And the gleam of the steel of the dagger pressed to her throat!

She was going to die. It wasn't fair. She didn't want to die just as life was beginning to be so interesting.

"Where is he?"

He was talking about Galen, she realized with a wild surge of relief. Which meant he must not have killed Galen yet. The knife bit into her flesh, and she could feel warm liquid flow down her neck.

"Where?"

"Here!" A dark shape appeared suddenly behind her assailant, and she saw the glint of steel as a dagger was held to the man's throat. "Get off her, Tamar."

The man on top of Tess froze. "I can slit her throat before you can draw another breath, Galen."

"Why bother? You wouldn't live to enjoy your victory."

The man hesitated, and then, incredibly, he threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "Ah, Galen, you always did have a persuasive tongue." The dagger moved slowly away from Tess's neck. "Put away your dagger and we'll talk. It's over."

"I think my steel is more persuasive than my tongue," Galen said dryly. "Throw away your knife."

The man carelessly tossed the dagger aside.

"Now, get off her—slowly."

"With great regret. I've always admired your taste in kadines." The man swung off her. "Why don't you light the lantern so I can get a better look at her?"

"You light the lamp. I want my hands free."

"Distrustful bastard." The man Galen had called Tamar moved toward the gleaming copper lantern hanging from the tent pole a few yards away. "I told you it was over." A moment after the sound of flint on stone a flame flickered in the copper lantern.

Tess could see Tamar's face now. He was young, no older than Galen, with a black beard, cropped close, flowing black hair, and dark eyes. He stood a little above average height, and his handsome features lit with a flashing smile as he turned to face Galen. "Very good, Galen. When I heard you had a woman with you, I was sure you'd be sleeping the sleep of a dead man tonight."

Galen shrugged into his white robe, covering his nakedness, the dagger still in readiness in his hand. "You made so much noise cutting through the tent wall you'd have wakened the dead, Tamar."

Tamar grimaced. "You were always the panther-footed one, not me." He chuckled. "Do you remember the night you crept into the harem of that old—"

"That was the past."

Tamar shook his head mournfully. "Ah, how I miss those days. What times we had."

"Why are you here?"

Tamar raised his brows. "Why, I came to see my old friend Galen Ben Raschid."

"Why?" Galen repeated.

Tamar shrugged. "I was curious."

"And did you kill any of my men while you were making your way through the camp to satisfy your curiosity?"

Tamar shook his head. "No one got in my way."

"I wonder if you're lying."

"Would I lie to you?"

"If it suited you."

"True, but in this case it's not necessary. I killed no one." His glance turned to Tess. "My sentries told me she had red hair." He studied her critically. "Wonderful skin, but she's not your usual kadine, Galen. I think I must examine her more closely to see what drew you to her."

Tess scrambled to a sitting position. "Galen, may I be told who this person is?"

"Her accent is strange," Tamar noticed. "Have you been raiding outside Sedikhan?"

"The woman has just come from France. I found her in a cafe in Dinar."

Startled, Tess stared at Galen.

"I should have known. You always did like the Frenchies." Tamar strolled toward Tess. "Is she good?"

"Good enough." Galen glanced at Tess and then stiffened as his gaze fell on her neck. "You son of a bitch, you've cut her." He strode across the tent and fell to his knees beside Tess and asked her, "Are you all right?"

Tamar frowned. "What's wrong? It's only a little nick."

Galen didn't look at him. "You've outstayed your welcome, Tamar." He touched the tiny cut on her throat with a gentle finger. "Don't be frightened."

"I'm not frightened." She glared at Tamar. "Why should I be afraid of a man who slithers like a snake in the dark to attack a sleeping woman."

Tamar flushed, and his lips took on an ugly twist. "Shall I show you, whore?" He gazed at her defiant face for a moment before he said flatly, "She needs teaching. I believe you must give this one to me, Galen."

"When have I ever given you anything belonging to me?"

Tamar looked at him in surprise. "She is only a woman. We have shared women before."

"I've not had her long. She still entertains me."

"I'll make a bargain with you. Give me two nights with her and you're free to travel across my territory with no interference."

"It's not your territory."

"It is if I say it is."

"Not if I say it isn't. Words mean nothing."

"But blood means all," Tamar said softly. "And you know how I love the taste of blood."

"Yes, I know."

"But no more than you," Tamar said. "You go berserk when the battle fever hits you."

"Then you should be cautioned about rousing that fever," Galen said wearily.

Tamar gazed at him, a multitude of emotions flicking across his face. "Are you challenging me, my friend?"

"I'm warning you, Tamar."

Tamar's glance went to his dagger lying on the carpet.

The muscles of Galen's thigh pressed against hers and now Tess felt them tense, as if preparing to spring.

Then Tamar's teeth bared in a grin. "Not tonight, Galen. I have a raid planned against the El Kabbar in two days' time." He bowed mockingly. "So keep your woman. I'll find plenty to amuse me in the El Kabbar camp." He glanced around the tent. "Now, give me a goblet of wine, and I'll leave you."

Galen looked pointedly at the cut on Tess's throat, and his lips tightened. "No wine under my roof, Tamar."

Tamar frowned, then shrugged. "Oh, very well. Then just give me my dagger."

"You'll find it sticking in the big palm by the pool after we leave tomorrow. I'll not risk you slitting one of my sentry's throats simply to ease your frustrations."

"How well you know me." Tamar chuckled.

Then his smile faded. "But you don't know yourself, my old friend. Come back to my encampment with me, and I promise you will learn."

"Good-bye, Tamar."

"Until next time." Tamar tilted his head at Tess. "She is too skinny, but I like them small. It makes a man feel powerful as a bull to gore the little ones." He bowed to her. "At our next meeting I'll be delighted to teach your lady to have a more docile tongue." He strode out of the tent.

Tess let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding. "That was… interesting."

"Interesting? I've noticed you have a passionate fondness for that word." The surprise in Galen's expression was wiped away by respect. "But yes, you might call Tamar interesting."

"What else would you call him?"

"Murderer, rapist, bandit. There's no more vicious sheikh in Sedikhan than Tamar."

"He spoke as if he knew you well."

"We grew up together in Zalandan. For a time his father's tribe and the El Zalan were joined by a treaty. When Tamar came to power, the treaty was broken, and he returned to the north." He stood up, walked over to the tent pole and blew out the lantern. "You can go back to sleep now. He won't return."