“Should you continue to bathe so often, you soon will have no skin left,” Tammad’s amused voice came from the doorway I jumped in surprise, then glared at him.
“Don’t you ever make any noise when you walk?” I demanded. “And what are you doing in here? I’m accustomed to having privacy in my bath!”
“You must now accustom yourself to other ways,” he commented as he looked around. “On Rimilia you will never bathe without a guard on shore, and the guard may be any of my warriors. For what reason are these things here?”
He stood at my dressing table, fingering the pure white wood and the matching white furred chair. Then he lifted a bottle of scent, turned it this way and that, and finally moved his finger over the tiny photocell area. A thick mist of the scent sprang immediately out of the nozzle, spreading itself all over his chest. At the appalled look on his face, I lost all control and laughed uproariously.
“Those things are for trapping the unwary” I gasped, watching him trying to wipe the scent off. He was totally unsuccessful, of course, as the scent was designed to penetrate the skin immediately. He gave up trying with a sigh, and looked at me ruefully
“Truly have I forgotten that the unknown should be approached with caution. Now I, too, shall require a bath.”
“About time, I’d say” I commented under my breath, standing up to redial the tub. The dirty water was gone by the time I stepped out and fresh water had replaced it by the time I had my towel, so I waved a hand at it. “The tub is now yours, barbarian, but don’t complain about the fit. It was never designed for someone of your proportions.”
“I shall make do,” he said, stepping carefully into the water When it didn’t immediately dissolve him, he lowered himself to a sitting position, then glanced at me. “When a man relaxes in the camtah of his people,” he mused, “often his woman will dance for him. Do you now remove the covering and dance for me.”
His eyes moved to study me in that way he had, but that in itself wasn’t enough to make me lose control.
“Sorry but I don’t dance,” I told him, pulling the towel more closely about me. “Dancing tends to disturb the mental attitudes necessary for Mediating, so I must avoid it. I’m sure you understand.”
He continued to stare at me for a minute, then slowly nodded his shaggy blond head. “Perhaps it is the truth,” he decided. “You dance well when lying down, but have no control of your aman then. It is your aman which will be needed at the Great Meeting. Why have you not yet eaten? The bathing could have waited.”
“I always bathe when I arise.” I said, reflecting that bed with him was the only time I had no control of my aman. There was nothing wrong with my mental ability under other circumstances. “And I didn’t know I was to be allowed to eat. I thought perhaps you had decided I was too fat.”
“You’ve hardly enough flesh to lure a man’s hands.” He grinned, leaning back and making the water slosh onto the floor. “When you are not permitted to eat, you will be told so. Go you now and see to it quickly. The remainder of the writings of the Murdock McKenzie must also be seen to this day”
Being reminded about the reports annoyed me, but not as much as his automatic assumption of obedience. I shrugged a bit, as if resigned to my fate, then dropped the towel and went for my body lotion. I began spreading it slowly in long, sweeping curves, timing it so that I’d be through and gone before the barbarian could wash and dry himself. I’d teach him to order me around.
Suddenly there was a great splash of water, and I was seized from behind and thrown to the carpeting. The barbarian was on me at once, his dripping body in possession of mine before I could gasp out my shock. He took me hard, forcing his hands below me so that I jerked my soreness from him, only to be hammered at by him from above. He dictated my movement with his hands, meeting it at just the right moment with his hips, and through it all I barely knew what was happening. When he had used me well, he stood straight above me and looked down at my dazed and battered form.
“Do not offer temptation when you do not care to have the offer accepted,” he lectured, folding those massive arms. “The lesson will serve you well on Rimilia. Go you now for your sustenance, lest I decide to find other use for you.”
I sat up and pulled my towel to me, thoroughly wide-eyed by what had happened, but I must not have moved quickly enough for him as he took a step toward me and began reaching out a hand. I gasped and jumped to my feet, then fled to my kitchen, trailing my towel and the sound of his laughter. The laughter infuriated me, and I would have broken something if my kitchen had had anything that was breakable. A lesson had been taught, all right, but when would I be able to teach one to him?
I dialed my meal, then wrapped the towel about me while it was being delivered. I had no interest in Murdock McKenzie’s reports, but I knew I would read them anyway after I’d eaten. I was damp from the dripping wet barbarian, and also because of him needed another bath, but after I’d eaten, the reports would be seen to. I’d already had my orders.
I ate my food with very little appetite, cursing Murdock McKenzie all the while. If not for him, I would not be where I was subject to the whims of a giant. I’d not had such restrictions even as a child having been raised in a creche for the gifted. We’d had such freedom there that my mother and father had found visiting painful. When their visits had stopped I hadn’t even missed them, and I’d been surprised when they came to my formal appointment as XenoMediator. They’d shown pride and considerable shyness, but to me they’d been half-remembered strangers whom I’d avoided as soon as possible. They’d never tried seeing me again.
Annoyed with the turn my thoughts had taken, I began disposing of the dishes, but was interrupted by the signal of the call. I waved my hand in its direction, and was startled to see the features of Janverin Elliott.
“Terry!” she said at once. “I’m so glad I caught you in. How are you?”
“The question is, how are you?” I countered, studying her unmadeup but radiant face. “I saw Vera yesterday, and she seemed to think you were in a lot of difficulty”
“I know” Jan laughed, looking somehow both younger and older. Jan had always been a proud woman, almost larger than life, but there was nothing left of her former pride. “I spoke to her myself this morning. That’s how I knew you were back. I haven’t much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Rod is letting me have a party tonight, and I’d like you to come. Will you, Terry?”
“Why you know I’d love to.” I temporized, shocked at the change in her, “but I have a house guest now, and . . . .”
“Please, Terry, you must come!” she begged, her face now pleading. “I want you to see my new happiness and understand it. And Rod said I was to get you here if you were back. Vera will be here, and you can bring your house guest. Please, Terry, say yes.”
“Jan, what’s happened to you?” I demanded, staring as she brushed anxiously at her loose, black hair. “People used to beg you for invitations, and you would laugh at them. What has Rod done to you?”
“He’s made me a fulfilled woman at last,” she said, her eyes gazing glowingly on some faraway promised land. “I’ve never been as happy as I am now, and I pray daily that he never tires of me.” Her gaze, still shining, came back to me again. “Will you come to the party, Terry? For the sake of old friendship?”
“All right, Jan,” I conceded, feeling more than just disturbed. “I’ll be there. But what have you . ..”
“Please forgive me,” she interrupted,” but I have other calls to make before Rod awakens from his nap. I’ll see you tonight, and perhaps I’ll be allowed to speak with you. I hope so. Clear.”