Shutting her eyes, she was able to concentrate on this woman’s body instead of her social standing. She closed her mouth around Ryn’s lower lip and sucked before gently running her tongue along the upper lip, asking to be let in. When Ryn’s mouth opened, their tongues danced with a need to explore and please and delight.

  Ailith’s hands slid down and gently rubbed the smooth leather on the back of Ryn’s trews before grasping a little harder and pulling her in close. She bent her knee, so her thigh was pressed up hard between Ryn’s legs. Alternately pulling the woman up slightly higher and then sliding her back down, Ailith felt wetness seeping between her legs as Ryn added her own rocking motion, pressing in harder with every gentle rise and fall.

  Ryn’s fingers tangled in Ailith’s hair as she pulled the shiv’s head to her shoulder. Her voice was low and husky when she whispered in her ear, “Aren’t you quite the surprise?”

  Leaning back and smiling into the Lady Knight’s eyes, Ailith purred, “Aye. But that’s only a small hint of what I’d really like to do to ya.”

  Ryn pulled in a shaky breath. “I guess the juice can wait.”

  “Can I touch ya, Lady Knight?”

  “Yes.”

  Ailith lazily slid her hand over one of Ryn’s breasts. She traced slow circles with her thumb, and when the nipple hardened, she playfully nipped at it through the woman’s soft, leather tunic. With her lips occupied, Ailith’s hand drifted down Ryn’s stomach and slipped between her waistband and her oh-so-soft, silky skin.

  Slipping a finger into the wetness between Ryn’s legs, Ailith slid it back and forth, teasing a quiet groan from the Lady Knight. She raised her head and softly explored the contours of Ryn’s ear with her tongue. With a breathy sigh, she whispered, “The orange juice can wait, but there’s another kind ‘a juice I’d like to try.” To emphasize her point, she lazily added a second finger to twirl and dance in the wetness she’d discovered there. “Where’s yer bed, Lady Knight?”

  With a groan, Ryn managed to croak, “Don’t you dare…stop.”

  Staring hungrily into the woman’s eyes, Ailith walked her two steps back until her legs were up against the sofa. Noblewoman or no, Ailith held Ryn’s gaze while slowly lowering the woman’s trews to the floor. With one hand, she pulled off a silk slipper and then slipped the trews over Ryn’s silky bare foot.

  Ailith kissed Ryn’s stomach while gently pushing her onto the edge of the sofa. Kneeling between her legs, she ran her hands up and down the inside of her thighs. She smiled up into the Knight’s sultry green eyes. “Yer breathin’s a bit shaky Milady. Do I scare ya?”

  As an answer, Ryn put her hand on the back of Ailith’s head and pulled it between her thighs.

  Ailith nuzzled in close and licked lightly until Ryn groaned and pulled her head in closer still. Ailith smiled and flicked her tongue in and out, earning a soft moan and a gasped, “Ailith.” When Ryn’s hips rose and the quivering thighs opened wide in anticipation, Ailith ran her tongue inside and sucked on her pulsing arousal, enjoying the flavor that was unique to each woman she’d ever tasted.

  Ryn’s back arched, and her fingers clutched Ailith’s hair as she moaned, “Inside.”

  Ailith’s fingers slipped inside, and when she found the spot she was looking for, Ryn gasped. “Yes, there. Please, there.” Ailith chuckled as her fingers slid back and forth in rhythm with her tongue.

  It didn’t take nearly as long as Ailith hoped, and she rode out the waves and rocking until Ryn groaned and gently pushed her head away. Taking a moment to enjoy the sensations flowing through her body, Ryn spoke on the end of a long breath. “Goddess bless, Ailith. I thought you were going to be the shy one.”

  With a knowing look, Aililth grinned and lifted Ryn’s legs up onto the sofa. After pulling off the rest of Ryn’s clothing and then slowly pulling off her own as Ryn’s hungry eyes devoured her, Ailith gently lowered herself down onto Ryn’s body. “Well, I guess I found out what it means to be on the edge of me Knight, eh?” With those words, Ailith taught the Lady Knight a thing or two about the magic of bedding a Dreyuthan warrior.

  Ailith was drifting in a light, satiated sleep when the clock tower struck seven bells. “Fowk!”

  She jumped up so quickly that the Knight was up with a blade in her hand before Ailith had time to grab her undratrews. “What? What’s the matter?”

  “I’ve gotta get back to th’ Temple before they shut th’ gates, or th’ Commander’ll have me hide.”

  Tossing the knife back on the end table, Ryn retrieved Ailith’s breastband from the corner and tossed it to her. “Why? I’ve seen off-shift Blades about in the city at night.”

  After she’d fastened the breastband, Ailith pulled on her stockings and trews and hopped around while pulling on her boots. “Blades, aye. But no shivs without their handlers. Fowk.” She pulled the boot off when she realized she had the right one on her left foot.

  Ryn stood next to her holding her tunic open at the hem, and when Ailith finally had her boots pulled on and straightened, she shoved her head into the proffered tunic and pulled it down over her shoulders. Ryn shook her head. “Great Goddess, I hope the Arch Priestess doesn’t find out I’m the one who kept you out past your curfew. I’m already in hot water with her as it is.”

  Ailith froze with her tunic pulled halfway down. Not having the time right then to find out what the Lady Knight meant, she tugged it the rest of the way and ran out of the door. Flying down the stairs, she caught the surprised look of a lady she didn’t recognize speaking with someone in the sitting room before she hurried out the door and back to the Temple.

  Dina and Larkin were just pulling the gates closed when Ailith slipped inside. Dina shook her head, “That was too close, Ailith. You know the rules.”

  “Aye, sorry, Guardian.” Dinner had begun at six bells, and she was supposed to have reported to Master Healer Haria before then. Passing the statue of the Goddess on the way to the infirmary, Ailith looked up into the marble eyes and mumbled, “Everybody needs some relaxation, Milady.”

  She found Kara sitting in an armchair in front of the great fireplace at the end of the hall. A large afghan was spread across her lap and flowed down onto the floor like a great wave breaking over a shoal. Her crocheting needle and thread were flying so fast that Ailith stood mesmerized by her skill. “Me granny used to do that. When th’ sun went down, she’d sit fer candlemarks makin’ them kind of covers fer th’ poorer folks in th’ village.”

  Unexpected grief at the loss of her family rose up from her belly and squeezed her throat shut. The needles stopped, and when Ailith glanced from them to Kara’s face, she knew the healer had seen pain and loss reflected in her eyes. Forcing a smile, she pointed to the blanket. “It’s real nice. Granny called that pattern, Th’ Night Sky.”

  “That makes sense. We call it the Sands of the Moonless Desert because of spots of white that appear randomly in the dark wool.” Kara put the afghan and needles aside, rose, and beckoned for Ailith to follow her into the critical care room. “Master Healer Haria waited for you for quite a while. She finally gave up and went for dinner. Climb up on that bed, and I’ll check you over.”

  She brought a candle up to Ailith’s face and covered one of the shiv’s eyes with her free hand. Apparently seeing what she expected, she did the same to the other before pushing the hair away from Ailith’s right ear. “You still have quite a nasty bruise there, and you’re eye reaction isn’t completely back to normal yet. Plus, your limp seems to be getting worse since the attack. Your hip hurts?”

  “Nai. Mostly me thigh muscle, but it’ll loosen up.” She didn’t want to tell her that some of the positions she’d been in that afternoon had strained it even more.

  Kara cocked her head to the side. “Actually, I noticed the limp was even more pronounced as you were walking down the hallway just now. Weren’t you told no exercise or weapons work?”

  “Aye. I’ve done neither.” She hoped vigorous sex wasn’t counted as exercise. “I walked a bit more today than other days. Maybe that’s what yer seein’.”

  “That could be it. We’re done. I’ll let the Master know the results.”

  Changing the subject, Ailith pointed to the alcove room. “Has Terrowyn found her Ghost yet?”

  The healer shook her head. “No, and the longer she’s missing, the more chance that wound will get infected and fester.” When Ailith nodded, Kara added, “And running around the Codpiece looking for her wouldn’t be a good idea for you right now, youngling. Understand?”

  “Aye. People are sayin’ th’ Commander got after Terrowyn with th’ whip. That true? I didn’t think that kinda thing happened to th’ Senior Guardians.”

  Anger flashed in Kara’s eyes, “That is none of your business, or anyone else’s for that matter.” She stepped forward and poked Ailith in the chest. “Don’t you dare spread that bit of gossip any further than it’s already been spread. Do you hear me?”

  “Aye, Healer. I hear ya, and I’ll not say it to no one again. Sorry. As one what knows what it’s like to have folks gabbin’ about me after a whippin’, I shouldn’t ’a said nothin’.” Surprised at the healer’s vehement reaction and relieved that she didn’t have any more questions about her afternoon activities, Ailith let herself out and started for the dining hall.

  She felt someone watching her, and as she walked, she glanced at the archway into the Sanctum. The Master Healer was standing next to Sábria, who had her arms crossed and her gaze trained on Ailith.

  Thinking it prudent not to acknowledge their scrutiny, she headed into the dining hall, filled a plate of food, and joined two other shivs, Ladin and Rupa, at one of the tables. When neither the Arch Priestess nor the healer came through the door, Ailith breathed a sigh of relief and tucked into her food.

  CHAPTER 30

  The following day, Ailith left through the back gate after the midday meal and headed for the bookstore since she’d told Master Lowenbrow she’d return to put in a few more candlemarks of dusting. She passed the Annex along the way and happened to glance inside.

  Seeing Lady Octavia walking across the courtyard with the High Magistrate gave her pause. She recognized the Master because Jenx had presented several cases to her during the time Ailith had been her shiv. Word had spread through the Temple that Sábria had arranged for Shirin’s fellow Tuvistian to work in the legal archives, and Ailith idly wondered how well she’d fare around the High Magistrate—a stern, no-nonsense sort who probably ran the Annex with the same discipline as she did the courtroom.

  Since Ailith still wasn’t allowed to carry her sword, she’d worn an old set of brown tunic and trews. Dressed like she was, she definitely didn’t belong in Clayborn District, and instead of the polite nods she’d received when she walked in uniform with Jenx, the women’s noses were lifted with haughty disdain, and the men glared at her with distrust.

  When she turned from Alder Street onto the main avenue, a voice called out from behind.

  “Oi. You there. What’s yer business here?” A burly city guard and his partner ambled toward her swinging their truncheons with menace in their eyes.

  Not wanting to chance giving offense—she knew from past experience in Dreyutha that offending this type could be painful—she looked him in the eye and tugged her bangs. “Just visitin’ Master Lowenbrow in his bookshop, Guardsman.”

  The man’s partner, a short, stocky fellow whose greasy black hair hung down about his shoulders, scoffed at that. “A bookshop?” He pointed at a nearby sign. “What’s that say, then?”

  Ailith shrugged. “I don’t read. I help him with his cleanin’, that’s all.”

  “Cleanin’? Lowenbrow don’t clean. Couldn’t with all those books piled about, now, could he?”

  A female voice spoke from behind Ailith’s back. “Problems?”

  The bigger man shook his head. “No problems, Guardian. We’re just gettin’ ready to help this here pidge on her way back to th’ Codpiece where she belongs. Had a few complaints ya see? Nobles don’t like seein’ her type in Clayborne, is all.”

  Ailith turned to see dawning shift’s Prime Osstendler standing behind her. The woman’s deep-set eyes narrowed, making it nearly impossible to know what she was thinking. “You’re out of uniform, Shiv.”

  “I’m on light duty, Prime. Not allowed to carry me sword, so I didn’t think I should wear th’ uniform and have folks thinkin’ I could protect a woman gettin’ beat up or break up a fight or such.”

  The smaller guard picked his cap up off his head and scratched beneath it. “A shiv? Why would a shiv what can’t read claim to be cleanin’ fer th’ bookshop owner, eh?” he glared at Osstendler. “Somefin’ fishy goin’ on, Guardian, but we’ll leave her to ya, all th’ same.” The two men stared at Ailith for a while as though memorizing her features before ambling down the street toward the bookseller’s shop.

  Osstendler crossed her arms. “That’s an excellent question, Shiv. Does Senior Guardian Terrowyn know you’re wandering the Clayborn District on your own?”

  “No, Prime. But me handler can vouch fer me.”

  “I forget, who’s your handler?”

  “Blade Jenx.”

  She nodded. “Okay. Can you read?”

  “Nai.”

  The Prime’s brows rose into her bangs, and her voice became hard. “Nai?”

  Ailith’s nerves were on edge, and her lower-class cant tended to rise to the fore whenever that happened. Nai was the equivalent of nope and was considered a very rude response to a Senior Blade.

  “Oh, Fowk. Sorry. Me brain don’t always work right when I get nervous and such. No, Prime. I can’t read.”

  “Then tell me why a shiv would have cause to not only enter a bookshop but, did I understand him correctly? You’re working for the proprietor? A shiv working as a cleaning woman?”

  “Nai! Er, no. It’s no like that.”

  Sighing, Osstendler raised her eyes to the heavens and then pointed to a bench outside an alehouse. “Sit.” As soon as they were seated, a serving wench sauntered over. “The usual, Guardian?”

  When Osstendler held up two fingers, Ailith quickly said, “If th’ Prime’s havin’ ale, I’ll pass, thanks just th’ same.” She didn’t have coin for a drink and thought it wouldn’t be right to have the Prime pay for hers, anyway.

  Osstendler nodded, “Oh, that’s right. You’re the one who doesn’t drink spirits.” A hint of amusement came into her eye. “Makes you mean, right?”

  The woman’s voice was deep and melodious, and Ailith thought she detected a bit of a Trenchian Aisle accent beneath the words. Ailith raised her brows and nodded, “Aye, and I tend to go on at th’ mouth and say things I’ll regret.”

  “Well, good to know your limitations. Bring her an herbal, please, and ale for me. And some of those cheese-filled pastries. I’m starving.”

  When the woman left, Ailith blushed and stared at the table. “I don’t have th’ coin, and it’s no right fer ya to have to pay fer me.”

  “We all look out for you shivs, and since I’m the one questioning you, it’s only fair I pay for your drink while I do. Now, why are you working for Master Lowenbrow? I assume it’s him?”

  “Aye.” Ailith squirmed on the bench and picked up a leaf that had fallen on the table. She began pulling it apart as she spoke. “Well, ya see….” She tried to come up with a plausible explanation without bringing up the book tucked into the back of her trews. She made it through the entire leaf without anything believable coming to mind.

  “What’s your name again?”

  “Ailith.”

  “Okay, Ailith. I’ve been doing this a long time and have raised my fair share of shivs. I’m not even remotely gentle when one of them lies to me, so I suggest you stop trying to come up with a story and answer my question.”

  She sounded so much like the Arch Priestess right then that Ailith responded more out of habit than anything else. Since she was nervous, her words tumbled over each other while she blurted out her answer. “Well, see, I asked Jenx to teach me to read so I could read th’ notices on th’ board ‘cuz I don’t know a bunch of folks yet, and I get embarrassed and don’t want to ask ‘cuz I don’t want ‘em to think I’m ignorant or stupid or somethin’. Well, I could ask Emlyn, I suppose, but she’s got her own things goin’. Anyway, Jenx took me to see Master Lowenbrow, and he had a book what would help me read, but I didn’t have th’ coin fer that neither, so I said I’d work to pay fer it. See, I don’t like takin’ gifts or nothin’ ‘cuz even though th’ nob or pidge says there’s no need to pay ’em back, it usually comes back to bite ya in th’ ass, ya ken?” She glanced at the Prime to see if she was following and was relieved to see amusement in the woman’s eyes.

  “Ale makes you say more than you normally do? Goddess Bless, I can’t even imagine.”

  “Aye. One time, I were with Lady Isobel, she were me Knight Master fer a while, well, not exactly me Knight Master ‘cuz I weren’t a squire or nothin’, but she were a Knight and me master, so, anyway, we were in a small village what only had ale, and I were that thirsty, and I drank a couple of mugs, and when she told me to go fetch somethin’, I told her she had two legs of her own, and she could damn well go fetch it herself.”

  Ailith scrunched up her nose, “After she got through burnin’ a hole through me britches, th’ next couple ‘a days were full of th’ most painful horseback ridin’ I ever done.” Ailith listened to the Prime’s rich, throaty chuckle and decided she liked this woman.

  “And this book. I assume it’s what you have shoved down your trews next to your belt knife?”

  Ailith should have realized that a seasoned warrior would see everything concealed on a person’s body. “Aye.”

  Osstendler held out her hand just as the serving wench brought their drinks and food. She saw Ailith glance at the woman and blush and waited until she’d left again before waggling her fingers. “Let’s see it.”

  “It’s just a stupid book, Guardian. It has dancin’ goats and stuff inside. Fer kiddies, ya ken?” The Prime waggled the fingers again, and Ailith knew she couldn’t refuse that kind of order. She pulled out the book and handed it over.