Page 46 of The Champion

Raven frowned. “Zenobia?”

Once more she removed her hijab and smiled at him. He rushed to embrace her while Stryder began changing his clothes.

“It’s good to see you, scamp,” Zenobia said affectionately. “I see Stryder hasn’t killed you yet for aggravating him.”

“Nay, and you...” Raven ran his gaze over her. The youth had always held a tenderness for the she-warrior. “You look wonderful, as always.”

She smiled warmly.

“So why are the two of you dressed like that?” Raven asked.

Zenobia explained how she and Nassir had left immediately from the Holy Land to intercept the murderer, while Stryder finished changing his clothes.

Once Stryder rejoined them, she gave him a teasing look. “Mayhap you should marry. At least then you could have a moment of peace from your adoring crowd.”

He scoffed while Raven looked horrified. “We can’t have Stryder married,” he said defensively. “Who then would lead us?”

“There are more important things than direct leadership, scamp,” she said affectionately. “A king may leave a country without losing his authority or without the country falling to pieces.”

Stryder snorted. “And he who leaves Rome loses it.”

Zenobia shook her head at him. “I’ll remind you of that when you’re old and alone with only mice to keep you company.”

Stryder dismissed her words easily enough. “I don’t see you rushing to the altar.”

Her gaze turned sad. “My heart is already claimed, but the one who owns it thinks too much like you.”

Stryder felt for his friend. He hadn’t known she’d already fallen in love. “Nassir?”

She laughed aloud at that. “Nay. I would be blessed indeed if I could be with the one I love. But alas, he has his own path to follow, and I have no place there.”

Stryder felt for her. The daughter of their jailor, she had joined ranks with them just weeks before their escape. Indeed, she had been a large reason why their escape had been successful. She’d given up everything to help them. It was something none of them had ever forgotten.

“When did you lose your heart?” he asked her.

“Long ago.” Her eyes were filled with restrained pain. “Trust me, Stryder, there is no greater pain than to let the one you love leave your side. Knowing they are out there, alone, and wondering always if they are healthy and happy.”

He frowned at her words. It wasn’t like Zenobia to be so open with her feelings. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because too many of us let our minds deafen our hearts.” She went to the tent and opened the flap as Rowena approached.

Stryder’s frown deepened. Zenobia was gifted with second sight and there were times when her abilities were frightening.

She took the gown from Rowena and thanked her for it.

Stryder and Raven went to stand outside while she changed.

“Will you help me, my lady?” Zenobia asked Rowena as she moved to join the men.

Rowena hesitated, then agreed. She didn’t know why she felt a strange jealousness about the woman, but she did.

“I’m no threat to you, kateena,” Zenobia said gently.

“Keteena?”

“It means ‘little precious one.’ A term my people often apply to friends.”

Rowena offered her a smile at the endearment as she helped Zenobia into Elizabeth’s pale blue gown. “I don’t think of you as a threat.”