THE SHADOWLORD (26 page)

Once more the bell sounded.

Sulaimon hissed beneath his breath. "We are keeping that man waiting, and that is not good! Come, Lady!" He fanned his hand at Aradia, motioning her to hurry.

The closer she got to the thick doors, the more nervous she became. Her palms oozed sweat, and her heart pounded. She schooled her features not to show the excitement racing through her, but she knew she'd never be able to hide her thoughts from the Shadowlord.

As the doors opened, Aradia came to a stop, holding her breath, biting her lip, her hands clasped in front of her. When she saw Jaelan, his face impassive, his eyes boring into hers, she felt weak in the knees. Sulaimon put a hand on her back and pushed her toward her husband.

"Bow your head," he urgently whispered.

Aradia didn't question the command. She lowered her head as she came to stand before Jaelan.

"You are well, Milady?" he asked, cupping her chin with his hand and lifting her head.

Though otherwise pale, his cheeks looked flushed, and a fine sheen of sweat dotted his face. Aradia saw pain glazing his topaz eyes, and it hurt her to the core of her being. Her bottom lip trembled. When he smoothed his thumb over her mouth, tears brightened her eyes.

"I am well, Milord." She felt the heat of his high fever along his dry palm. Her gaze searched his. She started to ask how he fared, but he shook his head.

"Are you ready to leave this place?" he asked.

"Aye, Milord!"

His lips twitched. "Harem Master, you have my appreciation for caring so well for my lady-wife."

Sulaimon made the sign of obeisance, swirling his index finger from forehead to chest. "It was my honor to attend Her Grace, Lord Jaelan."

Jaelan swept his scrutiny down his wife's attire, then locked eyes with her. "You look comfortable, Milady. The garments become you."

Aradia cast Sulaimon a knowing look and grinned. "I
am
comfortable, Milord, and I am glad you approve."

Jaelan took her hand and pulled her closer. Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against her ear. "Gloating does not become you,
aziza
. Behave."

Gripping her husband's strong fingers, she reveled in the look he gave her as he stepped back, drawing her with him. He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm.

"You will walk beside me, Lady?"

Aradia giggled. "Should I not walk behind you, Your Grace?"

"Never." He looked at Sulaimon and shocked the dark man by winking.

As the Shadowlord and his Lady meandered down the corridor, the Harem Master stood watching with two seraglio guards.

"He walks slowly," one guard remarked.

"Aye, but neither you nor I would be up and about this soon after such an ordeal," Sulaimon said.

"He is not human," the other guard said.

Jaelan Ben-Ashaman stopped at the end of the long corridor. For a moment, he looked back at the men before escorting his lady out of sight.

"No," Sulaimon said with a shudder, "he is not."

He held her hand, the grip growing more painful with each step they climbed. Aradia made no protest, though his strong grasp crushed her fingers. She sensed how hard it was for him as he strained going up the stairs. He sucked in each breath through his nose, his jaws clenched.

"You know what happened at the Temple?" he said, his words raspy.

"Aye."

"I am ill,
aziza
. My head is nigh to exploding."

She reached out to bid him stop. When he did, she placed her hand against his cheek. He pressed his face against her palm, and the tears she had tried so hard to keep at bay spilled over her lashes.

"I don't know how much longer...I can stay conscious." He hunkered on the stairs, gasping in agony.

She knelt beside him. "Tell me what to do, beloved."

The word brought up his head. He searched her eyes and delved lightly into her thoughts. What he found brought a quiver to his lips. "One more...flight up. Tarsis and Aluino...will be there."

Aradia took the stairs two at a time, grateful more than ever for the pantaloons that allowed her freedom of movement. Warriors gaped as she ran down the corridor, calling for Sir Tarsis and Lord Aluino.

"'Lui! 'Lui!" several men shouted.

One hurried to the Diabolusian's door and banged.

"What the hell is all the commotion?" Aluino bellowed as he threw open his chamber door. When he saw Aradia racing toward him, his eyes widened. "What's wrong?"

"Come, warrior!" She grabbed his arm.

"Where is he?" he asked, shaking free of her punishing grip.

"On the stairs. He has one of his headaches."

Aluino cursed and rushed ahead of her, shooting down the stairs. By the time Aradia reached them, Aluino had the Shadowlord in his arms, climbing the steps.

"Run ahead, wench," Aluino ordered, shifting an unconscious Jaelan higher in his grasp. "His room has the black doors. Go into the bathing chamber. You'll find a clearly marked bottle of tenerse in the cabinet."

"Shouldn't we ask a Healer if--"

"Jaelan would turn me inside out if I sent for one. Do as I say. The tenerse will help the headache and the pain in his back."

By the time Aluino brought Jaelan's limp body into the room, Aradia stood beside the bed. With the servant, Kafele's, help, they had turned back the covers, plumped the pillows, and lit a scented candle on the table, beside which she had placed the bottle of medicine.

"There won't be any seduction done here tonight," Aluino snorted as he laid Jaelan on the bed and turned him onto his belly. The Shadowlord's long brown hair fanned the pillow. Aluino drew a limp strand from Jaelan's damp face.

"What can I do?" Kafele asked.

"Get a blade and let's cut away the robe." Aluino ran a hand through his thick black curls. "I'm getting tired of cutting off this slacker's clothing."

"Then give me the blade and I'll do it!" Aradia snapped and reached for the blade Kafele held toward Aluino.

The warrior batted away her hand. "Get out of here, wench."

Aradia's chin lifted. "This is my chamber, too, you revolting greaser! I will stay!"

Kafele moved to the bed to do the job himself. Starting at the hem, he eased the cutting edge carefully upward, the sharp blade slicing effortlessly through the fabric.

"Make yourself useful and get a basin of water," Aluino ordered Aradia.

"You can't wash his back! You'll rub the Maiden's Briar into--"

"To cool his face, arms, and legs, you stupid cow. He's burning up with fever." He took a menacing step toward her. "Do what I told you!"

Aradia's eyes narrowed, but she spun on her heel and marched into the bathing chamber. Her face burned when she overheard Aluino tell the servant that you had to keep a woman in her place in order to maintain peace.

"Peace, my ass!" She poured water into a basin, found a soft cloth, and dropped it into the liquid. Spying the chamber pot, she was tempted to fill it and throw it into the Diabolusian's smirking face. "But it wouldn't contain water if I did," she grumbled.

Aluino barely glanced up when she returned. "I shouldn't have spoken to you in that way."

"No, you should not have!"

"Jaelan will not be pleased that I did, Lady." Aluino ducked his head. "I offer you my apology."

Aradia sniffed. "You're worried about your friend and that's understandable. I don't forgive you, but neither will I hold it against you."

Aluino sighed. "That's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, I suppose."

"Or a face full of piss," she mumbled, handing him the basin.

Kafele heard the remark and smiled. He severed the robe to the neckline, taking his time, obviously fearful of material being stuck to the Shadowlord's back. He started to work on the right sleeve.

"You're being very gentle with my husband, Kaffie," Aradia said. "I appreciate your help."

The servant blushed as he headed to the other side of the bed. "It is my honor to care for the Shadowlord, Your Grace."

Aluino reached for the section of severed material closest to him and frowned. "Damn!"

"What?" Aradia asked.

"The garment's stuck to his flesh." Aluino tried easing it away from the skin, but snatched away his hand when Jaelan groaned.

"Move aside, warrior," Aradia ordered. After pushing him away, she took a deep breath and grasped the two sections of neckline. She waited until Kafele had finished severing the material of the left sleeve, then jerked the sections apart.

Jaelan's eyes flew open. A hard shudder rippled down his body. His gasp of pain as his fingers dug into the pillow stopped Aradia's breath. His chest arched from the mattress, his arms went rigid, then he collapsed with a whimper. A blush of shame crept into his sweaty face. Another shudder gripped him and he squeezed his eyes shut. "By the Prophet that hurt, 'Lui..."

Aradia stared in horror at the destruction of her husband's back. Though she'd seen similar marks on him in Diabolusia, that had been long ago, and there had been no connection between her and the grimy, emaciated man whose life she had saved. Now, a connection existed, one that grew deeper by the minute. Seeing what had been done to him because of her drove Aradia to her knees. She covered her face with her hands and wept.

Aluino hunkered beside her, putting a supportive arm around her shoulders. "Lady, you did what I could not. You did what
had
to be done."

Overcome with guilt, she rocked back and forth. "I hurt him..."

"Aradia," Jaelan whispered.

She raised her head and saw a gentle smile on her husband's face.

"Come lie beside me."

She frantically shook her head. "No, warrior. No!"

He sighed. " 'Lui, pick her up and deposit her by me."

The Diabolusian grinned. "With pleasure,
amigo
." Chuckling, he started to scoop Aradia from where she knelt.

She scampered out of his reach, warding him off with an outstretched arm and casting him a dangerous look. "Keep your greasy hands to yourself, warthog!"

Aluino looked at his palms, then held them out to her. "They're not greasy, wench. I washed them this morning," he said in a voice that pretended hurt.

"Come lie beside me," Jaelan repeated. "I need you, Lady."

Cautiously, she climbed on the wide mattress and sat facing her husband.

Aluino grabbed the medicine bottle from the table and a nearby crystal tumbler of water. Uncorking the bottle, he poured a liberal amount of the cherry-colored liquid into the glass, then opened the drawer of the night table and withdrew a small dried reed. He stuck the reed into the liquid, swirled it, then extended the tumbler toward Aradia. "Give him this."

Aradia took the glass. "Are you sure it's safe for him?"

"It's all right," Jaelan whispered.

She held the hollow reed to her husband's lips. He sucked in the liquid. His grimace left no doubt the brew tasted as unpalatable as it appeared. When he consumed the potion, he settled down and closed his eyes.

"He'll sleep for a few hours," Aluino said, taking the empty glass from Aradia. "Should you need us, Kaffie and I will be down the corridor in the receiving room."

"Where's Tarsis?" Jaelan asked, his words slurring.

"He's sleeping, Jael," Aluino replied. "He was up all night with you."

"Um..." Jaelan lifted his left arm. "Come here, wench."

Aradia warily moved closer to her husband, fearful of causing him discomfort. Ducking under his arm, she settled as closely to him as she thought advisable. Apparently he thought it not close enough, for he hooked his hand around her waist and drew her to him, enclosing her in a tight embrace.

"You'll hurt yourself!" she warned.

"Don't feel...a damned thing..." He rested his forehead against hers. "Now...I can sleep."

With that, he was lost to the world.

By the time Aradia stirred again, night had fallen. When her eyelids fluttered open, she found herself on her side, looking into her husband's still face. She exhaled softly, concerned she would wake him. His arm was still draped over her, and the heat from his touch alarmed her. From what little she could see of his back, the flesh looked bright red, oozing, giving off a stench almost as bad as a decomposing body.

"It burns," he said without opening his eyes.

"What can I do?" she asked, touching his sweaty arm.

"I wish I were in Virago, standing naked in the snow."

"You've been to Virago?"

"Once, a long time ago." He opened his eyes. "Wish I were there again."

"Would lying in a tub of cold water help?"

He frowned. "Tarsis took me to the baths, but that warm water hurt like hell."

"I imagine, but don't you think cold water would soothe?"

"Wouldn't hurt any more than it already does."

Gently, she removed his arm from around her and got out of bed. "I'll send Kafele for cool water from the fortress' spring."

"No,
aziza
. Too much trouble. I can walk to the lower level. There's a room in the dungeon where cold water--"

"The hell you will!" Not giving him a chance to protest, she left the room, her jaw and fists clenched.

"Aradia!" he bellowed.

She came to an abrupt stop, then turned, stunned to see him limping toward her. Her eyes dropped to the cloth wrapped around his hips, relieved to see he'd covered his privates. When she opened her mouth to order him back to bed, Jaelan shushed her with a stern look. He took her hand and started toward the door.

"You are
anide
," she told him.

"It's easier going down the stairs than up. Humor me."

Refusing to comment on the obvious untruth, she walked beside him, her hand aching from his pressure. The few people they passed bowed respectfully to him, then turned away, their faces showing their embarrassment.

"Rysalian warriors don't parade around in their
izars
," he explained, then clarified. "Loincloths."

"Are you going to get into further trouble because you're doing it?"

"Doubtful. The Tribunal will send a letter of protest which the king will read, laugh over, then tear up."