"Ah, what a noblesoul."
In the center of the temple awood fire burned in a huge bronze brazier. Other than the brazier, the chamberappeared barren of furniture except for two cots set against the far wall and along trestle table by a window facing toward the north.
"You come to save myglorious gift for posterity?" John Kartauk stood at the table, his handsdeftly molding clay around a form before him. He appeared to be in his latethirties, a man whose size was as big as his laugh, dressed in loose trousers,long white cotton tunic, and sandals. As Ruel drew closer, he seemed to groweven larger in dimension as he noticed the bulging biceps of Kartauk's arms andmassive shoulders. His dark brown hair flowed free to his shoulders, and anequally silky brown beard accented the goldsmith's strong jawline, but hisother features were undistinguished except perhaps for deepset brown eyes and slashingblack brows.
"Are you a priest or asaint that you—" Kartauk looked up from his form and stiffened, his eyeswidening as he looked at Ruel. "Good God, what a face. Come here in thelight, where I can see you."
Ruel moved forward to standnext to the window. "Is this good enough?"
Kartauk nodded and took a stepnearer. "Turn your head to the right."
Ruel obediently turned hishead.
"Magnificent,"Kartauk murmured. "The symmetry is nearly perfect."
"May I move now?"Ruel asked politely. "The rain is coming in the window and I'd like to getrid of this slicker and dry off."
"I suppose so."Kartauk reluctantly stepped back and watched Ruel step away from the window."Superb… "
"It warms my heart to beappreciated."
"Are you asodomite?" Kartauk asked suddenly.
Ruel blinked. "No, I'mafraid you'll have to look elsewhere for your pleasure."
"Oh, I'm not of thatpersuasion." Kartauk made a face. "God knows how many times I'vewished I were, stuck out here in the jungle all these weeks." He cast asly smile at Li Sung. "However, Li Sung is no doubt grateful. The poorcrippled rascal couldn't have gotten away if I'd seen fit to vent my lust onhim."
"I'd have managed,"Li Sung said calmly as he sat down by the brazier and held his hands out to thefire.
Kartauk's gaze shifted back toRuel. "The reason I thought you might be a sodomite is that most men don'taccept their own physical beauty so readily."
"A pleasing face is onlya tool to be used, like a strong back or a keen mind." Ruel shrugged."Sometimes it works to my advantage, sometimes to my detriment."
"But you still use thosetools?"
"Of course, that's whatthey're here for." He smiled as his gaze went to an ivory-handled chiselon the table beside the clay model. "Would you keep a useful tool likethat in a cabinet just because it was fashioned to please the eye as well asthe hand?"
Kartauk's laugh boomed out."I like him, Li Sung."
"Jane said we must usecare with him."
"But of course, anyoneinteresting can always be a threat. I knew that the moment I saw him and I willlearn more as time goes on. I have the keen eye of a great artist and can ripaside the outer trappings and bare your very soul."
"It sounds a triflechilly," Ruel said mildly.
"I want to model a headof you." He frowned. "Unfortunately, I have no proper medium. I'vebeen using wood and clay, and you deserve better."
"Are you asking me topose for you?"
Kartauk nodded briskly."I'm going mad here with nothing to do."
Ruel's gaze went to the objectson the table. "You appear to be keeping yourself busy. That monkey is veryfine."
"You have a good eye. Ilike it myself." He reached under the table and brought out another woodenbust. "You might appreciate this."
Jane, her hair loose andflowing, not tightly braided as he was accustomed to seeing it. She wassmiling, vibrantly alive, and looked younger than he had ever seen her. Hereached out and gently traced the curve of her cheek with his index finger."I'm surprised she consented to pose for you."
"Oh, she didn't. She saidshe was much too busy. I did this from memory... and imagination. It was agreat challenge. All that strength and yet no one is more vulnerable thanJane."
