A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(14)

No. She had no recourse here. She had no choice but to let them take her where they would.

“I’m glad you realize that, my lady,” the Jadoc said.

Angry and frustrated, she went about her business. When she was done she drew abreast of the Jadoc and they walked back toward the carriage.

“Mariah will grow cold in that huge metal coffin,” she said bitterly. “You must give her a coat or blanket.”

“We have blankets. There are warming stones on the floor of the carriage. Surely you can heat them up for her feet.”

She flushed. She had not noticed the stones. “Yes. I can.”

“You can share your body warmth with her as well. You can generate more body heat than most.”

“I can. But if she should want to lie down…there isn’t room enough for two of us on the seat.”

“I will get the blankets.”

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Lindo.”

Yes. That was it. She had been racking her brain and simply could not come up with it.

“Thank you, Lindo.”

“You are most welcome, my lady.”

Lindo then took a shivering Mariah out to the little copse and brought the girl back quickly. Mariah’s teeth were chattering when he brought her back and Ariana immediately drew the girl to her body, warming herself to near feverish levels. She couldn’t keep it up for too long without making herself sick, but she could do it long enough to warm Mariah considerably. Then she would lower her body warmth to normal and they could remain cuddled together sharing warmth that way. Lindo tossed several blankets into the carriage before locking them in there again. Ariana warmed two of the warming stones and placed one at Mariah’s feet and one in her lap for her hands to rest on. Before long Mariah said, “That’s much better. I’m nearly warmed through now.”

“Good,” Ariana said, lowering her body temperature to normal. She leaned into the corner of the bench and made sure they were covered well as Mariah curled up against her. They hit another rut and were jounced roughly.

“Two weeks of this,” Mariah said grimly.

She had not thought of that. It would be hard going. There was no mistaking that. She felt for Mariah more than anything. She could put up with it, she had made long journeys before, but Mariah had not had opportunity to travel with her in the four autumns of service she had given Ariana thus far. Mariah was a young, sheltered girl who had been looking for the adventure of being lady maid to a grand and famous woman. She had wanted to travel with her far and wide. It was just that, for the first autumns of her service they had been at war and travel had been unsafe. For the first autumn of peace there had been much too much responsibility at home to deal with the fall out of the land deal they had brokered with the Kiltians. They had had to relocate thousands of people from what was now Kiltian lands and given them free lands elsewhere in the country. For the second autumn of peace, when it was deemed safe to travel at last, the opportunity had simply not presented itself as yet. Although she had been considering a diplomatic mission across the seas to a land called Gruman to open up peace and treaty negotiations come the spring.

Now she might never get that opportunity.

No, she thought firmly. She would not cultivate a defeatist attitude. She would get out of this somehow. She would save both her and Mariah…somehow.

Or, at the very least…one day, Sin would grow tired of her and he would send her back.

Well she was determined to make that day come as soon as possible. She would be as intractable as she knew how to be. She would drive him mad with her refusal to give in to her fate.

Raja Sin would regret the very instant he had thought to take her away from her home.





Chapter Five


Raja Sin had moved away from the carriage every time it came to a halt. He did not want to see her. He did not trust himself to see her. But as tradition dictated, he had to be in charge of this abduction. He could not simply leave it to his men. That would not be right. Besides, where would he go? Everything was already prepared for her ahead of them. All that mattered now was to bring her safely through the journey and to his home.

He knew she would become uncomfortable in the carriage. Two weeks of jouncing and jolting would wear on a body very quickly. It certainly wore on him when he was on horseback for that long. Although, the trip from Kilt to Saren was significantly shorter on horseback. Almost half as short. Almost.

He had seen to it that the cushions provided for the women were as thick and soft as could be, but that would not help much in the long run. He saw to it they stopped every so often for the women to stretch their legs if they so wished to…but the cold kept them inside the carriage more often than not. As he rode beside the carriage he reached out and touched it, warming the cold metal slowly and gently, making it warmed inside for the two women, but not so hot that they baked as if they were in an oven. He supposed Ariana could have done the same thing, but he did it all the same and wondered if she noticed. Of course she noticed. She had to be aware of the change in heat. It was in her nature to be aware of all things energy and heat and fire.

The longing for her was unbearable. Knowing she was right within reach. It was agonizing. Yet he did not approach her. Did not want her to know he was there watching over her. He didn’t know why exactly, but he wanted to keep himself apart from her until he reached his home and could have her where he wanted her.