Page 49

She used the cloth again to finish cleaning his face. He flinched away when she touched a particularly sensitive spot on his cheekbone. “Hold still,” she ordered. During her ministrations he'd managed to open his right eye more, though his left remained closed. “How much can you see?”

“Blurry on the right side. I'll let you know about the left when I can open it.” Poor vision not withstanding, he didn't miss the marks of her own stay with Chamtivos and company. “You're wearing a few bruises and lumps yourself, not to mention that rope burn around your neck.” He attempted to scowl but thought better of it. Still, his voice betrayed his anger. “They noosed you.”

She nodded. “Rope looped at the end of a pole.”

“Then there's a Kuram in their midst.” He expanded his remark when she shook her head to indicate she wasn't familiar with the term. “Horseman out of the Glimming. The Kuram are herders and useguras—what was used on you—to capture wild horses.” He pointed to her throat. “When did they give you that?”

“When we were first attacked. They shot me full of darts dipped in dasker poison to keep me that way until they reached camp. How did they take you?”

“Sheer numbers,” he said. “I killed a few, but they swarmed me like hornets.” He reached up to touch a spot on his scalp. “Someone with a club got in a lucky shot, though I don't think the lump on my head is as impressive as the one on your forehead.”

She'd forgotten about that injury. “Courtesy of one of Chamtivos's henchmen. I head-butted his face after he pissed on me.”

This time Serovek's ferocious scowl defied any pain he might have suffered from the expression. “He's first on my list to kill then.”

“You'd have to wait your turn behind me,” she said. “Besides, Chamtivos already did it. Cut the lout's throat for causing trouble and mistreating what Chamtivos considered his property.” That statement made her want to tear the warlord's arms off. And his legs for good measure.

Serovek regarded her, trading his frown for a half smile. “Battered and pissed on, you're still beautiful.”

“And I didn't think you could get any uglier.”

His smile grew, accompanied by a wince. “Does this mean I can't coax you under me?”

“The beating has made you delirious. I doubt you can even stand at the moment.” Her mind recognized his jesting, but her body reacted otherwise, sending a hot blush flowing under her skin. Her heart, barely slowed after the climb, resumed its previous heavy beat.

Serovek waved a hand in a careless motion. “Some bruises, a few cracked ribs. They didn't geld me.”

“Don't think the idea didn't occur to them. And you didn't mention the black eyes. Your nose is broken too. You're in no shape for a swiving.”

He snorted. “I'm beaten, not dead. I'd suggest you be on top, but you weigh as much as my horse. You'll break the rest of my bones those shit maggots didn't get to.” A chuff of laughter escaped her. “Ah, there it is,” he marveled, as if he'd turned back a threadbare cloth to reveal a valuable jewel.

“There's what?” Her question was rhetorical. She knew to what he referred.

“Your smile. There's no finer sight than a smile from sha-Anhuset, unless it's a smiling,nakedAnhuset.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Anhuset rolled her eyes. “Feeling better by the moment, I see.”

She sat down next to him, watching as he turned his head to take in their surroundings. His amusement was gone, the jovial manner with it. “What happened to the others? Klanek, Erostis?” His voice dropped. “Megiddo?” He listened without interruption as she recounted the events from the attack until their current predicament and Chamtivos's plans to hunt them the following day.

“You've made an enemy of your steward it seems. He hates you enough to pay a fortune for your death and planned it over time I'm guessing.”

His heavy sigh spoke of regret, sorrow, even a touch of embarrassment. “Bryzant has been my steward for a decade. It's never a joy to learn you've nursed a viper at your breast. He's capable and intelligent, but he needed help to execute this plan from a distance.”

“Ogran?”

He nodded. “You were right to be suspicious of him.”

It was her turn to sigh. “One of a few times when I wish I'd been wrong.”

“He was a useful puppet. Not smart enough to coordinate such a plan on his own, and he gains nothing from my death, but show him enough coin, and he could be persuaded. Bryzant, on the other hand, has some things in common with Chamtivos. A younger son without inheritance or prospects beyond his service in my household. He was ambitious and above all, patient. And he lacked Chamtivos's predilection for killing off family members. If he paid the warlord, he did so from funds taken out of my treasury. I might find it amusing if you weren't part of his machinations. Or Megiddo and my soldiers for that matter.”

“Did he tell you he plans to ransom Megiddo to the Jeden Order?”

He pressed a hand to his left side. “Every time his dogs used their fists on me.”

For now, there was little she could do to alleviate his discomfort, nor could she stay here with him much longer. They needed water, and she needed to scout the island, learn what the terrain held in store and discover any hiding places or defensible spots they could exploit in preparation for tomorrow's ordeal.

“I'll have to leave you here for an hour or two while I search the area. There's no avoiding it.” She handed him the eating knife Karulin had sneaked to her.