exchanged money with another.
Gregor turned to Jordan and said, “I hope you are capable of subduing our dove yourself. I am not certain you will receive help from Niko or any of the others.”
Jordan knew what he meant. Over these weeks on the trail the troop had watched and gradually become caught up in Marianna’s struggle for survival. With every small victory she had won more of their respect.
The
“And what about you?” Jordan asked Gregor.
“Kazan must be safe. I will do what must be done,” Gregor said. “Will you?”
“Yes.”
“You are sure? We are only two days’ journey from Moscow. The time to act is coming.”
And by God he would welcome it. His nerves were stretched to the breaking point with standing by and watching Marianna struggle against odds she was not prepared to meet. The conflict between them would resume, but at least this blasted journey would be over. “Don’t worry. When we reach Moscow, I’ll be ready to do what’s necessary.”
She did not go to Moscow. The next day she turned south and then rode west.
Niko came riding back to the troop just after noon. “She has stopped.”
“She’s made camp?”
Niko shook his head. “I think she has reached her destination.”
Jordan’s hands tightened on the reins. “Where?”
“Three miles from here. There is a village and, on the hill, a grand palace. She tied her horse outside the palace and went inside.”
“Did anyone come out to greet her?”
Niko shook his head. “The palace is deserted. It looks as if no one has been there for years.”
“Then I believe we can assume she has reached her destination.” Gregor glanced at Jordan. “Do we go after her at once?”
Jordan nudged his horse forward. “You’re damned right we do.”
She was here!
Relief poured through Marianna as she set down the cloth-wrapped Jedalar and leaned it against a wall of the foyer. Heaven knows, there had been times when she had thought she would not make it.
The palace was everything her grandmother had told her it would be.
She looked up at the curving green-and-white marble grand staircase to the long windows of the landing. A huge crystal chandelier wept glittering tears above her.
Emptiness.
Coldness.
It was as if the inhabitants of the palace had just walked out. The door had been unlocked, and no protective cloths covered the rich tables and chairs. Dust was everywhere.
She stiffened. An unlocked door?
Nebrov?
Fear rushed through her until she remembered that the doors at Cambaron had never been locked. No one dared to steal from the rich and powerful. If Nebrov had beaten her here, she would be facing him now.
She closed the door, and the sound echoed hollowly off the high ceilings. Nebrov was not here now, but who could say how much time she had? If she did not set to work at once, she would have to wait until tomorrow. The insertion must be done while the sun was still high.
Her brow wrinkled as she strove to recall the detailed instructions Mama had given her. The hall to the left should lead to the chapel. She picked up the Jedalar and moved quickly down the hall.
Jordan reined in his horse at the bottom of the hill. The bold rays of the midafternoon sun lit the palace, which shone with a rainbow of colors. It was truly an ice castle; snow and ice covered half of the gray marble structure that appeared more Greek than Russian with its classic pillars and graceful, low-roofed wings. Long icicles hung from eaves. Ice formed a mirrorlike surface on the stones of the courtyard and on the four steps leading to the front entrance. Even the bank of stained-glass windows that stretched across the front of the palace were frosted, each one glowing like an individual flame captured in crystal.
Marianna’s horse was tied to an ornamental post in the courtyard.
“The quarry is in sight,” Gregor said. “Do we storm the palace?”
“No, find quarters for the men in the village. I’ll go in alone.”
“Ah, what bravery, what self-sacrifice.”
Jordan ignored the flippancy. “And question the villagers about any newcomers who have arrived here. We don’t want Nebrov surprising us.”
“I will do better than that,” Gregor said. “I’ll send Niko to double back and watch for our demon friend.”
Niko groaned in mock despair.
Gregor ignored him, his gaze going from the palace to the fluted towers of Moscow. “This palace is very close to the city. It could be one of the exits for the tunnel.”
“I’ll place a sizable wager it is,” Jordan said.
Gregor turned to Niko. “Well, come along, my friend, let us get these men under a roof for the night. I am certain Jordan will summon us if we are needed.”
Niko grimaced. “You care nothing about getting me under a roof for the night.”
“I promise tomorrow night you will have both a warm fire and a dry roof.” He lifted his hand to Jordan. “I will come to you tomorrow morning to see if you have triumphed or merely survived.”
Jordan watched them ride down the hill toward the village and then again looked up at the palace.
She was there within those walls.
In a moment he would see her, talk to her.
He started up the road toward the palace.
She struck him on the back of the neck as he entered the front door!
Marianna was standing behind the door and would have hit his head if he had not seen the shadow of the club on the floor and whirled to face her. Even the glancing blow made him grunt with pain.
When she again tried to bring down the club, he grabbed it and tore it from her grasp. Her weapon turned out to be a tree branch. “Dammit, are you trying to kill me?”
She whirled and tried to run away.
He caught her by the hair, jerking her to a halt.
She did not cry out from the pain as another woman would have done. Instead, she turned her head and sank her teeth into his arm.
His grasp on her hair loosened, and she broke free. She dashed across the foyer toward the staircase.
He caught her on the sixth step and tumbled her to her knees. The next moment she was on her back, and he was astraddle her, pinning her arms above her head.
“Let me go!”
“The devil I will.”
“Fool,” she muttered. “I was a fool. I led you here. I should have realized…” She started to struggle again. “But you can’t have it!”
“Stop fighting. You’ll hurt yourself.”
She glared up at him. “Or you!”
“Not me,” he said thickly. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve begun to enjoy this.”
She froze as she realized the truth of his words. In her position she could scarcely miss the hard arousal pressed against her body. “You won’t rape me,” she whispered. “You wouldn’t do that.”
At the moment he wasn’t as certain as she seemed to be. The sudden physical struggle had released all the anger and frustration that had built over the months. He was having trouble thinking, and the mindless hunger was readying him. His hips moved in the most sensual of caresses, rubbing against her. “How can you be sure?”
A shiver ran through her. Her teeth sank into her lower lip. “I know you.”
