Lion Head Mesa tearstain

it had been three days since satsu had told tamar she must lay with one of the mazoi.

it was to be her choice.

nightfall of the fourth day found her searching for @Arsenio, and when she found the guard, she pulled him into a small alcove and kept her voice low. "the queen has said i am — she has sent me to understand —" tamar's voice wavered. she raised her pale eyes to the stalwart ice of his own. "she says i am to lay with one of the mazoi. then i am to come back and — teach her. she is — she does not know men."

and tamar did not dare to look at arsenio. she feared she might see anger in his eyes. refusal.