"A slave mark, likely put there before I was sold to Samiel."

Bringing his palm to her lips, she kissed the scar, then settled his hand in her lap. "An evil thing to do to an infant."

"Slavery is evil in itself,aziza ."

"Do you see yourself as a slave?"

The back of Jaelan's hand rested at the juncture of her thighs, and his thoughts turned to the silken tresses beneath the cotton nightgown. He ignored her question until she repeated it, then looked up at her, frowning.

She cocked her head. "What ails you now, warrior?"

"I'm horny and have no..."

Aradia released his hand. She stretched out beside him, her feet dangling over the side of the mattress, and began tugging at hisizars .

"What are you doing?" he whispered, swallowing hard.

"Save your strength for this evening," she said, revealing his turgid staff to the morning air. "Let your lady see to your needs."

Closing his eyes as her wondrous lips enclosed him, Jaelan gave himself into her tender care. "Aye, wench, I am a slave...a slave to your insatiable hunger."

She continued with the task at hand.

A while later, Aradia snuggled as close to her husband as she could, their noses touching. She lightly kissed his lips.

"Hungry?"

Jaelan sighed. "I could eat my weight in fried potatoes."

She bussed his nose, then threw back the covers. "I think healthier food is more in order this morn."

Jaelan frowned. "Healthy as in what, wench?"

"You'll see." She stripped off her nightgown and turned her back to him.

Jaelan tried to push up in bed to get a better view of his wife's lovely body, but the pull on his wounds made him lie down again. He sighed.

"There'll be plenty of time for that," she reprimand as she looked over her shoulder. "Get better quickly and you'll have any of what you see--and all of what you don't."

He chuckled, closed his eyes, and soon drifted off.

"He likes fried potatoes with peppers and onions," one of the Death Lords said. "Two mutton chops, a large--"

"Too much grease and not enough vitamins," Aradia remarked, then told the man what she wanted.

A deep scowl settled on his rugged face. "He'll not appreciate such food, Milady. Only children--"

"Healthy children, I'm sure. Until I'm positive he's well enough to cram all that grease into his belly, he'll eat a lighter repast." The Death Lord exchanged a look with his comrade, but said nothing. One went in search of the food Aradia ordered, while the other remained to guard.

"What is your name, warrior?" Aradia asked.

"Sadiki, Your Grace."

"Thank you for your diligence. I appreciate your loyalty to Lord Jaelan."

The man stood straighter. "It is my duty, Your Grace, to watch over the Shadowlord." His eyes cut to hers. "And it is my pleasure to serve him and you." Aradia inclined her head, then went back into Jaelan's chambers. Before she could cross to the bedroom, she heard low voices. She reopened the door to find Tarsis speaking to the guard.

"Will you join us while we break our fast, Lord Tarsis?" she asked.

The old warrior shook his head. "I've already eaten, Your Grace, but I'd enjoy sharing a cup of coffee with you and Lord Jaelan." Aradia stepped aside to allow the warrior entry. She indicated a chair. Slipping to the bedroom, she looked in on her sleeping husband, then shut the portal.

"Is he still abed?" Tarsis asked.

"I'll wake him when the food comes. He needs to be up and about."

Admiration lit the retired man's eyes. "That was my intent when I came here."

"I guessed as much. Now, tell me about the fools in Uadjit."

Tarsis' left brow shot upward. "You come to the point--"

"I want to know how much of a threat those people are to my husband. I believe there's more to what happened with the magistrate's son than Jaelan's telling me."

"Whatdid he tell you?"

"He said he cut the boy's throat. He--"

"He was no boy. He was a grown man of thirty and five summers."

"All right," Aradia acknowledged. "He told me the young man had been overhead plotting an assassination of the King."

Tarsis stuck his fingers under his headpiece and scratched his temple. "Aye, well, there was more to it than that."

"I thought as much."

Sitting forward in his chair, Tarsis clasped his hands and let them dangle between his spread knees. He sighed. "There's a rebellion brewing here in Rysalia, Milady. There are those who despise the King and greatly fear the power the Brotherhood of the Domination is building. They believe if the Brotherhood is not stopped, it will soon be too powerful to contain."

"I agree."

"There's a rebel leader the people call Asim, the Protector. He and his band of men have been secretly undermining the power and position of the Brotherhood for many years. For just as many years, Jaelan has been after this troublemaker. We've been able to apprehend a few of Asim's followers, but no one close enough to the murderous leader, himself, to lay a trap. Whoever Asim is, he has powerful connections at Abbadon, for those we catch either wind up dead or go missing. How that's happening is anyone's guess."

"He's caused much trouble for the Shadowlord, then?"

"Missing shipments of grain...monies diverted from the Temple coffers...slaves freed...women destined for the convent at Galraith abducted and taken out of Rysalia." Tarsis shrugged a thick shoulder. "Aye, the rebels have been a thorn in Jael's side for many years."

"And the magistrate's son was one of those thorns?"

"The man was not guilty of what he had been accused."

Aradia stared at him. "Jaelan killed an innocent man?"

Tarsis nodded.

"But--"

"Jael had no say in the matter. It was Gehenna's doing."

"To execute the magistrate's son?"

"One of Lord Gehenna's informants told him he knew of a plot to kill King Hasani. He said it originated in the home province of the Shadowlord and wondered if Lord Jaelan might not be involved with its planning. When Lord Gehenna discovered it was the Shadowlord's cousin who was involved, he sent Jaelan to handle the matter."

"Was that a normal way of dealing with such a situation?"

"The Death Lords carry out punishments. It's Jaelan's job to see that it's done, butnot take the blade into his own hands."

"I think I understand. So Gehenna wanted to make sure the people of Uadjit had one more reason to fear and hate Jaelan Ben-Ashaman."

"And when the condemned man's wife became part of the punishment, it was left up to the Shadowlord to see that evil was done."

"Why couldn't she have kept her mouth shut?" Aradia sighed. "Surely she must have known she would incur the wrath of the Temple by admitting her guilt."

"Would you stand idly by and allow your man to be sent to his death and not protest his innocence?" At Aradia's look of denial, Tarsis spread his hands. "Neither did the girl. She was with child and wanted the babe to live. When given the choice between death and having her tongue removed, she chose the lesser of the evils."

"Either way, the punishment was cruel beyond need." "And designed to cause further ill-will amongst the people of Uadjit toward Jaelan." "He acts as though it was no matter of import to him, but I sense otherwise." Tarsis smiled. "You're beginning to know Jaelan, Milady. He's not the ogre he's made out to be."

Chapter 4.

By the time Tarsis and Aluino came to visit, Jaelan was sitting on the settee, reading a report from one of his Death Lords. That he seemed comfortable brought relief to the old warrior's face. "I hear you were up and about, walking the corridors as though you own them," Tarsis remarked. "I took my lady for a walk," Jaelan said. "She was growing tired of lying abed." Tarsis rolled his eyes. "More likely, she was tired of being laid upon." "Are you here for a reason or to annoy me?" Jaelan asked. "There's trouble in Yulcuf," Tarsis replied. "The rebels raided a caravan transporting olive oil to Basaraba. We've been ordered to go after them." "I volunteered to lead the Death Lords," Aluino said, "but since the shipment was destined for the Temple, Gehenna wants you to go."

"He's in no condition to ride," Aradia snapped from her seat at the vanity. When the three men looked at her with varying degrees of admonishment on their faces, she clamped her lips shut. She went back brushing her long hair, studying the men in the mirror.

"When is the troop to leave?" Jaelan asked. Tarsis folded his arms. "Tomorrow morning. Will you be up to the trek?" Not sparing his wife a glance, Jaelan nodded. "I'll have my strength back by then." "Not if I have anything to say about it," Aradia mumbled. Tarsis chuckled. "Going to drain him dry this evening?" Despite Jaelan's warning growl, Aradia smiled. "He's fairly dry right now, Sir Tarsis." Jaelan gasped. "Wench!" "Oh, ho, Ardy!" Aluino said, slapping his leg. "You've made the deadly Shadowlord blush!" "Out!" Jaelan hissed and stood. "Both of you! Now!"

Tarsis strolled to the door, turning to give Aradia a wink before pushing Aluino ahead of him. Aradia aside laid her brush. "Do you really think you're well enough to lead your men?" Jaelan took the brush from the vanity top and gently pulled the bristles through her long tresses. "Do not question my decisions in front of my men,aziza . It's not your place to do so." His hand stilled and he caught her eye in the mirror. "Do you understand?"

The chastisement pricked Aradia's ego. She stared into his eyes and sensed their coldness, despite the gentleness of his tone. She nodded, knowing she had overstepped her boundaries. Though she knew he cared for her, perhaps deeply, he was a warrior first, a husband second.

"While I'm gone," he said, returning to brushing her hair, "you're to stay in my quarters with Kafele to serve you. I'll post men at the door and leave orders that no one's disturb you."

"You fear for my safety?" A frown marred his handsome features. "I'll go to the King before I leave and ask his protection of you. Gehenna willnot bother you, but he's not the only enemy I have at Abbadon."

"What if Orithia sends for me?" He handed her the brush and moved away. "Do you truly desire to see that witch, or are you asking if I intend to curtail your freedom?" Aradia got up from the vanity bench. "You believe Orithia means me harm?" "She meansme harm. You?" He shrugged. "If you get in the way of her having revenge on me, you could get hurt." "And you think I would not do everything within my power to keep her from obtaining that revenge?" He studied her for a moment. "What are you planning,aziza ?" "Let me go with you to Yulcaf." It annoyed her that, even as she spoke, he started shaking his head. "Why not?" "It will be dangerous." "Life is dangerous, warrior. If I can get word to my friend Phillipa, she can get word to my mother and Orithia's." "How do you propose to get word to your friend? I told her to take the others and leave Rysalia. I made sure she did." "Through the Daughters of the Multitude," she replied. "There are no witches--" he began, but at her grin, stopped. "Those women have infiltrated Rysalia?" "They've been here for as long as the Brotherhood has, warrior. There's no place on this world where you'll not find a Daughter."

His frown deepened. "And they will help you?"

"Aye, because we Amazeens are members of the Multitude. Orithia is doing something the Amazeen will not

countenance, so the Daughters will stand with us on the issue. My greedy sister intends to Join with your king and that's against the laws of the Council. To marry a foreign royal would be disastrous. She's not thinking of our tribe. She wants the power her mother holds in Amazeen now and doesn't want to wait to inherit it. The Daughters will understand and act accordingly."

"They would not approve of her bettering her lot? They would prefer her remain a harem slave without status?" "You and I both know a ransom should've been sent to Amazeen for Orithia's return. She's not the first of ours to be taken prisoner by the Rysalians. Don't you wonder why, warrior?" "There won't be a ransom demand, now that Hasani's decided to make her his wife. I was ordered to send a message to the Domestic queen telling her of the proposed marriage."

"The Council will never approve the match, and even if your Tribunal allows such a Joining, it will not last forever," she countered. "He'll grow tired of her and cast her off. Either way, there'll be war between Amazeen and Rysalia."

"I imagine so," Jaelan agreed.

"As soon as she receives your message, my aunt will go before the Assembly. Within days, they'll be massing for battle."

"I hope it doesn't come to that."

"We have to see it doesn't, warrior. As I said, despite how enamored your King is of Orithia, that fascination is bound to wear off. If he's offered a goodly sum for her return to Amazeen, do you think he'll take it?"

He folded his arms. "Your mother offered an extravagant amount for your return and the Diabolusian turned it down."

Aradia sensed the jealousy lurking in his remark and lifted her head. "He loved me more than he did gold."

"Loved or desired?"

"It is one and the same, warrior."

"No,aziza , it is not." Before she could protest his remark, he shrugged. "Hasani loves gold more than he'll ever love any woman. I believe he'd turn her over and the Joining will never take place. At least not legally."

"What do you mean?"

"Hasani's a devious man. I'd not put it past him to stage a fake ceremony. He's done it before."

"That would serve Orithia right."

"As you say, once the novelty of her wears off, he'll move on to the next captive woman. The money he'll put in the treasury, and he'll be content."

Aradia held his unblinking stare. "If you had been in the Diabolusian's place, would you have accepted my mother's offer?"

"No amount of money willever buy you from this man," he said, a muscle working in his jaw. "If you think to have your mother offer you, she'll be wasting time."

His answer thrilled Aradia. Her heartbeat quickened. She turned and spoke as though no mention had been made of Diabolusia or its King. "If I can get word to Phillipa and suggest a high enough amount of ransom, Orithia's mother will gladly pay for her return."

"Even though she's damaged goods?" Jaelan asked.

"Especially so. I was damaged goods, but they wanted me back just the same."