I had a choice to kiss him or shed a tear.

It took no time a’tall to make the decision.

My husband approved of my decision.

And thus, it took some time for him to clean us up for we got lost in the embrace.

60

The Chalk

Chu of the Trusted

Northwestern Dune Dessert, by the Tebes River

FIRENZE

Serena washed in the river while Chu watched, recalling again the unsettling occurrence that happened between them some days before.

He had called her to him, not to their usual room in the Heden District, but to an osteria there.

He had then shared what his king had told him to share, not as a Master to his slave, but as a Trusted of the King of Firenze to a general in the Nadirii army.

What he found unsettling was her reaction.

Her appealing face took on an efficient expression.

She then asked a series of swift, succinct questions about the evidence they had to support their suspicions.

After that, she said, “Carrington is a fool and half the Go’Doan I find shifty. How do you wish to proceed?”

And at this, that unsettled feeling bloomed.

“We will work together, on both,” he told her.

She, Serena of the Nadirii, a known firebrand who had only one use for men and was not particularly fond of team efforts, simply nodded.

And that unsettled feeling grew.

But she asked, “What do you wish Heloise and Genia to do?”

“I do not know who they are, so I don’t wish them to do anything.”

“They’re my lieutenants. They remained behind in Firenze with me.”

“Then, as they are your lieutenants, you clearly trust them, thus I wish you to brief them, we will introduce them to Lorenz and Guard, and they will assist here in keeping watch over the Go’Doan that are left and searching for the priests who escaped while we travel to Wodell.”

This she did not support, and she verbalized that.

“I’d prefer they stay with me.”

“We’re going to be spying, mouse. That endeavor is much more successful when it is not attempted by a battalion.”

“Two warriors is not a battalion, and I am not your mouse when we are not at play.”

He leaned to her, touched her tunic at the side of her breast, watched her eyelids go heavy, and he pointed out the obvious.

“You are my mouse at all times, Serena. Now have you ever acted spy?”

She shook her head, and he knew she was more attuned to his finger lightly caressing her over her tunic than his words.

“Would you like to learn?” he asked.

She nodded.

He sat back and removed his hand.

She looked disappointed.