The Treasure (12 page)

“Wait.”

Kadar gave him a cold glance over his shoulder. “I won’t let her stay in Balkir’s hands, Tarik.”

“I didn’t think you would. I merely wondered if you wanted me to send an escort with you.”

“If Balkir thought there was any chance he’d lose her, he’d cut her throat. I’ll go alone.”

“He’ll kill her? Did she realize the danger?”

“She knew it. This was no wild impulse. She knew exactly what she was doing.”

“Then she’ll try to keep you from coming back,” he said softly.

“I’m going, Tarik. Don’t try to stop me.”

“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.”

“I hope not. He seemed decent enough.” She changed the subject. “How are we to escape? The tent is guarded.”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

“I’ve already thought of a way.” She looked away from him. “You should leave me and go back to the castle. Then later tonight I’ll escape by myself. You can wait for me by the north gate and let me in.”

He shook his head.

“It’s the best plan. You know it is. If you try to take me, we may both be killed.”

“We go together.”

“Don’t be stubborn. Do you think I need to rely on you for help? I got myself into this predicament, it’s up to me to get myself out.”

“Together.” He smiled. “Always together. Haven’t you learned that yet?”

She felt the tears sting her eyes. “I could not bear it if you were hurt for my sake,” she whispered.

“You could bear it. You could bear anything.”

She smiled shakily. “Of course I could. And I don’t know why I should be concerned about you anyway. Everything that’s happened is all your fault.”

“And I thought you were blaming yourself. I’m glad you’ve recovered your senses.”

“It’s my fault we’re in danger right now, but we’d still be safely at Montdhu if you—”

“Hush.” He was chuckling as he shook his head. “Very well, everything is my fault. I admit it.”

“Well, almost everything.” She moved toward the tent entrance and gazed out at the walls of the fortress. “And if you can think of no other plan, then we will go with mine. Do you understand?”

“I understand I’m growing weary of ultimatums. I like yours no more than I did Nasim’s.”

Despair surged through her. “Please,” she whispered.

“Come here.”

She glanced over her shoulder. He had dropped down on the pallet and was holding his hand out to her. “Why?”

“Because I’m worried and a little discouraged and I need comfort. Will you give it to me?”

She could feel her resistance melting. What other man would admit weakness and need to a woman? She moved slowly toward him. “You wouldn’t have to worry if you’d leave and then let me—”

“Shh.” He pulled her down on the pallet. “Don’t talk. Just let me hold you.”

“We should be making plans.”

“We have several hours, and my mind doesn’t seem to be working properly at the moment.”

She drew him protectively closer. “It will be all right. I’ll think of something.”

“Will you?” He kissed her temple. “That would be a great relief to me.”

She had not lain with him since the last night at Maysef, and there was a warm sweetness to the moment. Surely it would do no harm to just lie here and comfort him.

And take comfort herself.

The sun rays streaming into the tent were lengthening, Kadar noticed. They had little time left. He should wake Selene.

She had dozed off over an hour ago, but he had been lying here thinking, weighing his alternatives. Not that there were many choices open to them. He could see only one that had even a possibility of success.

“It’s late.” Selene’s eyes were open, her expression panicked.

“It’s all right. There’s no hurry.” He sat up. “I’ve decided your plan is best after all.”

She sat up straight. “You have?”

“Why are you so surprised? You assured me that it was our best choice.”

“But you aren’t always sensible.”

“I can accept the premise but not all the details. I’ll go back to the castle at nightfall. Near midnight, when the camp is asleep, I’ll return for you.”

The mere idea made her panic. “No, you’ll get yourself killed.”

“If I hadn’t learned how to infiltrate a camp, Nasim would have banished me very early in my training. Be ready.”

“Don’t come. I won’t be here. I’ll leave before you arrive.”

He smiled. “But then I’ll surely be killed, for I’ll have to blunder around the camp looking for you.” He bent down and brushed a kiss on her nose. “Be ready.”

He should have been here by now, Selene agonized.

He had said near midnight.

Had they caught him?

No, she would have heard something.

Why? It took no noise to slip a dagger between a man’s ribs.

Selene drew a deep breath. Stop it. Imagining the worst would do no good.

She flexed her hunched shoulders and scooted closer to the entrance of the tent. Through the slit in the cloth, she could see the two guards standing a few yards away. How could one man take out two guards without rousing the camp?

One of the guards lifted his head as if listening. He said something to the other guard and then strode around the right side of the tent.

What had he heard?

Then she heard it. A soft trilling sound that might have been a bird.

It was not.

She heard the sound of a falling body through the thin material of the tent.

One guard left, but it would be difficult for Kadar to surprise him now that he had taken out the other man.

She jumped up and threw open the flap. The guard whirled to face her.

“I need to see Nasim,” she said. “I have something to tell him.”

The guard shook his head. “Tomorrow.”

“Now.” She moved out of the tent and to the left, still facing him. “He will punish you if you don’t wake him.”

The guard half-turned, following her. “He is more likely to punish me if I—”

Kadar was on him. His hand covered the guard’s mouth as his blade entered his heart. The man dropped to the ground.

Kadar motioned silently and Selene flew to his side.

He pushed her ahead of him around the right side of the tent.

Selene almost tripped over the body of the first guard Kadar had lured away. Then Kadar took her hand and was pulling her through the labyrinth of tents.

A few minutes later they reached the edge of the camp. Selene drew a deep breath. Too soon to be safe, but at least they had gotten this far without being discovered. Now they had only the run to the castle and—

“I thought you’d come back for her.”

They whirled to see Balkir standing beneath a tree a few yards away. The moonlight gleamed on the blade of the sword in his hand. “I’ve been waiting for you. Nasim was wrong to trust you. He should have let me fetch his treasure. I would never betray him.”

Kadar’s hand closed on Selene’s elbow. “Run,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll follow.”

She shook her head. She would not leave him to face Balkir alone.

“Stop whispering. You’ve lost. Nasim believes you to be so clever, but I’m the one who’ll give him what he wants.” Balkir stepped forward, hatred twisting his features. “And I’ll take away what you want.”

He lunged forward, the sword pointed at Selene’s breast.

Die. She was going to—

Kadar leaped in front of her, knocking her to the ground.

The sword entered his chest.

“No!”

Balkir wrenched out the sword and Kadar fell to the ground. Selene watched the blood gush from the wound. She fell to her knees beside him. “Oh, sweet Jesus, please . . .”

Kadar’s eyes were open. “Run . . .”

“No.” Tears were running down her face. “Be silent. You’re hurt . . .”

“Run.” His eyes closed and he slumped sideways.

Dead?