LITMIR.BIZ

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was on equal footing with the King. She was no less than he was.

      Fernando was now vowing the same to Isabella despite the trouble she’d caused him.

      Rarely had she regretted her behavior as she did now. “Forgive my ignorance and impertinence. I had no idea the perils and political intrigues the harem women endure.”

      “Nor should you.” He released her arm and touched her cheek. “Danger is for a man to face in order to protect his woman.”

      Or die trying as he guarded her on this journey, unless they succeeded in reaching the castle and Don Rodrigo murdered Fernando before he could claim Sancha. Horrified, Isabella covered her eyes with her hand.

      He sighed. “Why worry about what might have been? It changes nothing.”

      It changed everything. If not for her abduction, he wouldn’t be courting disaster at her father’s castle. He’d be risking his life fighting the Moors. In either case, he was pursuing death. “Is there nowhere in this world where one can hide from danger?”

      “Danger has always been a part of life, though you face less here than you did in Granada.”

      “I was abducted here, Fernando.”

      “You were without my protection then. Now you have it.”

      Until he learned the truth or was killed. “One needs more than a sword and dagger to assure their safety.” One needed cunning and the element of surprise, especially when dealing with Don Rodrigo. She dropped her hand and looked at Fernando. The wind ruffled his silky hair. Sunlight caressed his broad shoulders and muscular chest. How splendid he was. How she needed to protect him. Without the truth, she had only one way. “You must tell me about the magic you used in Granada.”

      His eyebrows shot up first then he narrowed his eyes. “We need to continue our journey.”

      “Tell me as we do.” She took his hand and pulled him forward as he was wont to do with her. Since he was taller, heavier, and not of a mind to cooperate, she was soon breathless.

      He sighed loudly. “Do you need another moment?”

      “I need to know how you perform the tricks.”

      He slipped his arm around her waist and swung her to the left. The moment her feet were back on the ground, he grabbed her hand and towed her through the wheat in the new direction. “Why?”

      “If danger comes at us from all sides I can use the tricks to protect myself and you.”

      He laughed.

      “You doubt my courage?”

      “I know your courage. Your foolhardiness troubles me.”

      “I want to be prepared for the worst. My strength will never match any man’s, so I need cunning and tricks to see to our safety. If I had known of your tricks during my abduction, I might not have been abducted.”

      “If you had known of my tricks during your abduction, you would have faced a far worse fate.”

      “I know. I never would have met you.”

      Fernando stopped. He looked at her so queerly Isabella suddenly realized what she’d said. That she’d needed her abduction to meet her betrothed when she supposedly met him years earlier at the signing of the contracts.

      She thought quickly before he could question what she meant. “I often feared you might be killed in battle and would never return to me. You did. Now tell me about the tricks.”

      He resumed stomping across the field, yanking her with him. “No.”

      She frowned. “Why not?”

      He didn’t answer.

      She blew out a sigh. Without his knowledge of the magic, she had to find another way to best Don Rodrigo. If only she was skilled with a sword or a dagger. Because she was not, her one hope was to poison his food. Not enough to kill the foul beast, but enough to frighten him into confessing. Once she had the truth, she’d offer an antidote. Of course, what poison was best? Sancha would know, but would she help?

      Isabella was considering the matter when Fernando came to an abrupt halt.

      Her pulse jumped. She glanced in front and behind, expecting to see someone advancing on them, sword drawn. Only a sea of golden wheat quivered in the breeze. “What is it?”

      “How you pant and sigh.” His shoulders slumped. “If I tell you about the tricks, will you at least stop sighing?”

      Her eyes widened. “I may even stop panting.”

      He fought a smile before he resumed scanning the area. “Do you recall when I placed my hand in the fire and held the coals?”

      “I do. You felt no pain nor did you burn your skin. How did you manage such a thing?”

      “The trick depends on several factors. First, from where you and the others stood, it appeared I was placing my hand in open flames. Instead, I took the coals from an area where the fire was already out.”

      “You still held red-hot coals and juggled them.”

      “I held smoking coals covered with ash to reduce their heat. By tossing them from one hand to the other, the embers had little chance to burn me. However, I also used a common mineral for protection. Before I arrived to rescue you, I had ground the mineral into a fine powder and rubbed it on my palms. Thus coated, I was able to press hot coals to the eunuch’s throat long enough to injure him without burning myself.”

      “How brilliant.”

      Fernando grinned.

      “How did you get fire to flow from your mouth? Did you coat your lips and tongue with the same mineral and—have I said something amusing?”

      He quelled his laughter. “Breathing fire is as simple as handling hot coals. The secret lies in using the hollow shell of a nut filled with oil and sulfur. By creating chaos first, as I did when I burned the eunuch and had you scream, I diverted the crowd’s attention. When no one was looking at me, I slipped the nut into my mouth and raised the hot coals to my lips in order to ignite the mixture. I blew into the nut and fire poured from my lips without harming them.” He paused to touch her mouth with his. “They remain unscathed, no?”

      His lips and mouth were perfect…silky and unbearably warm. “Sí.”

      Fernando smiled. She needed more information. “What did you say to the slaver and eunuch when you first approached? I thought you were warning them of my intent to escape.”

      He straightened. “I asked the slaver if he knew he was selling damaged goods. I told the eunuch he would never know as he would never be man enough to find out.”

      “He cursed you for the insult, no?”

      “He did.”

      “After you burned him, you spoke to the crowd. What did you say to frighten them?”

      He shrugged. “Only the truth. Hot coals can turn a virile man into a eunuch and a beautiful woman into a monster who has to remain veiled within her own house.”

      “No wonder everyone kept backing away. What of the lamb’s blood you flung when we were in the cabinet? Have you used such deception before?”

      “When I needed to distract my enemies so I could escape.”

      “How amazing you are, Fernando.”

      He resumed yanking her through the wheat. “Because I continue to walk despite having to drag you?”

      She returned his smile. “For inventing such cunning means of deception and magic.”

      “The tricks were used before our parents were born. I am hardly amazing.”

      “How wrong you are.”

      His face flushed.

      “Do

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