He was striking a spark within her. She leaned forward, her face alight. "How?"

"First, I'm going to visit the sheikhs of the nine principal tribes of Sedikhan and try to persuade them to come to a meeting to discuss unity. "

"Will they come?"

"Oh, they'll come all right. I'll call a carobel."

The word was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it. "What's that?"

"A festival. Food, music, dancing, and the carobel race. Some of the sheikhs may not want to talk unity, but they'll come anyway if a festival is in the offing. Once I have them together, I'll have the chance of molding them to my will."

"Where will this festival take place?"

"In the foothills near Zalandan. It's as close as I can manage to neutral ground." His brow creased with absorption. "If I can make some progress with the visits to the individual tribes, I'll have a chance. There's a possibility I may be able to use Tamar's raids to advantage. He's been growing too strong for the liking of most of the sheikhs, and his raids have caused a good deal of bitterness. With the threat Tamar's posing and the added prestige of my marriage to a Tamrovian princess, I may be able to manipulate them into the fold."

"Then why not take the Tamrovian princess with you and display her properly?"

He looked taken aback. "What?"

She raised herself on her elbow. "Isn't that why I'm here?" Her face flushed with eagerness. "Take me with you."

"You wish to go?"

She nodded briskly. "We'll need to spend a few more days here helping these poor people, but then I'll be free to go." She frowned. "Of course, I'll have to send a message to Viane, asking her to continue Alexander's training. He mustn't get out of practice."

"By all means, we must make arrangements for Alexander." His gaze narrowed on her face. "You're very enthusiastic. Why?"

She wasn't sure. Perhaps she was moved to share his weariness and loneliness, or perhaps she simply wanted to be a part of his great adventure. Either explanation would reveal a vulnerability she wasn't ready to display, and she quickly lowered her gaze to the pulse beating in the hollow of his throat. "We struck a bargain. It's only honorable for me to fulfill my part as soon as possible."

He stiffened. "And you'll be free to leave Sedikhan sooner. "

Leave? The thought was the farthest thing from her mind. She felt hurt, but rallied to say coolly, "That's true."

"Then there's no question I should let you accompany me." He drew her close, cradling her cheek in the hollow of his shoulder. "I must take full advantage of your presence while I have it."

Chapter 9

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Tess smiled politely at the old sheikh, but received a haughty glare in return.

After only two minutes in his presence she knew that their visit to Sheikh Sarum Hakim of the El Kabbar tribe was not going to be particularly pleasant. She kept her smile firmly in place while she wondered what the old dragon would do if she stepped forward and tugged on his long white beard.

A flash of amusement lightened her fatigue and discouragement until the sheikh rudely turned his back on her and spoke to Galen. "We sup with the elders in an hour, but I wish to have conversation with you before." He snapped his fingers, and a veiled woman in dark robes came scurrying forward. "Take the majira to the visitors' tent. "

"We've brought a small tent of our own," Galen said. "We need not trouble you."

"You refuse my hospitality?"

Galen shrugged. "That was not my intention. I merely sought to save you the bother." He smiled. "Naturally, we shall be glad to accept whatever arrangements you've decreed for us." Galen nodded to Said, hovering a few steps behind them. "Make sure the majira has whatever she needs."

The old sheikh smiled unpleasantly. "You pamper her? The El Zalan has grown soft since you built your fine city and no longer roam the countryside. The women of El Kabbar know their place and display proper respect for their husbands. We teach them meekness with a whip." He flung out his hand toward Tess. "Look at her. She wears no veil."

"She comes from Tamrovia, a country that doesn't require their women to cover their faces."

"I've heard you do not demand it in Zalandan from your own women. Pah, weakness!"

"You're entitled to your own view." Galen's expression was bland. "However, you lost five of your women and six of your best horses to Tamar two months ago. Your strength didn't prevent that from happening."

Hakim stared at him without answering.

"Perhaps other measures are needed to prevent such a thing from happening again," Galen said softly.

"You’re mouthing unity again?" The sheikh hesitated before turning abruptly away, the carriage of his tall, thin body rod straight. "It will do no harm to talk. Come."

Galen fell into step with the old sheikh, and they moved toward the large tent a few yards away.

"Come, Majira." Said's tone was gentle. "It may be hours before—"

"I know that." Tess gestured impatiently. "I doubt if I'll see Galen before morning." She turned and followed the veiled woman through the encampment, acutely conscious of the heat of the sun's rays on her own naked face. The women they passed were all gowned in black, their kohl-outlined eyes staring fearfully at Tess and Said above their heavy black veils. She had never felt more alien than she did at that moment. Zalandan was a liberated paradise compared to this tribal encampment. She should be accustomed to it, she thought wearily. The El Kabbar was the seventh encampment they had visited, and her reception had been the same at each. Well, not precisely the same. She was usually met with reserve and curiosity, not this hostility. Yet it didn't ease the feeling of loneliness to know the women were downtrodden rather than resentful.

Said's gaze was fastened sympathetically on her face. "The majiron says we stay only one night here. The attack by Tamar has made the sheikh amenable to argument. They are not so strict with their women in the next tribe we visit."

"You mean they permit them to go unveiled and not to bow and kneel before their masters? How generous." Tess's gaze went to the woman hurrying ahead of them. "Dear Lord, I feel sorry for them. I want to strike out. Or shake them or—"

"No!" Said's expression was alarmed. "You must not do that. It would make the majiron's task more difficult."

"Don't worry." She raked her fingers through her tousled hair. "It would do no good. They would just stare at me with those big eyes and…" She shook her head. "My own mother is the same. If my father lived in Sedikhan, I've no doubt he would force her to wear a veil."

The woman had stopped and was drawing back the flap of a small tent. She held it back for them to enter.

"Thank you," Tess said.

The woman merely nodded, then swiftly lowered her lashes.

Sweet Mary, the woman was even afraid of her. Tess felt the frustration welling up within her as she strode into the tent. She stopped short just inside, her senses assaulted.

Heat, dimness, incense.

She was vaguely able to discern various cluttered objects, a scattering of pillows, but they were all strange, alien. It was a cage…