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better interpretation, most scholars assumed it meant a man's dowry, the property and wealth he brought into marriage. A corporation as big as Jax's became a political tool, invoking the same law of "Better the offer or yield" as had Lionstar's rent.
    Ironbridge, however, had given Argali a choice. Jax made an offer Kamoj could have bettered. It would have meant borrowing every last bit of wealth owned by even the most impoverished Argali farmers, but besting the amount by one stalk of bi-wheat was all it took. Then she could have turned down the offer and repaid the loans. She had been tempted to try. But Argali was her responsibility, and her province desperately needed this merger with flourishing Ironbridge. So she had agreed.
    Jax was watching her with an impassive gaze. He offered his hand. "It will be my pleasure to escort you back to Argali house."
    "I thank you for you kind offer, Governor Ironbridge," she said. "But you needn't trouble yourself."
    He gave her a cold smile. "I am pleased to see you as well, my love."
    Hai! She hadn't meant to further the insult. Limping forward, she took his hand. He lifted her onto the stag with one arm, a feat of strength few other riders could have managed even with a child, let alone another adult. As he pulled her up, he turned her so she ended up sitting sideways on the greenglass, her hips fitted into the space in front of the first boneridge that curved over its back. Jax sat behind her, astride the stag, between its first and second boneridges.
    The smell of his disk mail wafted over her, rich with oil and sweat. As he bent his head to hers, she drew back in reflex, before she could think. Although Jax showed no outward anger, a muscle in his cheek twitched. Taking her chin in his hand, he pulled her head forward and kissed her, pressing in on her jaw until he forced her mouth open for his tongue. When she tensed, he clenched his fist around her upper arm, holding her in place.
    A rush of air thrummed past Kamoj, followed by the crack of a bowball hitting a tree and the shimmering sound of falling scales. Pulling away from her, Jax raised his head. Both the Argali and Ironbridge stagmen had drawn their bows and had their weapons trained on Lyode. Kamoj's bodyguard stood by the road, a second ball knocked in her bow, her weapon aimed at Jax.
    All the stagmen looked uncomfortable, poised to return Lyode's fire, yet holding back. No one wanted to shoot Kamoj's bodyguard. The Argali stagmen had grown up with her and Gallium was her brother-in-law. The Ironbridge stagmen knew her as guardian of their governor's betrothed.
    However, neither could they ignore that she had just sent a bowball hurtling within a few hand spans of the two governors.
    In a cold voice only Kamoj could hear, Jax said, "Your hospitality today continues to amaze me."
    Shifting his attention to Gallium Sunsmith, he spoke in a louder voice. "You. Escort Lyode back to Argali House."
    Gallium answered carefully. "It is my honor to serve you, sir. But perhaps Governor Argali would also like to do her best by Ironbridge, by accompanying her bodyguard back."
    Kamoj almost swore. She knew Lyode and Gallium meant well, and she valued their loyalty, but she wished they hadn't interfered. It would only earn them Jax's anger. She and Jax had to work this out. Although their merger was weighted in favor of Ironbridge, it gave control to neither party.
    They would share authority, she focused on Argali and he on Ironbridge. It benefited neither province if their governors couldn't get along.
    She spoke to Jax in a gentle voice. "Please accept my apologies, Governor Ironbridge. I will discuss Lyode's behavior with her on the walk back. We'll straighten this out."
    He reached down for her injured foot, bending her leg at the knee so he could inspect her wound.
    "Can you walk on this?"
    "Yes." The position he was holding her leg in was more uncomfortable than the gouge itself.
    "Very well." When he let go, his fingers