Unveiling the Sorceress

A shiver ran down her spine. She wondered what had passed through his mind to make him smile that way. It was as if he were perversely pleased to catch her near Amshazar's tent. Perhaps he hadn't recognized her, though, dressed as she was in her cloak. She tried to take comfort from that thought, but felt the urge to hurry inside Amshazar's tent.

She moved close to it and whispered his name. “Amshazar?"

"Come inside."

He knew. He knew she was there. It sent a nervous tremor through her, and made her question her sanity in approaching him secretly, but she was unable to walk away. She drew back the drape of material that covered the entrance.

He was sitting in the small dim enclosure, but rose to his feet when she drew the curtain back. His mood was focused, serious. His hair hung loosely around his face, his eyes dark as they rested on her.

> She knew instantly he was expecting her, from the look on his face. Had he lured her there? Her doubts multiplied, and she wanted to turn away, but his brooding eyes held hers.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her in.

Elishiba gasped at the sudden contact.

"Come inside, before you are seen,” he urged. His expression held a note of caution.

She felt the heat rise to the surface of her skin, suddenly embarrassed at being there. She began to turn away from him, but he held her still tighter.

"No.” His voice was commanding. “Elishiba, you came here because you had to. Now is not the time to leave."

"Who are you to decide what I shall do?” Even though she resisted, it was faltering. She could feel the heat of his body, and her own melted in response. She let him hold her wrist, not fighting it. There was something curiously satisfying about the way he held her so tightly. The curtain fell closed at her back. She swallowed. The atmosphere in the small interior was close, the private space of his tent implying its own intimate suggestions to her.

He did not reply, but smiled and drew her in against him so their bodies touched.

She gave a quiet gasp, unable to withhold her surprise. His sudden proximity threatened to overwhelm her; she was awash with desire for him. She steadied herself, weighing her body against his grasp.

"We both know what this about.” His darkly hooded eyes glittered.

Her legs felt weak. The subconscious forces of desire that had forced her there were rising rapidly to the surface. She grappled with reason, reminding herself of the questions that had also brought her here. “Who are you, Amshazar? I came here because I have to know that."

"You have many questions,” he said, smiling gently and releasing her wrist, his fingers moving to stroke her hair back from her face.

She wavered, but sensed tenderness in him. It made her feel more vulnerable, and yet, somehow, cared for. He was such an enigma. Why did he act this way around her?

"I wanted to explain things to you.” His voice was low and quiet, his breath warm on her face. “I had to wait for you to come to me, because it is difficult for me to get close to you. You are always heavily flanked with guards and companions."

Elishiba blushed furiously, realizing the truth of that statement.

"I cannot explain everything fully now,” he continued, “but my role here is to assist and guide you. Your wish to deal with Aleem's situation without resorting to war is a noble one, but no small task. I will help you."

"But you are allied to the Karseedians. For all I know, this might be a trick to gain my trust when I should not be giving it.” She was surprised at what he said. His words also filled her with cautious hope.

His gentle, reassuring smile made that sense of hope grow stronger.

"You are understandably wary. For me, being alongside Hanrah was the most logical place to begin, because there I would be able to reach both of you. I also hope to influence him, although he is under his mother's harsh rule as much as the next person in Karseedia."

His tone was wry as he said those last words.

There was logic in what he said, but still her mind ran with questions, objections, and curiosity. “The things you said to me, when we were at home in the palace, about the power of the soul. I felt as if I had begun to understand what you were saying, but then...” She shook her head. “Amshazar, what happened between us, with the shayatin—I cannot make sense of it."

He nodded. “Know this. The power you saw that day in the marketplace abides within you, and if you use it for just causes as we did then, you will find it and control it easily.” He lifted both her hands in his, holding them to his chest. He was fully focused on her, his head lowered to hers. “Time is short, though. I must ask you not to question things so much, but simply to believe. It's a big thing I ask of you, I know, but in doing so, you will open yourself to it more quickly."

"I want to.” She opened her fingers within his loose grasp, and rested them against his chest.

"I know,” he whispered.

She felt her cloak slide away down her back.