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Ceralt and Mehrayn seemed to cease breathing till my words of decision had been uttered, and then they turned with incredulous looks toward the one I had named. So quickly did the change from silence to uproar occur that I blinked, at once besieged from all directions. The protests from the males all about were clamorous and unintelligible, none permitting another to speak ahead of him, all deeply outraged. In the midst of it all I was able to see the manner in which S’Heernoh flinched, and then his eyes were covered by one hand, as though to shield him from pain. Although the looks given him by Mehrayn and Ceralt were not tender and brotherly, I failed to see what manner of pain there might be for him.

“Absolutely not!” thundered Galiose from beside me, his anger at last rising above the din of the others. “Have you no sense of propriety, girl? You may not look to another when there are two who have already spoken of their desire for you, two who will not be ignored! To allow a wench her say is ever an error, Aysayn, for she will ever make of it the sort of mockery now before us.”

“You fail to understand, Galiose, that this wench is not merely a wench,” said Aysayn, his dark eyes flashing with annoyance. “Are you unable to recall that the forces she commands are larger and more experienced than yours? That she rides in the name of the gods? That you now stand within a city held by those who follow her without question? How can you believe a decision may be forced on her?”

“She is a wench, and a wench must ever obey the men about her,” returned Galiose in a growl, his stubbornness refusing to allow any to take the binding from his eyes. “That you permit her to do as she wills is no kindness, Aysayn, for she will never learn her proper place amid such doings. Join me, instead, in commanding her to a proper choice, one which will allow us to move on to matters of greater import.”

“Blessed Signurr, deliver me,” muttered Aysayn, his head ashake as he turned from Galiose to reach for some daru. Though he clearly wished to hear no more from Galiose, the other male stepped past me to join him at the board, his voice lowered and changed to coaxing. Briefly I considered summoning warriors to show Galiose the true meaning of obedience, yet was it necessary to recall that Ranistard’s High Seat had Aysayn’s bond as to his safety. Perhaps, after he had been permitted to quit the city as had been promised him . . . .

“Your sense of humor has scarcely improved since last you exercised it,” said Telion, he and Chaldrin and Lialt stepping forward to take the places abandoned by Aysayn and Galiose. “You cannot mean to continue in such a vein.”

“Ceralt will not allow it,” said Lialt, his annoyance clear as he looked down upon me. “Don’t you recall what his displeasure has meant to you in the past?”

“What number of times were you used by Mida’s pets, Lialt?” I asked, looking up into the lightness of eyes so like Ceralt’s, and yet so very different. “Were you pleased with that use? Mida’s pets, I was told, were greatly pleased with your efforts, but remember they are scarcely warriors in truth. Would you care to experience use by those who are truly warriors?”

“We were given safe conduct, wench,” said Telion when Lialt failed to reply, the Belsayah Pathfinder merely darkening at the reminder of his own embarrassment. “Though we appreciate the generosity of your offer, we must unfortunately decline. What do you plan for Ceralt?”

“And Mehrayn,” came Chaldrin’s rumble. “And for what reason have you ensnarled S’Heernoh in this madness?”

The large, dark male looked upon me with a vexation close to Aysayn’s, the eyes of Telion and Lialt lending their import. I didn’t have to discuss my decision with any of them, yet it suited my humor.

“It came to me that amongst all of you, S’Heernoh alone had not been tasted by me,” said I, drinking from my daru and looking from one to another of those who stood about me. “I am a war leader of Midanna, and therefore must consider my actions carefully, giving no unintentional insult. Do you then believe S’Heernoh so much less than the rest of you, that he should not be done as you?”

“The worth of S’Heernoh is scarcely in contention,” said Chaldrin while Telion shook his head in annoyance. “The matter before us at this moment concerns the Sword and the High Rider, both of whom are prepared to contest for you. Do you truly wish to see which one will survive the meeting?”

“What matters which survives, when there is naught to survive for?” I asked, knowing the simplicity of the statement would surely appeal to these males. “The two have presented themselves to the war leader Jalav, and that war leader has rejected them both. My choice will stand as stated, and none may deny me.”

“Alas, my lady Jalav, that is unfortunately not so,” came the voice of S’Heernoh. He stepped between Lialt and Telion, halting directly before me, and as strange as ever was the amusement in his dark eyes. “I would find it a great honor to attend you this darkness,” said he, “and yet must I regretfully decline. There was a lovely warrior in the corridor through which we passed to reach our rooms, clad in red, of the Happa clan, I believe she said, and her request was most courteous—and interesting—and—” Much did the male attempt to appear shame-faced, yet he was too amused. “Already have I given my word to attend another. Would you see me forsworn?”

Silently had Mehrayn and Ceralt come up to stand themselves behind S’Heernoh, their eyes showing naught of the amusement of the elder male, the gaze of each of them resting no place other than upon me. Light was the gaze of each of them, Ceralt’s blue and Mehrayn’s green, and well did I recall the look of laughter in each pair of eyes. How deep was the touch of the look of laughter, and how rarely it occurred in the sight of a warrior.

“My lady Jalav, have you heard my words?” asked S’Heernoh, returning me to the fact of his presence. Again the male seemed amused, yet I knew not why.

“Indeed have I heard your words, S’Heernoh,” I said, taking care not to look again upon the two who stood just behind him. “You need not fear being forsworn, for the Happa warrior who approached you will doubtless release you from your vow when she learns of my—interest. You may, if you wish it, promise yourself for the following darkness.”

“And who, if not S’Heernoh, will occupy your sleeping leather the following darkness?” asked Chaldrin at once, the accursed male unable to hold his tongue still. “Am I to be honored, or Telion or Lialt, or perhaps Aysayn or Galiose?”

“Surely not you, brother,” said I quickly, wishing him to see my displeasure. “You, I am sure, will be far too weary from having served so many so well. The following darkness I will perhaps take a slave to my sleeping leather, for never have I had the taste of a slave. Perhaps it will prove a taste to build an appetite upon.”

“Surely do you sound the city wench incensed over not having been courted,” said Telion with a snort of derision. “What deference will you have from us, girl, and how soon will it bring you to sufficient maturity that lucid and adult actions will come from you rather than childish tantrums?”

“You dare to liken the doings of a Midanna war leader to those of a city slave-woman?” I demanded, my rage taking me a step nearer to Telion, my right hand already beginning to reach for my sword hilt. I understood naught of what the male had said, and yet I was certain from his tone that insult was intended. So often had insult been given me by those males during my time of capture, that they now believed themselves safe from my wrath. Indeed I meant to show the male how greatly he erred, yet had I forgotten that my sword had been put aside with theirs. My fingers closed on air, enraging me yet further, and the Mida-forsaken male folded his arms across his broad, leather-clad chest, and smiled arrogantly.