The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

to his ship, just outside the city. They’d have privacy for a while and then he’d move the little shuttle to make her think they traveled where she wished. But he’d take her only as far as the home of the bushie lord who bargained almost as fiercely as Televarn had.
    “Possessions?” Maia laughed. She shook her head, setting the hoop earrings to bouncing. Her breasts strained against her black bodice.
    Kinnsell wanted to rip the restrictive cloth away and free those full, ripe breasts. They’d fill his hands nicely.
    He clenched his hands into fists and kept them firmly at his sides. She must have strong psi powers to go along with her allure. He swore to himself not to fall victim to her. He’d use her the way she wanted to use him.
    “I am a Rover,” Maia announced proudly. “Rovers wear their wealth. There is nothing more valuable than my freedom. Ah, to wander the roads of the world again. Televarn will wish to rove again after so many years in Hanassa. He was never truly meant to remain in the city of outlaws as their Kaaliph. I will remind him of the wonders of the road.” She closed her eyes and smiled dreamily.
    “Then we will leave now.” Kinnsell grabbed Maia’s hand, caressing her palm with his thumb. He drew her fingers to his lips, drinking in the lush smell and taste of her, telling himself that this was what she expected, so why not enjoy flirting with her. His breathing went ragged again, and he coughed to steady it.
    Finally, he set his left hand to the back of her waist while keeping her hand bound in his right and headed out of the church.
    “We can’t go that way.” Maia held back. She tugged his hand rather than releasing it. “ They watch me. We must use a different door. And then find a place to hide until sunset tomorrow. The dawn comes, and with the light their power increases.” Her eyes went wide with fear.
    “Who prevents you from leaving a church?”
    “The magicians. They watch every move I make while they claim to protect me from my own people. They invade my privacy worse than Televarn ever did with his mind in my mind all of the time. The magicians hate women and will kill me if they catch me outside the sanctuary of this building.” She hissed as if her words, like the magicians, were tainted with venom.
    “Is there another way out of here?” Kinnsell didn’t trust his psychic shields to hide them from a truly powerful magician. He should have noticed a spy with psi powers lingering around the outside of the church. He’d have to learn the trick of extending mental invisibility to another person, something the magicians used all the time in protecting their king—the compromising weakling Katie had married.
    “Of course there is another way out. The priests and magicians think it secret, but I found it.” She seemed to include priests within the same category as magicians, both menacing and dirty.
    “Then why haven’t you left before this? You have friends and allies waiting for you.”
    “Getting out of this sanctuary is one thing. Staying hidden while I escape the city is another. But you will protect me.” She caressed his cheek and pursed her lips as if expecting to be kissed.
    Kinnsell leaned closer, more than willing to oblige. She smiled so very sweet, promised so much. . . .
    He shook himself free of her spell.
    “We must be quiet.” Maia pressed a finger to her full lips. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “The priest consoles the cook from the University. She comes here often, supposedly to check on me, but mostly to confess to the very handsome priest. I would confess to him, too, but he prefers his women fair and docile. We can learn something the magicians do not wish the world to know.” She tiptoed toward the altar and a small postern door.
    “Eavesdrop on a confession?” Kinnsell gulped back his sudden apprehension. He had to keep reminding himself these people didn’t believe in the faith that had sustained his family for more generations than anyone could count.
    “Knowledge is power, and power is more valuable than any wealth,” Maia reminded him.
    “That is a concept I can appreciate.” A concept his sons could never comprehend. He’d hoped that Katie had learned it. But she, too, had opted to hide on this bush world rather than seek political power. True power.
    Thankfully, his current wife understood. She’d forgive his lapse in fidelity for the sake of knowledge and power.
    Together, he and Maia moved toward the