Dagger's Point (Shadow series) by Anne Logston Page B

the wagon.
    “That’s wonderful,” he said. “Allanmere lost a great herbalist when Argent left his shop. And you have a healer’s touch. Whatever were you carrying that salve around for?”
    “I suppose Father thought I’d need it for all the bruises Mother left on me in sword practice the day before we left,” Jael said with a grin. “She could split a bull in half head to foot with that monster of a sword, so you can imagine what it’s done to me, even a practice blade with a dulled edge and through padding.”
    Tanis shook his head sympathetically.
    “Bad?”
    Jael pulled up the side of her tunic in answer. The bottom of the huge, mottled bruise was plainly visible on her back and side.
    “It looks as if you could use some of this ointment, too,” Tanis said, grimacing. “You should have mentioned it before. Lie down and let me put some of this on your back. Are you sure you haven’t cracked a rib?”
    “It’s just a few bruises,” Jael said, somewhat embarrassed by his concern—it didn’t speak well for High Lady Donya, did it, if she cracked her daughter’s ribs in sword practice? “She mostly tries to hit me with the flat, anyway.”
    “On a sword that heavy, that’s enough.”
    When Jael had stretched out on her stomach on the blankets, Tanis gently pushed up the back of her tunic, murmuring in dismay at the bruises he uncovered. The cold, wet night air on her bare back made Jael shiver, and she started when the gob of ointment touched her skin, but Tanis’s hands were warm and his touch was very gentle as he smoothed the paste into her skin.
    “I imagine this means it would be best to postpone our sword practice for a few more days,” Tanis said, chuckling. “I’d never forgive myself if I added any more bruises on top of what’s already there.” He was silent for a moment, scooping up a little more ointment to rub into Jael’s shoulders. “Of course, if I get to do this every time I beat you black and blue, the prospect gets much more tempting.”
    Something in his tone made Jael uneasy.
    “You know,” she said slowly, “maybe it’s not a very good idea for you to—I mean, maybe you’d better stop.”
    Tanis’s hands kneaded the muscles at the base of her neck, then slid caressingly down her back.
    “Must I?” he asked gently.
    Oh, no. Jael closed her eyes and sighed.
    “Please don’t,” she said hesitantly. “You know this just isn’t going to work.”
    “Won’t you let me try?” he asked softly. “Just this once, can you let me try? If it’s not right for you, I won’t ask again. I promise.”
    Jael twisted her head around as far as she could to look at Tanis. His blue eyes were direct and unshadowed, his expression sincere. He was the best friend she’d ever had besides Aunt Shadow, and if she couldn’t trust him, she’d picked a poor companion indeed for this journey. Gods, he wouldn’t be here sleeping on the cold, hard ground if it weren’t for her. And it wasn’t as if she didn’t want to be able to feel those things he wanted so much for her to feel.
    “All right,” Jael said at last. “But you promise—”
    Tanis brushed his fingertips over her cheek.
    “I promise,” he said. “You know me better than to believe I’d ever do anything you didn’t want.”
    The gentleness of his hands sliding over her back was soothing, and Jael found herself becoming drowsy. The merchant in the wagon above them was quiet now. Tanis drew the tunic up over Jael’s head and lay down beside her, pulling the blankets over them both.
    It was warm and safe and dark there together under the wagon, and the heat of Tanis’s skin against hers and the familiarity of his scent were comforting. When Tanis bent to kiss her, Jael tried to respond as best she could. It was an awkward business; she didn’t know which way to tilt her head, and the noses got in the way, but it wasn’t unpleasant overall. Jael clung to Tanis as if somehow his passion could soak through his