Page 80 of Hot Zone

“I think we found the imperial barge,” he muttered at her.

“Who goes there?” one of the soldiers growled.

“Rustam of Halicarnassus,” he called back. “I come with tidings for my lady queen, Artemesia. Can you point me to her vessel?”

“She sails starboard and aft of his imperial majesty. Make way for this ship and steer clear of it or we will skewer you and your passenger.”

“I would not advise doing that,” Rustam replied evenly, stacking his voice and energy emanations with cold menace.

The imperial barge was close enough for him to make out the uncertain scowls on the soldiers’ faces. But then the undertow of the larger ship sucked at them, and he had his hands full for a few moments, rowing for all he was worth to keep them from being pulled under. This was madness. No map was worth this risk.

“There!” Tessa called excitedly. “That’s the ship! That’s where it is!”

Rustam looked up as Xerxes’s barge finally passed by. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. That’s it!”

Tessa was pointing at a low-slung vessel flying the red and gold colors of Halicarnassus. Artemesia’s ship. And here he’d been so relieved to have gotten clear of the woman’s web of intrigue and control.

“Are you certain?” he asked sharply.

Tessa clambered forward, setting their keel-less barge to rocking wildly.

“Be careful!”

She dropped to her knees, lowering her body weight fast lest she dump them both out into the sea. “Sorry,” she gasped. “Give me your hand.”

He dragged one oar aboard quickly and thrust out his left hand to her. She grabbed it, and a look of sexual pleasure passed over her face as their energy fields melded. His body hardened, ready to take her, as her violet aura flowed over him, hot and sweet.

“Oh, yeah,” she groaned, sounding nearly orgasmic. “We’re practically on top of it. It’s there.”

Damn.He sighed. “All right. Let me hail her men. And again, let me do the talking. She’s likely to slit your throat if we’re not extremely careful. Stay close enough to me that I can access your energy. I may need it with her.”

And then there was no more time to talk. A sentry from Artemesia’s ship spotted them and a shout went up on the vessel, announcing that the queen’s sorcerer approached.

A flurry of activity erupted and, in short order, he and Tessa were thrown a pair of rope ladders. He was startled that she knew how to climb one properly, going up the outer side of it, straddling one of the long support ropes between her legs. Must be more of that army training of hers. He harrumphed. Completely inappropriate for a woman.

Tessa grinned over at him as she gained the low, wide deck, almost as if she sensed his thoughts. He scowled back at her. And then the charismatic—and highly angry—red aura of Artemesia exploded across his brain. She was awake. That violent flash of crimson must be someone telling her that her missing sorcerer had returned.

Suffice it to say she was not happy.

“Stand behind me,” Rustam muttered under his breath to Tessa.

Thankfully, she had another one of those military-officer moments of knowing when to follow an order without question and scooted behind him just as Artemesia stormed up onto the deck.

“Well, well, well. Look what the gods have brought me on the tide. My runaway slave…and his whore. This is too rich. I shall give thanks to the gods in the morn for the return of that which left me without my permission. Perhaps I shall make an offering of your black heart, sorcerer mine.”

Artemesia strolled around him to glare at Tessa, who stood tall and proud behind him. Not defiant, he sent her urgently. Not fearful. Be calm.

“And the blond bitch, too.”

“You may call me Princess, Your Highness. And I would like to thank you for the loan of your slave. He saved me from rape and protected my virtue. In my land, this is a woman’s single greatest treasure. And mine is safe because of your man.”

Rustam snorted to himself. Taking her virtue had been one of the greatest pleasures of his life.

Behave,Tessa sent him. Aloud, she said, “As we fled my attackers, your sorcerer discovered vital information about the invasion that he knew you would want him to investigate. He said something about gaining you great glory with the emperor if you were the one to bring the news to Xerxes.”

The queen’s fury abated momentarily. Nice ploy on Tessa’s part. The only thing Artemesia enjoyed more than wielding power was gaining more power.

Her sharp gaze swung to him. “What news is this?”

Rustam went blank. Quickly, he sent to Tessa, Okay, smartie. What’s this news I supposedly have?

Artemesia barked, “Explain yourself this instant or die. Guards, seize them!”

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