Page 10 of Ensii
“There’s so much I want to do with you,” he whispered, breath tickling her ear. “When this is over, I mean to throw you on our bed and pleasure you until you understand how much I love you.”
“You’re going to make me lose my focus for the battle.”
She could hear Ashek’s smile in his response. “I’ve never loved as I love you.” He pecked her cheek. “Wife.”
“You sent for me, my lady?” Saorin’s voice was low and almost timid from behind.
Talitha turned to face him. “Yes.” She cleared her throat, stepping away from Ashek. Here she was engaging in foreplay while the boy’s sister was dead just a few hours.
To his credit her husband straightened as well, all seriousness overtaking him.
“I have a task for you, Saorin. I need you to go into the city and find those who are still loyal to me and my grandfather. Those who will be willing to keep Nehemian and the others from escaping if it becomes necessary.”
“We need him contained,” Ashek said. “Can you help us with that?”
Saorin shook his head. “I’m…I’m just a private. I served as General Gilsazi’s page not too long ago and I—”
“I think you can do it,” Talitha answered, so firm and calm that she convinced herself. “Saorin, we need someone to do this.” She laid a hand on his shoulder. “I know I can depend on you. I won’t force you to go because it will be a huge risk. But I want you to know I need someone to do this. Someone I can trust. Those people are in short supply these days.”
Saorin frowned at her. He was only slightly taller, used to looking up at people and it still seemed to surprise him when he had to incline his head to meet her eye. “Of course I’ll do it, my lady. I just…I don’t want to fail you.”
“If you remain faithful, there is no one way can truly fail me.” Talitha smiled. “Do you remember the way into the city?”
Saorin and his sister had worked the mines for years before they had been found by Zula. The two had traveled all over this city again and again as couriers for the taskmasters. Saorin knew all the best routes and all the houses of the most powerful merchants and traders in the city. It made him the perfect man for the job now.
The young boy—he was still a boy in Talitha’s eyes—nodded. “I will do as you command.”
“I’m not forcing you. If you believe you belong with us, I would be glad to have you.” Despite Ashek’s insistence the boy needed to go, her words were true. She’d never unnecessarily forced one of her people to do something and she didn’t mean to start now.
“No, my lady. I will do it.”
Talitha nodded. “Take what you need. I’ll see you before the next day is over or not at all.”
Saorin could not have missed the meaning of her words, but he did not give any reaction.
“He will be fine,” Ashek said from her shoulder as the young man disappeared into the darkness of the early morning.
“I hope so.”
“Can we trade explanations before die?” Shaza approached with Breida and one of the large northerners—Talitha recalled him as Breida’s brother.
“We won’t be dying, but yes, if you make it quick.” Past Shaza, Kurzik waved to signal they were almost done purging idols.
The dead had been gathered and covered with sackcloth from inside the storerooms. Those who were injured were staying behind with the children and those who couldn’t or wouldn’t fight. The warriors who would still come were all but ready, swords and spears flashing in the dim light of the bonfire. They were happy enough to take the weapons of the dead Lakeshans, but no one wanted their armor—national pride, it seemed. And the Ilians they’d had to kill were either in the flooded mine or mangled.
“You married him?” Shaza clipped, cutting straight to the point.
“Yes.”
“And…” Shaza glanced between the two of them. “There was an arrangement?”
“Hudspethites will live among us and I will give them first pick from among my choice lands.”
Shaza’s brows shot up at that. “To get her to agree to that? You must have skills. I’m impressed.”
“Ilios and the remnant of Hudspeth are equal now,” Ashek replied, not rising to Shaza’s bait. “I am the leader of the Hudspethites, by election and by conquest.”
Shaza didn’t seem any more surprised than she did. “Hudspethite, hmm?” Shaza shrugged. “I’m a bit surprised you didn’t kill us all when you had the chance, but I suppose ruling us was too good an opportunity to pass up.”
