LII
He woke to utter stillness. The lamps around the bed burned without the slightest tremor and the drapes hung motionless. Wincing with the effort imposed by stealth, he extricated his arm from under Caitlin’s neck. She moaned and nuzzled her forearm. He dressed and stood looking down at her. He extended a hand towards her face, drew it back without touching. She sighed and slid an arm into the space he’d left. Was that sleep?
He nipped out the lamps by the bed, parted the curtain and crossed to her dressing table. Reaching into his tunic, he removed one of the bags of silver and placed it next to her shrine of powders and scents. He heard her turn over and he held his breath, wondering what he’d do if she called out. She gave a purring snore and he relaxed his lungs. He took a last look, then he left, stealing down the empty corridor and out into the hushed night. He stood for a moment, his face tilted to the firmament.
The Seljuks had all but cleared the site. A column of riders trotted away in a silent line to the east. Teams of menials were still working on the Emir’s pavilion, pulling down the antechambers. This time tomorrow it would stand proud in the centre of Konya.
The throne room was the last piece of the web still standing. Vallon asked one of the guards if he could speak to Suleyman and after a while Chinua appeared to escort him inside. Only half a dozen officers and advisors remained with the Emir. He waved them away when he saw Vallon.
‘You’ve changed your mind. Good.’
‘I’ve just come from Caitlin.’
Suleyman took his elbow and walked him out of earshot of his men. ‘From her bed.’ It wasn’t a question.
‘Yes.’
Suleyman’s face tightened in a snarl. ‘You interrupt me fresh from your rut. I can smell her on you. I can smell you both. If you came here to rub my nose in it-’
‘I want Caitlin more than anything, but I know that love isn’t enough. I can’t provide for her in the way that you can, the way I know she wants. I’ve told her what advantages will fall her way if she stays and set them against my own poor prospects. I came here to confirm that I’ll keep my side of the bargain and to implore you to honour yours. I’ll be gone before she wakes, leaving her to reach a decision. I intend to return to hear what she’s decided the day after tomorrow. If she’s chosen you, so be it. If she wants to come with me, will you allow her to leave?’
Suleyman cast about as if he’d been accosted by a madman. ‘If you desire her, why don’t you just take her?’
‘I need to be sure it’s what she wants.’
‘If I didn’t know that you’d travelled through the wilderness of the world, I’d call you a coward. Serve in my army and within two years you’ll have acquired enough wealth to keep four wives in luxury.’ Suleyman examined Vallon’s face. ‘I can’t make up my mind whether you’re a trickster or a fool.’ He flicked a hand against Vallon’s chest. ‘I’m too busy to waste any more time on the matter.’ He made a quick gesture to his guards. ‘If the woman wants to go, she can go. Now leave before you exhaust my patience.’
Hands fell on Vallon’s shoulders and propelled him out of the pavilion. Faruq’s voice followed him into the night. ‘Don’t impose on his Excellency again if you have any regard for your life.’
Vallon wandered through the camp in a daze of elation and apprehension. Suleyman’s elite troops sat in firelit circles, some holding the reins of their saddled horses. A few raised a hand as he passed. He paused outside his quarters. The sky to the east held the first grey light of day. He went in and felt his way to his bed.
‘No need to tread softly,’ Hero said. ‘I was too anxious to sleep.’
‘Don’t be. It’s nearly dawn. We’ll be off soon.’
Hero rose, placed kindling on the brazier and blew life into it. Vallon joined him close to the glow, firelight and shadows playing across their faces.
Hero broke the silence. ‘I’ve been thinking. If we don’t recover the gospel today, we won’t get another chance. Perhaps we could ask Wayland to collect it and bring it to us in Konya.’
‘I won’t do anything that might put him in harm’s way. He’s Suleyman’s man now.’
‘Did you spend the night with Caitlin?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you tell her about the gospel? Is she coming with us?’
‘No. I told her that we were looking for something and that I’d come back tomorrow if we found it.’
‘Won’t Suleyman think it strange — you travelling to the tower and then returning?’
‘He won’t be here. He’ll have left on campaign.’
Wayland and Syth arrived with bread, cheese and olives as the first light of dawn showed through the weave. Watching Syth bustle about, Vallon remembered the night he’d ordered Wayland to put her ashore. If the falconer had obeyed, how would things have turned out? At any stage, their course might have taken a different turn.
‘Sir?’
Syth bent towards him, holding out food, bobbing her head in her inimitable way. He reached up and caressed her cheek. ‘Ah, Syth, I’ll miss you.’ He smiled at Wayland. ‘Our last meal together. It’s good of you to rise so early.’
‘We didn’t want to miss your departure.’
‘We wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.’
Syth frowned. ‘Does Caitlin know you’re leaving?’
‘Yes. We’ve made an arrangement. I hope to return for her in a day’s time.’
‘Why can’t you take her with you today?’
Wayland shook his head at her in warning.
A coarse-featured Seljuk entered and announced that it was time to leave. They went out, the mountains rising blue against a sky of steel and violet. A troop of Seljuks galloped past, headed by Suleyman. He reined in hard, his stallion pawing the air, and waved his mace. Then he and his followers rode off in a dust cloud of their own making.
Four unfamiliar and shabbily outfitted Seljuks had been detailed to escort them to the border. Boke, their commander, could hardly speak a word of Arabic and seemed dull-witted. Their poor turn-out was encouraging, suggesting that Suleyman had lost interest in his guests.
Vallon collected his horse and walked it towards Wayland and Syth. ‘For now this is where we take our leave.’ He clasped Syth close.
Her wide eyes gazed up at him. ‘You will return for Caitlin, won’t you? She loves you. I know she does.’
‘And I love her.’
Vallon kissed her and separated himself with delicacy. He laid a hand on Wayland’s shoulder. ‘Who would have thought when we set out that you’d end up in the service of an Emir?’
‘I’d rather circumstances meant I remained in your service.’
‘You’ll be a father by next summer. You have no place with a vagrant soldier.’
‘All the same, it saddens me to think that we won’t meet again.’
‘We will.’
‘I don’t mean when you come back for Caitlin.’
‘Nor do I.’
‘Where then? When?’
Vallon swung up into the saddle. ‘Here or in the hereafter.’
Seams of sunlight were spreading across the plateau. Vallon consulted the weather-wise ring as he did before each day’s journeying. As part of the same routine, he twisted it on his finger. He frowned. ‘Here’s sorcery,’ he said, holding out the ring between thumb and forefinger. ‘It’s consented to loosen its grip now that our journey’s over.’
Hero laughed. ‘We still have a few days’ ride ahead of us. What does it say about our prospects?’
