They would demolish you in a second. Were the Indranan. Telepathy can be a nasty weapon. Youd live the rest of your life with your body intact and your mind flipped inside out.
Tallis pulled her hair and brought their faces together, close enough to share the same chilly air. How much chaos could I cause before that happened? The precious Sun in danger. A hundred Dragon Kings running scared. Your cult destroyed.
The woman grasped his forearm with both hands.
Her nails dug into his flesh. You have no right. Why would you plan violence, here of all places? These people live in peace and they believe in me .
And in time theyll learn the truth. Tallis held her neck in his palm as he sheathed his blade. Just like I did.
CHAPTER 
TWO
Grinning tightly, Tallis shook his head. You wouldve done both already. And even on your lying face, I can see ityou cant read my thoughts. Frustrating, goddess?
Im not a goddess. My name is Kavya.
He raised his brows. Very pretty.
Her jaw tightened. No. I cant read your mind. Who are you?
Tallis. Search that piecemeal soul of yours. Youll know me.
They warned me, she said, almost to herself. I didnt listen. How long have you been tracking me?
He was pleased his gamble had paid off. Everyone had heard of the Sun Cult, but its leader was elusive. Cult bodyguards had felt his presence as hed neared his objective. Theyd reached out with tap-tap touches into his mind. Curious, then angered. Repeatedly theyd warned her of a coming danger. Shed reached out with her own giftand sensed nothing. Hed been reluctant to depend on her telepathic blind spot, but recognizing it had been the genesis of his plan.
There behind the altar, he slowly released her neck. There was no explanation for why he trailed the soft, fine strands of her hair down over one shoulder.
She shivered.
No, there was an explanation. Hed been seduced by this woman for twenty years. That hed want to admire her, to touch her
He cut off his thought as surely as he wouldve cut her out of his mind, had he been able.
While hed waited for her to finish her infuriating speech about peace and hope, Tallis had witnessed a living liea slippery eel pretending to be Everywoman. Now he had her attention. The disguise she drew from the impressions of a hundred minds began to slip.
Or simply . . . change . He couldnt tell.
A man who lived rough in the world learned to trust his instincts, yet his had been corrupted by the Suns voice in his sleeping mind. She bled into every aspect of his life, like placing a magnet next to a compass. His true north was long gone.
For a Pendray that was especially infuriating. As creatures of the elements, his clan had inspired a pantheon of deities among hearty Celts, Picts, Norse, and Saxons. To remain so uncertain of the natural world would be even worse than losing his berserker rage.
This woman deceived everyone who looked upon her face. Who could trust her words if she presented whatever facade a person wanted to see?
Ill go with you, she said at last. Peacefully.
Good.
He slid his fingers down her golden sari and clasped her hand, then mocked her with a smile. Were just taking a walk.
Where?
My tent.
She jerked her arm, but Tallis wouldnt let go. Youre sick. No one . . . No one
Takes you to his tent? Im not surprised. You play in dreamscapes instead. He adjusted his hold so that their bodies pressed side to side. Come.
Tallis dragged her through the stone archway that led away from the rear of the altar. They emerged into plain sight. Several dozen followers stood nearby.
They may wonder why youre walking so close to a Pendray, he said near her ear. But they trust you. Everyone youve touched with that witchs mind has come to trust you. So keep walking.
He tightened his hold on the low curve of her hip. She flinched and tried to draw away. Let me go. Ive come willingly this far.
Tallis ignored her entreaty. Too much bitterness needed to be purged from his blood. I wonder how many wish they could hold you this closely. Do you lie awake counting the minds youve warped? Enjoy becoming their fantasy?
Ive never done anything of the kind, she hissed. I am a peaceful woman. I keep my thoughts to myself.
Being one of the Heartless must be useful when you use people the way you do.
Clan-based hatred is revolting. Dont tell me you subscribe to those old prejudices.
I subscribe to bare facts. A deceiving witch leading gullible worshipers is a threat to every Dragon King.
The sunthe real sunwas arcing westward. The valley would be dark long before nightfall. The steep angles of the Pir Panjal determined when the rays no longer reached the earth. Tallis strained every sense, trustworthy or not, and steadily guided his captive to his tent.
Then he shoved her between parted canvas folds. She fell to her knees as he pushed in behind her. Much better,
goddess.
Kavya.
Fine. Hold still, Kavya .
She gasped as he searched for weapons concealed within layers of gold silk. Wiggling away from each touch, she was wide-eyed and edgy. She jerked as if his hands were hot irons. Tallis grabbed a rope from his knapsack and bound her wrists and ankles. She struggled against the hemp, but every movement tightened the sharp grip.