"Oh, very well." Tess made a face. "But I refuse to smother my face in a veil, regardless of Galen's consequence."
"A pity." Galen's eyes twinkled. "I'm sure old Hakim would regard such a concession as a major victory for me."
"No veil." Tess's tone was firm. Her glance fell on the kadine's tent again, and she added carelessly, "However, I see no reason why I shouldn't change into a gown."
"I'm grateful," Galen said gravely.
"After all, I'm quite weary of these habits after wearing nothing else for the past two months. And I'm not unreasonable."
Pearls framed the low square neckline of the gold brocade gown, the only ornamentation disturbing the graceful simplicity of the high-waisted garment.
Not that she had overmuch to fill the bodice, Tess thought ruefully as she gazed into the polished bronze mirror. Still, the gold did seem to make her hair shimmer in contrast.
Galen shifted his position on the divan, leaning his chin on his palm as he watched. "Quite splendid."
"It has a matching fringed shawl and even a foolish gold parasol to carry with it." She touched her bare throat. "It's not at all modest. Perhaps I should wear the shawl. Hakim will glare at me again."
He lifted his brows. "Do you care?"
"Well, Viane said I mustn't damage your consequence." She looked straight ahead at her reflection and said casually, "She seemed to think you would follow the traditions of the carobel."
"Whenever possible."
"She said most of the men visit the kadine tent."
"True."
"Will you?" She still avoided his glance as she rushed on, "Not that it matters. I only wanted to know. "
"If it doesn't matter, why are you interested?"
She scowled at him. "I don't like… it bothers me."
"Why?"
"How should I know?" she asked in exasperation. "I just don't like to think of you with—" She broke off. "Are you going to them?"
"It would break tradition not to visit them." He stood up and started toward her. "The other men might doubt my virility."
"Nonsense."
"Hakim would think me crazed."
"Stop toying with me. Are you going to visit them?"
His index finger traced the pearls on the bodice of the gown. "Did you wear this to persuade me not to visit them?"
"Certainly not."
"That's good. Because it would have been a mistake."
She frowned uncertainly. "It would?"
He nodded. "If you wished to persuade me, you should have worn nothing at all. I much prefer you without clothes." He smiled. "But it pleases me that you don't wish me to fornicate with another woman. You do realize that if I make this supreme sacrifice, it's only fair that you make a special effort to please me? The kadines have been taught many delightfully wicked ways to pleasure a man." He slipped a finger into the bodice and rubbed it back and forth across her nipple. "Would you like to learn them?"
She could feel her body flowing helplessly toward him. "Would I find them interesting?"
"I guarantee it."
She moistened her lips with her tongue. "Then I see no reason why I shouldn't—"
"Galen, Tamar is here!"
Kalim burst into the tent.
"Tamar?" Galen's hand fell away from Tess, his muscles tensing. "Are you sure?"
Kalim nodded. "I saw him riding into the encampment myself."
"How many?"
"Alone."
A little of the tension ebbed from Galen's stance. "Good. Then there's no immediate threat. Bring him here."
Kalim nodded and strode out of the tent.
"Tamar," Tess whispered. "Dear God, and the festival hasn't even started."
"I expected him to appear sometime. Now is better than later." Galen turned to face her. "Go to Viane's tent. I don't want him to see—"
"Galen, how could you be so unkind?" Tamar walked into the tent. "Would I have had a carobel and not have invited you?"
Galen's face became expressionless. "Your raids have made you less than popular to the majority of my guests. I doubt if you expected to be welcomed."
"Not by those swine." Tamar shrugged as he strolled over and selected a plump fig from a large wooden fruit bowl. "But you're always glad to see me, aren't you?" His strong white teeth sank into the fig as his gaze wandered to Tess. "How grand you look. Like the princess you are." His voice was low and silky. "It was truly wicked of Galen not to tell me of his plans for you. I hear you've been traveling the countryside with my old friend. Have you properly impressed these fools with your splendor?"
"I believe we've had a certain amount of success," Tess said coolly. "And possibly my presence contributed to it."
Tamar took another bite of the juicy fruit. "So haughty." His white teeth flashed in his bearded face. "I believe I like the princess better than the strumpet, Galen. Shall I tell you why?"
"No, but you can tell me why you're here. "
Tamar's gaze shifted back to Galen. "Why, to give you one more chance to turn your back on this foolishness. Send these sheep back to their own encampments and forget trying to persuade them to a unity nobody wants but you."
"One you certainly don't want."
"I admit it wouldn't suit me. My nature wouldn't tolerate the chains of union." His smile widened. "And neither would yours. I'd wager you'd break your own fine laws within six months after a union was formed."
"You're wrong, Tamar."
Tamar shook his head. "Oh no, I know you very well, my friend. Your silly ideals will stand only as long as the provocation is not too great."
His smile faded. "And I assure you I'd provide that provocation. Send them away, Galen."
Galen squarely met his gaze. "By the time they leave, there will be a united Sedikhan."
Tamar muttered a curse. "And it will declare me an outlaw?"
Galen nodded.
Tamar glared at him. "This is ceasing to amuse me. You're going too far. I warn you—" He struggled with his rage. Finally, a tight smile curled on his lips. "Unfortunate choice, Galen." He turned and moved toward the opening of the tent. He stopped in the entrance to look back at Tess. "You didn't want to know, but I think I'll tell you anyway. The reason I like the princess better than the strumpet is that I've never rutted with a princess." He paused. "Yet."
The next instant he was gone.
Tess tried to suppress the shiver that rippled through her. No knife had been drawn, but this meeting had been inexpressibly more menacing than her last with Tamar.
"I'm sending you back to Zalandan," Galen said flatly.
She whirled to face him. "Because of Tamar's ugliness?" She shook her head. "I won't go. I have a purpose here. No matter whether they disapprove of me or not, whenever those sheikhs look at me, it reminds them of your connection with Tamrovia."
"You leave in the morning. I'll tell Kalim to escort you. "
"And when he leaves me in Zalandan, I'll be ten minutes behind him riding back here. Would you rather have me traveling alone and unescorted than under your protection?"
His hands clenched into fists. "You don't know Tamar. I won't have—" He broke off as he saw her set lips and squared jaw and muttered a low oath. "Lord, you're obstinate. Don't you understand? Tamar doesn't make idle threats, and he threatened you. "