled his sword belt. “We could have a week’s lodging at any
tavern for the same amount.”

“If the townspeople are going to
talk, we might as well give them something worthwhile to talk
about.”

He gave her a curious look. “Is that
why you told the innkeeper you were my wife?”

She nodded. “I didn’t want him
thinking I was some pink skirt.”

He raised his hands. “Jessalyne, you
look nothing like a courtesan. With your coloring, they think
you’re high born, trust me. And never in all my days have I seen an
elfess fallen to that profession.”

A knock sounded at the
door.

“I believe your bath has arrived.”
Ertemis moved to open the door and two valets came in, carrying a
large copper tub between them. A maid followed with the first of
two steaming buckets of water.

The parade continued until the tub
was full. The maid put a basket of toiletries and towels next to
the tub and left.

Ertemis sat on the edge of the bed
and removed his breastplate, grinning. “This will be very
entertaining.”

“You’re not staying while I
bathe.”

“Don’t I get a bath too?”

“You may bath when you
return.”

“You would prefer your husband dally
with the wenches at the local tavern while you stay here? You do
want the townspeople to talk.”

“You are not my husband.” She
scowled at him. Why must he be so difficult at times?

“You told the innkeeper I was. Now,
you either shame yourself or deal with the consequences of your
falsehood.”

He pulled his boots off and settled
back on the bed, arms folded behind his head.

Jessalyne clenched her fists. “Very
well. I’m tired and sore and I don’t have the energy for this. You
may stay but you will not watch!”

“How do you intend to stop
me?”

She looked around the room. There
had to be something...she went to her pack and dug though
it.

“The water’s getting cold,” he
called to her.

“Aha!” She pulled a linen square
from her bag.

“I fail to see how that will
help.”

“Failing to see is exactly the
point. I am going to blindfold you. Then you may stay.”

Shaking his head, he sat up as she
came toward him. “I can’t believe I’m letting you to do this to
me.” He spread his knees and she moved between them.

“Very kind of you,” she said
sarcastically. Brushing his hair back over his shoulders, she
wondered if he could sense her body’s response to being so close to
him. Best get the blindfold on him quickly.