Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) by Marilyn Haddrill

accuse Lady Donzala of
indiscretion that is simply untrue. You have dishonored her good name, sir."
    "I
suppose we should have delved into this subject more thoroughly before bringing
it up with you." Kalos was beginning to sound uncharacteristically contrite.
    "Yes.
You should have." Adalginza met his gaze coldly. "Also, if you had
checked the Archives, you also would know that my father's mother was Lady
Swiala. This is a name you must surely recognize. In her youth, she was a model
for many fine fashions on the Prime Continent."
    "Yes. I
know the name well. And I know of her famous indigo eyes."
    "Good.
Then know, too, that her son chose allegiance to his father's house, the Fifth
House. But Lady Swiala herself belongs to the House of the First Crescent Moon.
This is my true lineage. And in Lady Swiala's clan, indigo eyes are not so rare."
    "I see what
you are saying," Kalos conceded.
    Adalginza,
of course, was only embellishing an elaborate lie.
    She knew
nothing of her own real father, an unknown Crescent knight.
    She knew
only that Lady Donzala's husband, Isa, had sired the baby whose place Adalginza
had taken. And it was this baby who was the direct descendant of the famous
Lady Swiala.
    "And
here is another fact for you to consider," Adalginza said. "Lest your
ridiculous suspicions now lead you to believe that Lady Donzala was not my
mother, I will point out to you that Medosa himself witnessed and recorded my
birth. Yes, my skin is dark. But unlike many ladies of the Crescent Houses, I
do not protect myself by hiding indoors. I worship the sun. I often bathe in
it, unclothed, when others cannot see."
    She boldly
held his gaze, forcing upon him the image of herself in a natural state of sun
worship.
    Her
adversary, for once, was speechless — and, also, a little pale.
    Adalginza
then reached down, and grabbed two handfuls of the dead snake's hide. Kalos bent
to assist her, rubbing one strong shoulder against hers. They pulled together
until finally they tugged their burden onto the side of the empty street.
    Kalos picked
some strands of nearby tall grass and wiped the gore from his hands. He said
nothing during this process, but he looked speculative. His eyes never left her
face.
    Six of the
ten crescent moons glowed down upon the scene, illuminating it in soft light.
Then, Kalos unexpectedly reached for her. Strong hands rested on her bare
shoulders while he earnestly searched her eyes.
    "You deliberately
placed that image of you in my mind. So you are again playing the role of the temptress."
    "I am
trying to be much more than that for you."
    His eyes
were hungry now, but he frowned as though something deeply disturbed him. He
dropped his hands from her shoulders.
    "You
are also a liar."
    " Now what is it that you accuse me of?"
    "You
used the word trying. This is very telling."
    "And now
I suppose you are going to enlighten me as to why that is, oh superior one of
the exalted House of the Ninth Crescent Moon."
    He laughed
aloud at her insult. "Try shows you have no real commitment to what it is you
say you want to do."
    "Words,
words, words." Adalginza finished cleaning her own hands, and angrily
tossed the grass strands to the ground. "You and your clansmen are so full
of meaningless words."
    "No
more words then. Let us try a test. Better still, let us actually do it."
    Adalginza's watched
him warily as he stepped away from her. What was it that he was now about to
ask of her?
    "It is
late, and there is no one else around." His voice was gently teasing. "Show
me now how it is that you worship the sun. Go ahead. I will watch."
    At her hesitation,
Kalos folded his arms. "Well? I am waiting to see the shade of your skin.
All of your skin. Then we will accomplish two worthy goals. I will be convinced
of your intent toward me, and I will see the truth of your heritage."
    To her own
surprise, hot shame instantly swept over her. Not knowing what else to do, Adalginza
silently turned on her heel and began stalking back