Claire Delacroix (19 page)

The exchange was made in the warrior’s tongue until the boy abruptly shouted a summons into the building. A portly man filled the doorway a moment later, his manner businesslike as he evidently negotiated with the warrior.

No imagination did Kira need to guess what was being negotiated. ‘Twas insulting to be treated thus, though she supposed she had been a fool to expect more. And the loss of her innocence had undoubtedly only dropped her value.

If indeed the warrior had seen fit to confide that fact.

No trouble had Kira summoning an image of the retaliation that would be sure to bring from this portly man, or mayhap his customer, on the morrow. Her back had barely healed, but she had little doubt ‘twould soon be bleeding once again. And all to fatten the purse of a barbarian.

A barbarian she had been fool enough to almost trust. Kira gritted her teeth defiantly and pulled forward, leaving some distance between herself and the warrior. What had her lack of resistance netted her? Naught but speedy delivery to the house where she would undoubtedly be doomed to slave the rest of her days, in one manner or another.

Curse this Mongol.

A bargain of some kind was struck hastily, leaving Kira surprised that the heavy man had not seen fit to examine her before his purchase. Mayhap he desired her only for domestic tasks. Indeed, though that was a relief, Kira knew she should have expected naught else. Had her father not made her lack of charm evident? And ‘twas clear now that this warrior had but toyed with her when he had implied otherwise.

Mayhap she deserved to slave in this man’s kitchens for her foolish hopes. But no doubt had Kira that she had just been sold, no less that there was naught she could do about it. Her face flamed as she dismounted before the warrior.

She would not look to the barbarian who had committed this indignity. She would not grant him the satisfaction of seeing her disappointment. Why had she been so foolhardy as to not fight a man like this?

To Kira’s astonishment the warrior dismounted and cupped her elbow in his hand. He guided her into the house, the portly man stepping back from the doorway and granting them a paternal smile. Kira’s certainty faltered briefly before her conviction redoubled.

He was but seeing her to her quarters. No doubt he expected she would grant him some sweet leave-taking, but Kira had a surprise for this Mongol. He might well have sold her, there might well be naught she could do about that, but she would not fall prey to his rough charm yet again.

They climbed the wooden stairs to the second floor and Kira’s confidence uneasily slipped yet another notch. No servant or slave slept upstairs, at least not in Tiflis. She shot a wary glance to her companion, only to find him thoughtfully watching his step. The older man bustled up the stairs behind them, his incomprehensible chatter flowing over Kira as the warrior did not respond. His grip remained warm on her elbow and she wondered if she might have misinterpreted.

But nay. Why else could they be here? He meant to leave her and ride back to his friend. There could be no other reason.

The warrior ducked into a room on the right with a frown tugging at his brows, his gaze assessing as he glanced over the room’s contents. The other man trotted around them and struck a flint to light a lamp. The flame cavorted wildly for a moment, sending golden light dancing around the room.

‘Twas a fine room and Kira could not help but notice that fact. Larger ‘twas than any she had ever known. A wide window there was overlooking a quiet courtyard and surprisingly sweet night air wafted through the opening. Though the pillows stacked in one corner were showing their age and worn in spots, Kira thought them the most lavish she had ever seen. The floor was tiled and swept clean, naught else but a table and that lamp in the room.

Surely these fine quarters could not be for her.

The warrior nodded and the two men exchanged a few terse sentences. This was it, Kira thought. This is where he means to leave me. Her heart plummeted and she could not honestly tell herself ‘twas because of the state of the home to which she had been sold. Indeed, the portly man looked quite kindly.

‘Twas the thought of the warrior leaving her alone that troubled Kira, and the realization of that fact troubled her yet more. She had grown used to him, against all odds, and well she knew she would miss the weight of that silent perusal upon her.

Indeed, were she being truly honest with herself, she knew she would miss more than that.

Kira covertly glanced through her lashes to the warrior, just in time to see him dig in his tunic and hand the other man several coins. Her eyes flew open in shock, yet the older man smiled as though naught was amiss. He tucked the coins into his own pocket, waved cheerfully and trotted to the door to disappear.

Kira was dumbfounded. What had transpired? She could not have been sold, for the warrior had paid. Could this be an inn? Had he purchased accommodation that he might abandon her here? Kira spun to confront him, only to find his assessing gaze upon her once more. ‘Twas as though he waited for her response and for the first time, his thoughtful manner thoroughly irked her.

“What do you do here?” she demanded angrily, knowing full well that he had no understanding of what she said but needing to voice her frustration. “Why have you brought me here? Who is that man? What manner of establishment is this? And what is going to happen?”

The warrior regarded her for a long moment, then closed his eyes and rested his cheek on his palm in a gesture she recognized well enough.

Sleep.

“But
who
is sleeping here?” she asked tersely, pointing to him and to herself rapidly. She threw up her hands in confusion and a frown flickered across his brow. He indicated Kira, the pillows in the corner and repeated the gesture. Kira frowned in turn.

“And what about you?” she asked. “Do you truly intend to leave me here alone?” He returned her questioning glance blankly and Kira sighed heavily. She pointed to him, mimicked his sleep signal and waved broadly to the world at large.

The warrior pointed resolutely at the same pile of cushions and Kira’s breath caught in her chest at the heat in his eyes.

He meant to share her bed here.

“And the other one?” she asked breathlessly. “Where is he to sleep this night? Watching will he be like the others were before?” The warrior propped his hands on his hips and Kira knew he had not understood her question. She made a riding motion, then pulled back the corners of her eyes with her index fingers in a mimicry of the other warrior’s features.

She thought for an instant that her warrior almost smiled but the impression was gone before it began.

“Nogai,” he said flatly and she assumed ‘twas the other one’s name.

“Nogai,” Kira repeated, adding the sleep gesture and shrugging. The warrior pointed out the window. Kira fancied he indicated the hills beyond the city walls. He added a terse explanation but she knew not what it said. Indeed, it mattered little, for well enough did she understand the situation.

Well enough, indeed, for it seemed she could not keep the heat from her cheeks. She could not bear to ask him the question that filled her mind, and looked down to the tile floor in confusion. Did he mean that they should couple here this night? Had she but imagined that he had granted the choice to her?

The warrior rummaged in his pocket, his movement drawing Kira’s reluctant eye. To her surprise he produced a pearl. He rolled the gem between his thumb and forefinger as he caught her gaze. They stared at each other for a long charged moment, and when he finally beckoned, Kira could not have refused him to save her life.

The room was warmer than she had noted on entering it, the sounds carrying from the rest of the house muted to her ears as though they were a world away. Indeed, it seemed once again that there was naught but the two of them in the whole of the civilized world. The warrior’s eyes gleamed as Kira slowly closed the distance between them, leaving her feeling as helpless as a fish on a lure drawn ever closer.

She paused directly before him and he held the pearl up between them without breaking their regard. He rubbed the thumb and forefinger of his other hand together and Kira immediately understood his question.

He desired a value for the pearl. She glanced to the gem for the first time and was startled by its familiarity. Surely this was the gem she had swallowed.

Kira glanced back to the warrior only to find an unmistakable twinkle in his gray eyes. He made an exaggerated swallowing gesture, then pointed to her. Evidently intent on ensuring she did not doubt that ‘twas the same pearl, he flattened his palm between them as he had repeatedly asked for the gem and dropped the pearl into his own palm with a dramatic flourish.

‘Twas the same pearl.

Kira reached for the gem to value it, grimacing when she realized where it had been and how she had to assess it first. She tapped her own lips and winced anew as she indicated the pearl. Kira could have sworn the warrior’s lips twisted with mirth, but before she could be sure, he had bent over his saddlebags.

A tin cup was pressed into her hand as he pulled the cork from a wineskin with his teeth. Kira recognized the smell of the
qumis
as soon as it was opened and shrank back, certain she need never taste that substance again. Despite her reservations, the warrior poured a little into the cup and dropped the pearl into the alcohol. He lifted the cup from Kira’s hand, swished the gem around, then tipped the cup toward her.

The pearl glistened from its repose and Kira knew ‘twas as clean as it was like to be. She plucked it out of the liquid and slipped it onto her tongue. She closed her eyes and let the flavor of the
qumis
slide away as she concentrated on the cleaned gem.

‘Twas sweet, was all she had time to think before the warrior’s roughened hand closed around her neck. Kira’s eyes flew open and her gaze leaped to his, only to find that twinkle dancing merrily in his eyes. He tightened his grip ever so slightly in mock menace and cocked a warning brow.

‘Twas a joke.

Indeed, it had to be, though never had the man made a joke before. Kira caught his eye once more, the telltale crinkling at the corners of his eyes confirming her thoughts. She giggled unexpectedly at this insight into his personality and he wiggled his brows with vigor. Kira was completely unable to check her laughter when his eyes widened dramatically and his grip tightened with mock threat. She laughed aloud and the pearl danced from her lips.

The warrior made some charge over his shoulder as he ducked in pursuit of the gem. Kira shook one finger at him admonishingly, unable to completely quell her smile.

“‘Twas your own fault for teasing me so,” she accused him laughingly. The corners of his mouth tweaked and he shot her a telling glance as he straightened. Then he sobered with feigned tolerance, sending a mock scowl of disapproval in her direction as he dropped the gem into the
qumis
and swirled it around once more. He shook his head, as though severely plagued by the whimsies of women. Kira swatted him before she thought twice.

But a glimmer of the purposefulness in those silver eyes had she before he dropped the tin cup and reached for her. Kira squealed and ran, making it no more than halfway across the room before she was abruptly scooped off her feet. She laughed again as the warrior easily spun her around into his arms, her laughter fading only when she was looking up into his gleaming eyes.

Kira fell abruptly silent. The warrior’s tentative smile fled. His fingers fanned out as he held her closer, his gaze running over her features as though he would memorize every detail. Kira caught her breath at the admiration she saw there, knowing that it could not be feigned, but unable to doubt the evidence of her eyes. The warrior leaned toward her, then hesitated, his silver gaze rising questioningly to hers.

Unable to check her impulse, Kira reached up to twine her arms around his neck. ‘Twas all the encouragement he needed and she was folded against his strength before she knew what she was about. His lips were gentle upon hers, firm yet cautious, as though he feared she would rebuff his advance. Kira opened her mouth and leaned against him. She could not have denied his tender assault for any price.

Impossible ‘twas that he found her desirable, but time and again he had shown her exactly that. And no doubt had Kira that she desired him. She recalled the weight of him within her and fairly writhed at the memory. Would he come to her again? Did he truly wait only for her invitation or did he intend to join her this very night? Kira was shocked to realize that she could imagine naught but being with him again.

The warrior lifted his head and gazed down at her warmly for a long moment before setting her gently on her feet. He took her hand and tugged her to the table, plucking the pearl from the cup and handing it to her once more.

Business first, Kira thought savagely. Indeed, she could not help but wonder if she was reading too much into his actions when he acted with such single-mindedness. But still, she obediently fingered the pearl, peering at its surface and leaning closer to the lamp to assess its color.

‘Twas a fine gem, of that she had little doubt. But how would she tell him its value? Only Persian currency did she know well. Kira’s brow puckered. She was not certain even what coin they used here in Constantinople, let alone what currency her warrior might be familiar with trading.

As though sensing her conundrum, the warrior pulled a mélange of coins from his pocket and spilled them upon the table. A small assortment ‘twas, though they were mostly unfamiliar to Kira. A pair of gold coins there were that she knew to be bezants, though she knew not their relative value. A trio of silver coins with strange symbols upon them had square holes cut in the center. There were also several thin and bright silver pennies with notched edges that she had seen afore, but knew not the value. Kira’s heart sank in defeat just before she spotted the silver dinar.

Good Persian currency, as her father would have said. Kira plucked the coin triumphantly from the jumble and laid it beside the pearl. She held up three fingers and tapped the coin, pointing to the pearl.