A smile tugged at his lips as he inclined his head. "I'm most grateful for such extravagant praise." His smile faded. "I told you I cannot—"
"You're not listening to me. I'm asking nothing of you. It's because we've relied on men to fight our battles that we didn't deserve to win them."
"And you intend to fight this battle yourself?" He gently brushed the hair from her face. "God help us all."
"God has already helped the men of the world. It's time we had our turn."
"And when do you intend to launch this offensive?"
"I haven't decided." She grimaced. "It's a difficult task."
"And it may take more time than you've allotted yourself." His hand continued to stroke her temple, but he looked away from her. "Providing it's the women of Sedikhan you've decided to save."
His words brought pain. She knew Galen found intense pleasure in her body, but he knew her well enough to realize she would probably be a great deal of trouble to him. She was a stranger in his land, and in these last weeks she had found just how suspiciously a stranger was regarded by his people.
"They certainly appear to need saving." She deliberately made her tone noncommittal and changed the subject. "Will Hakim attend the carobel in two weeks?"
Galen nodded. "And probably vote for union. He's suffered too much not to grasp any remedy for his troubles."
"We only have two more sheikhs to visit." She paused. "Unless you intend to invite Tamar.
"I'm not mad. We'd have war before we reached the council tent."
"Won't he be angry not to be invited and disrupt it anyway?"
"I won't let him."
"How will you—"
"I'm tired of talk." He began to unbutton her riding habit. "Lord knows, I'll have enough of that when I get back to Hakim." His head lowered, and his lips brushed her nipple as he whispered, "Hakim offered to give me a kadine to pleasure me tonight."
She stiffened. "What did you tell him?"
"What could I say? I told him you were a goddess of love and that the reason I indulged you so extravagantly was because you sent me to paradise every time I moved between your thighs."
She could feel the familiar ache igniting in her womanhood as his teeth pulled gently on her nipple. She swallowed. "You didn't have to lie to him."
He moved over her, drawing down the gown and parting her thighs. He muttered, "I didn't. It was no lie…"
"It's like a small village," Tess murmured to Galen as they paused on the rise to look down at the festival site below.
Over a hundred tents dotted the landscape in the valley, and the encampment was bustling with activity. Women tended huge kettles before their tents; men wandered about, laughing and talking; fine horses, their coats gleaming in the sunlight, moved restlessly in the enclosure at the far end of the encampment.
"No children," Tess noticed. "If this is a festival, where are the children?"
"No one who has not passed their thirteenth natal day is permitted at the carobel." Galen nudged his horse forward. "The children are left behind to be tended by the elders."
"Why?"
"Both the race and the prizes are for grownups, and are taken very seriously." Galen pointed at a small clearing at the western end of the encampment. "There's Viane."
"Where?" Then Tess caught sight of Viane's small figure moving gracefully and serenely through the crowds in the clearing. "Never mind, I see her!" She kicked Pavda into a gallop that sent the mare hurtling down the road ahead of Galen toward the encampment. "Viane!"
Viane looked around, and a smile lit her face.
She stood waiting until Tess reined in Pavda and slipped down from the saddle. "It's good to see you. You look well."
Tess gave her an affectionate hug. "Did you bring Alexander?"
Viane chuckled. "Why did I know that would be your first question? Of course I brought him. Didn't you ask me in three separate dispatches to do so? He's in my tent, and we can release him whenever you wish. I've told my maid to feed him his grain when he comes back to the palace." She held up her hand as Tess started to speak. "And yes, I've been keeping him in practice. Kalim has been helping me."
Tess frowned. "Kalim?"
Viane nodded. "Each evening he took him to Yusef’s house and released him." She paused. "And for the last week he's traveled about the city letting him go from different points. Alexander is getting quite proficient at finding his way home. "
"Kalim didn't mention helping you in any of the dispatches he sent to Galen."
"I'm sure he wouldn't. It's hardly a matter of state affairs."
"True." It was surprisingly considerate of Kalim to give his time and effort to their project, but Tess wasn't sure she approved. "If Sacha had been there, I'm sure he would have done the same thing. "
Viane smothered a smile. "Possibly."
"Of course he would," she said staunchly. "Is Kalim here?"
"Of course, everyone comes to the carobel. It's tradition for all men of stature to participate in the games."
"Even Galen?"
Viane nodded. "He says it's very important to observe the small traditions when you seek to break the big ones. He's won the last four carobels." Her smile faded. "I must not stand here talking. There is much to be done before the festival begins day after tomorrow. Food must be prepared." She gestured toward a large tent. "And special quarters readied for the kadines."
"Kadines? Here?"
"But of course. Did you not know it's the custom to provide the winner of each event with a night with the woman of his choice? In the beginning there was much bloodshed when a winner chose the wife or daughter of other competitors, so it was decided to bring the most beautiful kadines to the carobels to avoid such a choice." She shrugged. "Though the women service most of the men in the encampment before the festival is through. It's not only the feast and games that bring the chiefs and their followers here. It's tradition for each man to take his pleasure at least once with a kadine while at the festival."
"I… see." She should have not been surprised. She had discovered that kadines were completely accepted even by wives and concubines. "Have they arrived from Zalandan yet?"
Viane shook her head. "Tomorrow. But I must make sure their tent is comfortable and suitably furnished. They receive many visitors."
"I imagine that's true enough. "
"I brought a trunk containing suitable clothing for you and also your jewel box." Viane said briskly, "Naturally, you'll want to add to Galen's consequence by appearing in proper attire." She cast a disapproving glance at Tess's habit. "I suggest you change at once. Half the sheikhs have already arrived."
"There's still time." Tess glanced thoughtfully at the kadine's tent. "Are they very beautiful?"
"Of course, I selected them myself," said Viane, surprised. "Why else would they be considered as prizes?"
"I don't know. It seems—"
"Greetings, Viane." Galen reined up beside them, his glance taking in the order and cleanliness of the encampment. "You've done well."
Viane flushed with pleasure, "There's still much to do—I was explaining to Tess—but all will be ready by tomorrow." She frowned sternly at Tess. "Change your clothing."