"But my lord Dion—"
Burke stopped smiling. "I'm sorry, Ariadne. You're not going with me. That's final. If you try, if you won't promise to go back to your own apartment, I'll knock you out and tie you up. Is that clear?"
He started forward as he finished—face set, fist doubled.
But the girl gave not an inch before him. Stepping in, instead, she stood very close, face upturned to his.
"My lord Dion," she said softly, "I tell you now: you're the bravest man I've ever seen."
It threw Burke off balance. He could find no words with which to answer.
The girl said, "I promise you, you needn't worry for me; a warrior should not have to think of women, or fear for them. I'll await you at my own apartment."
Burke groped. "Ariadne—"
It was as if he hadn't spoken: "Remember, you have my promise. But if anything should go wrong, if I'm missing when you reach my quarters—Lord Dion, do you know the River of Amnissus?"
"Yes, of course."