“What did I answer?”

“You said you would tell me your answer when you returned with Nelesquin’s head.” She traced a finger down my cheek. “That meant no.”

I closed my eyes and tried to remember. I couldn’t, but I could imagine it easily enough. The throne had to be mine, all mine. I could not accept it from her hand.

I enfolded her in my arms. “Is it too late for me to give you my answer now?”

Her fingers slipped into my hair and pulled my mouth to hers. We had kissed before, many times, but this was like the first kiss all over again. Soft and hesitant, questing and curious, and warm, so very warm. Our lips brushed past each other’s once, then returned more firmly. Her breath warm on my cheek, my arms tightening around her, pressing her to me.

Our kisses became more urgent, tasting each other’s lips. I kissed her throat, then the hollow at the base of it. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I lifted her up, burying my face against her neck. Her tears splashed against my cheek. She hung on tightly and I carried her to the bed.

We freed each other of our clothes, teasing and playful in the revelation, but ardent in exploration. We touched and tasted. My fingers tingled as they ran over her silken skin. Fingertips danced over her softly, then my nails traced the same path more sharply.

Her touch was like fire, her breath ice. Her kisses inflamed me, her whispers seduced me and carried me down with her into a world where words ceased to have meaning. We became who we were before we existed, and what we would become after we were gone. Laughter became gasps, sighs became moans, heat and motion and emotion fused us together in more than flesh, more than soul and spirit.

And then we lay together after, her nestled on my chest, a finger lazily tracing the scar. I brushed hair from her forehead and kissed it. I smiled against her flesh.

“What?”

“Paryssa. I smell it.”

“It is who I am for you.” She smiled. I felt it against my throat. “Who will you be for me?”

“Not Soshir. No longer Moraven Tolo.” I closed my eyes. “Someone else, someone new. Someone who would be your consort, your champion, your lover and friend. Someone you can always trust.”

Her head came up. She studied my face. A smile slowly grew, then she kissed me. “That would please me very much. When shall we choose your new name?”

I stroked her hair and cradled her head against my chest. “After I bring you Nelesquin’s head.”

TheNewWorld

4th day, Month of the Bat, Year of the Rat

Last Year of Imperial Prince Cyron’s Court

163rd Year of the Komyr Dynasty

737th Year since the Cataclysm

Inn of Nine Fishes, North Moriande

Free Nalenyr

“You didn’t think we would let you go alone, did you?”

I should not have been surprised at their presence. They’d each been through a great deal with me. Captain Lumel, Deshiel Tolo, Ranai Ameryne, and Dunos. Each wore an oilskin suit bound up tight, with robes in a watertight container, and similar sheathings for their swords. They stood between me and the stairs to the cellar.

I smiled and bowed in genuine respect. “I did not expect you to meet me here.”

Deshiel bowed. “We understand that, Master. Perhaps it was because you gave us another time and point of rendezvous by mistake.”

The others smiled, and I bowed my head again. “It was because you have no intention of letting me go alone, and I have no intention of going accompanied. Deshiel, Captain Lumel, your archers are out there now trading arrows with the kwajiin. Neither they nor Moriande can afford to be without your services.”

The Virine warrior shook his head. “They’ve fought well enough without me. This is important.”

“As is the battle that will come.” I nodded to the woman. “And you, Ranai. They may have once been my xidantzu, but they answer to you now. As well they should. You are needed here.”

“Master, you told me that I should be xidantzu for nine years. You said I should wander and entertain bandits. Is there a greater bandit than Nelesquin?”

“No, but his entertainment is mine to provide.” I dropped to a knee and met Dunos’ unwavering stare. I caressed his cheek with a hand. “If I could take anyone, I would take you.”

“I will get across the river. I can hold my breath real good. I’ve been practicing.” He sucked in a big breath and held it.

“No, Dunos, don’t. I know you could get across. I know all of you could get across. I know all of you would fight like tigers on the other side, but that isn’t where the fight will be waged. We’ve traded shots for days and that will continue as the cities grow closer. If I fail, if Nelesquin lives, his invasion must be beaten back. You are the ones who can do that.”

“But, Master, I will help you kill kwajiin.”

“Yes, Dunos, you will. Knowing that is what gives me the courage to do what I have to.” I stood and studied all their faces. “Virisken Soshir would have found you here and thought you doubted his abilities. He would have thought one of you a traitor. He would have thought nine million things, but the one he wouldn’t think is what I think now. You are all friends who would fight and die with me. I would do the same for you, but here we must part company. It’s not going to be safe on the other side. This whole mission may have been betrayed.”

Deshiel frowned. “What?”

“How did you know when and where I’d be crossing?”

“There were rumors, Master. We had you watched and when you headed this way, well, arrows travel faster than even the swiftest of runners.”

“Arrows can cross the river, too. Nelesquin may be expecting me. If we have traitors giving him information, we may have already lost the battle for Moriande.”

The line parted and they bowed. I returned their bows, then began my descent of the stairs. I heard a step behind me and turned. “No, Dunos, you can’t come.”

“Master, if you go without me, you will die.”

A shiver ran through me. “Dunos, I won’t die.”

“Master, please. I feel it. I know it.”

I went to a knee on the stairs. “I won’t die, I promise you.”

The boy shook his head and a tear splashed on my face. “You can’t make that promise.”

“I can and have. You will have to help me keep it.” I glanced past him to Ranai. She rested her hands on his shoulders and gave me a nod.

“Farewell, my friends.” I smiled bravely and started down.

Dunos shouted. “No!” He didn’t come after me, but ran out of the Inn.

“I’ll find him, Master.”

“Thank you, Ranai.”

I descended into the Inn’s basement. A rusted grating stood open above a round brick hole. I climbed down, finding corroded steps with my boots. Twenty feet later, I splashed through sewage and entered a taller pipe slanting downward.

My fingers located a thick rope tied off just below the surface of the dirty brown water. I took several deep breaths in rapid succession, exhaling quickly, then drew in a normal one. Ducking my head beneath the water, I pulled myself along the rope as quickly as I could.

Figuring out how to get into South Moriande hadn’t been easy. I finally settled on the idea of passing from one sewer pipe to another. It was only two hundred yards, and with practice I’d been able to make the journey. Getting the rope in place was going to be a bit more difficult, but Borosan Gryst’s thanatons had no problem. One was sent across with the cable and anchored itself on the south side.

Once free of the pipe, I had to fight the river. The current wasn’t that strong, but the occasional arrow that had fallen short sank past me. I pulled myself along as quickly as possible. My lungs were on fire by the time I entered the far pipe.

I broke the surface and breathed as quietly as I could. The first impulse was to gasp and gulp air, but I couldn’t afford to make that much noise. If traitors had revealed my place of crossing, I’d be dead well before I got a chance to dry off.