Agnith's Promise: The Vildecaz Talents, Book 3 Read Online Free Page B

difficult to look at him that she didn’t try, concentrating instead on tending to the packing away of their few dining supplies. She opened the chest and stored their bowls and the cleaning-cloth, then went to the door leading to the byre. “Do you think they need anything more? They’ve been fed and they have water, and you’ve put their blankets over them, but – “
    Doms came away from the fireplace, moving up behind her with firm steps. “You don’t have to worry, Ninianee.”
    She rounded on him. “About what?”
    “About tonight. I won’t make demands of you that you aren’t ready to meet. And I know you’re not ready. You think you will discharge your obligation to me, but I . . . I don’t expect – and I don’t want you to use your body to balance our debts, whatever you conceive them to be.” I’ll sleep beside you as I have done, and you needn’t worry that I’ll expect more than rest.” He spoke gently as he studied the curve of her mouth, the light of her eyes.
    “You’re being very . . . generous,” she said, the doubt back in her voice.
    “No, I’m not,” he said firmly. “I don’t want you to wake in the morning, thinking, well, at least that’s over.”
    She blinked, because that very thought had just been going through her mind, “Don’t you want – ?”
    “I do, but not as a reward for anything I have done, or as a means of avoiding other matters between us. I don’t want you to give me your body but not your spirit; flesh is sweet, but spirit is a treasure.” He saw her bristle. “When I am what you want, not something you accept instead of what you fear, then I will be overjoyed to spend the night – and the daytime – exploring your passions and my own together.” He took her hands in his, holding it without force. “But that time hasn’t come yet, and I’m prepared to wait.”
    “What if the time never comes?”
    “It will.”
    She tossed her head. “That wasn’t what was bothering me,” she lied. “But it is good of you, whatever your motives.”
    He shook his head and gave a single, rueful chuckle. “Yes. You aren’t ready.”
    “Then what will happen tonight?” She held her breath as he answered, certain that anything he said would be important to them both.
    “Tonight, we sleep. If you can’t sleep,” he said easily, “you can tell me about how you were as a child, about your life, about your dreams, and I’ll tell you how my father and I became alienated, and why I stay away from the Drowned World for long periods of time, singing songs and doing entertainments. You can tell me about your first Change, and I’ll tell you why my half-brother is a fool.”
    “Why do you want to know these things? Why would you tell me about your life?” she asked.
    Doms’ smile glinted. “Because that’s what people do when they’re falling in love.”
     
    * * *
     
    Rai Pareo was looking a bit green as he stumbled into Poyneilum Zhanf’s chamber, out of breath and disheveled. Gone was his courtly hauteur – his clothes were in disarray, and there was a scrape on his cheek that was dotted with blood. His respect was minimal, more habitual than courteous. He coughed, almost gagging, then visibly steadied himself. “Magsto Zhanf,” he said, his voice three notes higher than usual. “Magsto. You must – “
    The afternoon sun filled the room with pale light, and the evening chill was already in the air making the chamber a bit too cold for comfort. Zhanf was busy with a revelation-spell, and held up a hand as signal for Pareo to wait while the last of the spell was completed. He finished the incantation, then made the required gestures, flicking a spark off the end of his fingers. As he saw the small poof of blue smoke arise from the cerements of the spell-mummy, he nodded his satisfaction and turned to Pareo. “What is it, Imperial Secretary?” His respect to Pareo was truncated, for he was alarmed by Pareo’s appearance.
    “I’ve been out to