The Healer's Passion by Parker Blue

Author:Parker Blue
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2011-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

All the way back to the monastery, Rick waited for Téa to yell at him. But she was uncharacteristically silent. What was going through her head? He thought he knew her, but he’d never seen her like this.

When he closed the door to their room and lit the lamp, she wouldn’t meet his eyes. Rick couldn’t take it any longer. “Okay, Téa, I know you’re dying to tell me how much I screwed up. Let me have it.”

“You?” she said, turning to face him with an incredulous look. “You didn’t screw up, I did. I know the duel wasn’t your idea.”

“No,” he agreed ruefully, “but I did unintentionally set it up. Stupid.”

“And I’m the one who suggested the amulet as the prize,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Talk about stupid.” She shook her head, rubbing her temples. “I never should have had so much wine.”

“I thought it was brilliant—the best way to get the amulet.”

“Brilliant?” she repeated in disgust. “You realize that if Tancred—Kentar—wins, he’ll have the amulet and Project Anasazi will be defunct?”

Mission failure was not an option. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

She glared at him. “I don’t doubt your prowess on a modern battlefield, but how experienced are you with swords? The men here use them every day. How can you possibly match their level of skill?”

“Just because they practice every day, that doesn’t make them good swordsmen. Besides, Lord Tancred hasn’t been in this time period very long, either.” And Rick was very, very good, though he didn’t want to boast.

“Didn’t you hear him say he’d been in battle? What about you? How many real battles have you been in?”

“I belong to the Western Martial Arts Coalition, where we recreate the same techniques used in medieval times.”

“But when Hugh attacked you yesterday, he was able to stab you easily.”

“I was distracted,” Rick protested. “I didn’t know the coward was going to attack.”

“And do you think Kentar will be any more honorable?”

“With all those witnesses, he’ll have to be careful. I’ll be careful, too. I’ll watch out for tricks. I’ll be prepared.”

Her dark eyes sparking with anger, Téa shoved him. “Don’t you get it? You might die tomorrow.”

Oh, so that’s what this was about. Unshed tears made her eyes sparkle. He folded her in his arms. “I’m not going to die, I promise.”

She didn’t stiffen up, but didn’t return his embrace, either. “You can’t promise that.”

He rubbed her back, trying to console her. “Duels don’t always lead to death, especially ones like this that are for sport.” He didn’t mention that people in these times often died of wounds sustained in duels. He didn’t plan to let that happen. “I won’t die.”

She relaxed a little in his embrace. “But you still might lose…and then Kentar would get the amulet.”

“Then I’ll just have to win, won’t I?”

Her arms went around him then, and Rick’s heart leaped in his chest. He hugged her closer.

“I’m scared, Rick.” she said softly. “This is a barbarous time. If you could see what I saw in the hospital today…” She shook her head on his chest.

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