Chapter 86

“You will prepare the ointment for me, just as you did for Nicolae.” For a moment I thought she would continue to challenge me, but the flash of defiance wilted beneath my unrelenting stare. She nodded reluctantly.

“If Syeira learns I did this thing you ask of me, she will see the skin is flayed off my back!”

I had no more desire for Syeira to know what I was about to do than this weak-willed female did, but I had no intention of revealing that to Paloma. “Do you think that matters to me, girl? Do as I say, or you’ll get worsethan a whipping.”

* * * *

As Nicolae had told me, the preparation of the unguent could not be done while Syeira was in the gypsy camp. She was too astute, and would realise what the girl was doing.

The entire band had known I was Nicolae’s, so I couldn’t pretend to be enamoured of Paloma, and interested in a liaison with her, even if they would permit her to be courted by a gadje