That sealed it. He wouldnt camp with the Sun and her bodyguard. Instead he would leave them on the low mountain pass with her shredded reputation as company.
But the animal lurking deep in his soul protested Talliss decision.
Kavya reached the rivers edge in time to see Tallis turn to the south and keep walking. Where is he going? she silently asked Chandrani.
He didnt say. Just finished his descent. Didnt even look my way.
After all that? Kavyas wrath surged into something powerful and unknown. Shed been angry before, but this was anger born of insult. Travel on. Put distance between us and the valley. Make what camp you can. Ill be back soon.
With long strides, she strove to catch up to Tallis. The wind whipped through her silk sari, chilling her bone-deep. She had intended to don a heavier sari for the evenings announcement, one without the turquoise of the North or the cobalt of the South, and without her customary gold.
Plain black. Neutral. For a people united.
No longer. She was going to freeze to death, but not before she wrecked Tallis of Pendray.
You ruined everything, and now youre leaving? What in the Dragons name sort of man are you?
He didnt stop. His pace remained even, as if he hadnt heard her at allor worse, as if he would just ignore her indignation. She wasnt used to being ignored. Arrogance or not, she wouldnt let go of the right to speak her mind and be heard.
Do you know what will happen now? You said you wanted to discredit me, that you didnt want me martyred, but my brother knows me now. Knows my face and the patterns of my mind. There was no time to disguise my appearance. I cant read you. I couldnt read Chandrani because of your blow to her temple. In the chaos, I had no one else to draw from. I was bare-faced and he saw me. He saw all that hell need to hunt me down.
Jogging the last few steps, she placed her feet carefully. Her ceremonial slippers wouldnt last long on the slippery, muddy shoal. She grabbed his arm with more force than she thought she possessed.
Tallis jerked in a semicircle and clutched her neckone fluid motion. Do you court harm? Is that it?
He squeezed until every fingertip found a pressure point. Black spots flitted against a night sky that wasnt dark enough to compete with the oncoming loss of consciousness. Indranan were helpless when unconscious. They were susceptible to mental influences, or might let a Mask slip. Kavya hadnt slept soundly or for long durations in years. For that reason and many others, she traveled with trusted people like Chandrani, just as they traveled with her. Kavyas youth hadnt offered any assurances. Sometimes she wondered how many of her memories were her own and how many had been left behind by predators whod used her sleeping mind as a playground.
He tightened. She gagged.
And she kneed him in the crotch.
Tallis let go and stumbled back, cursing. Is practicing that move a hobby among females?
Some old ways are still the best. She rubbed her neck. Her voice was roughened. Now answer this Dragon-damned question: What do you think will happen to the Sun Cult or whatever you outsiders call it if Im murdered by my brother? Martyrdom isnt the right word for it. Id be sainted .
That wont happen. Girls like those turncoats would make sure of it.
Turncoats, eh? She threaded her fingers together at her waist and aligned her knuckles. Mountains and valleys. Calm. Breathe. Does that mean you disagreed with their choice? Interesting.
Tallis stood. She didnt miss the way he shook his left leg, subtly, as if to protect his pride while easing the sting shed inflicted. Lets pretend your brother parted your head from that delicious little body of yours. Then what? Just another case of sibling-on-sibling violence. There would always be the suspicions that youd colluded in that bloodbath. The lure and the heavy. And thenan alliance broken down.
Her teeth began to chatter just when she wanted to appear unrelenting. Delicious little body is even more telling than calling those girls turncoats.
I already told you that I want you.
They stared at each other. Talliss expression was generally so open as to be off-putting. He behaved with too many human mannerisms. But with that sentence, he closed off every readable emotion.
Another slip. She touched his cheek where night shadows made a stripe of dried blood look like dirt. Youd meant to say something about animals or beasts or Pendray berserkers. You dont want me.
He took both shoulders in hand and pinched. His kiss crashed down on her. Lips were enemiesfighting, not working together for pleasure. Kavya found pleasure anyway. She was jarred soul-deep by the aggression of his embrace, with his arms crossed behind her back. She was thrilled by the shock. Telepaths were rarely shocked, which had made that afternoon all the more terrifying.
Some surprises werent terrifying until after the fact, when thought returned and she would regret enjoying his mouth on hers.
Later.
With more assurance, she took what he offered and made demands of her own. Tongue against roughly pebbled tongue. He nipped with his teetha reminder of the force contained within his lean fighters body. He was a beast in a mans skin.