He stared at the inside of his own forearm.
“Khatun,” he said quietly to the empty tent.“Have mercy on me.”
Chapter 35
Nyraxafoundhimhalf-dressed,one arm through his tunic, the other still fumbling with the sleeve, his mask already in place.
She leaned against the tent pole and smiled.
"Good morning, Great Khan."
Ragnar's head snapped toward her.His visible eye narrowed."How long have you been standing there?"
"You look rested."She pushed off the pole, circling him slowly, her footsteps deliberately loud.“How was your night with the Khatun?”
"I'm not discussing that with you."
"Discussing what?"Her eyes were utterly insincere."I merely observed that your colour has improved.The fever appears to have broken.One might almost say you're glowing."
Ragnar yanked the tunic the rest of the way on."Nyraxa."
"Yes, Great Khan?"
"Leave."
"I haven't even told you about the scout reports yet."She settled onto a cushion, crossing her legs."Orda's left flank is weaker than he thinks.We could exploit it if we move quickly.But please—by all means—continue being flustered.I'm enjoying myself immensely."
He grabbed his belt, fastening it with more force than necessary."I'm not flustered."
"No?"She tilted her head."Interesting.Because you just put that on backwards."
He looked down, adjusted his belt, and said nothing.
"The Khatun is rather interesting, isn't she?"Nyraxa mused, examining her nails."I like her.I also like the way you look when you think about her."
"I don't have alook."
"Ragnar."She used his name deliberately, dropping the title."I've known you for seven years.You can’t fool the great Nyraxa Varkesh!"
He hesitated to speak."What do I look like?"
“Now I don’t want to tell you.”
He finished with the belt, agitated.“I should’ve known.What do you want?I should have you flogged for dragging her through Ukhel’s circle without my authorisation."
"You won't.You can’t even pretend to be angry."
“I am terribly furious.”
"You're doing an admirable job of that then."She came up and patted his chest."Your ears are red, by the way.The mask doesn't hide them."
He reached up to touch his ear and cursed under his breath.
Nyraxa laughed, enjoying his vulnerability way too much.
"I understand now," she said.
"Understand what?"
