Page 50 of Over the Emerald Valley
“How? The other two guards saw us. They’ll know.”
Solon answered with a hard stare.
“No, Solon, no killing. I can’t bear to have such on my conscience.” Temaj took a deep breath, visibly steeled himself, then blew it out. He held out a hand. “Come, help me up.”
With no small amount of relief, Solon reached for him. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be. My plan was better than yours.”
Solon disagreed but knew better than to say so. “You were really going to go through with it?”
Temaj turned from the guard with a look of disgust. “Why not? What’s one more notch on my belt when there are so many already?”
Solon wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him farther away. “I couldn’t let you.”
“What if I’d wanted it? Could you let me, then? I’d rather it have gone that way than”—a shiver racked his body—“how it actually went. I could have finished him by now and moved on to you, but instead, I’ve seen a man knocked out before my eyes and lost the only home I’ve ever liked in a matter of seconds.”
Chest tight, guilt heavy in his gut, Solon held Temaj tight. He deemed his actions warranted, but that didn’t matter now. Not when Temaj was scared and injured. “Please, let me take you to safety. Let me dress your wound. I promise I will do right by you. You will be free of any master and can choose your lovers yourself.”
“What about Ottah?”
“What about him?”
“We can’t just leave him here. He needs care.”
“He’ll be fine. He’ll wake up angrier than a nest of hornets and send the other guards after my men. It’s us who need to worry, not Ottah.”
Temaj pulled away and glanced at Ottah. When he looked back at Solon, his face was a picture of determination. “I have an idea.”
CHAPTER16
Temaj
Though his neckstung and his nerves sang of danger, Temaj refused to give in so easily. Whether or not he left with Solon should be his decision and not left up to circumstance. Especially when the circumstance in question was only Ottah.
“We don’t have much time.” Solon’s pinched expression said he wouldn’t like Temaj’s plan.
“My idea will grant us that. Listen. You go gather your men. Leave me here with this buffoon, and I’ll handle him when he wakes. Meet us in the harem’s common room. When the servants ask, say Abasi has granted your men their choice of the concubines.”
Solon didn’t look convinced in the slightest. “I can’t leave you here. Ottah is twice your size. I’ve broken his nose. You’ve bitten him. He’ll be furious.”
“I’m not afraid of Ottah. He’s wanted me since my arrival. He wants me still. Probably even more now that he’s been refused with such violence. He can help us.”
“Help us?”
“Yes, but you have to go. He won’t talk to you, but he’ll talk to me.”
“And tell you what? That you’ll be locked in some dungeon for aiding me? He’s loyal to the man who lines his pockets. You said so yourself.”
“Not Ottah. He thinks with his cock. I can turn him.”
“What if you can’t? What if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not. Trust me. Bring your men before dusk, and you’ll have a chance to get your proof. Ottah will help. I’ll see to it.”
Solon opened his mouth. Closed it. Took a breath. “You’re not going to…”
The question hung in the air between them like so many biting insects, ready to sting them both.
