“Am I keeping you here?” Tarik smiled. “I believe you would stay regardless of anything I said or did now.”
He was right, Kadar thought. With each passing day he felt as if he were being drawn deeper into the web Tarik was spinning about them. Strange, he had fought Nasim’s power but he was not battling Tarik. Maybe because he knew he could tear the delicate web aside and break free at any time. His glance went to Selene standing at the windows across the hall. “I noticed a change in Balkir. I want her away from here. Find a way to get her away from the castle without Balkir seeing her and send her back to Montdhu.”
“She wouldn’t go.”
“If you want me to stay, then you have to send her safely from here. You’ll discover a way.”
Tarik leaned back in his chair and gazed at him. “I’m not sure I wish to do that. What if my plans for you come to naught and I must look elsewhere? It would be a great inconvenience to retrieve Selene from Montdhu.”
Kadar’s head lifted with sudden menace. “I’ll not have you using her.”
“How quickly you rise to her defense. It’s truly touching.”
“I’m weary of your games and your sarcasm. Let’s be done with it. Tell me what you would have me do and I will answer yes or no.”
“You grow impatient.”
“And you speak in riddles and secrets. Is it the grail in your coffer?”
“Do you fear God will strike you dead if you steal a holy relic?”
“Answer me.”
Tarik was silent.
“Then tell me how you came to have the box.”
“My, how persistent you are.” He raised his voice. “Selene, come. Kadar has persuaded me to reveal my secrets. I would not leave you out.”
“Don’t involve her any further,” Kadar said in a low voice. “I told you I wanted her away from here.”
Tarik smiled and held out his hand to Selene, who was coming toward them. “Kadar is being unfair. He wishes to exclude you from our discussion.”
Selene seated herself on a stool by the fire. “It does not surprise me.”
“Where did you get the coffer?” Kadar asked again.
“It was given to me by a young prince. He said it was a gift, but I knew he sought to bribe me to give him the treasure. I took the gift and gave him nothing. I thought it a good lesson for him.” He grimaced. “No, that’s not true. I took it because I was a poor man and the gold and jewels of the box dazzled me.”
“You said you were born of scum of the streets. What did scum have to do with princes?”
“Any man becomes valuable to royalty if he possesses something they want.”
“And what court did this prince grace?”
Tarik shook his head. “You never cease trying to trap me, do you?”
Kadar tried another question. “How did the prince learn of the treasure?”
“Layla told him. She was afraid and wanted to protect us.”
“By giving the treasure away?”
“You don’t understand.”
“How can we understand when you don’t tell us anything of worth?” Selene asked.
“Ah, you wish me to tell you something of importance.” Tarik lazily leaned his head back. “Let me think . . . What does Nasim regard as important?”
“Power,” Kadar said.
“And he believes my treasure will bring it to him.” He paused. “It’s true, it will.”
Kadar went still. “How?”
Tarik ignored the question. “Power is a beacon. It attracts you, doesn’t it, Kadar? What if I told you that you could have enormous power but you would lose everything that meant anything to you? That you would wield it alone?”
“More riddles.” But Kadar was aware that Tarik’s laziness was only a pose; the other man’s gaze was fixed watchfully on his face. “What man would want power that much?”
“Nasim.” Tarik pushed back his chair and stood up. “But apparently not you. I thought not, but there was always hope. It seems I must still make the choice.”
“What choice?” Selene asked.
“Good, evil. I’ve come too close to you. I find myself wavering.” His lips tightened. “But I’m a selfish man. No doubt self-love will triumph in the end.” He turned and walked out of the hall.
Excitement gripped Kadar as his gaze followed him.
“What did he mean?” Selene asked.
“I’m not sure.” But he was beginning to catch a glimmering on the horizon. Impossible. It could not mean . . . No, impossible.
“He frightens me more than Nasim does,” Selene said. “He wants to destroy you.”
Kadar shook his head.
“Don’t be foolish,” Selene said fiercely. “You heard him. We must leave here. And don’t tell me you have to keep your promise to Nasim. I weary of such madness.”
“Then I won’t tell you.” She was frightened, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. He knew she would not permit it. Instead, he gently touched her cheek with his forefinger. “I’d hate to risk your displeasure.”
“Don’t jest.” She moved her face to avoid his touch. “Will you come with me?”
“Soon.”
“Why not now, tonight?”
“Why are you so eager to go? There’s no more threat tonight than there was a week ago.”
“Yes, there is. He . . . It’s changing. He was—but now he’s—Something’s going to happen.”
He could feel it too. But to him the realization brought anticipation, not fear. “I’ve discussed with Tarik getting you out of the fortress and back to Montdhu. As soon as it’s safe, I’ll—”
“But you won’t go.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Thickheaded ox. Idiot. Buffoon. I want to strike you.”
She whirled and ran out of the hall.
He was tempted to follow and comfort her, but if he did, there would be more arguments. He would let her regain her composure and try to talk to her in the morning.
He picked up his pawn from the board and fingered it thoughtfully. Are we just the pieces on a chessboard to you, Tarik?
Maybe in the beginning, but that had changed. Kadar’s instincts told him that Tarik had become more involved than he wanted. Now that Tarik realized that truth, he would take action.
But what action?
Something was going to happen.
He was a fool.
Selene’s fist crashed down on the stone window embrasure. She wished it was Kadar’s stubborn head or his eyes that refused to see.
She leaned her cheek against the wall as she gazed blindly out at the courtyard below.
Why would he not listen to her? He saw the danger of Nasim, but he appeared oblivious to any threat from Tarik. Kadar didn’t seem to be aware of the dark tempest she could sense gathering around him.
They should leave this place. Balkir was no threat at all compared to Tarik.
And she was hiding in her chamber bruising her hand against a stone wall when she should be doing something about it.
Think.
What would force Kadar to leave?
It was difficult to reason. She was too frightened by that whirling storm she could sense coming nearer by the minute.
Something was going to happen.
______
Fear was causing her stomach to clench, but she was breathless with excitement.
It was the same feeling she’d experienced when she’d run away from the House of Nicholas those many years ago, Selene thought.
She drew her cloak closer about her. Breathe deep. Don’t show any emotion.
The guard of the south wall was standing at the head of the rope ladder a few feet above her. He was a young man but not obtuse. She could see he was wary of anyone invading his watch in the middle of the night.
She hoped not too wary. She had waved to disarm him before coming up the ladder. She smiled now as she accepted his hand and he pulled her up the last few feet. “I thank you.”
“You shou
ld not be here, Lady Selene.”
“I know.” She sighed. “I could not sleep.”
He gazed at her suspiciously.
“Lord Kadar visited Captain Balkir’s camp today. He said the captain threatened to storm the castle.” She shivered. “He frightened me.”
The young soldier’s demeanor softened a trifle. “You shouldn’t worry. His force is not large enough to prevail against us.”
“I’m not sure. Captain Balkir is a fierce, cruel man. I woke up a short time ago from a dream in which he was creeping closer and closer to this wall. I tried to go back to sleep, but I lay there shaking.” She nibbled at her lower lip as she gazed out into the darkness. “I thought if I could see for myself that he was nowhere near, I’d be able to rest. Is that his encampment over there?”
The soldier nodded. “And there’s been no sign of movement all night.”
“Are you sure? What if he’s managed to slip his men out of the encampment? What if he and his men are down at the bottom of the wall right now, just waiting to loose their arrows?”
He smiled indulgently. “There is no one here.”
“What if there is?”
“I will show you.” He took a step closer to the balustrade and leaned over so that he could see the ground directly below. “No sign of anyone. You see? No one at—”
He grunted as Selene struck him with the brass pitcher she had hidden beneath her cloak.
She caught him as he fell so that he wouldn’t tumble to the courtyard below.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She hoped she had done no more than stun him. He had seemed a pleasant young man.
An instant later he gave a low groan. A mixed blessing. Now she must worry about him regaining his senses before she could get down the wall.
She quickly untied the rope she had wound around her waist and tied it to an abutment.
The guard moaned again.
She slipped over the side and began crawling carefully down the wall.
“There you are.” Tarik threw open the door of the library and limped into the chamber. His dark hair was mussed but he was fully dressed. “I’ve been looking all over the castle for you. What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Kadar closed the cover of de Troyes’s manuscript. “I remembered something and I wanted to reread a few passages.”
Tarik’s gaze narrowed. “Why?”
Kadar countered, “Why are you so concerned about my whereabouts that you come looking for me in the dead of night?”
“I thought you might have gone too.”
Kadar stiffened. “Gone?”
“Selene saw fit to knock out the guard on the south wall and leave the fortress.”
“Lord in heaven.” Kadar muttered a curse at his own stupidity. He had known she was upset. He should have followed her. “Haroun?”
Tarik shook his head. “She went alone.”
“And you came looking for me.”
“I didn’t think she’d be able to persuade you to leave, but I thought you might have followed and tried to find her.”
“I will,” he said grimly.
“No need. When the guard regained his senses, he saw Balkir’s encampment astir. The captain must have intercepted her as she was trying to escape.”
“She wasn’t trying to escape.”
“What?”
“If she had been trying to escape, she would have taken Haroun. She feels responsible for him.”
“Then why did she crawl down that wall?”
“I wouldn’t go with her. She knew I’d follow if she placed herself in Balkir’s hands.”
Tarik pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. “Clever.”
“I want to strangle her. By God, I’d wager she marched into Balkir’s camp and woke them up so that they’d take her prisoner.”
“That picture doesn’t lack a certain humor.”
“To me it does.” Kadar headed for the door. “I’m the one who has to get her back.”
“Wait.”
Kadar gave him a cold glance over his shoulder. “I won’t let her stay in Balkir’s hands, Tarik.”
“I didn’t think you would. I merely wondered if you wanted me to send an escort with you.”
“If Balkir thought there was any chance he’d lose her, he’d cut her throat. I’ll go alone.”
“He’ll kill her? Did she realize the danger?”
“She knew it. This was no wild impulse. She knew exactly what she was doing.”
“Then she’ll try to keep you from coming back,” he said softly.
“I’m going, Tarik. Don’t try to stop me.”
“It would not be to my advantage for you to go now.”
Kadar stiffened at the silken threat in the other man’s tone. He gazed directly into his eyes. “I won’t leave her there. You’ll have to kill me to keep me from going.”
“No, I wouldn’t. There are many ways to—” Tarik stopped and the menace left his expression. He said wearily, “But it appears I lack the will to use them.” He waved his hand. “Go on. Bring her back. We’ll let fortune decide. Maybe I’ll be lucky. God knows, fate owes me a good turn.”
“I thought you’d come.” Balkir smiled smugly at Kadar. “Though I have no idea why you’d be so foolish. After all, she’s only a woman.”
“And a troublesome one at that,” Kadar agreed. “I don’t know why I’m bothering to retrieve her. We had a small disagreement and she decided to punish me by fleeing.”
“Then you won’t mind my holding her?”
“I wouldn’t mind, but Tarik wishes her back. Where is she?”
“In her tent.” He paused before he added, “Where she will stay until you return with the treasure.”
“I told you that you must be patient until—”
“I’m done with patience. Bring me the treasure or I’ll kill the woman.”
“Nasim would not approve of such impetuous behavior. He would punish you for—”
“On the contrary, I do approve.”
Kadar whirled to face the tent entrance.
Nasim moved forward. “Hello, Kadar. I, too, am done with patience.”
“I didn’t realize you were here.”
“I arrived only an hour ago. Just before dawn. I didn’t like the message that I received from Balkir. It stank of treason.”
“I told you I’d bring you the box. I will do so.”
“If Tarik doesn’t tempt you away from me. You’ve found him very persuasive, haven’t you?”
“I’ll bring you the box.”
He shook his head. “I no longer trust you.”
“You never did. You trust no one.”
“Certainly no one tainted by that devil Tarik.” He smiled. “So we will keep the woman until you bring the box. I will give you until dawn tomorrow. By the way, is she with child?”
“No.”
“Pity. I’ll have to remedy that when I take her back to Maysef.”
Don’t show the rage. Control. “Tarik wants her to return to the castle. It will be easier for me to steal the box if we keep him content.”
“Content? Is he coupling with her too?”
“No, but while she’s at the castle he feels he has a hold on me.”
“He does,” Nasim said. “So she will stay here.”
He would not be swayed, Kadar realized with frustration. He’d had a small chance to persuade Balkir to release Selene, but never Nasim. “May I see her?”
“Of course. You may even couple with her.” Nasim smiled. “As a gesture of good faith. I wish to keep you content as well.”
Kadar turned to leave.
“Has Tarik told you what’s in the box?” Nasim asked.
He glanced at him over his shoulder. “No.”
“Not even a hint?”
It would be unwise to lie. Nasim might have a man in Tarik’s castle. “He showed me the manuscript by de Troyes.”
“Ah, and what did you make of it?”
??
?A foolish troubadour’s fable. Surely you cannot believe it.”
“There’s some truth in most fables.” His gaze bored into Kadar’s. “And you’re too clever not to sift through the chaff to the gold beneath.”
“You do believe it.”
“Enough to risk a great deal to get it. After I have it, I’ll put it to the test and know soon enough.”
“Put it to the test?”
Nasim waved his hand. “Go to the woman. I want you back with Tarik by nightfall and the treasure in my hands by tomorrow morning. Being this close is making me eager to have an end to this.”
Kadar could see that for himself. Nasim’s black eyes were glittering, and there was a faint flush on his cheeks. He had never seen Nasim in such a fever of excitement. It did not bode well.
But often signs that appeared adverse could be turned to advantage if you could only find the means. Though, God knows, he could see no way out of this coil now.
“What do we do?” Selene demanded the moment Kadar entered her tent. “I saw Nasim arrive. We’re in great danger, aren’t we?”
“Yes, I believe we are. It appears he’s grown weary of waiting.”
“Can you do nothing with him?”
“Not this time.”
And she had brought him here into Nasim’s hands, she thought in agony. She squared her shoulders. “Well, say something.”
“What?”
“I know it’s my fault. I wanted you away from Tarik. I thought you’d be safer here. I knew Balkir would be no real danger to you.”
“You didn’t know Nasim would be coming.”
“But it’s still my fault.”
“Yes, it is.” He smiled. “When Tarik first told me you’d fled, I wanted to strangle you.”
But he wasn’t angry now. He was worried and that made her feel worse. “You were being foolish. You wouldn’t listen to me.”
“I’ll listen now if you can tell me how we’ll get out of this. I’m to return to the castle by nightfall, and I must deliver the box to Nasim by dawn.”
“And I’m to stay here?”
He nodded. “Nasim is no fool. He knows I’ll come back for you.”
“Tarik will kill you if you try to steal the box.”
“And Nasim will kill both of us if I don’t.”
“Then we must escape and get away from both of them.”