"Persuade?" Tess made a face. "Its another word for plead, and leaves a bitter taste in my mouth."
"Galen has been very lenient with you. No other woman is permitted such freedom," Viane said soberly. "You must understand it's not usual for women to ride abroad with their men, much less alone. I'm sure Galen has been criticized for indulging you so."
"He doesn't appear to mind."
"He's accustomed to fighting battles," Viane said. "Since my father died, he has tried to bring to Zalandan all that is good of the West. Many do not like to be driven from the old ways."
"Like Kalim."
"And me."
"You?"
Viane nodded. "In that way Kalim and I are alike. I find the old ways have grace and reason."
"It's reasonable to be imprisoned in this chamber as you've penned in your birds?"
"Their pen is beautiful, and they will never know hunger."
"Or freedom."
Viane's eyes were suddenly twinkling. "Alexander knows freedom whenever you loose him on the wind."
"But even then we tie him to us with bribes of food so that he'll return to his cage." Tess shook her head. "If he wasn't so stupid, he'd fly free and fend for himself."
"But then you would have no messenger bird."
"True." Tess suddenly scowled as she remembered her last meeting with Kalim. "You're not at all like Kalim. He's an uncivilized beast."
Viane arched a delicate brow. "You seem upset with him. Has he done something to disturb you?"
Tess didn't dare tell about her confrontation with Kalim. "I just don't like him," she said weakly.
"He appears surly at times, but he has his reasons. He grew up in one of the wild border tribes, and has known nothing all his life but warfare and bloodshed… He can be very kind when he wishes."
"But not the least amusing. He's all frowns and boring lectures and duty." Tess gave her a sidelong glance. "Sacha would not bore you."
Viane flushed and glanced away. "No, I doubt if he would bore anyone."
"And he can be kind." Tess added in all fairness, "When it occurs to him."
"You know him better than I."
"And he's handsome. All the ladies think Sacha is wondrously handsome."
"Very handsome." Viane moved across the terrace to the balustrade and looked out over the city to the hills beyond. "Why are we speaking of Sacha, Tess?"
"Because he is fond of you."
“I know.”
"And you are fond of him."
"He stirs me." Viane's hands tightened on the stone balustrade. "It is most unsettling."
"You would be so much happier with Sacha than Kalim. He would give you freedom."
"I have told you that freedom has little value for me."
"But it should," Tess said earnestly. "If you knew how wonderful it is to be—"
"I don't wish to speak of this any longer. It disturbs me."
Tess was sure she had made progress and was tempted to continue, but decided she had pushed enough for the time being. "Oh, very well. I only wish the best for you."
Viane's huge eyes glistened like polished onyx as she turned to look at Tess. "And I hope I have not hurt you by avoiding the conversation. I have come to care very much for you."
"You have?" Tess asked, surprised. "I thought I might be too abrasive for you. I know I sometimes nudge you."
"Nudge?" Viane chuckled as she shook her head. "Your 'nudges' resemble being pulled behind Selik at a full gallop." She added quickly, "But I don't mind. I've found life much more exciting since you've come to Zalandan."
Tess couldn't resist the opportunity to insinuate just one more idea. "Sacha is much more exciting than I've ever managed to be. Let me tell you—" She broke off and smiled sheepishly as she met Viane's reproving stare. "Well, it's true. I haven't lived long enough to compete with Sacha, yet I do look forward to overtaking him shortly." Her smile faded as she continued haltingly, "I haven't had a woman for a friend before, but I consider you my—" She stopped and then went on with a rush. "That is… if you would like… if you wouldn't mind being—"
"But of course we're friends." Viane smiled radiantly. "Friends and sisters. I knew as soon as I met you that it would be so."
"How… clever of you." Tess turned and stared out at the sun going down beyond the hills. Her throat ached, and she knew her voice sounded gruff. "I'm never certain about anyone or anything. I only hope…" She cleared her throat and said briskly, "Now, about Alexander's next journey."
Viane frowned. "I thought we'd agreed it would be from Yusef’s house."
"No, I believe we've imposed enough on Yusef." She carefully avoided Viane's gaze. "I've decided it might become awkward for him if we continue to use his house. "
"Awkward?"
Tess had a sudden gory vision of Yusef's head in a wicker basket. "Extremely awkward… perhaps. I'll send him a message tomorrow that we won't be using his roof again." She would also include a postscript that it might be wise for him to leave Zalandan until Galen returned. She glanced at Alexander on his perch in the aviary. "We'll let him rest for a few days and then set him a harder task."
"What task?" Viane asked warily. "And what place will we use if not Yusef's house?"
"I'll have to think about it," Tess hedged. She had no intention of divulging her new plan at the moment. Viane could be very obstinate when her sense of propriety was offended. Tess intended to use the next two days to drop hints and information and bring Viane around. She looked to the horizon. From this distance she could not see the watchtower, but she had no need to see it. She could visualize it standing tall, strong, mysterious, beckoning to her as it had the first time she had seen it. "I'm sure something interesting will occur to me."
Kalim met Galen just after he'd galloped through the city gates. "You made good time, Majiron."
"Good enough." Galen looked at the palace and felt a predictable quickening in his loins, quickly accompanied by a bewildering flicker of joy. Not yet. Control. Soon. "We rode hard. Is all well?"
Kalim didn't answer as he nudged his horse into a walk beside Selik.
Galen stiffened and shot him a keen glance. "I take it all is not well?"
Kalim didn't look at him. "Nothing of importance has occurred to the El Zalan."
Galen's gaze flew to the palace.
"Viane is also well." Kalim added haltingly, "It is the majira."
Galen's heart lurched, and he muttered a curse. "Damn you. I told you to care for her. Is she ill?"
"Her health is excellent." Kalim's cheeks flushed as he gazed uneasily at the men surrounding them. "This is not the place."
Galen kicked Selik into a trot that sent them ahead of the escort. He didn't stop until he reached the courtyard of the palace. He reined in before the steps, slid from the saddle, and whirled to face Kalim. "Why must you have privacy for what you have to tell me?"
Kalim swallowed and said hoarsely, "I would not have you dishonored before them."
Galen went still. "Dishonored?"
"The majira visited the house of Yusef Benardon three times this week and stayed a number of hours." Kalim paused. "Alone."
Galen felt as if he had been kicked in the stomach. "You're certain?"
Kalim nodded. "She went on foot and took no groom. I spoke to Yusef's neighbors, and they say he sent his servants away while she spent the afternoons with him." Kalim continued quickly, "They will not gossip. I told them I would put anyone to the sword who spoke of this shame."