“Oh, yes.” He smiled and drew her into the tent. “By all means, come lie with me, my love.”
The tents hugged the side of the cliff that overlooked the western slopes just as Nasim’s messenger had told Kadar when he had met him earlier.
Kadar reined in a hundred yards distant.
It was not as formidable a sight as Nasim’s full force, but it was dangerous enough.
Kadar could see Nasim and Balkir standing in front of the largest tent, their eyes fixed on him. He could count at least twenty assassins milling about the camp.
Well, he had known it would be so. He would just have to rely on wits and opportunity.
He kicked his horse into a trot.
“Where’s the coffer?” Nasim demanded.
“It’s close by. Do you really think I’d bring it here?” Kadar’s gaze traveled around the circle of men surrounding Nasim. “What would stop you from slicing my throat and taking the coffer anyway?”
“My promise.”
Kadar chuckled. “That
“Where is it?”
“I’ll take you there. But only you and Balkir. We’ll stay within view of your men, but I’ll want a head start once you have the grail.” He glanced at Balkir. “Go fetch the bags of gold and tie them to your saddle.”
Nasim shook his head. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“What do you fear?” Kadar gestured toward the steep drop beside which Nasim’s camp was situated. “You’ve seen that no trap is possible. I defy anyone to climb up that cliff.” He took his dagger from its sheath and dropped it on the ground. “And I’m unarmed.”
Nasim was silent for a moment, then mounted his horse. “Let’s go. But we stay in sight of the camp.”
“Balkir?” Kadar asked.
“I don’t like this,” Balkir said.
“Fetch the gold, Balkir,” Nasim said.
Balkir hesitated and then went into the tent. He came out a moment later carrying four sacks and tied them to his saddle.
“Very good,” Kadar said.
Balkir glared at him as he got on his horse and followed them from the camp.
“Where did you hide the grail?” Nasim asked when they were several hundred yards from the camp.
Kadar nodded toward a clump of boulders in the distance. “Not far.”
“I’ll not go behind those rocks. I stay in the open, in full view of my men.”
“Of course.” Kadar nudged his horse to a faster pace. “I didn’t expect anything else.”
When they reached the boulders, he jumped down from his horse and disappeared behind the rocks. A moment later he returned, carrying the wooden chest. He set it down in front of Nasim. “Both of you get down and look at it.”
Balkir slowly dismounted, his gaze on the coffer. Nasim was already off his horse, his face flushed with eagerness. “That’s it?” he whispered. “It’s really the grail?”
“I’d be a fool to bring you anything else.” He opened the chest and pulled off the purple silk cover. The gold of the coffer shimmered in the sunlight.
Nasim reached for the coffer.
Kadar stepped in front of it and glanced at Balkir. “Haven’t you forgotten something?” he asked softly.
“Do it yourself,” Nasim said impatiently. “You don’t need a dagger for such a one.”
“Not with every assassin in your camp looking on.”
“Oh, very well.” Nasim drew his dagger, whirled, and plunged it into Balkir’s heart.
Balkir’s eyes glazed over, an expression of shock forever frozen on his face.
Nasim watched him fall to the ground before turning back to Kadar. “Satisfied?”
“Yes.” Kadar stepped away from the front of the coffer. “Quick. Graceful. But I could have done it better.”
“No one does it better.” Nasim stared hungrily down at the box. “Open it. Do you think I’ll turn my back on you?”
Too bad. He’d hoped Nasim’s eagerness would have overcome his caution. It would have taken only a few seconds to attack from behind and break his neck. “And do you think I’ll turn my back on you?”
“It doesn’t matter. The grail’s not there anyway,” Selene said.
Kadar went rigid. He whirled toward the boulders to see Selene walking toward them. “My God,” he whispered. “Get out of here, Selene.”
“Ah, the woman,” Nasim murmured. He drew his sword. “And where is the grail?”
“Here.” She pulled the cup from beneath her cloak. The chalice blazed in the sunlight. “Do you want it, Nasim?”
His eyes fixed on the grail. “Yes, I want it.”
“Then come and get it.” She moved in the direction of the cliff edge. “Or I’ll throw it over. It’s several hundred feet down, and there must be thousands of crevices. You might find it if you look for a few years.”
Nasim gazed warily at Kadar before stepping toward her. “You wouldn’t throw such a treasure away.”
“It’s no treasure to me. Sometimes I wish I’d never heard of it.” She met his gaze. “Look at me. Am I telling the truth?”
“You’re mad.” He glanced at the camp. “My men are stirring. I told them to attack at the first sign of anything unusual. They’ll be here in a moment.”
“If they get here before you come to me, the grail will be gone. I won’t die and let you have what you want.”
“Stupid woman. Do you know what you-stand back.” His sword was again pointed at Kadar.
“I haven’t moved,” Kadar said.
“You were readying.”
“Come and get it,” Selene repeated. She whirled and ran toward the edge of the cliff, her feet flying over the rough ground.
Nasim cursed and started after her.
Kadar couldn’t wait any longer. He pounced and ducked to the left at the same time.
The flat of Nasim’s sword crashed into the side of his head.
Darkness.
He was gaining on her.
Selene ran faster.
Her breath was coming hard, painfully, as her lungs labored.
She could hear the pound of hoofbeats.
Nasim’s men were tearing toward them from the camp.
Faster. She had to go faster.
Where was Kadar?
She risked a glance over her shoulder but saw only Nasim.
Kadar…
Only a little farther. She had to reach the edge-
Nasim’s hand fell on her shoulder.
She jerked away.
So close, and he had the sword.
Terror rained through her.
If her pace slowed, she would die.
“Stop,” Nasim muttered.
If she stumbled, she would die.
Wear him out. Make him unsteady.
“Why are you trying to catch me? You’re an old man. You’re weak. You’ll die soon. You’ll never have the grail.”
She heard an explosion of rage behind her.
All right. It was time.
