Draven cocked a brow at her answer. “One thousand and one?” he asked in spite of his intention to ignore her.
“Aye. It requires the emperor to order that the fire be started, nine hundred and ninety nine Roman governors to pass down the order, and one slave to light it.”
The rest of his company enjoyed it and if he dared admit it, he found it humorous, too. Had he been the type of man who laughed, he would join his men and brother, but too many years had passed.
He couldn’t even remember how to laugh anymore.
Emily sighed and looked to Simon. “Your brother is a hard man.”
Draven choked on his wine.
She frowned. “Milord, are you all right?” She pounded on his back.
“Fine.” Draven shrugged off her touch. “Your choice of words just caught me off-guard.”
Once more Simon burst into laughter.
“What?” she asked.
Simon shook his head. “I’ll leave it to my brother to explain to you just how hard a man he is.”
“Simon…”
“Don’t growl at me when you’re the one who instigated it.”
Confused, Emily looked back and forth between them until Draven got up and left.
Emily watched as Draven made his way to the outskirts of the camp.
“Did I say something wrong?” she asked Simon.
“‘Twas merely your choice of words.”
She still didn’t understand and by the look on Simon’s face she didn’t think he would elaborate.
But then he didn’t have to. Alys came up behind her and whispered the answer in her ear.
Heat exploded across her face as she refused to look at Simon or anyone else for that matter. Her embarrassment was just too great.
They finished eating in silence and Draven took up a post just beyond the reach of the firelight.
The camp retired and Emily and Alys went to their beds to sleep.
Hours later, she lay awake trying her best to find the sweet arms of Morpheus.
She couldn’t.
Alys lay on the cot beside her, snoring mightily.
Unable to listen, Emily threw back the covers and reached for her saddlebags. Giving up on sleep, she dug out the book Christina had given her, and took it outside the tent to where the fire burned low.
No one was about.
Sighing, she opened the book, then immediately slammed it shut.
Heat scalded her face at what she’d seen. Surely, she had been mistaken, she thought.
Emily opened the book once more and her eyes widened as she viewed pictures of men and women doing unspeakable things to one another.
