Galen startled her by asking suddenly, "Why are you gazing so intently at me, kilen?"
"Kilen?"
"It means 'little one' or 'little girl' in my language."
"Oh." She looked away. "I was wondering if they called you 'golden' because of the color of your skin.
He didn't answer for a moment, only smiling sardonically. "Do they whisper about me in the schoolrooms too? No, they call me 'golden' because of the color of the gold in my purse, and the quantities of lucre therein."
She glanced back at him. "You're very rich?"
"As Midas. My hills near Zalandan are filled with gold." His lips twisted. "I'm so rich, my barbarian presence is tolerated and even occasionally sought out here in your august court."
He was hurting. She could feel it, and instinctively moved to soothe his pain. "Barbarian means wild, doesn't it? I would not think it so bad to be wild. The forest is full of beautiful wild things."
"But they are not invited to the most fashionable salons."
"Then they should be,” she said staunchly.
"You won't say that in five years' time."
"Yes, I will." She waded out of the water and plopped down onto the bank, and Apollo clambered after her. She had lost both shoes, and her brown velvet gown was ruined. She would most certainly get a whipping for her misadventure. However, she would not worry about that now. She was not often allowed to talk to grown-ups, and Galen Ben Raschid was quite the most interesting one she had ever met. "I won't change."
"We shall see." Galen waded to the bank and then levered himself down beside her. "It will surprise me if you don't. Your enchanting mother is not one of my advocates. "
"She's afraid of my father, and I don't think he likes you."
"Why is she afraid of your father?"
She looked at him in surprise. "Because he beats her when he's displeased."
"Really?" Galen tilted his head to look at her. "And does he whip you when you displease him?"
"Of course," she said matter-of-factly. "My mother says it is the way of all fathers with their children. Do you not whip your children?"
"I have no children," Galen said. "And it's not the way of the El Zalan to beat the women of our families. There are better ways of chastising them."
"What ways?"
"Never mind."
"You probably beat them but do not wish to admit it. My mother says some men don't like it known, but all of them beat their wives and children."
"I do not have a wife either." He frowned. "And I do not beat helpless women."
"Don't be angry. I won't speak of it again." She reached out and stroked Apollo's sopping coat. "I didn't mean to displease you. Actually, I believe I like you."
"I'm honored." He smiled crookedly and inclined his head.
She flushed. "No, truly. I mean it. I do not like many people, but I think I like you." She added awkwardly, "I thank you for not letting me die in the bog. It was most generous of you to go to the trouble."
"I was only being selfish. I have an appointment with His Majesty, and it would have ruined all my plans, even spoiled my entire day, if I'd had to stand by to watch the bog being scoured for your lifeless body."
"You're joking.” She smiled uncertainly. "And you saved Apollo too."
"Why do you call him 'Apollo'? Because he's so handsome?"
She shook her head. "Because of Daphne."
"Daphne?"
"Those aren't really their names. About a year ago my father bought Apollo and Daphne from a Russian count who called them 'Wolf' and 'Sheba.' My father wanted them to have babies and raise a whole pack of hunters." She sighed. "But Daphne won't have anything to do with Apollo."
Galen burst into laughter. "And you named her Daphne after the nymph who turned herself into a tree to avoid Apollo's amorous advances?"
She nodded. "But perhaps Apollo will be able to change her mind soon." She frowned worriedly. "My father is becoming very angry with them both."
"And he will be angrier still if you do not get back to your maidservant soon."
They turned at the sound of an approaching horse. Sacha rode at a leisurely pace over to them and dropped Galen's boots onto the ground. "You look little better than when I last saw the two of you."
"We look much better," Tess protested indignantly. "We're clean, and we don't stink anymore." She reluctantly got to her feet. "But I must go." She hesitated. She did not want to leave them. Sacha always made her laugh, and as for his friend… She did not quite know how he made her feel. Most people were easy to put in nooks, but the sheikh puzzled her. He was… dark inside. Not black, as in evil. He was night dark. But Tess had always liked the night far better than the day. When darkness fell, the boringly obvious was deliciously transformed, shrouded in mystery, exciting. She dropped a curtsy and smiled tentatively at Galen. "Good-bye, my lord."
A flashing white smile lit up his face. "It's been an interesting experience meeting you, kilen."
She turned and started at a trot toward the forest.
"Wait," Sacha called. "Let me take you up on my horse and we'll—"
"No!" She shook her head adamantly. "It's better that I go alone. Pauline will say I shouldn't have troubled you. She'll be angry enough…" The next moment she had disappeared into the forest, with Apollo at her heels.
"Go after her," Galen said tersely. "You can't have a child wandering around in the forest. She'll get lost or fall into another damn bog."
Sacha shook his head. "She knows the forest too well to become lost. She'll be fine."
Galen's lips thinned. "With a maid who fornicates under the child's eyes? Are you going to tell her mother?"
"No, she would dismiss Pauline."
"Good. An action much to be desired."
Sacha shook his head. "Bad. Tess, the poor imp, has little enough freedom. You've met my dear uncle Axel. His Highness has the distinction of being one of the most arrogant bastards on the face of the earth. He treats Tess little better than a chattel." He grimaced. "Worse, when she angers him. At least with a careless strumpet like Pauline as a servant, Tess gets to escape that prison of a schoolroom occasionally." He glanced curiously at Galen. "Why are you so concerned? You're not one to worry about the morals of serving wenches." He chuckled. "Unless it interferes with you having your way with them."
Galen's reaction was as much a surprise to him as to Sacha. Something about Tess Rubinoff's honesty and matter-of-fact acceptance of the world around her had oddly touched him. "Your cousin has courage. It's a quality I admire." He shrugged as he tugged on his left boot. "But it's of no concern to me. I only mentioned it because the child is your kin." He glanced at Sacha. "Though you seem to know overmuch about the lack of virtue of this Pauline."
Sacha nodded with satisfaction. "Last summer." He puffed up his chest and beamed blissfully. "For four splendid weeks I gored her every night like the bull I am, and she loved every minute of it. I had her screaming with pleasure."
"And where did this goring take place?"
"In her chamber."
Galen pulled on his other boot. "Beside the nursery?"
Sacha frowned. "Yes. Why?"