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“What? Beg? Me? You are deluded.”
“You cannot deny you enjoyed it, too. All of it.”
“Be that as it may, whether you hold me to our bargain or not, I have decided to save myself for my husband.”
He laughed. The brute actually dared to laugh at her. “A little late for that, isn’t it?”
Really, the man needs another head thumping. “It is never too late for new beginnings. You should try it.”
“Do you perchance have any particular man in mind? Oh, nay, do not tell me that is why you want me to come to Stoneheim. You wish to lure me into a marriage trap.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why is that ridiculous? You called me dearling when I rescued you.”
“My mind was overwrought. It meant nothing. I take it back.”
“There are some things you cannot take back, dearling.”
“Why do you argue with every bloody thing I say?”
“Perchance because I enjoy doing so.”
“Immature youthling!”
“You certainly have a way of convincing a man to do your bidding, princess.”
“Aaarrgh! Can you not listen without baiting me for just a few moments? Is it not obvious to you that I have something important to tell you?”
“Uh-oh! Perchance is the big secret about to be revealed?”
“It must be at some point, but I had hoped to get you to Stoneheim afore telling you.”
“Ah, so that is where this roundabout conversation is leading. And why would you want me there for the big revelation?”
“Stop mocking me, and listen well. It is not so much what I must tell you, but who I must show you.”
“Who? This is gets more and more confusing.” She could practically hear his brain working. “Oh, nay, if you are perchance thinking of providing me a new bride to make up for your leaving me nigh mid-wedding rites, forget about it.”
“You are driving me barmy with all these perchances. Let me turn around so that I can look at you. What I have to say should be said face-to-face.”
“Now you are scaring me,” he said, and turned her so that she sat sidesaddle, with her legs over one side of the camel, and her rump on Sidroc’s lap, rather on Sidroc’s rising enthusiasm. It was sad but true that teasing Drifa aroused him. “Stop squirming,” he ordered, “lest you want to have sex atop a camel.”
Lucy farted her opinion. Sidroc cringed. Drifa pretended not to notice.
“All right, I am listening. What is so important that you nigh shake at the prospect of telling me?”
“Your daughter is alive.”
“What daughter?”
“Runa is your daughter, the one you thought had died whilst you were in your death-sleep.”
He frowned. “Signe?”
She nodded. “I changed Signe’s name to Runa.”
“Why? What? Who?” he sputtered. “Are you telling me that the baby did not die five years ago, and that she has been alive all this time, but you failed to tell me?”
