Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [239]
"Is it true?" an elderly woman called to them. "Have you captured the daughter of the Son of Heaven?"
"It's true, Old Mother!" Bao called back to her. "The demon-princess herself, and the foreign witch, too! We're escorting them to Lord Jiang!"
There were murmurs in our wake, but they didn't sound doubtful. I relaxed.
I shouldn't have.
We made camp that night some distance beyond the village. Instead of sparring against their staves, Snow Tiger instructed the stick-fighters in the proper handling of their newly acquired swords, a different skill altogether.
"It has no reach," Bao complained. "A good stick-fighter can beat a swordsman any day."
"You need to at least look capable," the princess said in a calm tone.
He acquiesced, grumbling.
We retired when dusk began to fall, the men drawing straws to determine the order of standing guard, since that would be expected in a company of soldiers escorting prisoners. Tortoise drew first watch. The others were grateful to have a tent and blankets to share—even, I daresay, Master Lo.
Although she hadn't evinced signs of pain during the day, once Snow Tiger and I had retired to our own tent, her movements stiffened. Once again, she didn't protest when I helped her disrobe, only winced.
"It is still very painful?" I asked, keeping my voice low so that Tortoise, posted outside, would not hear. I suspected she'd been concealing the extent of the pain from them. "You should have told me, my lady."
She shrugged. "It will pass."
I spread my hand gently over the bare skin of her right shoulder blade, letting it rest there a moment. I wished I had Raphael's healing touch, the ability to spread that glorious warmth like balm. Or that I had studied with the famed masseurs of Balm House, who were said to be able to soothe away any ache. I had no gift or skills to offer her.
That's not true, the dragon said. There is pleasure in your touch, even the simplest.
The princess tilted her head slightly. "I will not miss having the privacy of my thoughts invaded," she remarked.
It made me feel better. I smiled and slid her sleeping-robe over her shoulders, and did not say what I was thinking, which was that I would miss being privy to them.
She touched my arm. "Thank you. I owe you a great deal, not least for your kindness. Do not think I am not mindful of it."
I inclined my head. "Thank you, my lady. I am grateful to know that I am not entirely an inconvenience to you, albeit a necessary one."
There was a rare note of affection in her voice. "I think you know full well that you are not, Moirin of the Maghuin Dhonn. I suspect it is my honor to consider you a friend."
I fell asleep happy because of it.
I awoke to shouting and torchlight, shadows cast by struggling figures darkening the oiled silk walls of our tent.
"What is it?" Snow Tiger was on her feet in the opened tent-flap before I'd fully awakened, sword in hand. Her blindfolded face turned to and fro, frustrated by her inability to see. "Are we under attack? Who? How many?"
I stumbled past her into the night, rubbing my sleep-filled eyes, and beheld the sight of Tortoise fighting for his life to hold off half a dozen men and youths armed with torches, cudgels, and farm implements. The other tent had collapsed under the attack of at least a dozen more. Bao had planted himself to guard Master Lo, cursing like a demon, his staff a blur. Ten Tigers Dai was fighting like a madman. Their assailants were shouting fiercely in a dialect I didn't understand, but here and there, I heard Snow Tiger's name. "Ah, gods!"
The princess thrust me behind her with one protective sweep of her arm. The dragon keened in rising alarm and anger. "What? "
"Farmers!" I caught her arm, holding her back. "Country folk! My lady, don't harm them! I think they've come to rescue you!"
She froze. "No." Aye!
"Stop!" Her voice rose. "Stop, now!"
They were too immersed in fighting to hear. Helpless to stop it, I watched a boy with a sickle clutched in his hand go down under the butt end of Bao's staff.
Lend her your gift, the dragon said softly. Lend