I was about to reachfor the list, but he must have read my intent - or came to the conclusionby some other means. To my surprise, rather than handing...me the list, hebent over presenting it to me, his whole posture suggesting a willingnessto advise madame on such a complex matter as selecting a suitable wine.If it weren't for catching Neera's wicked glance over the edge of hermenu, I would have probably settled for my well-honed, masterly wine-selecting tactic of sticking my finger somewhere. I squirmed, curiosity brimming inside of me. I glanced at my sister as she marched off the sand. She rejoined me.“What did you whisper?” I asked her. “Please, please tell me.”“That he would get no pussy from any of us if he can’t beat Korvan.”I burst into wicked giggles. “That’s so mean.”She shrugged. “He wants to do this idiocy. I won’t let him get himself killed, so I have to do what I can to keep him alive.”“What about the sex slaves?”“I’ll stop them,” Pyrriah promised.I believed her. There. Indeed, you may be correct, but if I may, I wish to reflect on what you have brought forth to me. Insight into this dilemma will come from inside. I must confer with my troops prior to departure, if I choose to leave among you. I shall return shortly and inform you of my decision. Be well.” Several hours later, he rejoined the team. “Sirs, I have made my decision. I shall accept your offer, but I must insist on bringing my lieutenant along with me. His name is Tristian Lancelace. Possibly his. At the end of the morning as he got up to leave, he said that he had been invited to attend a formal dinner in a city about a hundred miles away, and as everyone else would be there with their partners or spouses, perhaps I would like to be his guest and accompany him. Why, I thought, does he seem to mention these things as he is about to leave, as if they were an afterthought? And this was very sudden, no matter what I had been thinking about him. Was he attracted to me in the same way? And to.