The Golden Barbarian Read Free

“It will surpriseme if you don’t. Your enchanting mother is not one of my advocates.”
    “She’s afraid of my father, and I don’t think he likes you.”
    “Why is she afraid of your father?”
    She looked at him in surprise. “Because he beats her when he’s displeased.”
    “Really?” Galen tilted his head to look at her. “And does he whip you when you displease him?”
    “Of course,” she said matter-of-factly. “My mother says it is the way of all fathers with their children. Do you not whip your children?”
    “I have no children,” Galen said. “And it’s not the way of the El Zalan to beat the women of our families. There are better ways of chastising them.”
    “What ways?”
    “Never mind.”
    “You probably beat them but do not wish to admit it. My mother says some men don’t like it known, but all of them beat their wives and children.”
    “I do not have a wife either.” He frowned. “And I do not beat helpless women.”
    “Don’t be angry. I won’t speak of it again.” She reached out and stroked Apollo’s sopping coat. “I didn’t mean to displease you. Actually, I believe I like you.”
    “I’m honored.” He smiled crookedly and inclined his head.
    She flushed. “No, truly. I mean it. I do not like many people, but I think I like you.” Sheadded awkwardly, “I thank you for not letting me die in the bog. It was most generous of you to go to the trouble.”
    “I was only being selfish. I have an appointment with His Majesty, and it would have ruined all my plans, even spoiled my entire day, if I’d had to stand by to watch the bog being scoured for your lifeless body.”
    “You’re joking.” She smiled uncertainly. “And you saved Apollo too.”
    “Why do you call him ‘Apollo’? Because he’s so handsome?”
    She shook her head. “Because of Daphne.”
    “Daphne?”
    “Those aren’t really their names. About a year ago my father bought Apollo and Daphne from a Russian count who called them ‘Wolf’ and ‘Sheba.’ My father wanted them to have babies and raise a whole pack of hunters.” She sighed. “But Daphne won’t have anything to do with Apollo.”
    Galen burst into laughter. “And you named her Daphne after the nymph who turned herself into a tree to avoid Apollo’s amorous advances?”
    She nodded. “But perhaps Apollo will be able to change her mind soon.” She frowned worriedly. “My father is becoming very angry with them both.”
    “And he will be angrier still if you do not get back to your maidservant soon.”
    They turned at the sound of an approaching horse. Sacha rode at a leisurely pace over to them and dropped Galen’s boots onto the ground. “Youlook little better than when I last saw the two of you.”
    “We look
much
better,” Tess protested indignantly. “We’re clean, and we don’t stink anymore.” She reluctantly got to her feet. “But I must go.” She hesitated. She did not want to leave them. Sacha always made her laugh, and as for his friend … She did not quite know how he made her feel. Most people were easy to put in nooks, but the sheikh puzzled her. He was … dark inside. Not black, as in evil. He was night dark. But Tess had always liked the night far better than the day. When darkness fell, the boringly obvious was deliciously transformed, shrouded in mystery, exciting. She dropped a curtsy and smiled tentatively at Galen. “Good-bye, my lord.”
    A flashing white smile lit up his face. “It’s been an interesting experience meeting you,
kilen
.”
    She turned and started at a trot toward the forest.
    “Wait,” Sacha called. “Let me take you up on my horse and we’ll—”
    “No!” She shook her head adamantly. “It’s better that I go alone. Pauline will say I shouldn’t have troubled you. She’ll be angry enough.…” The next moment she had disappeared into the forest, with Apollo at her heels.
    “Go after her,” Galen said tersely. “You can’t have a child wandering around