Salome laughed hatefully.
'How generous of you, dear, sweet sister! But before you begin putting me in my place—perhaps you will tell me whose soldiers camp in the plain outside the city walls?'
'They are the Shemitish mercenaries of Constantius, the Kothic voivode of the Free Companies.'
'And what do they in Khauran?' cooed Salome.
Taramis felt that she was being subtly mocked, but she answered with an assumption of dignity which she scarcely felt.
'Constantius asked permission to pass along the borders of Khauran on his way to Turan. He himself is hostage for their good behavior as long as they are within my domains.'
'And Constantius,' pursued Salome. 'Did he not ask your hand today?'
Taramis shot her a clouded glance of suspicion.
'How did you know that?'
An insolent shrug of the slim naked shoulders was the only reply.