Soul of the Fire

The two of them, one Haken, one Ander, ran for their lives.

"Where are we going, Sergeant?" Estelle cried out.

Beata didn't even know what direction she was ru

She wanted the uniform off. It was just another cruel joke played on her by Bertrand Chanboor.

"I'm not a sergeant!" Beata yelled back, tears streaming down her face. "I'm just Beata, a fool, same as you, Estelle."

She wished she had thanked the woman in red for saving their lives.

CHAPTER 65

Dalton glanced up to see Hildemara gliding into his new office. She was wearing a revealing dress of a gold-colored satin with white trim, as if anyone would be interested in what she had to reveal.

He rose behind his new, expansive desk, the like of which he had never imagined would be his.

"Hildemara. What a pleasure to have you stop in for a visit."

She smiled as she peered at him like a hound eyeing a meal. She ambled around his desk to stand close beside him, leaning her bottom against the desk's edge so she could face him intimately.

"Dalton, you look marvelous in that outfit. New? Must be," she said, ru

"Thank you, Hildemara. I must say, you look ravishing yourself."

Her smile widened-with true pleasure or in mockery, he wasn't sure. She had not been shy about expressing her admiration for him since the old Sovereign unexpectedly passed on. On the other hand, he knew her well enough not to be lulled into turning his back on her, in a ma

"The vote is counted from the city, and begi

Now he thought he knew the reason for her smile, and the results of the people's say. Still, one could never be certain of such things.

"And how are the good people of Anderith responding to Lord Rahl's invitation to join with him?"

"I'm afraid Lord Rahl is no match for you, Dalton."

A tentative smile began to work its way up onto his face. "Really? How convincing is it? If it isn't a resounding rejection, Lord Rahl may feel he has cause to press his case."

She shrugged in a teasing ma

Dalton tipped his head up, closed his eyes, and let out a sigh of relief.

'Thank you Hildemara," he said with a grin. "And the rest?"

"Just starting to come in. It will take the soldiers a time to ride back-"

"But so far. How goes it so far?"

She dragged a finger around on the desktop. "Surprising."

That confused him. "Surprising. How so?"

She turned a beaming smile up at him. "The worst for us is only three in four votes our way. Some places have had as many as eight and nine in ten giving Lord Rahl an X."

Dalton put a hand to his chest as he let out another sigh of relief. "I thought as much, but one can never know for sure in such things."

"Simply amazing, Dalton. You are a wonder." She turned her palms up. "And you didn't even have to cheat. Imagine that."

Dalton made two fists of excitement. "Thank you, Hildemara. Thank you for bringing me the news. If you'll excuse me, I must go straightaway and tell Teresa. I've been so busy, I've hardly, seen her for weeks. She'll be so glad to hear the news."

He started to move, but Hildemara put a restraining finger to his chest. Her smile had that deadly edge to it again.

'Teresa already knows, I'm sure,"

Dalton frowned. "Who would have told her before I was told?"

"Bertrand told her, I'm sure."

"Bertrand? What would he be doing telling Teresa news like this?"

Hildemara made a little simper. "Oh, you know how Bertrand talks when he's between the legs of a woman he finds thrilling."

Dalton froze. Alarm bells chimed in his head as he began recalling all the times he had been absent from Teresa since Bertrand had been named Sovereign, recalling how taken Teresa was with the figure of Sovereign. He recalled how she had spent the night up in prayer after meeting the old Sovereign. He recalled her awe at Bertrand becoming Sovereign. He made himself stop speculating in such a fashion. Such speculation was an insidious enemy that could eat you away from inside. Hildemara, knowing how busy he had been, was probably just hoping to give him a fright, or cause trouble. That would be like her. "That isn't the least bit amusing, Hildemara." Propping one hand on the desk, she leaned toward him and ran a finger of the other hand down his jaw. "Not meant to be."

Dalton stood silent, carefully trying to keep from making the wrong move before he knew what was really going on. This could still be a foolish trick of hers, just to make him angry at Tess, thinking it would somehow drive him into her own arms, or it could be nothing more than news she misunderstood. He knew, though, that Hildemara was not likely to get news like this wrong. She had her own sources and they were as reliable as Dalton's.

"Hildemara, I don't think you should be repeating slanderous rumors."

"Not a rumor, my dear Dalton. A fact. I've seen your good wife coming from his room." "You know Teresa, she likes to pray-" "I've overheard Bertrand brag to Stein about having her." Dalton nearly staggered back. "What?" The smirk spread in deadly perfection. "Apparently, from what Bertrand tells Stein, she is quite the unrestrained courtesan, and enjoys being a very bad little girl in his bed."

Dalton felt the blood go to his face in a hot rush. He considered killing Hildemara where she stood. As his finger touched the hilt of his sword, he considered it very seriously. Finally, instead, he kept himself under control, although he could feel his knees trembling.

"I just thought you should know, Dalton," she added. "I found it quite sad: my husband is humping your wife and you don't know anything about it. It could be… awkward. You could inadvertently embarrass yourself, not knowing." "Why, Hildemara?" he managed to ask in a whisper. "Why would you get so much satisfaction from this?"

At last her smile bloomed into true pleasure. "Because I always hated your smug superiority about your vows of fidelity-the way you looked down your nose, believing yourself and your wife better than all the rest of us."

By sheer force of will, Dalton restrained himself. In times of trial or exigency, he was always able to become analytical in order to apply the best solution to the situation that confronted him.

With ruthless resolve, he did that now.

"Thank you for the information, Hildemara. It could indeed have been embarrassing."

"Do me a favor and don't go all gloomy about it, Dalton. You have reason to be enormously pleased. This is the Sovereign we're talking about. It is, after all, an honor for any man to provide his wife for as revered and sublime a figure as the Sovereign of Anderith. You will be loved and respected all the more because your wife is giving the Sovereign release from the stresses of his high calling.

"You should know that, Dalton. After all, you made the man who he is: the Creator's advisor in this world. Your wife is simply being a loyal subject." She chuckled. "Very loyal, from what I've overheard. My, but it would take quite the woman to match her."

She leaned close and kissed his ear, "But I'd like to try, Dalton, dear." She looked him in the eye as she straightened. "I've always been fascinated by you. You are the most devious, dangerous man I've ever met, and I've met some real pieces of work."