A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(106)
“They were protected,” Georg said with a vicious grin. “But now they’re not.”
Since her thoughts were being so thoroughly monitored, she sought for information.
How was it that Sin did not know Vich was there?
“Because the army is moving one way and we were moving clandestinely another. If Sin has spies in our camp, they, like everyone else, think that Vich is sleeping in his tent and riding on his horse. But the tent is empty and the rider if muffled in scarves against the cold so they cannot see his face. Our doppleganger simply pretends he is Vich and no one notices that he never steps outside without his face covered. It was all really quite a show. Sin would have to have a spy very close to the raj in order to know…and no spy that close could ever go undetected by his Jadoc. Huko is nearly just as powerful as Lindo is. In fact, he is the one playing the part of Vich. He simply uses his power to make everyone think he is Vich and they are easily convinced that they are seeing what they expect to see. I wish I could say I was that good, but I’m not. One day though. One day soon. Huko is teaching me. When we’re together that is. I’ve been stuck here catering to your insipid maid these past weeks.”
At the mention of her name, he turned to Mariah. “Well dove? I’ll bet you’re wishing you’d had a better taste of me…seeing as how powerful I am. The best a little non-majic-user like you’d ever get to sample. Shaman don’t dawdle with the like of you in either of our countries.”
Mariah gave him a murderous glare and Ariana was proud of her. Mariah was a sensitive girl who wore her emotions easily seen. She could have easily dissolved into tears and shame. But she had not.
“Oooo, now there’s a wicked thought. Whoever knew you could be such a dirty girl,” he said with a rude guffaw.
It was clear Mariah had had no such thoughts, but he continued to goad her, as if he were reading her lascivious mind. “You want to do it where? In the raja’s bed? Naughty, insolent girl. Well, perhaps if you’re good, when this is all over, I’ll take you there and make your fantasy come true. Would you like that? Eh? To tumble around in her bed.” He reached out and slid insolent fingers over Ariana’s cheek. “Or is it no fun without the raja in it? Maybe I can arrange that too. When Vich is raja he will sleep in that bed…and take as many women as he likes into it. Although, he may not be inspired by the likes of you. Now you,” he slid his eyes over Ariana, “are another story. Vich is completely fascinated by you. By the power you hold over his brother. There must be something pretty sweet between your thighs to set a man like Sin on edge like that. Something real sweet. We’ve all been trying to figure it out. I’d like to find out for myself, and who knows, maybe Vich will hand you over to us men. I bet Sin wouldn’t want you back after that…kid or no kid.
“But if you ask me, Vich wants you for himself. Seems he wants a little payback for all those times you set him down with that smart mouth of yours. Bet you’re wishing you’d kept a more honeyed tongue in your head, eh?” His grin was positively salacious. “Let’s have some of that honeyed tongue now yes?” He drew them up short took her by her arm and slammed her back up against the nearest wall. He feinted for her mouth with his and she jerked her head to the side. “I’ll let you fight me,” he said, his hot breath washing over her. “It’s more fun that way.”
“Georg enough!” one of the other men barked. “If Vich sees you manhandling the merchandise there’ll be both hells to pay.”
“Merchandise?” Georg snorted a laugh. “I guess that is what you are. Goods to be bartered or sold. I wonder how much Sin would pay for you. Not that he’ll actually get you. There’s only one way this will all end. But…shh…there’s no need to give away that little secret.”
Ariana felt sick. Literally sick. And while Georg had control over her motor functions, even he could not control her autonomic ones. Oh, if he was skilled enough he could give her a stroke or a heart attack, but he couldn’t keep her from needing to upend her stomach all over the place. In fact, because he was so deeply entrenched in her mind at the time, he turned a little green himself.
Ariana quite happily vomited all over Georg.
Georg bellowed out a curse and leapt back away from her. His concentration broke from her and she got back the use of her arms, legs and voice. All in one fluid movement she burned through her bonds, gathered the skirt of her nightdress in her hands and yanked it up as she hauled off and kicked him right between the legs so hard his feet jumped from the floor. Then she formed a fireball in her hand and slammed her flaming fist into his face. His hair caught fire and he began to scream. The pitch was earsplitting and high. Then, before anyone could react, she generated a sword of fire and cut through the two closest men. They went up in flames and pandemonium broke out in the hallway.
Ariana then singed through Mariah’s bonds, grabbed Mariah’s hand and bolted down the hall with her. She didn’t know if there were other Jadoc shamans in the group, and she wasn't going to stick around and find out. She began to scream, determined to alert every guard within shouting distance. Unfortunately, they were in the raj’s wing of the temple and odds were the entire wing was full of men devoted to Vich by then. Her only hope was to alert the guards who were loyal to Sin and to get the troops somehow mobilized to take down Vich’s entourage.