He stood naked in the middle of the room, ignoring the chilly breeze from the window on his bare skin as he considered what had happened. He didn't doubt the existence of telepathy and perhaps other paranormal forces. He'd experienced telepathy himself. So he wasn't going to dismiss the possibility that the Feathered Ones really were telepathic. But this was the first time he had received anything he could recognize as a message from Cheeky. Perhaps in the past the Feathered One's telepathy was too subtle. Or perhaps Blade had just made a lucky guess about what Cheeky wanted to tell him this time. He wished he'd been able to learn more from Breeder Romiss about the Feathered Ones, or else have watched them in action more….

A faint sound from the bed broke into his thoughts. He listened, and it came again. It sounded like a stifled giggle, and he was relieved. At least he hadn't made Miera cry again, by thinking about the Feathered Ones' telepathy when he should have been thinking of her. If he'd done that, he wouldn't have easily forgiven himself.

It was time to go to bed. The bride was getting impatient.

Blade tiptoed across the rug to the bed, then suddenly jerked the curtains aside. Miera was lying naked on top of the blankets, her face buried in one of the pillows, shaking with laughter. She looked up and gave a squeak of surprise, as he patted her on the rump. Her buttocks were nicely turned, firm and warm, strongly tempting his hand to linger. He pulled it back-better not rush things.

«I hope that trouble with the Feathered One didn't bother you too much,» he said. «If you'd like me to get rid of Cheeky-«

«Oh, no. You mustn't promise too much on our wedding night. Don't you know that's the one night of his life when a Lord's promises to a woman are sacred? If you promise to send Cheeky away tonight, you'll have to do it. I don't think he would like that. I've seen him when you weren't looking, and he is yours for life if you'll let him stay.»

«Whose life?» said Blade with a laugh. «His or mine? His life won't be very long if he frightens you again.»

Miera sat up, still naked but with her hands covering her breasts, and her legs together. «He didn't really frighten me, Richard. I was angry more than frightened, but I think you better try some more discipline-«She mimed turning Cheeky over her knee and spanking him like a baby.

Blade stared. To make this gesture, Miera had to expose her breasts, and they were simply breathtaking. They were perfect cones without the slightest sag, and a creamy white except for a light dusting of freckles and the pink nipples, which were neither too large nor too small.

His hands reached out to cup her breasts as if his fingers had a will of their own: Miera gave a little gasp as she felt a man's flesh against hers for the first time in her life.

Then she bent forward, so that her breasts pressed harder into his hands. She reached out with both hands and gripped his shoulders, pulling him toward her as her mouth opened. Blade didn't know if she wanted to say something or to be kissed. He didn't let her speak, because he couldn't have held back from kissing her if there'd been a gun pointed at his head.

Her lips stayed open as they met his. After a little while her tongue also crept out to meet his. Its movements were fumbling, like the movements of her hands. They were also determined. Miera wanted to do her best, even if she wasn't quite sure what that «best» ought to be.

Blade was relieved he wouldn't have to spend hours overcoming her fears. Before long his kisses moved from her lips, down her throat, and onto her breasts. They stayed there for quite a while, as his hands twined themselves in her silky, perfumed hair. At the same time her hands were running up and down over the muscles of his chest, probing the scars, sometimes making little darts down toward his groin. She always drew back before she touched his manhood, as if she were still afraid of being too bold.

It didn't matter. Blade was ready to take her long before he dared think she was ready for him. With a woman like Miera in his arms, a eunuch would have been aroused! He listened to sighs and whimpers of pleasure and watched her tossing her head from side to side for quite a while before he gently rolled her over on her back. Even then he stroked her thighs and belly and the damp red hair between her legs still longer before he raised himself above her.

She cried out at the moment of entry, but at the same time clutched him to her as if he was her only hope of life. Oh, well, at least those bastards outside won't be able to say a thing against her virginity! Then Blade set to work to give Miera as much pleasure as he could before his own control ran out.

She was moaning happily by the time that happened. He wasn't sure whether she'd found her own release or not, only knew that afterward she snuggled comfortably against him, as contented as a cream-filled kitten. At last he forced himself to get up and bring warm water to wash her thighs. By then she was awake again.

As he finished washing her, she pointed at his penis. «Shouldn't you wash too? After all… «She was too flustered to continue, and instead picked up the bowl and cloth and started washing his groin. Under the warm water and the warmer fingers, he felt himself stiffening again.

«Oh, my,» she said, contemplating her work. «Oh, my.» Then she bent over and kissed the tip of Blade's penis. Her lips trembled against his flesh for a moment, as if she wanted to do more. Then she drew back, gripping his hands to pull him after her.

This time she gasped instead of crying out when he entered. This time also there was no doubt she'd found her own release. Her happy scream must have been heard all over the keep as she arched her body against her husband's. She was half-stunned and more than half-limp when he poured himself into her. By the time he could fold her in his arms, she was sound asleep.

The smile hadn't deceived Blade. The sensuality was there in Miera, all right. It just required a little care to bring it out into the open, for his pleasure and hers.

Making Blade Captain of the Duke's Guardsmen went more smoothly than his wedding night. It helped that Cheeky was kept firmly out of the way until the oathtaking ceremony was finished. It also helped that most of the hundred Guardsmen were perfectly happy to serve under him. The previous captain was a tough, hard man, who knew how to fight but not how to make friends or win the hearts of his men. Most of them hoped he would live and recover from his wounds, but no one particularly missed him.

Blade also came recommended by Lord Gennar and Lord Ebass. Gennar had the reputation of a man who would be burned alive rather than tell a lie, and Lord Ebass was one of the toughest fighters in Nainan. Most Guardsmen were ready to think well of any man who came recommended by those two.

«Some will still have their doubts about an outlander,» said Alsin. «But they will also doubt the wisdom of challenging the man who slew Orric. His Grace does not make Guardsmen out of fools.»

«Good,» said Blade. «Do you know if he's made Guardsmen out of any of Orric's friends who might carry a grudge against his killer?»

Alsin's forehead wrinkled in concentration. «There are none in the Guards bound to Orric by ties of blood, public oath, or battle comradeship,» he said slowly. «As to those who may consider themselves bound in other ways-I cannot swear one way or the other.»

«I won't expect you to,» said Blade. «Just help me watch my back, though. We may find them where and when we don't expect it.»

«My hand on that,» said the Marshal, and they made the four-handed shake of sworn comrades. Alsin might have harsh manners, especially toward women, but he also had more than his share of common sense. A man like Duke Cyron would hardly have made him Marshal otherwise, bastard son or not.