Page 87 of Tristan
Could I have fallen in love with a man like Bayaden, once upon a time, if I was given the choice?
I moan when he sucks my navel and arch my back and reach out and pull him closer. He does take me, several times and when he’s finished, I can’t move. He falls asleep with one hand protectively on my chest like he’s afraid I’ll leave him in the night.
The morning sun is hot as it rises and wakes me. I’m still in Bayaden’s bed. Moving is stiff from three days ago and the pain reminds me of the markings on my back. Bayaden’s asleep and rolled off me during the night; he’s on the other side of the bed. I slide off, slip into my pants and out the door. They don’t wear shoes here, not around the palace at least. They’re less polished than the Elves of Mortouge, but I think the no-shoe thing is more to do with the heat.
I begin with the plan to fetch the Warlord his breakfast but can’thelp myself and get pulled outside. It’s quiet in the morning, except for the roosters. I sit on the steps and watch the sun finish its ascent and think on what I’ll do next. Andothair still plans on attacking Mortouge because of a broken heart. The king allows it because he either desires Mortouge for himself (Andothair’s broken heart is convenient for him) or he likes to spoil his children like the Mortougian king does. Diekin is still a prisoner, and I must get him out. I thought I only had one way, using my dragon blood if I had to, but if I do, Tristan the human would be no more.
But now, there’s this new thing with Bayaden. Perhaps there’s a way of stopping this war without my death. I sit a long time thinking about everything and the sun is well into the sky when I hear a voice.
“Something on your mind, young Warlord?”
“Yes, I was just thinking of you actually.”
“Well, you’d better start thinking of what you are going to say to my brother. He’s got his men out looking for you. You are lucky I agreed to join the foray and have found you first,” Andothair says.
“Why would he be looking for me? I’ve only gone to get him his breakfast as I do every morning.”
“Breakfast has long passed,” he says laughing.
“Long passed? Damn. I’ve been out here too long.” I stand to leave but there’s something I’ve got to say before I miss my chance. “Andothair—I’m sorry. I didn’t know about you and Corrik.”
“My quarrel is with Corrik. I should not have tried to kill you.”
“Or hold me prisoner or give me to your brother as a love slave or start a war with Mortouge. In the least, you should’ve told me he still lives.”
His face hardens. “I regret nothing. And besides, your life is here now, Warlord. It’s easier to think of him as dead, is it not?”
I’m not answering that. “Move on. The war is unnecessary; innocent people will die, Andothair, people who have nothing to do with our ridiculous love triangle.”
“When he’s got nothing left, he’ll see how I feel.”
“It doesn’t work like that, Andothair. Let it go.”
“It’s not so simple, young Warlord.”
“Then let Diekin go.”
“Bartering for your friend’s freedom?”
“Is that on the table?”
“You make my brother happy, and you’ve upheld your end of the bargain, but Diekin is to ensure you will continue to do so. What would I have if he were gone?”
“You will have my word. I will swear it on the heart of Markaytia. A Markaytian is only as good as his word.”
He shakes his head. “I will require something more binding than that. A magical contract.”
I’ll do it, I’ll do anything that gets Diekin out of here, but there’s one problem. “I’m already magically bound to Corrik.”
“What nonsense are you chattering about?”
“On our wedding night when we consummated our marriage, Corrik said we’d be bonded by flesh and by magic.” I no longer bat an eyelash at talking about sex.
Andothair bursts into rancorous laughter, mocking me. “Oh, Warlord, you really had me for a second there.”
I wait silently, expecting he’ll explain if only he can stop laughing long enough.
“Stop looking at me like that and you sound ridiculous. Bonded by flesh and magic … that is not a real bonding, not for you anyway. You are a human; you cannot bond to an Elf by flesh.”
