me.”
“How did you know about the Zavkov?”
“It was a long, involved procedure. I have informants in Kazan, but I heard only rumors there about the Jedalar and a room in the tunnel filled with gold and jeweled objects, so I journeyed to Moscow. I found one of Czar Paul’s advisers who had dealt with the supervisors who built the tunnel.” He grimaced. “It was not an easy task. Like your grandparents, he had been targeted to die because he knew too much. He paid off his executioner and fled to the country to hide. Even after all this time he was most reluctant to speak, but I persuaded him before his unfortunate demise.” He paused. “He told me the Jedalar was designed to be only half the answer.”
Gregor glanced thoughtfully at Marianna. “Indeed.”
“So you can see that, even if this panel is the right one, it is not enough. I must have someone who can put the puzzle together.” He smiled at Marianna. “And it is only reasonable that the person who created the Jedalar would know how to accomplish that feat.”
She moistened her lips. “And what if I can’t do that?”
“It would be unfortunate… for you.”
“It’s not wise to issue threats in an enemy’s camp,” Gregor observed.
“Not unless one feels safe to do so. I feel infinitely safe.” He looked at Marianna. “So if this is not the correct panel, you’d best give it to me at once.”
“Why do you feel safe?” Gregor asked. “Is it because Costain’s mission was not to get the boy but to give word to your men in the hills to attack?”
Wariness appeared in Nebrov’s expression. “Do you accuse me of breaking a truce?”
Gregor laughed. “But of course. We expected nothing else. That was why we took precautions.”
“Your precautions will do you little good,” Nebrov said contemptuously. “My forces outnumber you. It’s true I hoped for a surprise, but it is of little account. If you surrender now, I may permit you to live.”
“How kind,” Gregor said. “But let us see what report Costain brings back from the hills before we take advantage of such benevolence.” He strode to the table and reached for a bottle of wine. “All this talk has given me a tremendous thirst. Marianna?”
She shook her head.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t offer you wine, Your Grace. It’s not our custom to pamper an enemy within our gates.” He beamed. “We prefer to slaughter them.”
“You will not have time for your glass of wine. It is only a few miles to the hills, and they should be here soon. They were only waiting for word.”
Gregor poured wine into a wooden goblet. “Then I will take it outside and wait for my tragic end.” He gestured to Marianna. “Would you care to join me? I’ve always dreaded the thought of dying alone.”
“You are mocking me,” Nebrov snarled. “You will see that-”
An outcry rose from outside the tent.
Gregor tensed, the smile faded from his face.
Nebrov nodded. “You see?” he asked softly. “It has started.”
“Then I must confront it. Perhaps you should stay in the tent, Marianna. I have decided a solitary death is more meaningful.”
She was already at his side. “You invited me to join you. I won’t stay here with this mongrel.”
“Very well.” He cast a glance over his shoulder at Nebrov’s livid face. “Perhaps you’d better accompany us to protect her. She has value for you, and you wouldn’t want her to be killed by accident. You’ve already made too many blunders.” He made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Smashing windows, allowing your victims to die before revealing their secrets. It would be amusing, if it was not so sad.”
Nebrov’s face flushed as he strode toward the entrance. “I shall take great pleasure in making sure it takes you a long time to die. You have great strength. I might even manage to stretch out your agony for an entire month.” Triumphantly, he stared at the edge of the camp where several soldiers blocked the view. “You will learn the price of-” He broke off in mid-sentence and then muttered a low curse.
Marianna stiffened in shock as her gaze followed Nebrov’s. The crowd had parted to permit a single rider to pass through, a rider leading a horse behind him. She heard the sigh of relief that issued from Gregor beside her.
“Niko.” He stepped forward as the horseman came near. “I trust everything went well?”
Niko nodded. “Four escaped. Eight prisoners. We have not counted the dead.”
“Excellent. You have done-” His glance fell on the saddle of the horse Niko was leading. He stiffened. “What is this?”
For the first time Marianna realized the horse was carrying a macabre burden. A soldier in Nebrov’s livery was slung across the saddle.
Niko grinned. “A present.”
Gregor strode forward, thrust his hand into the bloodstained hair, and lifted the dead man’s head. He swore beneath his breath. “Costain.”
Niko’s grin widened. “He squealed like a pig when I stuck him.”
Marianna swallowed to ease the sudden queasiness in her stomach.
“You cheated me, Niko,” Gregor said grimly. “I did not ask for this present.”
“I did not say it was a present for you,” Niko said. “It is a gift for the ravin. She offered a pouch of gold to the man in the troop who brought her Costain dead.” He frowned. “But I do not think he will be a sweet-smelling gift by the time we rendezvous with the ravin. We had better leave him here. Will you bear witness the kill was made?”
“Oh yes,” Gregor said grimly. “I promise I will discuss this kill in great detail with the ravin.”
Nebrov was staring in disbelief at Costain’s body. “The fool,” he said harshly. “By God, they’re all inept fools.”
“I suggest you leave,” Gregor said. “I am in extreme bad temper at the moment. I might forget that you still hold the boy and give the ravin another gift.”
Nebrov looked down at the panel he was still holding. “This is not the Jedalar, is it?”
“No,” Marianna said. “It’s not the Jedalar.”
“I’m surprised you admit it.”
“Because I want you to know that you leave here with nothing of value. You will still have to negotiate with us for Alex.”
“You took a great chance.”
“There was a possibility you might bring Alex. I had to make the attempt.”
“You were willing to risk the child for Draken.” His lips curled. “He has you so besotted, you will do anything for him. I believe you actually love the bastard.”
She didn’t answer.
“Is it true?”
“Why should you want to know how I feel? It is nothing to do with this.”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “It is everything to do with this. Why are you so reluctant to make the admission?”
He was searching for the motive that had driven her to take such a chance. If she did not furnish him with one he would believe, he would begin to explore other directions. He must not do that; he must be convinced. Jordan must have as much time as possible.
She met his stare directly and said the words she had not wanted to say, the words that were still too new and barbed with hurt. “I love him.”
He studied her for a moment. “Fool. I hope your passion for him is worth the boy’s life.”
Gregor shook his head. “Kill the goose that could bring you the Jedalar? As long as the boy lives, you have a chance of forcing Marianna to do what you wish.”
“There are other ways to force compliance.” He sneered. “If my man hadn’t been careless, her mother would have talked.”
“She would never have told you anything,” Marianna said. “Nor would I. Kill Alex, and you will never have the Jedalar.”
Uncertainty flickered briefly in his face. “We will see. I will consider your words. I may decide to bargain again
