she had no choice in this matter if she wanted to support Eli’s efforts to remain the Omari.
* * * *
This was not a gift. It was a death sentence.
Jade was fragile—small in comparison to the females on Eden. She knew nothing of their history, nor did she have enough experience with the people of Eden to be familiar with their traditions.
Elydian forced himself to smile. “Lothar, what a generous gift—but I’m afraid it’s too late. We would need to arrange transportation for both of us and—”
“I have already considered the time, Omari. I have a litter waiting at the edge of camp to carry you and Jade to your destination.”
Eli swallowed. What a presumptuous rat. “Again, I thank you for the thoughtful gift, but—”
“My cousin, Saleem-Canute, has already prepared for your participation. With Jade’s entry into the games, it perfectly sets the competition numbers. He’s counting on you, my Omari, to keep this commitment.”
Looking into the hushed crowd, Elydian’s gaze first met Ageit’s, then Me-Ma’s. Neither of them could offer help. He was on his own against his formidable, or at least influential, opponent. Elydian’s mind raced to think of an excuse, one that would hold the powerful Canute family at bay. Unable to come up with a satisfying reason that wouldn’t seem contrived, and sure he’d put the entirety of Omari Amun on Saleem’s list of camps to squash if he refused Lothar, he nodded once in acquiescence. Or was it surrender?
When Elydian finally gained the courage, he looked over at Jade. Her eyes seemed double in size. He pushed himself from the chair and announced to the camp, “Well, I guess we are off to Anuk-dye.” Elydian went to Jade, held out his hand and felt her cold fingers come to rest in his palm.
* * * *
In the litter, a small room-sized box sat slung between four tall, yoked beasts—likely distant cousins of the camel. They swayed as they made their way across the desert. A slight breeze blew the gossamer curtains in and out of the round windows fore and aft. They’d traveled the rest of the night and now lay across fluffy satin-covered pillows. The heat of the new day was unbearable enough to chase away even a wink of sleep which might have crept in. Not even the gentle roll of the litter could induce the slightest nap. Eli wore his signature short breech cloth, and Jade, a simple ivory-colored sheath dress, courtesy of Tar-Quinia—whom, she was relieved to know, didn’t hold any of this against Jade. She’d even lit incense for Jade in a blessing ritual in which Jade sat in awe at the kindness shown to her by complete strangers. The people of Omari Amun were indeed special.
“Bloody Hell, it’s hot.” Jade murmured.
“We should arrive into Anuk-dye just after sunset.” Eli assured her.
“If I don’t die first.”
A pained look passed over Eli’s face. He sobered and leaned up on an elbow. “Take off your clothes.”
Jade huffed out a laugh and peered at Eli. “Taking off my clothes is what got me into this mess in the first place.”
Eli grinned crookedly at her. She felt glad all the way down to her toes that their different origins weren’t going to be a factor between them. At least for now. “Come on. I can cool you off.” He reached over and held up some sort of corked animal skin bloated with water.
She grinned. “I’m in.”
When she slipped out of her dress, lust flared in his eyes, and she resisted the urge to squirm under his knowing gaze. It had been a day and a half since they’d made love—the longest they’d gone without intimate touch since they’d known each other. “You behave yourself, now. There are people all around, walking the litter, riding other…desert beasts.”
“Mm-hm,” he murmured and uncorked the skin.
“That wasn’t a commitment,” she said, undertones of skepticism lacing her voice.
He poured some water onto a cloth. “Lay across the large cushion behind you.”
Jade did as she was
* * * *
This was not a gift. It was a death sentence.
Jade was fragile—small in comparison to the females on Eden. She knew nothing of their history, nor did she have enough experience with the people of Eden to be familiar with their traditions.
Elydian forced himself to smile. “Lothar, what a generous gift—but I’m afraid it’s too late. We would need to arrange transportation for both of us and—”
“I have already considered the time, Omari. I have a litter waiting at the edge of camp to carry you and Jade to your destination.”
Eli swallowed. What a presumptuous rat. “Again, I thank you for the thoughtful gift, but—”
“My cousin, Saleem-Canute, has already prepared for your participation. With Jade’s entry into the games, it perfectly sets the competition numbers. He’s counting on you, my Omari, to keep this commitment.”
Looking into the hushed crowd, Elydian’s gaze first met Ageit’s, then Me-Ma’s. Neither of them could offer help. He was on his own against his formidable, or at least influential, opponent. Elydian’s mind raced to think of an excuse, one that would hold the powerful Canute family at bay. Unable to come up with a satisfying reason that wouldn’t seem contrived, and sure he’d put the entirety of Omari Amun on Saleem’s list of camps to squash if he refused Lothar, he nodded once in acquiescence. Or was it surrender?
When Elydian finally gained the courage, he looked over at Jade. Her eyes seemed double in size. He pushed himself from the chair and announced to the camp, “Well, I guess we are off to Anuk-dye.” Elydian went to Jade, held out his hand and felt her cold fingers come to rest in his palm.
* * * *
In the litter, a small room-sized box sat slung between four tall, yoked beasts—likely distant cousins of the camel. They swayed as they made their way across the desert. A slight breeze blew the gossamer curtains in and out of the round windows fore and aft. They’d traveled the rest of the night and now lay across fluffy satin-covered pillows. The heat of the new day was unbearable enough to chase away even a wink of sleep which might have crept in. Not even the gentle roll of the litter could induce the slightest nap. Eli wore his signature short breech cloth, and Jade, a simple ivory-colored sheath dress, courtesy of Tar-Quinia—whom, she was relieved to know, didn’t hold any of this against Jade. She’d even lit incense for Jade in a blessing ritual in which Jade sat in awe at the kindness shown to her by complete strangers. The people of Omari Amun were indeed special.
“Bloody Hell, it’s hot.” Jade murmured.
“We should arrive into Anuk-dye just after sunset.” Eli assured her.
“If I don’t die first.”
A pained look passed over Eli’s face. He sobered and leaned up on an elbow. “Take off your clothes.”
Jade huffed out a laugh and peered at Eli. “Taking off my clothes is what got me into this mess in the first place.”
Eli grinned crookedly at her. She felt glad all the way down to her toes that their different origins weren’t going to be a factor between them. At least for now. “Come on. I can cool you off.” He reached over and held up some sort of corked animal skin bloated with water.
She grinned. “I’m in.”
When she slipped out of her dress, lust flared in his eyes, and she resisted the urge to squirm under his knowing gaze. It had been a day and a half since they’d made love—the longest they’d gone without intimate touch since they’d known each other. “You behave yourself, now. There are people all around, walking the litter, riding other…desert beasts.”
“Mm-hm,” he murmured and uncorked the skin.
“That wasn’t a commitment,” she said, undertones of skepticism lacing her voice.
He poured some water onto a cloth. “Lay across the large cushion behind you.”
Jade did as she was
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