“It would not be to my advantage for you to go now.”
Kadar stiffened at the silken threat in the other man’s tone. He gazed directly into his eyes. “I won’t leave her there. You’ll have to kill me to keep me from going.”
“No, I wouldn’t. There are many ways to-” Tarik stopped and the menace left his expression. He said wearily, “But it appears I lack the will to use them.” He waved his hand. “Go on. Bring her back. We’ll let fortune decide. Maybe I’ll be lucky. God knows, fate owes me a good turn.”
“I thought you’d come.” Balkir smiled smugly at Kadar. “Though I have no idea why you’d be so foolish. After all, she’s only a woman.”
“And a troublesome one at that,” Kadar agreed. “I don’t know why I’m bothering to retrieve her. We had a small disagreement and she decided to punish me by fleeing.”
“Then you won’t mind my holding her?”
“I wouldn’t mind, but Tarik wishes her back. Where is she?”
“In her tent.” He paused before he added, “Where she will stay until you return with the treasure.”
“I told you that you must be patient until-”
“I’m done with patience. Bring me the treasure or I’ll kill the woman.”
“Nasim would not approve of such impetuous behavior. He would punish you for-”
“On the contrary, I do approve.”
Kadar whirled to face the tent entrance.
Nasim moved forward. “Hello, Kadar. I, too, am done with patience.”
“I didn’t realize you were here.”
“I arrived only an hour ago. Just before dawn. I didn’t like the message that I received from Balkir. It stank of treason.”
“I told you I’d bring you the box. I will do so.”
“If Tarik doesn’t tempt you away from me. You’ve found him very persuasive, haven’t you?”
“I’ll bring you the box.”
He shook his head. “I no longer trust you.”
“You never did. You trust no one.”
“Certainly no one tainted by that devil Tarik.” He smiled. “So we will keep the woman until you bring the box. I will give you until dawn tomorrow. By the way, is she with child?”
“No.”
“Pity. I’ll have to remedy that when I take her back to Maysef.”
Don’t show the rage. Control. “Tarik wants her to return to the castle. It will be easier for me to steal the box if we keep him content.”
“Content? Is he coupling with her too?”
“No, but while she’s at the castle he feels he has a hold on me.”
“He does,” Nasim said. “So she will stay here.”
He would not be swayed, Kadar realized with frustration. He’d had a small chance to persuade Balkir to release Selene, but never Nasim. “May I see her?”
“Of course. You may even couple with her.” Nasim smiled. “As a gesture of good faith. I wish to keep you content as well.”
Kadar turned to leave.
“Has Tarik told you what’s in the box?” Nasim asked.
He glanced at him over his shoulder. “No.”
“Not even a hint?”
It would be unwise to lie. Nasim might have a man in Tarik’s castle. “He showed me the manuscript by de Troyes.”
“Ah, and what did you make of it?”
“A foolish troubadour’s fable. Surely you cannot believe it.”
“There’s some truth in most fables.” His gaze bored into Kadar’s. “And you’re too clever not to sift through the chaff to the gold beneath.”
“You do believe it.”
“Enough to risk a great deal to get it. After I have it, I’ll put it to the test and know soon enough.”
“Put it to the test?”
Nasim waved his hand. “Go to the woman. I want you back with Tarik by nightfall and the treasure in my hands by tomorrow morning. Being this close is making me eager to have an end to this.”
Kadar could see that for himself. Nasim’s black eyes were glittering, and there was a faint flush on his cheeks. He had never seen Nasim in such a fever of excitement. It did not bode well.
But often signs that appeared adverse could be turned to advantage if you could only find the means. Though, God knows, he could see no way out of this coil now.
“What do we do?” Selene demanded the moment Kadar entered her tent. “I saw Nasim arrive. We’re in great danger, aren’t we?”
“Yes, I believe we are. It appears he’s grown weary of waiting.”
“Can you do nothing with him?”
“Not this time.”
And she had brought him here into Nasim’s hands, she thought in agony. She squared her shoulders. “Well, say something.”
“What?”
“I know it’s my fault. I wanted you away from Tarik. I thought you’d be safer here. I knew Balkir would be no real danger to you.”
“You didn’t know Nasim would be coming.”
“But it’s still my fault.”
“Yes, it is.” He smiled. “When Tarik first told me you’d fled, I wanted to strangle you.”
But he wasn’t angry now. He was worried and that made her feel worse. “You were being foolish. You wouldn’t listen to me.”
“I’ll listen now if you can tell me how we’ll get out of this. I’m to return to the castle by nightfall, and I must deliver the box to Nasim by dawn.”
“And I’m to stay here?”
He nodded. “Nasim is no fool. He knows I’ll come back for you.”
“Tarik will kill you if you try to steal the box.”
“And Nasim will kill both of us if I don’t.”
“Then we must escape and get away from both of them.”
“So simple.” He shook his head. “If we escape, we return to Tarik.”
“No!”
“Better to ally ourselves with Tarik than be hunted over the countryside by both him and Nasim.”
“But Tarik will-”
“Kill me? No, I’ve been doing some thinking. I don’t believe that’s what he has in mind.”
“I told you what he said.”
“He gave you a warning he knew you’d repeat to me. When I left the castle, he said that fortune would decide.”
“Decide what?”
“I’m not sure. I’m beginning to have an idea, but I intend to make certain when we return.”
“I can’t persuade you not to go back to him?”
“It’s the wisest way.”
“It’s not wise. It’s the way of your curiosity.”
He shook his head. “I might risk my own neck but never yours, Selene.”
She knew that, but it didn’t make his choice easier to accept. “Very well, we’ll go back.” She scowled. “But I don’t promise to stay there.”
He smiled. “You’ll have a harder time going over the wall next time. I’m sure Tarik gave that guard you struck on the head a severe punishment.”
