“This is not an entertainment, and we’re not your audience.” Edard was red-faced and stewing. “You three could get us all killed. We’ve stayed one night too many out here, hoping to find some cursed leavings from the battlefield to console our mute friend there. I’ve had enough. Time to move on. And once we’re past Horn, the more likely we are to run into trouble. Gods help us all if you three have your trousers down when those bastards find us. Can you two lads get that through your ass-crazed heads?”

“Rice is done,” said Tohon.

Smelling sweaty and salty, Eridit sank down beside Shai. He eased away, making her smile. In a huff, Veras grabbed his sword—his fighting sword—and stomped out to take the watch. The scrape of his feet as he climbed the outcropping serenaded them while Tohon spooned out rice onto se leaves. They ate in silence. Shai tried not to look at Eridit, but she was magnificent with her lustrous black hair, her glowing brown skin, her sleek curves, her inviting smile and coy glance. Zubaidit made him nervous; Eridit made him hard.

“I guess I wasn’t thinking,” said Ladon suddenly. “I’ll do better. I know I was fortunate to be chosen. It’s just—” He looked at Eridit, and chuffed out a breath between closed lips. “Aui! That was something! Do they do it with three at the temple, Bai?”

“Did you ever ask?” retorted Zubaidit.

“You’d be surprised what’s available at the temple if you think to ask,” said Eridit with a purr that made Shai’s whole body shudder. She crept a bare foot over to rub against Shai’s, and with his ears burning and his face aflame, he jerked his foot away.

“Leave the lad be,” said Tohon quietly. “He’s not accustomed to the ways folk have here.”

“You outlanders are a puzzle,” agreed Eridit good-naturedly. “Is it true you’ve no temples to the Merciless One?”

“We do not.”

“How do young people meet the goddess for the first time, if they can’t go to the temple? How do folk married by their clans get their pleasure if their partner’s not to their taste, or if one is not fashioned that way? Even if they do like each other, how do they learn new tricks, keep things fresh, eh?”

“It’s not our way,” said Tohon. “A man marries.”

“That’s it?” Edard pulled a comical grimace. “Only to have relations with the person your clan chose for you? Never to worship the Merciless One?”

“A man may have more than one wife, of course. If he can afford her. Keep them satisfied. A mistreated wife can appeal to her family and raise a feud. Everyone knows that.”

“And a woman can have more than one husband?” Eridit asked with a teasing grin. “Like they say the lendings do? That sounds fun.”

“That would not happen. Also, a man may go to the brothel for relief. Or buy a slave for a concubine.”

Eridit frowned. “What about women? What are they to do? For relief?”