Page 60 of The King of Koraha
“Yes.”
He rubbed his fingers on his temple. “Did Xerxes and I fight?”
“No.” She explained how she freed him from Xerxes’ compulsion. “Sorry about your head.”
“Don’t apologize, sunbeam. You saved me. I’d rather have been stabbed than turned into one of his sycophants.”
“I wonder how many of his loyal soldiers have been coerced to obey. I can’t imagine the person would be useful if they can’t think for themselves.” Yet the princess still had some independence. Except it was skewed.
“They’d obey orders without their doubts and questions making them hesitate.”
“Yeah, but they wouldn’t be able to adapt if the situation changed.”
“No. Sometimes, though, you don’t want your people to think. When they start to question their orders, they can make mistakes.” Rendor considered. “How bad was I?”
“Completely smitten.”
He moved, pinning her under him. “Want to try that again?”
“Obsessed.”
He growled and nipped her neck.
“That’s not an incentive for me to lie to you.”
“No?” He changed tactics, kissing her neck and then taking off her tunic to go lower.
She forgot all about…whatever they’d been talking about until he stopped, leaving her breathless.
He looked up at her with one raised eyebrow. “Well?”
“That’s a low blow.”
“Not really. I could go lower.” The promise was implied.
“You fought his compulsion and would have won, but I didn’t want to wait. Better?”
“It’s a bit over the top, but, considering the circumstances…I accept.” He fulfilled his promise and the rest of the world melted away.
“I think our smartest move is to act as if the compulsion worked and leave Nintri with that caravan,” Shyla said after their…nap. “He’s too dangerous. I need to figure out a way to counter his magic.”
“Can you close him?” Rendor asked, miming shutting a druk. “Like you did to those seers?”
“I might be able to. But what happens if I can’t? Then I would have tipped him off about what I can do. We need to report to the King and figure out our next move.”
“That gives him at least forty more sun jumps.”
“To do what? He’s already entrenched in Nintri. The princess is his.” Hopefully, Shyla would be able to clear her mind of Xerxes’ magic like she did for Rendor when they returned.
“I still don’t like it.”
“I know. You like action and this seems like we’re retreating.”
“We are retreating.”
“No, we’re regrouping.”
Unconvinced, Rendor looked at her, but instead of arguing, he glanced at the sand clock. “We still have time to get to the heart cavern by apex.”
