The Plains of Kallanash by Pauline M. Ross Page A

stables, and everyone manages that, don’t they? So Tella… well, Tella was…” He broke off, red faced with embarrassment.
    “Your first?” Hurst prompted.
    He nodded, staring down into his wine. “And actually, I liked the whole arrangement… you know, having exclusive access. She was there whenever I wanted her, mine , no dancing around, no wondering…. And with Mia… I think the same thing would work best, don’t you? Not sharing. It’s… less confusing. And if you’re happy with that too…”
    Hurst’s stomach lurched. Happy with it? Could he ever be happy with Jonnor in Mia’s bed? Yes, he told himself firmly, if that made her happy, then yes. So he tried to keep his tone even. “Whatever pleases Mia, and if it works better for you too, brother... But it must be soon.”
    “Yes, yes, I know. But…”
    “But?”
    “It’s so difficult… being in Tella’s room, in her very bed.” He heaved a sigh.
    “Then go somewhere else,” Hurst said, acid-toned. “Take her to your room, or do it on the floor of the atrium. Do it standing up, if you must. I have some books, if it would help. With pictures.”
    “Gods, Hurst, are you suggesting…? It’s not that I can’t , you know. You never miss an opportunity to insult me…”
    “No, no, no, I didn’t mean…” Hurst ran a hand through his unruly hair. “I’m not your enemy, brother,” he said tiredly, “and I’m not trying to insult you. I understand how painful this must be for you.” Although he didn’t, not entirely. How difficult could it be? “I thought it might help get things moving, that’s all.”
    Jonnor looked at him suspiciously. “Hmm. Books, eh? I’ll fetch some more wine and you can show me these books of yours.”
    ~~~
    Mia was agitated when she returned, and took the first opportunity to draw Hurst aside.
    “Nothing’s happened! I mean, I know he’s grieving, and I’m no match for Tella, but still…”
    “It’s all right. We’ve talked about it. He’ll do it.”
    “Are you sure? Because he’s had weeks and…”
    “It’s all right.”
    “It has to be done before we travel…”
    “I know. He understands. He’ll do it.” He saw her disbelieving face, and he had his own doubts, but he had to do his best to reassure her. “Look, I’m off the day after tomorrow, and then there’s one night before you leave…”
    “One night!”
    “He’ll do it, Mia. He knows what’s at stake here.”
    “And if he doesn’t?”
    “He will.”
    “Yes, but if he doesn’t?”
    “Then we’ll find a way at the Ring. It’s difficult, but it’s not impossible.”
    “If he can’t do anything here, how is he going to manage at the Ring?”
    “If he can’t, I can. I’ve done it before.”
    “Really? You’ve had sex at the Ring?” And she smiled, as sudden a radiance as the sun coming out from behind a cloud. “But it’s supposed to be a time of abstinence and spiritual contemplation!”
    “What, for two months? That’s an awful lot of spiritual contemplation, and far too much abstinence for any normal man. Besides, I used to regard it as a challenge.”
    She giggled, hand over mouth. “But how…? Where…?”
    “Well, in the library, one time. There are some very secluded spots, if you know where to look. Up in the poetry section, for example. And in one of the ladies’ gardens another time.”
    “Goodness! But how did you get in?”
    “Actually, the getting in is considerably easier than the getting out, as I recall, but that’s a long story.” And a dark one, too, he thought uneasily. That was a bad time, not one he wanted to be reminded about.
    Mia giggled again. He loved these intimate little moments with her, and the memory of them kept him from too much introspection. Whatever happened, they would always be friends, and perhaps that was enough.
    Then she frowned and tipped her head to one side. “Used to? Don’t you do this sort of thing anymore, then?”
    “Oh, not so much. When you’re