Mystic's Touch (7 page)

You mean prostitutes?

No. They were never paid.

They used slaves in that manner?
Danet was incensed.

No, you mistake me.

Perhaps you should clarify before I jump to any more
conclusions and spill all of this oil on your head then leave.

Sit and I will explain.

She hesitated.

Please, sit. You don’t know how frustrating it is to not
be able to reach for you to make you stay and listen, so I’m asking nicely.

Very well.
She sat on the edge of the bed and set the
oil and the cloths aside.

Thank you. You know Shirghada’s strength is its elite
class of warriors. The reason they produce the world’s best soldiers is because
their society is built around them. Men come from around the world to train.
And with that many young, healthy men, women naturally follow.

And men, being men, indulge in that which is made
available to them?

In most cases, yes.

As much as it made her uncomfortable to know, she asked
,
And did you?

In the beginning, yes. I won’t lie to you. I sampled what
was freely offered. But I soon grew tired of the games being played and the
cold, impersonal episodes.

Not to mention the medicines you had to take to get rid
of the aftereffects,
she said cynically
.

I was more selective than that.

Danet harrumphed.
How is what I am doing different than
what those women did?

Perhaps it is only my perception, but when you do it I
feel you are doing it entirely for my benefit. To help me in some way or to
make me feel better. There is no other agenda.

And when they did it, they wanted something?

Warriors are prized by these women because of the
lifestyle they can provide. Some want a sponsor who will set them up with a
place to live or pay for their expenses. Others hope to ensnare a warrior into
a bonding.

How often do they succeed?

More often than you’d think.

But not you.

No.

The knot inside her chest eased.
I still don’t understand
how what I’m doing is any different than what anyone else who had a little bit
of training would do.

A skilled courtesan is able to make a man believe he is
the most important, most virile man in the world, no matter what she really
thinks of him. It didn’t take me long to learn that you can lie with words and
even looks, but not so much with touch. Your touch tells me you genuinely care.
It isn’t cold and impersonal.

I thought you meant there was something sexual that I
wasn’t doing that you felt I should be.

That isn’t what I meant to imply.

Good. It’s hard being trained as a physician but not
having the same respect as men who do the same work.
Danet pulled the sheet
down to the prince’s waist. She was grateful someone had dressed him in at
least a loincloth. Despite the number of patients she had seen in varying
states of undress, both men and women, it was startling to be so exposed to
someone she was admittedly attracted to.

There were dozens of reasons she needed to ignore any
feelings she had for the prince. He was a prince and she was essentially a
servant in his household. He was a gorgeous specimen of manhood and she was a
girl all the boys ignored. He didn’t know the extent of her gifts and if he did
he’d toss her out of the city. But if nothing else, it was improper to become
involved with a patient under her care.

But he was lovely to look at. His shoulders were easily
twice the size of hers and looked as if they could hold the weight of the
world. His broad chest made her want to curl up next to him and lay her head
down. Despite her inexperience, she was curious to know what might lie beneath
the loincloth. In her darkest fantasies, it had always been someone like him
who expanded her knowledge of the ways of men and women.

Danet. You’re killing me.

Why? What did I do? Am I sitting on you?

No, but you are transmitting your thoughts loud and clear
and I can’t ignore all of them.

Oh Gods.
Her cheeks burned hot in mortification.
This
was a very bad idea. Perhaps I should take your mother up on her suggestion to
have one of the others help me.

No.

No? What do you mean no?

I mean I don’t want anyone else. I want you to take care
of me. Mother trusts you. My sisters like and respect you and a great many of
the servants do as well. I think that speaks volumes about your respectability.

But I am obviously having some difficulty maintaining a
professional attitude. And even worse, you know it.
She got up and paced at
the foot of the bed.

Let’s just say that were the roles reversed, it would not
be unexpected if I were to have the same thoughts or feelings.

But—

And how about if we agree to set the issue aside to be
addressed later. I won’t bring it up if you don’t.

This is not appropriate.

I need you. You’re the only one I can talk to. I need you
to help me get well.
He added
, Mother needs you too.

Don’t bring your mother into this.

I will if it helps my case.

A laugh bubbled up.
I really need to work on my mental
self-control.

I don’t know. I kind of like it.

She sobered.
There are things you are better off not
knowing about me.

Danet, did it not occur to you that there are things in
my head that you do not need to know about also? Things that I have been
working to keep hidden.

Yes. That is why I have been trying to stay out of there.

Do you not realize that some of those things might get me
killed if they were to become known? There are the things that I have seen and
done that would make an innocent like yourself run for the hills. I don’t want
to do that to you. I don’t want you to be afraid of me.

That makes two of us.

Well, aren’t we a pair?

I guess so.
She looked at his unmoving body. Once
again she was struck by an overwhelming need to cure what was wrong with him.
It was an urge more powerful than anything she had ever experienced with any of
her patients.

Come. Work your magic with your fingers. You may not be
able to fix everything right now, but you can take your mind off your worries
and make me feel a lot better.

She sighed.
Yes. I can at least do that.

On a lounge across the room from the prince, Danet lay
wrapped in what had to be the softest blankets ever made. For the first time
she tried to remember what it was like to sleep beside a man and wake in his
arms. Okpara had not been much for cuddling, but she imagined it would be a
wonderful experience with the right man.

Moonlight spilled onto the foot of the prince’s bed,
allowing Danet see the occasional twitch as he dreamed.

A rustle from somewhere behind was her only warning that she
was not alone. Her heart began to pound, making it hard to listen for other
sounds.

Wha… What’s wrong?
the prince asked.

I’m not sure. I thought I heard something. Did it wake
you?

No, your fright startled me.

You can sense that too?

Yes. What do you see?

Nothing from here, I was afraid to sit up and alert
whoever might be in here.

Do you have a weapon?

I have a couple of instruments that could be used as such
and the knife I kept from the dinner tray.

He grumbled something unpleasant.
Where is the knife?

In the fruit bowl on the desk.

He mumbled another expletive.
If you are attacked, you
yell loud and long for the guards no matter what they tell you. Understand?

Yes.

A face appeared above her, startling her. She took a deep
breath to scream, but a hand clamped down over her mouth.

“Danet. It’s Gehiji,” the man whispered.

She blinked and tried to make sense of what was happening.

Ceros released a couple more expletives.

“Don’t yell. I’m not going to hurt you,” Gehiji said
quietly. “Do you understand?”

She nodded.

“I’m going to uncover your mouth. Nod if you understand and
won’t scream.”

She nodded again.

As soon as he released her, she sat up on the lounge and
whispered, “What are you doing here in the middle of the night? And how did you
get in?”

“You said you needed to speak to me. I figured now would be
the only time I’d be able to get you alone.” He shrugged. “As for how I got in,
let’s just say I have a talent for it.”

He does, actually.

Gehiji sat at the other end of the lounge. Danet scrambled
to pull her blanket out from underneath him and wrapped it firmly around her
body. She had left her clothes on in case something happened with Ceros during
the night. Now she was grateful for that foresight.

“What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked casually.

Despite his relaxed posture, she could sense he was poised
for most anything.

Go ahead. Tell him,
Ceros encouraged.

“Ceros wanted me to tell you something,” she blurted.

Gehiji blinked a couple of times. “What did you say?”

“Ceros insisted I tell you he was awake, alert actually,
inside his body and that I can talk to him.”

Gehiji looked to where the prince lay prone on the bed, then
back at Danet. “Really?”

Don’t forget what I said about the telos.

She took a deep breath. “I know it sounds crazy, but we are
able to talk to each other.” She pointed to her head. “In here.”

“I see,” Gehiji said slowly.

“He said to tell you that he needs your help and that he’ll
return the telos you gambled away if you are able to find out who was behind
whatever is wrong with him.”

Gehiji sat up straight, looked at Ceros then back at Danet.
“When did he tell you this?”

The look in his eye made her lean back. “Yesterday, when I
first discovered who I was hearing in my head. But I didn’t know who you were
or where to find you until you came in with the queen.”

“This is the first time you’ve been able to talk with him
this way?”

She nodded.

He stood and looked at the prince across the room then
motioned for Danet to follow.

She pulled the blanket around her and followed him to Ceros’
bedside.

What is he doing?

I’m not sure. He’s standing over you. You trust him,
right?

Yes, why?

Because if he pulled out a knife right now, there wouldn’t
be much I could do to stop him.

He chuckled.
No, actually, there wouldn’t be.

It’s not funny. I don’t know him and that isn’t
reassuring me.

Gehiji will not harm me. Of this I am certain.

“Is he awake?” Gehiji asked her quietly.

“Yes. You startled me when you came in, which in turn woke
him.”

Gehiji squatted next to the bed and whispered loud enough
for both of them to hear, “Ceros, tell her what nickname you were given during
our first year of training and tell her to tell me.”

Ceros’ laughter echoed in her head.
They called me Silent
Night.

“Silent Night?” Danet said. “That doesn’t sound terribly
insulting.”

Gehiji’s eyes widened in surprise. Obviously he hadn’t
expected her to be able to answer, but he recovered quickly. “It’s the story
behind the nickname that’s funny.”

Don’t ask because no, I’m not telling you.

She looked at Gehiji. “He said I shouldn’t bother asking
because he won’t tell me the story.”

Gehiji laughed. “I wouldn’t either.” He wiped his hand
across his face. “Okay, I have to be sure this is for real.” A flash of pain
crossed his face. “Ceros, what did we lose on that mission to Ismailia?”

A tightening in her chest made her breath catch.
Ceros?

I’m sorry. I didn’t clamp down on that memory fast
enough.

Are you okay?

Yes. It’s a very painful memory.

Obviously.
She rubbed at a spot on her chest. Her
movement caught Gehiji’s attention.

“What did he say?”

Tell him I said too damn much.

“He said, ‘Too damn much.’”

Gehiji nodded and looked to Ceros. “That we did, my friend.”
He patted Ceros on the arm then stood.

He towered over Danet, but he looked down at her with a new
expression. Something gentler with a sliver of respect.

“So why you are able to speak to my friend this way?”

“I’m not entirely sure.”

Gehiji stepped closer. “I sense a partial lie in that, but
not enough for me to disbelieve you. Is it because you are not certain of why?”

“Yes, that would be accurate.”

“But you have ideas.”

“Yes.”

“Ideas that you don’t want to share.”

“Not right now, no.”

“Have you shared your ideas with him?” Gehiji jerked his
thumb in Ceros’ direction.

No. But you will soon, won’t you?

“Not yet. I told him I need to do some reading on it first
so no one jumps to any conclusions.” She gave Gehiji a half-smile. “I figure
it’s the least of our problems right now anyway.”

“You’re probably right.” He stepped around her and grabbed a
chair from the sitting area. He placed the chair next to the bed then indicated
Danet should sit on the bed next to Ceros.

Gehiji looked at Ceros then at Danet. “This is a little
weird, knowing he’s there and functioning but his body isn’t moving.”

“You should try having him in your head, hearing all your
thoughts,” Danet grumbled.

“Does that mean you can hear all of his too?” Gehiji’s eyes
widened in alarm.

“If I tried, I might be able to.” She leaned closer to Ceros
and added, “But some of us respect the other’s right to privacy.”

I am trying.

Yes, I know.

“I see.” Gehiji cleared his throat. “So what do you need me
to do?”

Tell him about the council meeting and ask him to find
out what he can about the council members.

“Let me back up even further,” Danet said. “In case you
haven’t figured it out already, we aren’t sure Ceros’ condition is an accident.
Earlier today, I found a thorn lodged in his neck.” She pointed to the spot
behind her ear to demonstrate where. “I’ve taken the thorn to my father so he
can find out what kind of plant it was from. That should help us determine if
it is related to Ceros’ condition.”

“The queen didn’t say anything about a thorn.”

“She doesn’t know. We decided it would be best to not tell
her yet. She’s dealing with enough.”

Gehiji nodded.

“I doubt it will take Father long to find an answer,” she
assured him. “Before I was asked by the queen to tend to the prince I learned
two things. First, there is some speculation over the king’s death and whether
or not it was an accident. Second, there is a high council meeting scheduled to
be held in three days. Actually, it’s closer to two now. I was told this
meeting is being called to appoint an interim ruler since the prince has taken
ill.”

“I thought the queen was the interim ruler.”

“She is, but only because the prince declared it so until he
could make the journey home. But since he is unfit to rule in his present
condition, the high council is in a position to appoint another. If they so
choose.”

“And they choose to do so.”

Danet nodded.

“What does Ceros want me to do?”

“He said he needs you to find out what you can about the
council members.”

“Does he want me to look into his father’s death?”

Danet looked to Ceros.

It might help us figure out who could be behind this,
Ceros
answered.

So you do believe someone might be trying to kill you?
she
asked.

I think it is a very real possibility.

Danet shuddered. Hearing it from Ceros gave it a new
reality. “He said he thought it might help us figure out who was behind this.”

“I thought as much.”

Gehiji stood and looked down on Ceros. “He’s completely
vulnerable right now, isn’t he?”

“I’m afraid so.”

And I hate it.

Danet smiled. “Yes, I’m sure Gehiji can guess how much you
hate it.”

“I can stay here if you think there is a threat.”

“I think he’s safe for tonight. The queen hand-picked the
guards and I’m here in case he has a medical emergency.” She shrugged. “I might
not be able to fight off a trained killer, but I would be another witness
someone would have to deal with if they did come in.”

Gehiji smiled. “I don’t know about that. I saw you with that
knife when the councilmen burst in earlier.”

Knife? What is he talking about?
Ceros demanded. Even
in her head it sounded as if he was growling at her.

Nothing, don’t worry about it.
To Gehiji she said,“And you shush. You’re only upsetting him.”

That made Gehiji grin even more. “Am I?”

Don’t tell him that. He lives to torment me.

“Okay you two,” Danet scolded. “Back to the original topic.
I think Ceros is safe for tonight. Any would-be assassin probably thinks they
came close to killing him and it could go either way. Surely they wouldn’t risk
exposure right now.”

“You’re probably right.” Gehiji agreed. “I don’t like being
so far away. It would take too long to get word to me if something happened.”

“Which room did they give you?”

“One halfway down the hall in the southern wing.”

“Oh. You are quite on the other side of the palace, aren’t
you?”

Who decided that? As my honored guest, he should have
been put in one of my suites.

“I’ll speak to the queen in the morning about moving you.
There are guest quarters in this wing but I don’t know if they are being used
right now.”

“I would feel better if you did.”

“So would I, quite frankly,” Danet admitted. “Once he begins
recovering and word gets out, I think he’ll be at his most vulnerable.”

Don’t remind me.

She tossed a look of sympathy in Ceros’ direction.

“What’d he say?” Gehiji asked.

“He doesn’t like not being able to defend himself, or anyone
else for that matter,” she answered.

“I can understand his frustration.” Gehiji looked to Danet.
“Perhaps it is a good thing no one else knows about your ability to speak to
him. You might rethink telling anyone.”

“The queen is the only one I have agreed to tell. But there
are conditions on that agreement.”

“I’m just saying, be very cautious with that information. It
may endanger your life.” He glanced to where the prince lay. “Even more than it
probably is.”

“Yes, I know,” she said with a sigh.

Ceros mumbled something not very gentlemanlike.