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nothing but what I have told him. When he cannot satisfy them they will kill
him."
Pphira traced her fingers over his flat muscle corded belly. "I suppose you
are right. What of it? What is this Pelops to you?"
"My friend," said Blade.
"In that case," said the Queen, "you shall have him. Or what is left of him."
She tugged a cord beside the bed. In less than a minute a house slave
appeared. Pphira made no effort to cover herself or Blade.
She gave brief orders and the slave left.
She kissed Blade and rolled atop him, moving up so that her little breasts
were against his face. If she was ageless, the man thought, she was also
insatiable. His sigh was inward. It was the name of the game.
Show fatigue or boredom now and he might lose everything. He began to will
himself to new passion.
Pphira was shrewd enough to know what was happening. She kissed him, examining
his tongue with her own, then began to lick his face like a cat.
"Ask, Blade. What else would you have? I am not often in such a mood. You had
best take while I
offer."
"I would be Captain," said Blade. "In command of a ship. I would fight in the
games when Otto the
Black arrives."
"Granted. What other?"
Captain Blade, now very sly, a little fearful lest he overstep, thought it
best wait a while. He pulled to her up and positioned her astraddle his big
body and let her ride him long and far and fast into screaming contentment.
When she fell exhausted he cradled her tenderly and stroked her hair.
When she breathed normally again he said, "There are certain things I would
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know, questions I
would ask. Not of idle probing, for I am not given to that, but if I must make
a life in Sarma I must have knowledge."
She nodded against his chest. "Ask your questions. Then let me sleep, for I
swear I have never been so pleasantly weary."
"I may anger you, my Queen."
"No, Blade. I promise it. Nothing you ask of me at this moment will anger me.
So ask ahead."
He took the plunge. "What are Kreed and the Captain Equebus to each other?
How do they connect? To me they have the look of plotters, there is a smell
of conspiracy about them, but I cannot see to what end?"
Pphira laughed softly. "It is very plain, Blade. They plot against me. So my
spies tell me. And I have many spies."
"And you permit this?"
"I permit it. It is not a new thing there are more plots in Sarma than there
are people. I would rather have them plot than act. And they, Kreed and
Equebus, are also lovers. Or at least the priest loves I
think Equebus merely permits himself to be loved."
So that was it! Blade, knowing that any form of sexuality was considered
normal in Sarma, began to form a picture for himself. He put it to the test.
He said: "So Kreed, an old man, loves the Captain. A man in his prime. This
means much to
Kreed very little to Equebus. Kreed is the vulnerable one, then, and you have
a certain hold on him. If something should happen to the Captain "
"Kreed would be desolate," she said softly. "He would beat his breast, put on
mourning and leap into the fiery mouth of Tor."
Blade nodded. "I think, my Queen, that I know at least one of your spies. He
even spies against himself."
"And against Equebus," she added. "Equebus whispers to Kreed and Kreed
whispers to me. He must, and knows it, to save his lover. And now, Blade, I
must ask you a question. Are you my man? Will you cleave to me when Otto the
Black arrives? For this time Equebus plots with Otto himself for the promise
that Otto will place him on my throne. Otto himself would like this he wants a
docile puppet on the throne of Sarma instead of a trouble-maker."
Although Pelops had briefed Blade well on Sarmaian politics he was not
prepared for this. He was out of his depth and admitted it.
He frowned. "At my first audience you reproached Kreed for speaking against
Otto the Black. You
spoke of being a fief and "
She put a soft little hand on his lips. "So I did. I pay lip service to Otto,
as does every Sarmaian who wants to live, but in our hearts we are all rebels.
We would be free of Otto's yoke. But this cannot be spoken aloud for every spy
I have, Otto has ten. That is why this time Equebus has gone too far. He
really intends to serve Otto when I am killed. Equebus is no true rebel. He
is he "
She put her face against Blade's chest. He felt a tear on his flesh and
marveled at it. This woman weeping? And over Equebus the Cruel! There was
much, far too much, that he did not understand.
Pphira did not look at him. She clung, a woman for the moment disarmed, soft
and vulnerable, and said: "Equebus is no true Sarmaian. Only half. I alone in
Sarma know this."
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