“So, I advised she make a move and you’re going to have to watch for it,” I went on sharing. “It might be timid, shy maybe awkward and will definitely take some courage for her to do but she’s going to make a play, you’re going to need to receive it and take it from there… gently.”
“Right,” he grunted.
“I can’t stress enough that she’s still a little scared of you and her feelings. She’s not experienced. You’re going to have to teach her.”
The lip curl got bigger and he said low, “I can be a teacher.”
I bet he could. And he looked like he was looking forward to it.
Still, I cautioned, “A patient teacher.”
His lip curl spread into a smile.
“I can be a patient teacher,” he assured me.
Oh yeah. He was looking forward to that too.
Sabine was definitely going to get lucky.
I grinned up at him. Then I whispered, “Have fun, my protector.”
I moved to walk around him but he caught my bicep in his hand so I tipped my head back to look at him.
He dropped my arm as I noticed the smile had faded but intensity was deep in his eyes.
“Shahsha, kah rahna Dahksahna hahla,” he murmured.
“Lapay fahnahsan, kah jahnjee,” Be happy, my protector, I murmured back.
He jerked up his chin.
I moved around him and into my cham. As I moved in, Teetru was scurrying out. I smiled at her but she tipped her head slightly to the side in a weird way, not returning my smile, looking hurried and nervous and she left the tent with all due haste.
I stared at the flaps as they swung back in place behind her.
Okay, now my instincts, instincts I didn’t know until then I had were saying something wasn’t right.
I felt my body get tight as I gazed around the tent. The gold fabric I bought that day was laying folded on one of the trunks. My eyes moved and scanned as they did but nothing seemed different.
Until I saw the table.
And when I did, I stared at it.
Then, woodenly, I walked to it.
On it was the gleaming wooden box Bohtan had given me, opened, the dagger brilliant even in the muted light of the cham. At its side, a fold of blue fabric and on top of that, the blue bangle I gave Teetru. The money pouch was not there nor were any of the other bolts of fabric or bangles I’d bought the other girls. Teetru, I noticed, had carried the fabric out. The pouch she did not have but I reckoned she’d locked it away in its trunk.
I stared at the table and what was on it as a tingle slithered up my spine.
Then without thinking, my hand snaked out, I grabbed the dagger and screeched, “Zahnin!”
But it was too late.
From all around, I heard the sounds of ripping fabric and I looked to the side of the cham to see a dagger had been planted in it and was tearing through.
I whirled and took them in.
There were daggers all around!