She shrugged and her bare breasts moved. Her nipples were taut and aroused. «None,» she whispered. «Ogier is a powerful man. He commanded and it was done. I do not think the Izmir will ever know.»

Blade nodded and smiled. He guided her to the bed and sat beside her. «That may be as well. But how does it go? What of your friend Stel? And how goes it with the guard Ramsus?»

Valli by now had regained her composure. She smoothed her hair and leaned ever so slightly against Blade, so that her breasts brushed his bare chest. She was now, Blade thought with a little sense of shock, ten years younger than he was and very lovely, and it was incredible that she had once played mother to him, that he had once suckled those well-formed breasts that he might live. Beneath the cloth his penis began to stir.

«I no longer lie with Ramsus,» Valli said. «It is not necessary now and I never liked him. He pursues me, but I keep to the harem and he cannot get at me. As for Stel, she is mad with jealousy and curses herself for a fool. She wishes now that she had been kind to the god who came as a babe. She regrets the reward that she would have had.»

«Reward,» said Blade. «Ah, yes. That. I promised you, Valli, did I not?»

She lowered her eyes and did not look at him. «I want no reward, Blade, other than what you promised. A child.»

«I remember, Valli. And it shall be arranged. But first I wish to talk of other things. To explain why I have sent for you and-«

Valli moved closer to him. Her voice firmed and she looked at him and there was determination in the dark, liquid eyes.

«Can we not talk later, Blade? Now you must understand-I want a child. Your child!»