Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [104]
The wind struck sharply at Ware’s cheeks as his horse’s stride lengthened to a run.
Escape.
Forbidden.
Don’t look at it.
Thea. My God, Thea.
He didn’t rein in until he reached a brook running through a small grove many miles from El Sunan. He got down from his horse, staggered into the trees, and threw up.
He sank down on the ground and leaned back against the trunk of a tree with eyes closed.
It did no good. He could still see the lions.
“I suppose there’s a reason for this.”
Kadar’s voice.
He opened his eyes to see Kadar sitting on his horse a few yards away.
Ware got up and lurched the few feet to the brook. He rinsed out his mouth before splashing water on his face.
Kadar dismounted. “My dear Ware, if this is envy, you really must get it under control. Such extremes are bad for you.”
Ware ignored the gibe. “We have to get that banner from Kemal.”
“Because you want it yourself?”
“I don’t want it. I’d be happy never to see it again.” He moistened his dry lips, trying to close out those blazing golden eyes, the flowing mane. “But we can’t let Kemal keep it.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not safe. Vaden may see it. It’s a miracle he hasn’t seen it already.”
“On the contrary. Kemal has taken the banner only on little skirmishes within his own province. It would have been pure chance for Vaden to have seen it.”
Kadar was right. He wasn’t thinking clearly. Jesus, he was surprised he could think at all. “He’ll see it if Kemal goes into battle with Saladin. All the Knights Templar will see it.”
“And what difference will that make?”
“It’s the lion throne.” Kadar didn’t understand. Why should he? Ware had made sure he knew nothing about the throne. Even now, when he realized he had to tell him, the words were sticking in his throat. Yet he had to have Kadar’s help to get the banner, and he couldn’t expect him to follow blindly.
“The minute Vaden or any of the high officers of the Temple see the banner, they’ll find out who created it and send someone to kill Thea.”
“For stitching a banner?”
“For knowing what I saw in the caves below the Temple of Solomon.”
Kadar shook his head. “You told her nothing.”
“But she knew,” he whispered. “Christ, she knew. How in heaven or hell did she know about the lion throne?”
“And what is this lion throne?”
“It’s why Jeffrey and I went down into the caves. We’d heard tales of the throne that had been brought from Canaan. We wanted to see it.” He closed his eyes, seeing it again, reliving that moment. “It was in a small hidden room in the depths of the cave. The lion throne.”
“And because you saw this…this throne, the Templars want to kill you. Why?”
He would say no more. He had told Kadar too much already. “Because it was the lion throne.”
“I grow weary of your secrets, Ware.”
“We have to get the banner back.”
“I think you imagine the lions in the banner form a throne. I didn’t see it.”
“Anyone who ever saw the real throne will see it. Vaden knew about the throne. He believed me when I said she knew nothing. He won’t believe me now. He’ll consider her as much a danger as he does me. No—a greater danger, because she put the throne on a banner for all the world to see.” He murmured, “Pray God he doesn’t see it before we can manage to take the banner from Kemal.”
“We? You expect my help?”
Ware met his gaze. “I ask for your help. I have no right to expect it.”
Kadar smiled. “And you tell me no more than bits and pieces about this throne of mystery. I’m tempted to withhold my help until I learn all your secrets.” He sighed. “But then you would be so beset by guilt that you’d become unbearably tedious. I’ll get your banner for you, my friend.”
Relief rushed through Ware. “Not yet. Not until we find a way to get Thea away from El Sunan.”
“Make up your mind. You said it was urgent we get the banner.”
“I’ll stay and set up camp here to stand guard over El Sunan. I want you to go to Saladin’s camp and watch Kemal. If he merely meets with Saladin and then returns home, we may