The Treasure

coupling with her on the hillside.”

Terror iced through him. No bluff.

“Ah, you’re upset,” Balkir said. “It is natural. She is of some importance to you.”

It had been a mistake to let Balkir see that first response. It gave him a weapon. “She’s only a woman. I forgot her the moment I left her body. Why would you think anything else?”

“I don’t. As you say, a woman’s body is nothing, a toy.”

“Then release her.”

“But this woman is of importance to your friend Lord Ware. He will be able to barter her to gain lands and found alliances through marriage.” He tilted his head as if to consider. “Though her worth is considerably diminished since you’ve seen that she’s no longer a pure damsel. Still, she is comely, and that may help.”

Balkir was enjoying this, Kadar realized. The weasel thought he had the upper hand. “She’s of value to Ware. Not to me. Release her.”

“I think she is of value to you. I believe you would not want to face your friend with her blood on your hands.” He paused. “So you will come with me to the Dark Star and we will set sail at once.”

“You’ve done this for no reason.” His fists clenched at his sides. “Dammit, I was going to come with you anyway.”

“Then you’ll not mind coming now.” He moved toward the gangplank. “Before my men get impatient. They’ve had no women since we left Hafir, and fair-skinned women have only one purpose in their eyes. I’m sure Murad will tell them how willingly she took you between her thighs tonight.”

Kadar carefully controlled his rage. The time would come to kill Balkir, but this was not that time. “If I go, will you release her?”

“We will see.” Balkir’s smile was slyly triumphant. “I must think upon it. Come now. We must hurry.”

Selene’s eyes were closed, and a thin stream of blood trickled slowly from the wound on her temple.

“You bastard, you hurt her.” Kadar looked away from Selene lying on the bunk to cast a lethal glance at Murad. “How bad is it?”

“I think she’ll wake soon.” Murad instinctively moved closer to Balkir for protection. “It was necessary to be quick. We were close to the castle gates.”

“She’d better wake very soon, or the wound I put in your temple will pierce that ox of a brain.” Kadar sat down on the bunk. “Bring me cold water and a soft clean cloth.”

“I need Murad to help me put to sea,” Balkir said. “He’ll return as soon as he’s no longer required for more- important duties.”

“Water and cloth,” Kadar repeated. “Now.”

Balkir hesitated and then shrugged. “As you wish. A few more minutes will do no harm.”

“Very wise.” Kadar glanced at him. “I suppose that means you have no intention of releasing her?”

“I believe you knew that was a possibility. It seems the woman has more value than I thought for you. I’m sure Nas-Sinan would approve me giving him a weapon to guide you in the path he chooses.”

Yes, Kadar had known there was every chance the whoreson would make full use of Selene. That realization didn’t cool the rage searing through him. “This is between Sinan and me. She has nothing to do with it.”

“As I said, a weapon.” He turned to leave. “We put to sea at midnight. I must have Murad by that time. He may fetch and carry for you until then.”

Murad cast Kadar a quick glance before he scurried after his captain.

Kadar’s attention had returned to Selene, and he was barely aware they had gone. He gently stroked back the hair from Selene’s forehead. God in heaven, she was pale. Why didn’t she wake?

Selene slowly opened her eyes to see Kadar’s face inches from her own.

Joy flooded through her.

Kadar.

“Thank God. You took your time about it.” Kadar’s voice was unsteady. “How do you feel?”

Pain. Joy. Bewilderment. Too many feelings to give an answer.

“Do you feel sick in your stomach?” He dipped a cloth into a bowl of water and carefully dabbed at her temple. “Do you see me clearly?”

“No. Yes.” She frowned in confusion. Why was he asking these questions? She must be ill. She didn’t remember-

Then she did remember. Kadar. The wrenching sorrow and the anger. The flight up the hill. Pain. Darkness.

“You… struck me?”

“Lord, no.” His lips twisted. “I haven’t reached those depths of depravity yet. Though I can see why you might think so.”

“Who…” She glanced around her. A ship’s cabin, but not the Last Hope. She became aware of a familiar rocking movement. Her gaze flew back to Kadar. “Are we at sea?”

“Not yet.”

“What ship is this?”

“The Dark Star.”

Her eyes widened. She whispered, “The Old Man of the Mountain. Sinan…”

He nodded. “He sent Balkir for me. I have no choice.” He paused. “And neither do you now.”

“There’s always choice.” She tried to sit up, and dizziness hit her like a hammer.

He pushed her back down. “You shouldn’t move.”

She wasn’t sure she could. “You can’t go to Sinan.”

“I gave my word.”

“To an assassin. You know how wicked he is.”

“The vow remains. Sinan and I understand each other.”

She knew they did, and the realization had always terrified her more than Sinan himself. She had seen how that dark life drew Kadar. “I won’t have it. We’re going back to the castle.”

He shook his head. “It’s too late. I’m going to Maysef and so are you. Balkir’s decided you’ll make a fine hostage.” His hand closed on hers. “Don’t be afraid. I promise, no harm will come to you.”

Hostage. She was going back to Sinan’s chill-ridden fortress in the mountains.

“Don’t look like that. I didn’t want this.” Kadar’s voice vibrated with intensity. “To have you involved is the last thing I intended.”

“No,” she said dully. “You just wanted to go away and close me out.” She shut her eyes. Her head was pounding, her mind whirling. “I have to think.”

“Just rest.”

Her eyes flew open and she glared at him. “And let you make decisions for me? I will not. Your stupidity has gotten us into this quandary. No one asked you to give Sinan that promise. We would have found a means to free ourselves. Now we have to find a way to keep Thea and Ware safe at Montdhu.”

“I told Ware that the Dark Star was here for me.”

“But you didn’t tell me.” She tried to smother the bitterness of the thought. There were other things to consider right now. “How soon before we sail?”

“Midnight. Perhaps a little less than an hour.”

“And where are we moored?”

“Dalkeith.”

“Our man, Robert, is at Dalkeith.”

“And Haroun.”

“He knew too? I wondered why Haroun wasn’t at the castle for the last few days.” She carefully raised herself on one elbow. “I need pen and parchment. I must send a note to Ware.”

“Saying?”

“What do you think? That I go willingly to Maysef and they’re not to follow. They’ll believe me. Thea knows I would have followed you anywhere.”

“Would have?”

She ignored his question. “You’re not the only one at fault in this situation. I should never have been idiot enough to leave the castle and come to you tonight. I’ll not have anyone else suffer for it. What are you waiting for?