the bitch to taunt his sergeant into killing her before he had what he wanted. Blunder after blunder. That fool had paid, but it had not given Nebrov the Jedalar.
“The farmer who lives next door to their cottage said this design was done years ago by a child of four. She brought it to them to show the farmer’s daughter. The girl could be much more skilled now.”
“Could she be hiding with this farmer?”
Costain shook his head. “She’s not with them. He’s too frightened to lie.”
“Then she could be anywhere in Montavia. Do we know what she looks like?”
Costain nodded.
“Then find her.”
“It will not be easy.”
“Will she desert the boy?”
“The farmer says no.”
“Try the stews first. It’s the easiest way for a girl to keep from starving. A whore caring for a young brother should be fairly easy to find.”
“I can no longer move freely about Montavia. King Josef is beginning to reassert his power in the west.”
While Nebrov was forced to stay on his lands for fear Josef would send his army after him. The anger began to rise again, and he forced it down. It was lack of control and overconfidence that had caused him to be here licking his wounds when he should be on the throne of Montavia. He must never make that mistake again.
“Then go slowly, but find her. Even if the girl doesn’t have the skill for the work, if she knows the secret of the Jedalar, it may be enough. I’ll find another craftsman to give me what I need.”
Costain hesitated. “It seems a great effort for-”
“Do it,” Nebrov said softly. He gestured to the panel of daffodils on the table. “And don’t bring me any more of this rubbish. I want the girl herself.”
Costain shrugged. “As you wish, Your Grace.” He turned and left the room.
As he wished? Nothing was going as he wished.
Very well, then that circumstance must be corrected. First, he must rebuild his army to make sure he was safe from that fool, Josef, and then he must set out in another direction. Josef would never be caught by surprise again, so he must discard Montavia from his plans.
Kazan? No, it was even stronger than Montavia.
He must have help if he was to gain dominance over either country.
Napoleon. He had been considering an alliance for some time, but he knew the emperor would never give Nebrov either Kazan or Montavia unless he was given something of equal value in return.
The Jedalar.
She moved her knight. “Why were you in Kazan?”
Jordan looked up and smiled. “Because I wanted to be there.”
“You said that about Montavia.”
“Forgive me for being repetitive. Truth has a habit of lacking originality. Gregor would tell you lies require much more creativity.”
“What is it like?”
“Kazan?”
“That’s what we were talking about,” she said impatiently.
“As I recall, we weren’t talking. You were asking questions.” He moved his queen. “Why are you suddenly so interested in Kazan?”
“Everyone in Montavia is curious about Kazan.” She studied the board. She might be in trouble. “Because no one knows anything about it.”
“Which suits the denizens of Kazan extremely well. They prefer to shut the world out and live in isolation.”
“I can’t believe that’s true. Not if they resemble Gregor.”
“But no one resembles Gregor. He’s unique.”
And so was the man facing her across the board, she thought. For the past two weeks she had studied him and found him to be as complicated as the pattern in the Window to Heaven. One moment he was guarded and faintly menacing and the next completely charming and witty, ignoring her distrust as airily as if it didn’t exist. The quicksilver changes in his nature were as fascinating as they were unsettling. She had lived a secluded life in Samda and her acquaintance was not large, but she did not believe another Jordan Draken could be found on the face of the earth.
“You’re truly fond of Gregor, aren’t you?”
“Of course. I love him,” he said simply. “You should know by now that he won’t tolerate anything less. God knows, I tried to keep him at a distance, but he wouldn’t accept it.”
“Why would you want to keep him at a distance?”
“Because you and I are a great deal alike.” He looked up and met her gaze. “Neither of us wants to give too much for fear it will be taken away from us.”
“I’m not like you.” At least she had not been like that before she had lost everything she loved, she thought with sudden pain. She had been as open and free as Alex before that horrible night.
“Are you going to make a move, or do you intend to sit there until we get to Southwick?”
His expression was impassive, but she had the uncanny feeling he had somehow sensed that agonizing memory and was guiding her away from it. “Don’t rush me.” Her glance returned to the board. Yes, she was definitely in trouble. “Where is Southwick? I thought we were going to London.”
“I said England. It does comprise more than one city, you know. Southwick is the port nearest Cambaron, only a half day’s ride.”
“Ride?” she asked cautiously. She had no desire for another experience as intimate as the ride to Domajo.
From the look in his eyes, she knew he had again interpreted her qualms with exasperating accuracy. If the purpose of these hours together was to enable them to better read each other, then they had benefited Jordan more than her. At times she felt as if he could sense her every thought.
He said, “We’ll get two very gentle horses for you and Alex and take the journey slowly.”
“Very slowly,” she said with emphasis.
“You should know by now I can be patient.” His eyes twinkled. “For instance, I’ve been sitting here waiting for you to wriggle out of the box I’ve put you in for the past ten minutes.”
“I’m not necessarily in a box.” She looked down at the board. “And if I am, there’s usually a way out.”
“Then find it.”
That’s what she was trying to do, but she feared it was futile. “Gregor says Kazan’s monarch is called a ravin.”
“That’s true.” He leaned back in his chair. “Why are you more interested in Kazan than your future home? You haven’t asked one question in the last two weeks about Cambaron.”
“I’ll find out about it soon enough.”
“And Kazan is far, far away, while Cambaron is on the horizon and a bit intimidating.”
It was true, but she didn’t know she had been so transparent. She tried to shrug carelessly. “I’m sure I will become accustomed to it.”
“I’m sure you will too,” he said quietly. “I told you when you came with me that I would protect you and Alex. Do you think I’m going to throw you into the dungeon?”
“Does it have a dungeon?”
His lips quirked. “A very small one and hardly ever used.”
“A dungeon… That means it’s a castle, doesn’t it?”
“That appears to be what it means.”
“I’ve never been in a castle. There was one on the outskirts of Samda, but I’ve…” She said haltingly, “I’ve never known anything but our cottage.”
“A castle is merely a cottage with more rooms.”
“That’s ridiculous. You don’t have to comfort me with falsehoods.” She moved her queen. “Just because I’m not familiar with your grand castle is no reason to think that-”
“Checkmate.”
She had made a mistake, and he had pounced. She frowned. “You distracted me.”
