Considering his simply sharing his “could not be construed in any way as ‘not much,’” made my blood get hot, I felt it wise to reply, “Absolutely.”

“Now, if my men are such ninnies they cannot handle sand drills from an exacting captain without making their discontent known to their queen, I will meet you in bed this eve after I’ve found some privacy and taken care of things.”

I shifted against him as a very certain visualization consumed my mind at how he would go about doing that.

“Ha-Lah, stop staring at me like you want to take a bite out of me,” he grunted.

“I sort of do,” I whispered, staring at his mouth.

“Months, she’s a cold fish. When I can’t bed her, she’s a hot tart. I cannot win,” he groused.

I ignored that and asked, “Can I watch you take care of things?”

Aramus was back to grunting. “No.”

I pouted.

He pressed a swift kiss on my mouth, lifted away a few inches and declared, “There is much we need to talk about, and this is not it.”

“And what would be it?”

“Tonight, we must show my men your magic.”

I grew stiff in his arms.

Those arms tightened, and his voice lowered. “Ha-Lah, you can trust them.”

I knew this, for Aramus trusted them. I also knew this, for they’d been showing me I could from the moment we started our voyage to Firenze with their service and regard of my king.

It still worried me.

“Is it only the sea, or all waters that you command?” he asked.

“All waters, though my power, all my magics, Aramus, are stronger when I’m close to the sea.”

He nodded.

“Saltwater,” he deduced.

“Yes,” I confirmed.

“But you still command fresh,” he went on.

“I cannot call down the rain. But yes, a lake, a pond, river or stream, there is power there for me.”

“Therefore, should we see a lake or pond, we can separate from the other men and you can show my brothers, when you are ready.”

I gazed at my husband.

That was it?

I’d stiffened, I didn’t make even one verbal protest, and he decided we would wait?

“Aramus—”

“And now, I must ask about your powers. I felt your magic on the way to Fire City. Does it debilitate you to use it when you are not close to water, fresh or sea?”

I took us back to our previous subject, saying softly, “Aramus, we can show them tonight.”

He shook his head. “No. You aren’t ready. We will do it when you’re ready.”

“Do you trust them?” I queried.

“Yes,” he told me. “With my life. But more, with yours.”

Then it was decided.

“We will show them tonight.”

“Ha-Lah, if—”