"Not all humans are the same," he told her. "I used to be human, before this happened to me."
"No, not all humans are," she agreed. "I understand that, but I still do not like them. I feel that any other breed of human would do the same as the Arkisians, should our desert be by their lands."
"I really can't say," he said. "Probably. Humans are driven creatures, and greed is a powerful motivator. Besides, they probably don't even realize they're taking something your people hold sacred."
"They do so once," she said with a note of finality. "It has long been the custom of our people to kill all who seek to invade our lands, save only merchants, who are given safe passage. For a long time, that was enough to keep all but the honest away. But lately we have had to kill more and more gold hunters who ignore the laws and the dangers."
"Well, things will work out," he told her. "Much as I like it here, we'd best not tarry. Odds are they either have people watching us, and they'll notice we're missing. And I don't want them coming in here looking for us."
"Truly," she said. "I have noticed such watchers throughout the day."
"We'll have to come back when we can slip away," he said. "I like it here, but the idea of others tramping around in here offends me."
"An interesting notion. Why?"
"Because this place almost seems holy," he told her. "I get the feeling we're welcome here, but I'd rather not insult whoever watches this place by leading others in here too."
Allia looked around. "Maybe you are right," she said slowly. "I have been honored to feel the touch of the Holy Mother Goddess upon my soul, and the feeling of this place is something like that. I think that some God or spirit does keep watch over this courtyard."
Tarrin was pleased to know that he'd not been far from the mark. Not long after they'd left the hedge maze, the Keeper herself approached them. She was alone, which said much about how safe she felt in the confines of the Tower grounds. Her face was pleasant, even serene, and when she spoke, it was with a calm, light manner. "Ah, Tarrin, Allia," she said. "I've been looking for you."
"Yes, Keeper?" Tarrin asked after he bowed to her. Allia also bowed, but it was a very stiff one.
"I've been thinking about you two, and I thought to approach you with an offer."
"Speak on then," Allia said in her calm voice.
"Neither of you are suited for the chores of a Novice," she said. "Both of you are warriors. If it does not offend you, Lady Allia, would you two like to spend your afternoons with the Knights? Both of you can continue to study the warrior ways, and perhaps our Knights can learn from you. And maybe you can learn from each other. Tarrin, you are an adept in the Ways, and Allia, you are an adept in your people's style of combat."
Allia looked at Tarrin. "I did not know this," she said. "You know the Northmen's hand-fighting?"
"I am one of them, Allia," he told her. "Well, I was, and only on my mother's side, but yes, I learned it."
"Long have I wanted to see if the Northmen were worth their mettle."
"So the idea pleases you, Allia?" the Keeper asked.
Allia gave Tarrin a speculative look. "The idea does please me," she said.
"Good. Oh, just one word of warning. As you can see, Tarrin isn't human. He's a Were-cat, and if you're not familiar with his kind, they have magical capabilities. One of them is that their blood and spittle can change other humans into Were-kin too. We honestly have no idea what effect it would have on you, Allia, since you are Selani. So you should exercise a bit of caution. Don't put yourself into a position where his blood gets into your mouth, and Tarrin, please don't bite her."
"I'd never dream of it, Keeper," Tarrin said in shock.
"Nothing is without risk," Allia said philosophically.
"Good," she said. "You may go back to your exploration now. Have a good day." And then she turned and walked away.
"You did not tell me you followed the path of honor," she said, a bit accusingly.
"I don't make much of an issue of it, Allia," he told her. "People are afraid enough of me as it is. I don't need for them to find more reasons to not like me. Oh, and the fact that I can change people is kind of a secret, Allia. Please don't repeat it."
"It will not pass my lips except when we are alone," she promised. Then she wiped at an arm. "I am in need of a sweat tent," she sighed. "I have not cleaned myself in some time."
"You don't smell it," he said. She gave him a cool look. "Allia, I'm not human either. My senses are very acute. Trust me, you do not smell."
"Well, if I must use that bathing pool, then that is what must be."
Tarrin sensed that she was very uncomfortable with that notion. "If it doesn't sound too forward, do you want some company?" he asked.
"Yes, that would please me," she said in a gratified voice.
He found out why once they reached the baths. Allia had never in her life been immersed in water that went past her knees. She was sincerely afraid of the idea of going into the waist-deep water, though she would die before she admitted it. He also found that, like him, she had absolutely no fear of appearing in front of others nude. Tarrin found that quality to be refreshing. She undressed herself boldly before him as he did so himself, then he lowered himself into the pool and waited for her. She stood at the lip of the pool hesitantly, looking out over all that water with a bit of a wild look in her eyes. He stood by the lip right under her and reached up a paw. "Come on," he said gently. "If you want, I'll teach you how to swim. The water's not quite deep enough for it, but I can give you an idea."
She took his paw, and lowered herself into the water.
She still had that wild-eyed look, and she would not let go of his paw. He winced a bit under her grip. This woman was strong. He thought that the relaxing heat of the water may loosen her fear somewhat, so he led her towards the far end, into the hotter water. He was very careful to stay as close to the lip as possible, to give her something solid to reassure her. "Let me know if it gets too hot," he told her as they advanced into the hotter water.
The hot water had its desired effect. The grip on his paw relaxed, but she still would not let go. He decided not to make an issue of it. She was doing something that she'd never done before, something that was new and a bit frightening. "I know it's a strange sensation," he told her. "Come on, let's go out into the middle. Once you see that you're not going to go in over your head, I think you'll be alright."
She looked at him intently. Her eyes blazed for just a moment when she realized he knew she was afraid, but then, curiously, they softened, then took on an appreciative look. "You are very subtle," she said, then she laughed. "Very subtle indeed. Am I so obvious to you?"
"No, but I could tell that you didn't like the idea," he told her. "And the grip you had on my paw told me alot once you got into the water."
She smiled then, a glorious smile that would make any man's knees weak. "You are quite a man, Tarrin," she said in her accented voice. "You will bring me much honor in our friendship."
"Well, thank you," he said.
"Now, you may wash my hair," she said in an imperious voice.
"Yes ma'am," he chuckled, reaching for a cake of soap, right after she let go of his paw.
Allia, Tarrin found, was a very serious, sober woman, dignified and very much bound to her precepts of honor and propriety. That wasn't a bad thing, not at all. But, on the other hand, he discovered that, once you got past that towering barrier of iciness that she put to the human world, she was a warm, vibrant person with a very rich sense of humor and a very perceptive view of the world. Tarrin saw alot of Jesmind in her, for they had the same practical, no-nonsense view of the world, and both had the same tendancy to speak whatever was on their minds. That told Tarrin that Allia trusted him, and that pleased him greatly. They talked of unimportant things during the course of the bath, as he washed her hair, then she unbound his braid and returned the favor. All in all, he liked Allia very much, even after only a short time to get to know each other. Much like he and Dar had done, Tarrin and Allia simply clicked, quickly finding a common ground and using it to build a friendship.