“Oh, of course, Rezkin, dear,” Lady Adelina replied. “You are completely correct. We should not have engaged in such a heated conversation when you are all so weary from your travels and trials. Please, get some rest and feel free to sleep through the morning if you wish. We will not be offended if you do not show for breakfast. I know how draining these things can be.”

Rezkin stood and bowed politely as he replied, “You are a most gracious hostess, Lady Adelina.”

Rezkin turned and nudged Frisha to stand. Her face was red and her eyes were puffy with unshed tears. She was trying her best to hold them at bay. The young warrior reached up and stroked her cheek. Looking into her eyes he said softly, “Do not fret, Frisha. You are safe now.”

Looking into Rezkin’s crystal blue eyes and being so close to his calm, reassuring presence, she realized she truly did feel safe. “I know,” she said sincerely. Frisha took a deep breath and caught a whiff of Rezkin’s clean, masculine scent. Suddenly, the troubles that had plagued her only moments ago were assuaged. Her face and shoulders relaxed and she smiled.

Rezkin escorted Frisha up the stairs but stopped at his door, allowing the young woman to continue down the corridor to her own room. When he entered his room, he stretched his taut muscles and set about checking the space for traps and poisons.

Chapter 15

The next day, Rezkin woke early as usual. He made his way to the stables to check on Pride and then found a clear area at the rear of the property to practice his various fighting forms. He needed to keep his Skills honed, and he found that he could not bear the tedium of the languorous outworlder lifestyle. It took much less effort to maintain his Skills now that he had mastered each one, but he continued to feel anxious if he did not get enough practice. It was simply another one of those habits that had been conditioned into him throughout his life.

The night before, after he had returned to his room, he was agitated and needed to release some of his pent up energy. Instead of going to sleep right away, he spent a few hours crawling over the estate. He perused the extent of the outer grounds, slinked across the roof, surveyed the cellar, picked every lock and broke into each and every room. When he entered the master suite that night, the general’s years of soldiering paid him service. The older man awoke sensing something amiss, but after he could not find the source from where he lay, he fell back to sleep. An inspection of the general’s office revealed the man kept nothing of political or military interest in his home, and the household accounts and correspondence were typical and of little interest.