“So simple.” He shook his head. “If we escape, we return to Tarik.”
“No!”
“Better to ally ourselves with Tarik than be hunted over the countryside by both him and Nasim.”
“But Tarik will—”
“Kill me? No, I’ve been doing some thinking. I don’t believe that’s what he has in mind.”
“I told you what he said.”
“He gave you a warning he knew you’d repeat to me. When I left the castle, he said that fortune would decide.”
“Decide what?”
“I’m not sure. I’m beginning to have an idea, but I intend to make certain when we return.”
“I can’t persuade you not to go back to him?”
“It’s the wisest way.”
“It’s not wise. It’s the way of your curiosity.”
He shook his head. “I might risk my own neck but never yours, Selene.”
She knew that, but it didn’t make his choice easier to accept. “Very well, we’ll go back.” She scowled. “But I don’t promise to stay there.”
He smiled. “You’ll have a harder time going over the wall next time. I’m sure Tarik gave that guard you struck on the head a severe punishment.”
“I hope not. He seemed decent enough.” She changed the subject. “How are we to escape? The tent is guarded.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“I’ve already thought of a way.” She looked away from him. “You should leave me and go back to the castle. Then later tonight I’ll escape by myself. You can wait for me by the north gate and let me in.”
He shook his head.
“It’s the best plan. You know it is. If you try to take me, we may both be killed.”
“We go together.”
“Don’t be stubborn. Do you think I need to rely on you for help? I got myself into this predicament, it’s up to me to get myself out.”
“Together.” He smiled. “Always together. Haven’t you learned that yet?”
She felt the tears sting her eyes. “I could not bear it if you were hurt for my sake,” she whispered.
“You could bear it. You could bear anything.”
She smiled shakily. “Of course I could. And I don’t know why I should be concerned about you anyway. Everything that’s happened is all your fault.”
“And I thought you were blaming yourself. I’m glad you’ve recovered your senses.”
“It’s my fault we’re in danger right now, but we’d still be safely at Montdhu if you—”
“Hush.” He was chuckling as he shook his head. “Very well, everything is my fault. I admit it.”
“Well, almost everything.” She moved toward the tent entrance and gazed out at the walls of the fortress. “And if you can think of no other plan, then we will go with mine. Do you understand?”
“I understand I’m growing weary of ultimatums. I like yours no more than I did Nasim’s.”
Despair surged through her. “Please,” she whispered.
“Come here.”
She glanced over her shoulder. He had dropped down on the pallet and was holding his hand out to her. “Why?”
“Because I’m worried and a little discouraged and I need comfort. Will you give it to me?”
She could feel her resistance melting. What other man would admit weakness and need to a woman? She moved slowly toward him. “You wouldn’t have to worry if you’d leave and then let me—”
“Shh.” He pulled her down on the pallet. “Don’t talk. Just let me hold you.”
“We should be making plans.”
“We have several hours, and my mind doesn’t seem to be working properly at the moment.”
She drew him protectively closer. “It will be all right. I’ll think of something.”
“Will you?” He kissed her temple. “That would be a great relief to me.”
She had not lain with him since the last night at Maysef, and there was a warm sweetness to the moment. Surely it would do no harm to just lie here and comfort him.
And take comfort herself.
The sun rays streaming into the tent were lengthening, Kadar noticed. They had little time left. He should wake Selene.
She had dozed off over an hour ago, but he had been lying here thinking, weighing his alternatives. Not that there were many choices open to them. He could see only one that had even a possibility of success.
“It’s late.” Selene’s eyes were open, her expression panicked.
“It’s all right. There’s no hurry.” He sat up. “I’ve decided your plan is best after all.”
She sat up straight. “You have?”
“Why are you so surprised? You assured me that it was our best choice.”
“But you aren’t always sensible.”
“I can accept the premise but not all the details. I’ll go back to the castle at nightfall. Near midnight, when the camp is asleep, I’ll return for you.”
The mere idea made her panic. “No, you’ll get yourself killed.”
“If I hadn’t learned how to infiltrate a camp, Nasim would have banished me very early in my training. Be ready.”
“Don’t come. I won’t be here. I’ll leave before you arrive.”
He smiled. “But then I’ll surely be killed, for I’ll have to blunder around the camp looking for you.” He bent down and brushed a kiss on her nose. “Be ready.”
He should have been here by now, Selene agonized.
He had said near midnight.
Had they caught him?
No, she would have heard something.
Why? It took no noise to slip a dagger between a man’s ribs.
Selene drew a deep breath. Stop it. Imagining the worst would do no good.
She flexed her hunched shoulders and scooted closer to the entrance of the tent. Through the slit in the cloth, she could see the two guards standing a few yards away. How could one man take out two guards without rousing the camp?
One of the guards lifted his head as if listening. He said something to the other guard and then strode around the right side of the tent.
What had he heard?
Then she heard it. A soft trilling sound that might have been a bird.
It was not.
She heard the sound of a falling body through the thin material of the tent.
One guard left, but it would be difficult for Kadar to surprise him now that he had taken out the other man.
She jumped up and threw open the flap. The guard whirled to face her.
“I need to see Nasim,” she said. “I have something to tell him.”
The guard shook his head. “Tomorrow.”
“Now.” She moved out of the tent and to the left, still facing him. “He will punish you if you don’t wake him.”
The guard half-turned, following her. “He is more likely to punish me if I—”
Kadar was on him. His hand covered the guard’s mouth as his blade entered his heart. The man dropped to the ground.
Kadar motioned silently and Selene flew to his side.
He pushed her ahead of him around the right side of the tent.
Selene almost tripped over the body of the first guard Kadar had lured away. Then Kadar took her hand and was pulling her through the labyrinth of tents.
A few minutes later they reached the edge of the camp. Selene drew a deep breath. Too soon to be safe, but at least they had gotten this far without being discovered. Now they had only the run to the castle and—
“I thought you’d come back for her.”
They whirled to see Balkir standing beneath a tree a few yards away. The moonlight gleamed on the blade of the sword in his hand. “I’ve been waiting for you. Nasim was wrong to trust you. He should have let me fetch his treasure. I would never betray him.”
Kadar’s hand closed on Selene’s elbow. “Run,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll follow.”
She shook her head. She would not leave him to face Balkir alone.
&nb
sp; “Stop whispering. You’ve lost. Nasim believes you to be so clever, but I’m the one who’ll give him what he wants.” Balkir stepped forward, hatred twisting his features. “And I’ll take away what you want.”
He lunged forward, the sword pointed at Selene’s breast.
Die. She was going to—
Kadar leaped in front of her, knocking her to the ground.
The sword entered his chest.
“No!”
Balkir wrenched out the sword and Kadar fell to the ground. Selene watched the blood gush from the wound. She fell to her knees beside him. “Oh, sweet Jesus, please . . .”
Kadar’s eyes were open. “Run . . .”
“No.” Tears were running down her face. “Be silent. You’re hurt . . .”
“Run.” His eyes closed and he slumped sideways.
Dead?
Agony tore through her. She cradled him in her arms, rocking back and forth.
“Get away from him,” Balkir said.
She scarcely heard him.
He took a threatening step forward. “I said, move away from that—”
“By Allah, what have you done, Balkir?” Nasim was striding toward them from the direction of the tents.
Balkir cringed. “They were trying to escape. You said we would kill the woman if he betrayed us.”
“You clumsy fool, I didn’t say to kill Kadar.”
“He stepped in front of my sword.”
Nasim knelt beside Kadar.
Selene drew Kadar closer. “Don’t you touch him,” she said fiercely.
He ignored her as he examined the wound caused by the sword thrust. “He’s not dead yet, but it’s a death wound.” He glared menacingly at Balkir. “He won’t last the night.”
“He stepped in front of my sword,” Balkir repeated.
“Leave us alone,” Selene said. “He won’t die. I won’t let him.”
“No one can save him. It’s a death wound,” Nasim said. “Tarik and I will both be cheated of him.” He suddenly went still. “Or perhaps not.” He turned to Balkir. “Prepare a stretcher and put him on it. Be gentle. I’ll not have your clumsiness kill him too quickly. We’ll send him back to Tarik.”
Balkir scurried away.
Nasim turned back to Selene. “Go with him. Tarik can heal him if he chooses. Persuade him to use his powers.” He turned and stalked after Balkir with not another glance at Kadar.
Tarik could heal him. She grasped desperately at the straw Nasim had extended. Kadar didn’t have to die. Tarik could help him.
Dear God, Kadar was so still. It seemed impossible he wasn’t dead already.
Selene’s grasp tightened around him as she rocked back and forth.
Live, Kadar.
Live until I can get you to Tarik.
TARIK MET THEM as they entered the gates.
“Great gods.” Tarik’s face twisted with pain as he looked down at Kadar lying on the stretcher in the courtyard. “What happened?”
“He saved me,” Selene said. “He’s not going to die because he saved me. Do you hear me? He’s not going to die at all.”
Tarik bent down to examine the wound. “Bring that torch closer,” he said to the soldier a few steps behind him.
The light of the torch flickered over Kadar’s pale face. Tarik gently pushed aside the linens covering the wound. He closed his eyes for an instant as he saw the gaping hole. “A death wound.”
The same words Nasim had uttered. “It’s not a death wound,”
Selene glared up at him. “Stop saying that.”
Tarik gently touched her hair. “Child, he’s dying.”
She shook off his touch. “Then do something. Or tell me what to do. Nasim said you could heal him. Do it.”
He stiffened. “Nasim said that?”
“He said you had the power to heal.”
“Damn him.”
“If you have any power, you have to heal Kadar.”
“I’m no sorcerer.” He scowled. “Nasim doesn’t care about Kadar. It’s a test, and I won’t let him maneuver me into this position.”
“Don’t tell me that.” Her eyes blazed in her white face. “Kadar isn’t a battleground for you and Nasim to test your strengths. He’s a man, a far better man than either one of you. I don’t care if you use sorcery or prayer. It doesn’t matter as long as you heal him.”
His expression became shuttered. “It does matter. More than you know.”
He wasn’t going to help, Selene realized in panic. He was going to let Kadar die. She closed her eyes as waves of pain flowed over her. “Please,” she whispered. “I’ll do anything you say for the rest of my life. Do you want a slave? I’ll be a slave. Just save him.”
“Selene . . .”
When she opened her eyes, she could barely see him through the veil of tears. “Answer me. Can you save him?”
He was silent a moment before he said, “Possibly. I have some medicinal skills.”
“Then use them.”
“He’s too ill to consent to my helping him.”
“What difference does that make? I’ll consent. I’ll be responsible.”
“Responsibility can be a terrible burden. One must think carefully about—”
“Stop talking.” She tried to steady her voice. “He’s lying here dying. He may slip away at any moment.”
He stood there looking at her. Then he turned on his heel. “Take him to his chamber and get him to bed. I’ll join you very soon.”
Hope flared within her. She scrambled to her feet but kept tight hold of Kadar’s hand as the soldiers lifted the stretcher.
“Hold on. It’s going to be all right,” she whispered. “Do you hear me, Kadar? We’ve got a chance now.”
She was kneeling by Kadar’s bed when Tarik came into the room, carrying a black leather pouch. “Where have you been? It’s been almost an hour.”
“You’re fortunate I’m here at all. I’m not convinced I’m doing the right thing in interfering.” He opened the pouch and set two small bottles on the bedside table. “Perhaps God meant Kadar to die this night.”
“No.”
“He may still die. It may be too late to save him.” He pointed at the tiny blue bottle. “Make him swallow every drop of the contents of this vial. Then wait an hour and give him the contents of the white vial. It will settle his stomach.” He drew the strings of the pouch. “As I said, he may still die. The medicine is very strong and he’s barely holding on.”
“When will I know?”
“If he’s still alive at dawn, he has a good chance.” He turned and left the chamber.
Dawn. Daybreak must be at least four hours away. Tarik didn’t expect Kadar to live for that dawning.
He would live.
She pulled the stopper on the tiny blue bottle. So small a vial to hold all her hopes. Her hand was shaking as she lifted it to Kadar’s lips.
She parted his lips and poured a tiny portion into his mouth, then stroked his throat until he swallowed. She followed the procedure three times until the bottle was empty.
She set the empty vial on the table. One more hour and she would give him the potion to soothe his stomach.
If he lived that long.
She knelt again on the floor by his bed and laid her cheek on his hand. “Help me, Kadar,” she whispered. “We’ve been together so long. I don’t think I can live if you die.”
He did not stir. He was so still he gave the appearance of death even now.
She shivered and then blocked that cruel thought. She must not think of death but of life. Tarik’s medicine would heal him.
If only Kadar could hold on until dawn.
Dawn came and passed. Noon came and passed.
Kadar lived but remained in that deathlike stupor.
Evening was drawing near when Tarik returned to the chamber.
“He still lives?” He came over to the bed and examined the wound. “No fester. It may be starting to heal.”
“He won’t wake u
p. I need more medicine to give him.”
Tarik shook his head. “It’s too strong. A deep sleep is not uncommon in these instances. He will wake when he’s ready.”
“But he will live?”
Tarik nodded. “Without question.”
Joy and relief surged through her with dizzying force. “Thank God.”
“Perhaps.” He turned to leave. “I’ll send Haroun to help you. You’ll need his assistance when Kadar wakes. I’ll return tomorrow to check his wound.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “And get some sleep. You look worse than he does.”
“I’ll sleep when he wakes.”
“That could be days.” When she didn’t reply, he shrugged and smiled faintly. “Do what you will. I suppose a few days without sleep won’t harm you.”
She forced a smile. “If it does, you can give me some of your fine medicine.”
His smile disappeared. “No, I won’t interfere again. Harm yourself and you’ll have to do your own healing.”
She looked at the empty vial on the table. “Was it a sorcerer’s brew?”
“I thought you didn’t care, if it saved Kadar.”
“I don’t. I just wanted to know.”
“It’s no sorcerer’s brew. I have no magic powers. As a young man, I worked in a house where such medicines were used on occasion.”
“But you said Nasim sent you Kadar as a test. He clearly believes you have magical powers.”
“Does he?”
“You know he does.”
“I know he questions everything and everyone. Do you believe in magic, Selene?”
“I don’t know. I’ve seen strange things.” She straightened her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. If magic will cure Kadar, it can’t be bad.”
He chuckled. “Always practical and clear-seeing. You’d use the devil himself if it suited you.”
“Why not?” She turned back to Kadar. “I’ll need a strengthening broth to feed him. Will you see to it?”
“I’m dismissed?” She could hear the amusement in his tone. “Yes, I’ll see to it, Selene.”
______
Kadar woke near dawn of the next day. One moment he was sleeping deeply and the next he was staring up at her, wide-awake.
“What’s wrong? You look terrible. Are you ill?” he whispered.