'Lady, you do me honor.'
She met his smile, then her own faltered. Suddenly both young people realized the full awkwardness of the situation. Here they were, both virgins; one a king, the other a priestess. They were both young for the weight of their stations, and neither could rely on the other for a mature head and years of experience to steer them through this uncomfortable period.
Castyll was the first to recover. He strode swiftly to the Blesser, gathered the slim girl in his arms, and nuzzled at her ear. But what he said were not honeyed words of romance. 'Are you loyal to your king?' he murmured.
Adara was thoroughly confused. Her arms crept up to embrace him as she replied softly, 'Of course I am. That is why…'
'Then I must ask you to do something very dangerous,' continued Castyll, continuing the charade of seduction lest a curious, giggling Tender was watching. 'Is your bedchamber secure from prying eyes and ears?'
Love's Blesser pulled away, her hands on his chest, pushing him back slightly. 'Yes,' she said, a bit louder this time. 'My room is private. We need have no fear of being observed at our pleasures.'
Her hand dropped to his. Smiling coyly, though Castyll could see apprehension in her eyes, she led him through the door to her own bedchamber. When they were inside, she leaned on the door and turned, questions on her lips.
Castyll held up a warning finger. Carefully, he began to inspect the room. The bed, large enough for two and covered with soft blankets, had no canopies. No one could hide there. He checked Adara's wardrobe and finally peered outside, glancing about repeatedly before closing the shutters. Moving purposefully, he seized Adara's upper arms and gently but firmly steered her toward the bed.
She began to laugh. 'Usually it is the Blesser who does the seducing, but…'
He laid a finger on her lips. Still pitching his voice soft, he began to speak.
'Things are not as they seem. I am a prisoner in my own castle. My counselor Bhakir murdered my father and he plans to murder me as well. He has cut me off from any official sources. He has dissolved the betrothal between myself and the princess of Byrn. I am nothing but his puppet. I believe he plans to make war on innocents, and I believe that after tonight I'll see nothing but the walls of a prison cell.'
Her eyes widened. He removed his finger and she said softly, 'But Your Majesty-how could this happen and we your people not know?'
'There is much that the people do not know,' replied Castyll, his face grim. 'But you must believe me. If I am ever to be a true king to my people I must escape tonight. It is my only hope.' He sat back, letting her absorb what he had told her. She seemed stunned. Finally he said, still whispering, 'I need your help.'
'What… what can I do?'
'You can help me escape. I cannot lie to you. If they find you here tomorrow and me gone, they will interrogate you. Your only chance is to come with me. I know there are people who are still loyal to me. It's my hope that I can find them and rally them to my cause. They do not know,' he said sadly. 'Even some of my closest men think me happily here in Ilantha for the summer.'
Adara edged back, unaware that she was putting the down pillow between herself and the young king. 'But… I have my duty as a Blesser. I cannot abandon my Tenders. They are unsettled enough already, with the death of the previous Blesser. To lose me so soon
…'
Castyll realized with a growing sense of horror that he had made an enormous mistake. Adara would not willingly betray him, but he should have tried to escape without involving her. Far better to have lain with her as was expected and have left like a thief in the night. Now it was too late. She would be subjected to mind-reading, he felt certain. And very few mortals, certainly not a person with no magical training, could resist that. She would therefore betray him in the end anyway, if she did not come with him.
'I'm sorry,' he breathed. 'I'm so sorry. I should never have done this to you. It's only…' What? Only that he missed speaking heart to heart with someone? That he was weary of guarding his true plans? That he yearned for someone to say it's all right, you're doing the right thing, I understand'!
She gazed at him for a long moment, then reached to touch his face. 'How horrible this must be for you. I cannot imagine… Of course I will help. I serve Love, and part of our training is to know and understand our own hearts. My heart wants to help, even if that means abandoning my duties. My Tenders will be confused and hurt, but I will serve my goddess best this way.'
A lump rose in Castyll's throat and he hugged her tightly. 'Thank you,' he whispered. 'No harm will come to you. I give you my word.'
'Speak not so,' she warned, 'for you tempt the gods when you do.'
He nodded, acknowledging the truth of what she said. Castyll took a deep breath. 'It would be best to wait until after dark,' he said. 'I know there will be guards posted.'
Adara's brows drew together angrily. 'Not around the temple of Love!' she said indignantly. 'It would be a blasphemy!'
Castyll nodded sadly. 'These are men who have no sense of honor.' He watched her reaction, knowing that this, more than anything had yet said, brought home to her the depths to which his captors would sink.
She glanced down at her hands clenched around the pillow, and deliberately disentangled them. She straightened, and jutted her chin slightly forward. 'You came for a purpose other than flight,' she reminded him.
Suddenly, Castyll's mouth went dry. He felt shy and awkward, and judging by the flush in Adara's cheeks, she did as well. 'True,' he managed.
Her mouth opened, her small pink tongue creeping out to moisten suddenly dry lips. 'Nightfall… is a long time away.'
Castyll's heart began to race. No, Adara was no beauty like his beloved Cimarys. But she was brave, like Cimmy, and kind. And she was the Blesser of Love. To not lie with her tonight would be an insult. Besides, Castyll found that he was more than ready for her. Their gazes locked and he moved toward her over the soft bed.
'A very long time,' he agreed. He gently pressed his lips to hers, felt the soft swell of her small breasts as she arched up toward him.
And for a time, all thoughts of flight were banished from their minds.
Castyll started awake much later. The room was completely dark. His jerky movements awakened Adara, who awoke with a gasp. 'Castyll?'
'Shh, I'm sorry. I didn't remember where I was for a moment.' She moved toward him, her skin soft as silk, her warm nakedness inviting him back to sleep-or sport. He placed a kiss on her hand and slid out of the bed. 'It is time we were gone.'
He groped about for his clothes as she rose to light the lamps. She moved gracefully, without embarrassment, as the lights revealed her nakedness to his eyes. Seeing her thus brought the image of Cimarys to his mind, and suddenly tears clouded his vision. He wiped at his eyes. At once Adara was there.
'What is it?' she asked, concerned.
He took a steadying breath. 'It's just… forgive me, Adara. But lying with you only makes me want my Cimarys all the more. I miss her so much.'
He had thought he would hurt her with the words, but instead Adara flung her arms about his neck. 'Oh, Castyll, thank you!' Tears were in her own eyes. 'This was my first… I was afraid I couldn't…' Seeing his confusion, she replied, 'A Blesser hopes that the man she has initiated into lovemaking will take that skill to his own bed, share it with his beloved to their mutual joy. I am so happy that you are even more in love with your Byrnian princess after being with me!'
He grinned back at her and kissed her soundly on the lips. 'Then know, dear Adara — that when your king lies with his queen, we will both think of you… and thank you. But we must hurry. I know not the hour.'
Adara dressed quickly. 'I have nothing but my Blesser's robes,' she said apologetically. 'Do you have a cloak?' She nodded. 'Then wrap yourself in that. Be quiet-I'm going to take a look around first.'
He went to the door, opened it and peered out. It was dark in the main room of the temple. But he couldn't just walk out. Castyll went to the window and gently opened the shutters. And stared, shocked, into the hooded features of a man waiting outside the window.
