There were only a few clouds in the sky, and none came between the sun and the small patch of emerald grass on which Tara was reclining. She felt warm and lazy and almost relaxed, for the first time in several days. Perhaps it was the weather, which was really clear for the first time since they'd set out from Argos. Perhaps it was the free time, in which she could relax. Or perhaps it was the warm smell of the grass on which she lay.
Or perhaps it was the pleasant weight of the curly head that lay across her legs. Tara's lips curved as she felt Epona's small hand gently rub her thigh. She peered down at the slave, and found soft green eyes looking back at her. "What d'you want, you scruffy little rodent?" she growled.
"Nothing." Epona smiled peacefully. "Just lying here is good."
Tara raised a brow. "You think so, huh?" She regarded the slave with a mixture of affection and exasperation. "I'm the Terror of Gaelis, you know, you presumptuous skinny squirt. I'm not a pillow."
"I know." The smaller girl hugged her leg and gazed at her in adoration.
"Gods." Tara groaned and let her head fall back onto the turf. "Well, fine," she grumbled. "But if you ever look at me like that in public, I'm going to whip that runty little bottom of yours raw, you understand?" She heard Epona giggle faintly, and her exasperation grew. She couldn't help but feel that she'd pretty much lost control of this situation – and, worse than that, she couldn't bring herself to do what it would take to get that control back. That was mostly because regaining control would mean scaring some respect back into the little slave, and that scaring would probably involve some heavy-duty threats or actual violence. And that was something that Tara found herself increasingly unwilling to do. She closed her eyes and groaned again. "Gods. You'll be the death of me yet, you know that?"
"Ma'am?" Epona sounded genuinely bewildered.
"Never mind." Tara sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. She looked down toward the bank of the nearby creek. "How's that laundry coming?"
Bernice looked up. She had a washboard braced against her knees, and was busily scrubbing what looked like one of Tara's lighter tunics. "Almost finished, Miss Tara," the servant said. "Just another fifteen minutes or so, I think."
"Good." The warrior stretched lazily. "All this lounging around is getting to me," she mumbled. "Think I'm going to take Cerberus out for a long, hard run once this is done. Do us both some good." Her hand drifted down to stroke the slave's dark curls. "He doesn't like sitting around any more than I do." Epona reached up to capture the woman's arm. The warrior's breath caught in her throat as the slave very softly kissed the tip of each of her fingers – the touch of the girl's lips sent tingles up Tara's arm. Epona smiled shyly when she'd finished, and pressed Tara's callused palm against her cheek. Tara had to take several deep breaths to steady herself again.
This was bizarre. The warrior couldn't remember anybody ever having had this kind of an effect on her. Maggie she'd loved, but they'd both been too young for any kind of romantic attraction. She had a sort of rough affection for Drea, but there were no illusions about that – she'd feel some regret if she lost the woman, and little more. But this…this was like nothing Tara had ever felt. What power did this slender little slave hold over her, Tara wondered? The force was invisible, but tremendously strong. It had gentled Tara's rough hands and mellowed her words. It had captured her attention during that battle – it had driven her to new heights and great lengths in warfare. It had bound her wild spirit with chains as unbreakable as they were invisible, and strangely, she couldn't even bring herself to resent the captivity.
Tara reached down, grasped Epona firmly by her arm, and drew her up until they lay face-to-face. She tugged the young woman into her arms and lay studying her features in silence. Epona bore the scrutiny quietly, returning her gaze with a faint smile. "You." Tara laid a finger against the slave's button nose. "Are trouble."
"Am I?" The moss-green eyes widened in surprise and worry. "Why? I do everything you tell me, don't I?"
"You do." Tara kissed the spot where her finger had just rested. "Oh, you do." The slave's pink mouth beckoned, and Tara kissed that, as well. She lingered over the kiss, nibbling lightly at Epona's soft lips. Small hands curled over her arms. The warrior had to stifle a groan. She pulled back and closed her eyes. "Damn," she whispered.
Epona laid her hands against Tara's chest. "What is it, ma'am?" she asked, her pale brow creased with worry. "Did I do something wrong?"
The warrior shook her head. "No. Nothing." She slid her hand down to rest on curve of the slave's hip. "It's not your fault," she muttered, leaning in to nibble on Epona's earlobe. "You're just too damned delicious for your own good." She heard the slave giggle again as she trailed soft, lover's bites down the side of her neck. Then Tara stopped. Her breath was coming faster, and she wanted nothing more than to continue. "Wish she'd finish that bloody laundry already," she said. "We can't really continue this conversation here."
Innocent green eyes peered at her. "I think we could," Epona murmured. "It's the kissing we couldn't do more of."
"Lippy little rat." Tara sat up abruptly and looked over to where the servant knelt at the bank of the brook. Bernice was just wringing out the last garment and laying it in her basket. "Hey, you finished yet?" she growled. "Haven't got all day."
"It's done, Miss Tara," Bernice said respectfully, laying her washboard on top of the damp laundry and hefting the basket into her arms. "I'm sorry it took so long."
Tara grunted and rose to her feet, extending a hand down to Epona. The little slave took it, and the warrior hauled her up. "Good of you to do it," she said gruffly. "Saves the mouse a bit of trouble. Basket's kind of heavy for her, I think."
"It's not that bad." Epona thrust out her lower lip. "I'm not that little."
"Sure, you are." The warrior tweaked her nose and laughed at the indignant squeak this produced. "But that's all right. I chose you for that." Tara's grin widened. "…Among other things." A furious blush reddened Epona's face, and Tara couldn't help laughing again. "Come on, then, the both of you. I still want to go and give Cerberus a good run. Bernice, you'll have to come with – I still don't want the others catching you alone. It's not safe." The three of them headed back toward the camp.
Epona trotted alongside her owner and peered up at her worriedly. "Does that mean I can't come?" she asked.
"Not this time, Epona." They reached Tara's tent. The warrior ruffled her slave girl's hair affectionately. "You can hang up the laundry to dry. Then do what you like. Take a nap, read your books, pick some flowers – whatever. We'll be back in a few hours." Epona's lip quivered, and Tara sighed. "There's no sense in all of us going, all right? Just do it."
The slave hung her head. "Yes, ma'am," she whispered. "I…I just don't like being here…alone."
"You'll be fine." Tara clapped her on the back and turned away. "Come on, Bernice. Let's go find that warhorse of mine."
Bernice hesitated. Then she slipped over to Epona and hugged her. "We'll be back soon, Pony," she said kindly. "It won't be long. If you hang up that laundry and read a story or two, you'll hardly know we're gone." The slave gave a soft whimper, and the older woman hesitated.
"Come on, Bernice," Tara said impatiently, striding off to where the camp's horses were kept. She heard the servant murmur a soft apology to Epona, and felt a twinge of guilt. Don't be stupid, she growled at herself. The kid will be fine here for a few hours. It's not as if she has to be glued to me all the time, right? She'll be all smiles again once we get back.
Cerberus was, indeed, restless. Tara could tell by the way he kept prancing and snorting as she harnessed him. She didn't bother with a saddle. With an athletic vault, Tara swung up and onto his back, gripping hard with her knees. The massive beast hopped and cantered sideways with a toss of his black head. "Stop that, you," she said, slapping the side of his neck. "You'll have your run in a bit. Behave!" He rolled his eyes at her, but quieted a bit. "Good boy." Tara scratched his mane and looked down at the waiting servant. "Come on, Bernice. Let's go find a spot where I can let this big boy have his fun for a while." Bernice inclined her head, and Tara guided Cerberus up the road with a click of her tongue.
They traveled for about half an hour before they found an open space. It was a gentle downward slope, dotted sparsely with clumps of bush, and Tara could see that it stretched out for a couple of miles. She grinned. "I think this'll do. Hey, Bernice?" The servant nodded quietly. "You wait here," Tara instructed, and dug her heels into the horse's flanks. Cerberus needed no encouragement; he snorted and broke into a gallop.
It was exhilarating. Tara found herself laughing in delight as the breeze whipped into her face. She could feel the beast's powerful muscles flexing and moving beneath her. She let him have his head, and Cerberus put on another burst of speed. His hooves hardly seemed to touch the ground – he fairly flew over the thick grass. The wind screamed past them, making Tara's eyes water until she couldn't even see. She clung to his neck and screwed her eyes shut, still grinning excitedly. "That's it, boy!" she yelled into the howling wind. "Show 'em how it's done. Run, boy, run!"
For a long time, the great beast simply galloped, expending his boundless energy in pure speed and distance. Tara let him go until he finally slowed his pace on his own. Then she took up the reins again and began to guide him, jumping him over fallen logs and putting him through his paces. It was sheer joy.
When Cerberus was finally tired, Tara almost felt disappointed. She rubbed his neck and smiled. "We're done, hey, boy? Had enough exercise?" The warhorse snorted and shook himself. "All right, then. Let's go find Bernice and go back to camp. I'll give you a rubdown and a nice bran mash for dinner. How's that sound?" Tara grinned to herself as she rode up toward the road. She found herself looking forward to seeing her little slave again, too. She'll be glad to see me, Tara thought. I'll think of something to make this up to her. Maybe I'll take her to the market next time we're in town, and get her something pretty to wear…maybe something like that belt she admired in the leatherworker's shop? The warrior imagined placing that belt around Epona's waist, and smiled. Betcha I'd get more than a smile for that. I'd better get at least a few kisses.
Bernice was waiting patiently where Tara had left her. She rose to her feet and dusted off her leggings as the warhorse approached. "Are you done, Miss Tara?"
"I'm through. I think the old boy's worn himself out." The redhead slapped her mount's neck and nodded. "Let's get back to camp. It'll be suppertime soon, and I could use a good meal." The servant fell into step beside Cerberus, and they headed down the road toward the mercenary camp.
The smell of roasting meat wafted to Tara's nose as she rode toward the tents. She breathed it and sighed in satisfaction. Her eyes flicked down to Bernice. "You might as well go and see what Epona's up to," she said. "I'm going to take care of Cerberus, here. Stay in the tent until I get there, all right?" The servant nodded quietly, and Tara guided her mount in the direction of the other horses.
There would be serious things to consider soon. They were making their slow way toward Abdera, the nearest city. She and Drea planned to make a recruiting circuit throughout northern Argonia from there, heading to Philippi, then Amphipolis, and perhaps as far west as Olynthus and Potidea. If necessary, they'd find themselves a ship and sail through the islands – Limnos, Imbros, Samothrace and Thassos. Once they had a large enough force, they were going to ride out against the Amazons. They'd decided to begin with Agathyrsi, the nearest northern Amazon tribe. As best they could discover, the queen of that tribe was named Thalestris, and she had at least three hundred Amazon warriors at her disposal.
But for now, it was good to run the brush over the warhorse's satin-smooth sides. Tara hummed tonelessly as she worked, breathing in the scent of warm grass and horse and leather. She felt very relaxed.
"Miss Tara!" The cry broke into her reverie. Tara looked up from her work with a frown. Bernice was hurrying across the grass toward her. The servant looked alarmed. "Miss Tara," she panted. "It's Pony…she…"
"What?" Tara straightened abruptly as fear washed over her. "Is she hurt?"
"No, my lady." Bernice wrung her hands. "She's gone!"
It took Tara a moment or two to process this statement. "Gone? What in blazes do you mean, she's gone?" she asked sharply.
"She's vanished," the servant blurted. "The washing's only half hung up. She's not in the tent, my lady, and her cloak's missing. She's disappeared!"
It was hard to put a finger on how Tara was feeling at the moment. Furious – anxious – betrayed – hurt. She gritted her teeth for a moment as she thought furiously. "All right," she said tightly. "You stay here. I'll be back in a minute." And she strode across the camp toward her tent.
It was as Bernice had said. Six or seven damp garments were hung up on the branches of a nearby tree, but the rest were still in the basket, with the exception of one that was flung haphazardly in the grass. There was no sign of the slave. Tara ducked into the tent and took in its contents at a glance. One of the bedrolls was missing, and Epona's cloak and heavy boots were gone from their places. Tara clenched her jaw at the sight. Something caught her eye as she turned; she paused, stooping over her own bedroll. Something small and glittering lay on top of the dark furs. She picked it up. Epona's horse-head pendant rested against her palm.
Tara's throat and chest constricted for a moment in unbearable pain – then fury exploded through her, washing away the anguish in waves of violent rage. With a snarl, the warrior flung the necklace from her and snatched up her sword. She strapped it around her waist. Before leaving the tent, Tara also caught up her still-unused whip. She looped it onto her belt as she stalked back to where she'd left Cerberus.
Bernice shivered and looked away when her gaze met Tara's blazing eyes. Without a word, the warrior replaced her horse's harness and saddled him. Cerberus rolled his eyes and shook his ears at this, but gave no serious resistance. Tara swung up into the saddle and extended her hand down to the servant. "Grab hold," she growled. The woman obeyed, and Tara pulled her up behind her. "Hang on," she said tersely. "And keep quiet!" With that, the scowling warrior set out to track down her runaway slave.
