“Layla.”
She looked behind her to see Kadar coming down the hall.
He was gazing at her quizzically. “You were lost in thought. I spoke three times to you.”
Memories, not thought, and it was just as well he had jarred her from them. “Yes, what do you want?”
“Truce. Even if we cannot agree on the grail, we need to work together.”
“You have Tarik.” She added ironically, “Why do you need the help of a mere woman?”
“Because that ‘mere’ woman can cause me innumerable difficulties, if she chooses.”
“That’s quite true. You’re wise to realize that fact and wiser to acknowledge it to me.” Her gaze narrowed on his face. “But I’ve always known you were clever. I just don’t know how self-serving you are.”
“As self-serving as anyone else. But I do keep my word. The grail is safe.”
She nodded slowly. “But how safe is Selene?”
He gazed at her in surprise. “Is that important to you?”
“I’m not without feelings. I’ve grown to think of Selene as my friend.”
“You don’t have to worry about Selene. I’ve cared for her for a long time. That will never change.”
“Never?” Her lips twisted. “That may be longer than you think. Have you not been thinking of the possibility of giving Selene the potion?”
“Yes. How could I help it?”
“Even though you’re skeptical about Eshe?”
“Yes.”
“I thought as much. It’s natural to want to play safe with the lives of people we care about. You’ve been thinking that the potion didn’t hurt you and, if you wait until you know for certain that what we told you is true, Selene will be an old woman. So you’re wondering, why not give it to her now?”
“Only if she chooses.”
“She would always choose you whether it was what she wanted or not.”
“Not at the moment. Her mind is on other things.” He raised a brow. “Why are you concerned? As I recall, you claim that it would be a great gift.”
“It is a great gift.” She paused. “But there was Chion. And Selene suffered terribly when Haroun and the babe died. How do I know what effect the years would have on her?” She met his gaze. “You wish my help? You’ll have it on one condition. If you decide to give Selene Eshe, you’ll first come to me and discuss it.”
“Done.”
“And there must be choice. Do you understand? No matter how much you’re tempted, it’s the one rule that must be obeyed.”
“Of course.”
Relief streamed through her. “Good. And now that’s settled, I have to find a servant and tell him to bring food to Selene and me in her chamber.”
“I’ll do it for you,” Kadar said. “Go back and keep her company. She’ll need you. She’s uneasy tonight.”
“Uneasy. A strange term to describe a bride.”
“No stranger than the situation.” He smiled. “Nor the people surrounding the bride. Including you, Layla.”
“I’m not strange. I’m very-” She grimaced and then said grudgingly, “Maybe a little strange. If one is of a boring and unimaginative mind.”
He nodded solemnly. “And one wouldn’t care about such bores anyway.”
He was laughing at her.
And she did not mind, she realized in surprise. His laughter was like Tarik’s-no malice, just humor that invited sharing. “Exactly.” She turned on her heel. “Nor for those who chatter and don’t act. I’ll expect a servant bearing food to be knocking on the door of Selene’s chamber within the quarter hour.”
The priest was murmuring, motioning with his crucifix.
Surely it was almost over, Selene thought. She hadn’t remembered Ware and Thea’s vows lasting this long. She and Kadar seemed to have been kneeling before the priest forever.
“Stop frowning. It’s not been so long,” Kadar whispered.
Her gaze flew to his face. He had read her mind, as usual.
He was smiling. “Can’t you be a little less grim? Layla is already suspicious. I don’t want her running forward and whisking you away before the deed is done.”
Her gaze shifted to Layla and Tarik across the chamber. “She’s not going to do anything,” she whispered. “She spoke very gently of you last night.”
“Gently? Layla?”
“Well, more gently than usual. What did you-” She stopped as she became aware that the priest was staring sternly at her. She supposed she was not showing sufficient respect. But Kadar had spoken first, and the priest was not frowning at him. Now that she thought of it, the priest had ignored both her and Layla when he’d arrived at the villa. In the eyes of the Church, a woman was nothing until there was blame to be laid, and then it was always the woman’s fault, she thought with annoyance. She deliberately whispered more loudly, “I don’t like this priest. He’s rude, and I’m becoming very bored.”
Kadar smothered a laugh. “I don’t believe he considers it his duty to amuse you.”
“And this isn’t like Ware and Thea’s wedding.” Dear God, her voice was trembling. Where had this sudden burst of sadness come from?
Kadar’s hand tightened around her own. “Shh, it’s all right. This doesn’t really have anything to do with us.”
How could he say that? Vows were forever. The priest might not be of importance, but the vows loomed so large as to cast a shadow over everything.
“Look at me.” He held her gaze, his voice soft but vibrating with force. “Keep looking at me. This is right, Selene. It’s always been right. From that very first day I met you at the House of Nicholas.”
She couldn’t pull her gaze away. She no longer heard the priest’s voice. There was no one but Kadar.
Kadar holding her hand in the darkness.
Kadar joking as he sat across from her at the chessboard.
Kadar drawing her down on the couch in the tower chamber.
Kadar…
“It’s done,” Kadar said. His brilliant smile illuminated his face. “Now, that wasn’t so painful, was it?”
“What?” She realized he was talking about their vows. The priest had finished at last. Kadar was standing,
