TARSIUS resigned himself to silence. Zara hadn’t said a word through the meal, or after it. He was certain she’d slipped food to the dogs under the table, though he’d never actually caught her doing so. He grew impatient with her distraction. No matter what he said, her attention remained on the people around them. Anyone moved, she noticed.
Who was she looking for? When he’d finally asked, her reply was “No one.” The truly odd thing was he believed her. Which meant she was scrutinizing the crowd looking for nobody? That made no sense.
Once outside, she took up a position at his left side and walked along quietly. She obviously had much on her mind. Only patience would bring her to him, he kept reiterating to himself. With a soft sigh, he checked his frustration.
Cygnet thumped into his knees, interrupting his thoughts. He halted. She blocked his path, her attention behind him. He followed her gaze and realized Zara was no longer with him. She was, in fact, a good twenty feet behind outside a shop door, Jerrod faithfully at her side. Her perplexed expression drew Tarsius to her side.
She glanced up, her gaze questioning. “Why would anyone wear clothes like that?”
Tarsius leaned close to see what she scrutinized. His heart jumped into his throat, cutting off his air supply. Small and smaller attire for women filled the shop. Straightening, he racked his brain searching for an answer that wouldn’t embarrass them both. Zara waited.
“Well” —he chose his words carefully— “some women wear clothes of this nature because some men admire the way they appear in them.”
Zara glanced in the door, a dubious frown forming. “Why?”
“Why what?” He stalled for time, his brain working double time. He caught an amused look from Cygnet. He couldn’t be certain, but he could have sworn she knew exactly what was going on. The fact she found it so amusing was unsettling.
“Why do men like them?” She shook her head and looked up at him. “They’re not at all practical.”
“No, I suppose not.” He grasped the tangent Zara handed him. “They are not intended for normal wear.” He bit his tongue for adding that last, sensing the next question before it came.
“What then?” She looked, if possible, even more confused than before.
“How do I explain this?” he mumbled to himself, for the first time wishing he had practical experience with such things.
Zara waited, head tilted to one side.
Here goes. Hopefully the words are right. “Women wear clothes such as these for their husbands, not in public.”
“Oh.” She gave them a thoughtful look again. “U’uskoh never asked me to wear anything like that,” she muttered, to herself, he supposed.
Tarsius held his breath, praying she was satisfied. Sear’dan must have had his attention focused elsewhere.
“But why do men like them?”
Even Jerrod was laughing at him now, he realized with dismay.
“Because they are provocative,” he finally managed, and somehow didn’t choke.
“What does that mean?” She looked lost again.
He suppressed a groan. This had to be the punishment he had expected. “Provocative?” Best to be certain he was sure of the question. He didn’t want a misunderstanding to generate even more questions if he could avoid it.
She nodded.
“They hint at something desired without actually revealing it.”
She thought about that.
Tarsius set off again, relieved when she followed. Cygnet and Jerrod stayed close to their heels.
“Some men want what they can’t see?” she asked after a couple of blocks.
“Basically.” He was afraid to add anything further. Part of him mocked his cowardice. Another part congratulated his wisdom. He wanted no more questions on this particular subject.
“Men are strange,” she commented a few breaths later.
He breathed easier. In truth, based on his own explanation, he had to agree with her. He wished Shin’til or his mother were there to explain things. He relaxed when the compound came into sight.
“Do you like it?”
Tarsius stumbled over a crack between cobblestones and suddenly felt a severe headache coming on. She would probably wait until the next full moons for his answer, so it would do no good to pretend he hadn’t heard the question. He desperately searched his mind for an answer. Then it was there.
“I never considered it. I am unmarried.” He forced his breath to come in steady, normal rhythm while he waited for her response.
“Oh.” She shrugged and patted Cygnet and Jerrod, who walked on either side of her. “How long will it take to get back to Mil’antias?”
Thank you, Sear’dan, for the inspiration. I have no doubt it was from you.
Kestian, Dolmar, and Daylin waited patiently, horses saddled, carriage ready, packing complete, when Tarsius and Zara arrived at the compound. Even Viva was saddled and ready. Tarsius smiled when Kestian glanced up and saw them coming. The man’s gaze settled on Zara in an instant, his mouth dropping open. With a pop of his hand against Dolmar’s shoulder, he drew Dolmar and Daylin’s attention. The other two soldiers’ reactions were similar.
Tarsius found it comforting that he wasn’t the only one who needed to work on his reaction time. “Ready?” He broke their stupor.
All three nodded and smiled.
Zara noticed their scrutiny and looked away.
Dolmar and Daylin turned to secure saddle cinches and, Tarsius knew, to regain control of their senses. The change in Zara was dramatic, and none of them had expected it.
Kestian recovered much too quickly to suit Tarsius. “My lady” —the young soldier bowed deeply— “if I may say, you’re positively stunning.”
Zara blushed at the obviously sincere compliment and moved behind Tarsius. He was far more pleased than he should have been at her reaction. You should not even think such things.
But she is mine to protect. “Zara. Perhaps you should change for the ride. Remember to reverse your cloak.”
She nodded and headed inside. When she re-emerged, she had replaced white trousers with brown ones and reversed her cloak so the white lining faced outwards.
Tarsius and the others were mounted and waiting for her. A knight waited to lend a hand up onto her horse. She passed him, stopping at Viva’s side. A questioning look met Tarsius’ gaze.
I should have known. He smiled softly and nodded, reaching down to offer a hand.
She placed her hand in his.