〃Oh； my dear； dear Amalric；〃 she said when she spied me。 Her face was so dazzling when she greeted me； I thought perhaps I had been a fool to think I needed a potion。 〃I have been so bored；〃 she said； sprawling across a mighty bed that seemed to have been built to pillow a legion。 〃I am sick of potbellied old men with skinny legs。〃
I plumped down。 She was dressed only in a rough； carelessly draped half robe。 She was direct from her tub and looked like a fresh…scrubbed milkmaid with knowing eyes。 As she raised her head to pillow it on an arm； the robe fell open。 I saw the flash of a tender breast； pink…tipped nipple； and as she lazily tugged the robe closed； the vee of softness between her thighs； the paradise I so longed for that I was willing to risk all。
〃Then let me take you away from all this； Melina my love；〃 I said； in false lightness。
〃You would make me your wife？〃 she said。 Her voice was mocking。 But only a little。
Now I was all seriousness。 〃I would pledge anything to make it so；〃 I said fervently。
〃I don't think you'd wele a hetaera as the mother of your children；〃 she laughed。
〃Then you don't know me； Melina；〃 I answered。 〃For I love you more than any man has a right to love。 I fear the gods will grow jealous if they realize just how great my feelings are for you。〃
Melina sighed。 〃You are very sweet and very kind；〃 she said。 〃But you will e to your senses some day； and find some deserving woman of your own class。〃
〃Never；〃 I said； as hotly earnest as only the very young can be。 〃Besides；〃 Melina said； 〃you are too young to afford me。 Now； don't pout。 Because you know what I am saying is true。〃 She patted my hand。 〃Please don't spoil these few hours we have together。 My back is so tired and I need those strong young hands of yours to soothe it。〃 Melina gave me a naughty wink。 〃And 。。。 afterward 。。。 if there's time 。。。 Who knows？ Possibly this will be the night I learn if you are truly a redheaded man。〃
My heart sank。 Despite the tease； actually because of the tease； I understood for the first time that night would never e。 I know now that I did intrigue； possibly even arouse her。 Curiosity is a powerful aphrodisiac； and Melina was honestly wondering about the exotic color of my hair。 I know it also excited her to have such a young man a willing slave to her slightest whim； sexual or otherwise。 But it would never go beyond that。 She would take me for everything I owned； including my honor。 Then she'd cast me aside。
I forced cheer。 〃First； I have a small gift for you；〃 I said。 Melina squealed。 〃Oh； how lovely。 I do hope it's unusual。 Please。 Please。 Let me see。〃 I drew the bottle out of my pocket。 Her face fell。 〃What's that？'
〃Oh； this is nothing。 Just some old brandy from my father's cellar。 I thought we might sample it。。。 and then I can show you my gift。 It is a very rare thing 。。。 I promise。〃
Melina became excited again； acting like a girl。 She sat up in the bed； legs so carelessly crossed I almost lost my nerve。 I fetched two goblets from the tray and poured。 Melina took a goblet from my hand。 She sniffed at it； curling those exquisite nostrils。 〃Mmmm。 Delicious；〃 she said。 She drank it down in one swallow。 Then she lounged back on her pillows； flinging those perfect legs wide； as if by accident。 〃Now； show me my present；〃 she said。
〃Do you want more brandy？〃 I asked。
〃No。 That's enough。 There's nothing more disgusting than a hetaera who enslaves herself to drink。〃
〃How do you feel？〃 I asked； anxious。
〃I feel fine。 Why do you ask？〃 Her voice was sharp； irritated。
〃Oh 。。。 nothing。〃 What in the name of the gods had gone wrong？ Had the back…street witch defrauded me？ Then I remembered I was supposed to chant the rhyme the witch had given me。 But in my anxiety； the words had fled my memory。
〃Well？ Where is that present you promised？〃 Melina pressed。
My memory returned。 〃My heart is thy heart；〃 I intoned； mimicking the deep drone of an Evocator's voice。 〃My image fills thine eyes。 In darkest night； I am the candle to light thy womb。〃
Melina frowned。 〃What prattling is that？ Some silly love doggerel from the taverns？〃
Before I could stumble a lie for an answer； Melina gasped。 Those green eyes were staring at me。 Her pupils were wide and possessed。 She licked her lips。 〃Butala； praise thy name；〃 Melina moaned。 〃Amalric； you are so handsome and young you make my heart break。 I'll warrant you can pleasure a woman like a great stallion。 Plunging and plunging all the night long。〃
〃Uh 。。。 uh 。。。 uh；〃 was my eloquent response。
〃Oh； by the gods 。。。 take me now！ Take me！〃 She flung off the robe and hurled herself into my arms； ripping at my clothes with sharp…nailed fingers。 〃I'll do anything to please you；〃 she groaned。 〃Take me。 Any way you want it。 My lover。 My handsome； redheaded Amalric man。〃
Passion gripped me as if I had swallowed the potion； as well。 I ripped away my clothing and flung it carelessly to the floor。 A small voice tried to shame me； but a cock has no honor； so I swatted the voice away like a river gnat。 Melina sprawled back； lust flush coursing up her chest and reddening her slender throat； legs splayed wantonly； the shaved slit of pleasure begging my entrance。
〃Oh； quickly 。。。 quickly； please；〃 she groaned； grinding her hips as if she had gone mad under the moon。
I fell on her like a victorious soldier； grasping the soft white mound of her bottom； then thrust into the hot； silky place I had dreamed of for so long。 Imagining myself that stallion she'd spoken of； I reared back to thrust again。 A bellow of pure； hot rage rang from behind me。 〃Get off her； you son of a lizard bitch！〃
Hands encircled my throat； and with a heave； I was torn from the gates of paradise and flung across the room。 Even in the throes of interrupted passion； my gymnast training took over in midflight。 I twisted as I hit the floor and sprang to my feet。 I stood； chest heaving； in shameful nakedness； red pubic hair finally answering Melina's question； but hardly in the manner I had dreamed。
〃Don't hurt him； Leego；〃 Melina begged。 The Procurer stood there； dirk drawn； pale lips a rictus through the spider mask。
〃I love him so；〃 Melina continued。 〃Don't let him leave。 I must be with him。 Always with him。〃
Leego's answer was a shout。 I heard many footsteps running for the room。 He came toward me。 I didn't fear him。 I was more than enough man to make him eat that dirk。 But I was in the wrong； an enemy trespassing in another man's bedchamber with a woman I had no right to。 There is only one thing for any man to do； when he finds himself in this situation。 In one quick motion； I scooped my clothes and sheathed rapier from the floor； then ran for the window。
I plunged through head first； Leego's voice ringing。 〃You'll pay for this； Amalric Antero。 You'll pay。〃
Fear jogged memory as I sailed through that window。 It was at least sixty feet to the hard； crippling ground。 Just in time I snagged out with a hand and caught a sewer pipe。 Momentum carried me in an arc； and I slammed against the tenement wall。 In some insane instinct of modesty； I kept my grip on my clothes。 For a heart…thumping instant； I struggled to hang by the pipe with only one hand。 I steadied myself； slung my clothes and rapier over a naked shoulder； got a good grip on the pipe； and slid for the ground。 I remembered to kick away at the last minute； and I landed a few slimed inches away from the soil pit the sewer pipe emptied into。 Inside the tenement I heard thundering boot heels ing down the stairs。 A big lizard lunged out of the darkness。 I kicked it； and it hissed； perhaps mistaking my naked form for that of an odd pig on two feet。 I sprinted away into the night。 Before long the sound of the voices and pursuing footsteps faded away。
I PADDED INTO the tavern in bare feet； belting my rapier about my filth spattered finery。 My mind was swirling with guilt and confusion。 I badly needed to get my bearings before I slunk home like the cur I had proven myself to be。 I barely noticed the few dangerous…looking men whose eyes glittered when they spied me。 I also saw a few soldiers in crisp uniforms； lolling in their seats。 The tavernkeep； a small； ratlike man； eyed me suspiciously。 〃Wine； my g