Rapture's Etesian by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Page B

had termed this very striking man.
    Kratos smiled, greatly entertained at the sight of her nudity. “Aye, Lady Kynthia, I believe ‘tis.”
    As she stepped into her breeches, Kynthia glanced at Leksi. “Was that why you were in Qabala? Were you trying to arrange a truce between Ventura and the Pleiadesians?”
    “For what good it did me,” Leksi said. He stuffed his shirt into his breeches. “The Qabalans are afraid of their own shadow. They refused to get involved.”
    “Well, they have always been neutral during any of the wars,” Kynthia defended.
    “They are noncommittal, evasive, irritatingly vague shitheads,” Leksi snapped.
    “But they make an excellent cheese,” Kratos observed.
    Kynthia hid a smile behind her hand. “Perhaps my sisters and I could be of some assistance to you. We have reason to hate the Pleiadesians.”
    Leksi looked around. “Are you offering the help of the Amazeen?”
    “The Daughters of the Night, as well,” Kynthia said. “Queen Mona of the Bandarese has ample reason to hate King Abalam of Pleiades. Her daughter Lilit, even more so.”
    “I’ve heard strange tales of Princess Lilit,” Kratos commented.
    “Aye,” Kynthia agreed. “She is power-hungry and when her mother dies, I think the Daughters will be led in a new direction if Lilit has her way.”
    “I will need to run this by Lord Krull, but I imagine he would welcome all the help he can get against King Abalam. The Akkadians are keeping out of it along with the Qabalans so we’re up against a force greater than our own as it is.”
    “The Akkadians are in the midst of their own civil war,” Kynthia pointed out. “Now is not the time to ask for their help.”
    Leksi shrugged. “There has never been any love lost between Akkadia and Ventura.”
    “I will ride back to my aunt’s villa and have her call an assembly. She sits on the Council of the Elders and her word is held in high esteem,” Kynthia said, making for her mount.
    “Aren’t you forgetting something, wench?” Leksi called out.
    Kynthia looked around. “What?”
    “Did you not ask me if I intended to do something?”
    Kynthia glanced at Kratos then back to her lover. “Aye,” she said.
    “Then consider the question asked,” Leksi said.
    Narrowing her eyes, Kynthia put her hands on her hips. “No,” she said, shaking her head. “That is not the way it will play out, warrior.”
    Leksi frowned. “You want me on my knees?”
    Kratos puckered his lips in a silent whistle, and looked from the warrior to the lady then back again.
    “I will have it done properly,” Kynthia agreed.
    Rolling his eyes and throwing his hands to the heavens, Leksi strode to her, stopped, and then went gracefully to one knee. Reaching out, he took her left hand in his and put his right hand over his heart.
    “Lady Kynthia, will you Join with me and become my life-mate?” he asked.
    Kynthia grinned. “Aye, Lord Leksi Helios, I pledge myself to you as your life-mate.”
    “So be it,” Leksi said, and released her hand. “When this present situation has been remedied, we will plight our troth.”
    “We will,” she agreed and put her shirt back on. She nodded and without another word, un-hobbled her steed and swung atop the restless beast. With a curt bob of her head to Kratos, she kicked Aeolus into motion and was soon lost in the dark shadows of the desert.
    “By the gods, boy,” Kratos said, his voice rife with admiration. “I believe you have plucked the cream of the crop there. She is as lovely as you claimed her to be.”
    “Let’s get this war over with so I can claim her in reality, old friend,” Leksi said then realized he had forgotten to bring a mount of his own when he had returned Kynthia’s.
    “Up for a run, are you?” Kratos remarked as he headed for his horse.

Chapter Six
     
    “It requires a meeting of the combined assemblies,” Galatea explained, “but I doubt any of the Sisters will gainsay a temporary alliance with Ventura if it