Dance With The Enemy

by Linda Boulanger

  Tahruk turned at that moment. He studied her flushed features, his own face washed with concern. “Are you okay, my lady?” he asked, moving quickly to her side.

  Elenya nodded, swallowing hard before she answered. “I’m just excited. The anticipation has me all a flutter.” It was a truthful answer, even if a bit misguiding.

  The warrior stared at her a moment longer then nodded. “No one is about. We can easily scale the path and be on our way.” He was already pulling at a rope that seemed twisted within the vines. He was explaining that it would be used to secure her about the waist to keep her safe should she lose her footing.

  Elenya stopped him with a hand on his arm. She hadn’t seen this path they must cross yet, but she felt sure all her scurrying about the hillsides of Aleone with Schemek and her sisters had prepared her well to hold her own. Tahruk dropped the rope that had been fighting him.

  Relief settled in when she saw the path. It was wider than expected, though still ended with a treacherous drop to the water’s edge beneath a jagged cliff. She and Shemek had wandered along paths much more dangerous at times. Oh if her parents had known! The thought made her giggle, garnering a puzzled look from the warrior.

  “It’s better than I expected, my lord. I am much relieved,” was the explanation she gave, though she was a bit concerned about a patch of vines that covered the trail not far before them. She was milling over her ability to cross it safely in skirts when Tahruk tightened his hold on her hand and pulled her through more hanging vines into what appeared to be little more than a dense section of the woods at the base of the hill. Elenya frowned, her sense of direction momentarily thrown off as he led her through this wooded passage, moving them farther away from the sea. She understood when they exited into the woods above the harbor. They would come in as if they’d traversed through the forest, leaving no one to speculate about a secret tunnel system.

  “Brilliant.” The words tumbled out unexpectedly.

  “What?” Tahruk asked, his head snapping toward her.

  Elenya smiled. “Nothing, my lord. Thank you for bringing me here.”

  He returned the smile before slightly squeezing her tiny hand still held firmly within his. Working it to where her fingers were loosely weaved into his, she leaned her head against his bicep, hugging his arm close with her other hand. The act gave her the same sense of security she felt when he held her. She sighed when he bent to kiss the top of her head.

  Elenya smiled. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily fall in love with this man at her side even knowing he had the power to, and probably would, break her heart. Still, as they made their way to the ships in the harbor, she reveled in the feeling, very much living her dream, even if it was only for the moment.

  The harbor was quiet as one might expect for midafternoon. All cargo would have been loaded that morning, the crew dispatched at lunchtime with demands to return sober and prepared for a quiet night aboard the ship so they might set sail at first light. The familiarity of the setting heightened Elenya’s excitement, as did the idea of perhaps seeing men from home that she’d know.

  “My lord,” she whispered, still clutching herself close by his side. “I do not recognize any of these ships.”

  “No?”

  She shook her head and Tahruk smiled.

  “Perhaps because it’s a new vessel for Aleone?” he offered.

  Elenya’s frown was heightened by her shrug. She hadn’t considered such. She knew her marking had opened doors for Aleone, and she supposed her match to the King’s finest might well have prompted her people to invest in luxuries beyond what they had before. Still, as best she could tell, these ships were much larger than anything owned by the ship masters of Aleone. She considered which one might have had the reserves to purchase such a fine vessel.

  Her thoughts were interrupted, alarm bells going off when Tahruk stopped by the largest ship in the harbor, loosed himself away from her and began to climb the gangplank. Her hand still held in his had her following him upward.

  “My lord!” she squealed rather loudly, stopping him when her physical resistance could not. “You cannot, you must not board a ship without the permission of the captain or the owner. Doing so will bring bad luck to the journey.”

  “Ah, Little One. Put your worries aside.” He turned and attempted to continue his climb. This time, she pulled back with all her might, and although she was no match for the mighty warrior, he did stop at her urgings. She frowned at his chuckle.

  “You may have no regard for the men who must make this voyage, but I shall not allow you to merely laugh away their safety, believing my concerns to be laughable superstitions.”

  She had pulled her hand away from him and stood, fists on hips, glaring up at him from her position further down the plank. Tahruk’s explosive laughter at the sight of her only fueled her anger. With a snarl, she turned on her heel, throwing her hands in the air as she began to stomp away, railing him as an insufferable beast not worthy of his title as the King’s finest if he could not even show these shipmen proper respect.

  Her exit failed. Tahruk had her caught against him by the waist, a hand over her venom-spewing mouth before she’d managed half a dozen steps from the ship. Only his barely contained laughter as he turned her to face him let her know she was not in the trouble she should expect for going off on him. Her brows drew down, lips twitching beneath his hand.

  “Your worry is unfounded because I have permission, my lady,” he whispered to her, his smile widening as if he held the world’s largest secret. “I am the owner of that fine vessel. Or at least I am until it sails into Aleone harbor within three days’ time.”

  Elenya stared at him, her eyes imploring his, attempting understanding. “What are you saying, my lord?” She finally relented and asked after pulling his hand from her mouth.

  “Look at the name of the ship, Elenya.”

  She did as directed. Petit Cadeau. Small Gift. Still…

  “This is my gift to Aleone,” he said, when she frowned and shook her head. “It’s a small token for the gift they have given me.”

  Elenya stared at him for a moment more before her brows finally pressed upward. Her mouth fell open in most unladylike fashion, though she quickly closed it when Tahruk raised his own brows.

  “You…you commissioned a ship for my people? A ship this fine? It must have cost you a fortune…”

  He pressed a finger to her lips. “Shhh. There will be no talk of cost. And I did not commission the ship. I could have done so, though when I learned this ship, having sailed on her maiden voyage less than three months prior, was to be sold, I realized she was perfect.” Not unlike you, his sweeping assessment of her had Elenya blushing before leaning into the warrior, kissing the fingers that still pressed against her lips. She turned her face up to his, hopeful he would understand she desired his kiss.

  Tahruk groaned and glanced back over his shoulder before complying with her wishes. Elenya realized only after they broke away that he was concerned about the men who had remained aboard the ships who now acted as audience to her wanton behavior. The blush that stained her cheeks when their whooping and hollering reached her ears would not soon leave. Tahruk chuckled when she pulled away and buried her face in his chest.

  “Come, Little One,” he whispered after kissing the top of her head. “Let’s see if we can find the captain of this fine vessel to take our letters to the shores of Aleone.”

  Elenya nodded, keeping her head down as he led her back toward the ship. “Thank you, my lord.” Her words were so quiet she wasn’t quite sure he’d heard her until she felt the slight squeeze of his hand again.

  Yes, Elenya thought, my heart truly is in danger.

  Chapter 21

  Tahruk was delighted with Elenya’s response to his gift to her people, especially when she slipped an arm about his waist and leaned into him on the walk back to the Zanak compound. He held her close to his side with an arm about her shoulders, reveling in the looks from t
he bands of seamen they passed along the more traveled, open path. Not all the men returning to their ships were members of the Petit Cadeau, though those who were offered quick words of congratulations to the couple’s union. Their open appreciation of his chosen’s beauty was not offensive in the least, in part because he shared their appreciation, and also because he knew they regarded him highly. Not one of them would have dared cross him, especially where his lady was concerned. He was also quite pleased with her response to the seamen. Her choice of words in her wishes for a successful journey to Aleone seemed wrought with perfection, bringing forth smiles of appreciation.

  “You have a way about you, my lady,” Tahruk told her when they were alone again in their journey.

  Elenya laughed in surprise and shook her head. “No, my lord. I simply know the language of the sea.”

  Tahruk smiled, enjoying the way her breath caught when he leaned down to kiss her temple. She may know the sea, though what he’d witnessed was much more. His lady was a diplomat of sorts. He’d seen it with the captain of the Petit Cadeau, and with her crew, as well as at the feet of Master Daruh, and again within the midst of his own family members. Elenya Sharanis was the kind of woman who could change the world if she wanted to. There was something about her that made people want to please her, do for her. Hell, even he had fallen under her spell. And that was certainly not his nature. He’d thought his feelings would lessen once the fires of the marking had been quenched, though having Elenya had not sated his desire. It had only made him want her more, and he had every intent of satisfying that longing when they returned to his chambers. It was a thought that had him moving her along at an ever quickening pace the closer they got to home.

  Almost as if she could read his mind, Elenya laughed as they moved faster. She broke from his side and took his hand. They were both breathless and laughing when they entered Zanak from the heavy door Tahruk had led her through that first day. Together they scurried to his chamber where Elenya twirled in a circle as the warrior closed and bolted the door. When he turned to her, she dropped her chin and look at him through lowered lashes.

  “Vixen,” he growled before catching her to him.

  Elenya’s head fell back, giving the warrior the freedom to devour her slim neck with greedy lips. Elenya moaned and then squealed when he scooped her up in his arms and whisked her to his bedchamber.

  “It’s daylight, my lord!” she squeaked when he unceremoniously tossed her on the bed and began removing his clothing.

  “It was daylight by the time I finished with you this morning as well, was it not?” He hitched a brow, though his disrobing did not slow at all. Her wide opened eyes grew even bigger when he fell to her side, his hand immediately finding its way beneath her skirts, while his mouth covered hers with demanding hunger.

  “Oh, my lord,” she whispered against his lips, her voice breathy, broken with need. “I was so sure you should and then became fearful you might wait until the sun no longer colored the sky.”

  Tahruk pulled his face from hers to look into her eyes. “Waiting is not one of my virtues, I’m afraid,” he told her.

  “Nor mine,” she whispered, snaking her hands around his neck to pull his head back to hers.

  Tahruk chuckled against her lips, only too happy to hasten them toward the act that would momentarily quiet the fires that raged between them.

  “Never has another woman so completely engulfed me, Little One,” he told her as he held her after they’d made love.

  Elenya lifted her head from his chest and stared at him for a moment. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  Tahruk rubbed a thumb across her cheek before running his hand through the red tresses he’d already grown to love so very much. Elenya smiled and then lay her head back down. She began tracing finger circles around the smooth planes of his chest before slowly moving her hand lower.

  Tahruk groaned. “We haven’t much time before the dinner hour, Little One. Be careful what you start lest I find myself unable to stop.”

  Elenya stopped. “Must we venture out?” she practically whined.

  “Would you vex my father with our absence? My mother either, for that matter?” He laughed, reminding her of the note he’d received right before they left for the harbor requesting their attendance at the evening meal. “I believe they would like to see for themselves that you’re okay.”

  Elenya sighed. “Very well, though I can’t say I relish the whispers and covered mouth snickers that will accompany our presence.”

  With the swiftness of his warrior training, Tahruk rolled her to her back and settled atop her. “If they wish to whisper, let us at least show up with a glow about us that will leave no guessing as to why we’re late.”

  The pressure of her young body against his let the warrior know he would get no disagreement from her.

  Once again, before losing himself completely in the beauty that shared his blood, he thanked the Masters for their wisdom in his match.

  Chapter 22

  Tahruk knew he needed to tamp down some of the gaiety bubbling inside lest others see it when he and Elenya entered the dining chamber. It simply wouldn’t do for him to be viewed as a love sot lop. He failed to suppress a grin as Elenya chattered about unimportant subjects in her attempt to curb her nervousness.

  “My lady,” he said in order to gain her attention just outside the hall, then covered her lips with his when she turned to look up at him without pausing in her ramblings.

  “Must you tease me so, my lord?” She pushed him away and started to speak again then stopped. “Oh bother. I must sound like a brood of clucking hens.” She covered her face with her hands making him laugh.

  He took her hands in his and moved them aside where he could kiss her nose. “While I am enjoying your nattering, if you truly wish not to call attention to yourself, you may need to quell the chinwag before we enter.”

  Elenya dropped a mock curtsy, then laughed as she leaned up to whisper in his ear. “Tell me, my lord, is it your custom to indulge a lady so?” He shivered when he felt her tongue against his lobe.

  Grabbing her to him with an arm about her waist he returned the gesture, felt her tense, her breath catch. “Have you not yet learned I do exactly as I please?” He nipped at her earlobe then continued, “And if that includes indulging a lady, my lady, then I shall do so.” He pulled back to gaze down into eyes that he was quite sure showed a woman who was as besotted as he. A noise from behind had him quickly stepping away from her. He straightened his back and turned to look at the servant who had dropped his load. A heavy frown settled on the warrior’s face. “Come, Little One. Let’s go in before they send someone looking for us.”

  He questioned his display of affection for Elenya in the hall. Had he not said he had no intent of allowing his family to see him behaving so? How would it look for the King’s finest to be seen wearing his feelings where the world could see, especially when his immediate world consisted of a scrutinizing family, or more pointedly, his father and brother? He could just imagine the looks he was going to receive when they realized he had so quickly allowed himself to fall completely under the spell of the daughter of his enemy! Would his actions from that point be under greater scrutiny?

  He supposed that meant he was not always willing to do exactly as he pleased, at least where his reputation as a hardened warrior was concerned. He would not compromise that, even for his lady, and especially when his lady was who she was. He hated this war he battled within and understood more Elenya’s reservations in leaving his chamber to join the others. It seemed much easier when it was just the two of them.

  Elenya frowned at Tahruk’s sudden change in demeanor, though he didn’t see it since her chin fell at the same time. Head down, she took his arm and allowed him to lead her into the hall, its atmosphere causing her frown to deepen. Instead of the festive chatter she was used to within the walls of Aleone’s dining hall, they were greeted with a silence punctuated by tension. Alarm shot through
her at the downturned faces of the hall’s occupants. She looked at Tahruk, finding his expression every bit as grim, her tightened hold on his arm gaining a less than reassuring pat.

  “Has someone died?” he asked after the silence had stretched too long.

  Renaine pointed toward their chairs. “It seems there’s trouble in Travensworth’s kingdom.” He looked at Nema who wore a grim mask. Neria’s expression was not much better. He covered her hand with his before turning back to the now seated couple. “Andorak has sent word that we must be ready to move at a moment’s notice.”

  “This is quite unexpected news. No one spoke of such at lunch nor was it mentioned by anyone when we visited the harbor this afternoon.” Tahruk continued to question his father and brother about the matter, the women remaining silent. Except Elenya.

  Leaning forward to gain full view of the elder Sharanis, she asked him, “Why should the matters of another kingdom concern our King, my lord?”

  The hall fell completely silent. Even Tahruk didn’t move beside her. Elenya felt the heat rushing to her cheeks knowing she most probably should have kept her dissention to herself. She kept her eyes on Renaine.

  “It seems to me such actions only invite others to meddle in our affairs….”

  “It seems to me,” Renaine cut her off, “living in exile has impeded your manners. You also seem to know nothing about the interweaving of the Kingdoms and Drilles in order to forge lasting relationships so that we may come to the aid of one another to gain a more peaceful existence.” Rehearsed words that did little to satisfy Elenya.