better.”
Mica sniffed the jar’s contents. “Mint?”
“I have others too. Some are good for muscle soreness.”
“We should discuss ingredients. I know Knights and Dames are expert healers.”
Raising an eyebrow, Sun asked, “You have an interest in the healing arts?”
“I learned some on the battlefield, but I’ve also had to train with some of the Priests who are healers, since part of my duty is to lend aid among the Bedouins. We could talk about remedies sometime.”
A look of interest crossed Sun’s face before she took back her jar of mint cream and placed it in her bag. “You’d learn more from Blaze. He’s the best healer in the Ruby Order.”
“You were his student?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must know almost as much.”
“I know the basics.” Sun sat across the table from Mica. “My expertise is fighting.”
“Your weapon of choice?” Mica took a sip of tea, focusing on her full, pink lips. She had such a lovely mouth. It looked soft and kissable.
“Short sword, but I’m just as comfortable with daggers and staves. I’m a decent archer too.”
“Interesting.”
“What’s your preference, or have you given up fighting entirely now that you’re a Priest?” Sun asked, her fingers caressing the teacup.
“I’m still allowed to defend myself, if I like.”
“Do you?”
Smiling slightly, he said, “I try to avoid such situations.”
“But if you were forced?”
“I’m best at hand-to-hand, though I’m a decent swordsman too.” He wondered if she caught his slightly teasing tone as he tossed her own words back at her. “My favorite weapon is the staff, however.”
Sun moistened her lips, her gaze dropping to his crotch. Mica nearly laughed aloud.
She had a wild side, that was for sure.
“You don’t fool me, you know.” She placed the cup on the table, her gaze fixed on his. “No matter how you play the part of a Holy Man, you still have his blood in your veins.”
“I’m my own man, Dame Sun.” Mica refused to allow his anger to surface. He’d spent too many years trying to redeem himself to allow her or anyone else to convince him it was all for naught. “He no longer commands me. You, however, seem unable to grow beyond your past.”
Sun stood and balled her fists. “If I wasn’t a guest here, I’d belt that putrid expression off your ugly face.”
“Ugly again. I suppose most people look ugly to one so beautiful.”
Her teeth visibly clenched, Sun yanked her robe over her head, picked up her bag and stalked toward the door.
Mica caught up to her and grasped her arm. She spun, knocking his hand away.
“Touch me again and I’ll break your wrist.”
“It might not be a good idea to try it,” he warned.
“You’re pushing the wrong woman.”
“I tried being nice, so maybe you need to be pushed instead. Violence seems to be the only thing you understand.”
“Just a lesson your father taught me,” she said bitterly.
“I can’t change what he did.”
“Don’t tell me you weren’t just like him. You said you were a general under his command. How many deaths are on your soul, Mica? No matter what you do, you’ll never make up for your past. You know that, don’t you?”
Mica realized the truth of her words but refused to show how they affected him.
“No, I can’t change the past, but it doesn’t mean I need to continue with a destructive future. You came here to kill a man, Dame Sun, and you’re taking it out on me because he’s already dead. Do you want to dig up his body and scatter his bones to the desert?
Will it make you feel better?”
“Maybe.”
“It won’t bring back your village.”
A muscle twitched in her cheek before she continued down the hall.
“Dame Sun.” He strode alongside her. “I understand your anger and your pain, but I also see you’ve chosen a life of service when you could have allowed evil to destroy you instead. You might not have killed my father but you defeated him a long time
Mica sniffed the jar’s contents. “Mint?”
“I have others too. Some are good for muscle soreness.”
“We should discuss ingredients. I know Knights and Dames are expert healers.”
Raising an eyebrow, Sun asked, “You have an interest in the healing arts?”
“I learned some on the battlefield, but I’ve also had to train with some of the Priests who are healers, since part of my duty is to lend aid among the Bedouins. We could talk about remedies sometime.”
A look of interest crossed Sun’s face before she took back her jar of mint cream and placed it in her bag. “You’d learn more from Blaze. He’s the best healer in the Ruby Order.”
“You were his student?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must know almost as much.”
“I know the basics.” Sun sat across the table from Mica. “My expertise is fighting.”
“Your weapon of choice?” Mica took a sip of tea, focusing on her full, pink lips. She had such a lovely mouth. It looked soft and kissable.
“Short sword, but I’m just as comfortable with daggers and staves. I’m a decent archer too.”
“Interesting.”
“What’s your preference, or have you given up fighting entirely now that you’re a Priest?” Sun asked, her fingers caressing the teacup.
“I’m still allowed to defend myself, if I like.”
“Do you?”
Smiling slightly, he said, “I try to avoid such situations.”
“But if you were forced?”
“I’m best at hand-to-hand, though I’m a decent swordsman too.” He wondered if she caught his slightly teasing tone as he tossed her own words back at her. “My favorite weapon is the staff, however.”
Sun moistened her lips, her gaze dropping to his crotch. Mica nearly laughed aloud.
She had a wild side, that was for sure.
“You don’t fool me, you know.” She placed the cup on the table, her gaze fixed on his. “No matter how you play the part of a Holy Man, you still have his blood in your veins.”
“I’m my own man, Dame Sun.” Mica refused to allow his anger to surface. He’d spent too many years trying to redeem himself to allow her or anyone else to convince him it was all for naught. “He no longer commands me. You, however, seem unable to grow beyond your past.”
Sun stood and balled her fists. “If I wasn’t a guest here, I’d belt that putrid expression off your ugly face.”
“Ugly again. I suppose most people look ugly to one so beautiful.”
Her teeth visibly clenched, Sun yanked her robe over her head, picked up her bag and stalked toward the door.
Mica caught up to her and grasped her arm. She spun, knocking his hand away.
“Touch me again and I’ll break your wrist.”
“It might not be a good idea to try it,” he warned.
“You’re pushing the wrong woman.”
“I tried being nice, so maybe you need to be pushed instead. Violence seems to be the only thing you understand.”
“Just a lesson your father taught me,” she said bitterly.
“I can’t change what he did.”
“Don’t tell me you weren’t just like him. You said you were a general under his command. How many deaths are on your soul, Mica? No matter what you do, you’ll never make up for your past. You know that, don’t you?”
Mica realized the truth of her words but refused to show how they affected him.
“No, I can’t change the past, but it doesn’t mean I need to continue with a destructive future. You came here to kill a man, Dame Sun, and you’re taking it out on me because he’s already dead. Do you want to dig up his body and scatter his bones to the desert?
Will it make you feel better?”
“Maybe.”
“It won’t bring back your village.”
A muscle twitched in her cheek before she continued down the hall.
“Dame Sun.” He strode alongside her. “I understand your anger and your pain, but I also see you’ve chosen a life of service when you could have allowed evil to destroy you instead. You might not have killed my father but you defeated him a long time
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