Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [107]
“No.”
“There probably will be. As I left Saladin’s camp, I saw messengers streaming out, bound for every province of the land.” He knelt and splashed water on his face. “I doubt there will be a Christian captive left alive by the end of the week.” He lifted his head. “King Richard ordered twenty-seven hundred Muslim captives put to the sword. They were driven from the city to a field outside the gates and butchered like cattle.”
“God.”
“I saw no sign of any deity at Acre that day,” Kadar said. “Though I may be mistaken. After all, Richard says he’s God’s instrument in the battle to win back the Holy Land.”
“Almost three thousand lives…” It was beyond comprehension. “Why?”
“You’ll have to ask Richard. I could see no valid reason.” He stood up. “But I could see the danger to Thea and Selene.”
And so could Ware. Kadar was right—Kemal might not even wait to get back to El Sunan to have Thea executed. No personal reward for himself would count against avenging the atrocity that had just been committed. Ware’s arrangement with Kemal was known to Saladin, and Kemal must erase any taint of dealing with the Franks. Even now an assassin might be on his way to El Sunan.
“How long do you think we have?”
“A few hours. I didn’t stop to eat or sleep, but we can’t count on Kemal to pamper himself on this journey. It’s known he bargained with a Christian, and he’ll have to prove he’s a true believer or become an outcast among his people.”
“We’ll have to be well gone from El Sunan by nightfall, then.” Ware moved quickly toward his horse and began to saddle it. “Wipe down your horse and clean yourself. We don’t want anyone at El Sunan to suspect you had reason to ride hard.”
“You have a plan?”
“Yes, we’re going to ride into El Sunan and claim my property.”
“Hardly very clever.”
“We don’t have time for clever. We have to be gone from El Sunan before they hear about the massacre.” He tightened the cinch. “Kemal’s soldiers are accustomed to seeing you, and my arrangement with Kemal is common knowledge. We’ll tell them that Kemal and I have come to a parting of the ways and I’m releasing him from his guardianship.”
“And hope that they’ll let you take her.”
“Yes.”
“And that Thea and Selene will come without argument.” Kadar shook his head. “Impossible.”
“What’s impossible is leaving them there and doing nothing.” Ware put on his armor. “Kemal took his most trusted officers with him. Those in charge will be uneasy about making any decisions. Two men riding alone into El Sunan will not put them on guard as an army would.”
“True. I’m feeling better already about riding into an enemy fortress.” He ran his fingers through his damp hair and began to dust off his tunic. “It should be no trouble at all plucking them from El Sunan.”
“Do you know any of the officers who may be there?”
“Kemal left Hallam ben Lallak, one of his captains, in charge. I’ve diced with him a few times. I’ll work my powers of persuasion while you get Selene and Thea.” He snapped his fingers. “What of Jasmine and her daughter?”
“They’re no longer at El Sunan. I saw a wagon pass by here four days ago with them in it.”
Kadar began to wipe down his horse. “It seems Thea has been busily making her own plans.”
And they would not include riding off with him, Ware knew. Worse, he didn’t have time to argue with her. There was no telling when Kemal’s messenger would arrive, and seconds might count. What a shambles. Even if he managed to get Selene and Thea away from El Sunan, where would he take them? The entire countryside would be in flames after Richard’s action. If the Templars had seen the banner, not only Kemal but the Templars would be on their heels.
He would have to consider possibilities on the way to El Sunan. The only thing of importance now was getting Thea away from the fortress.
The lion banner waved in the wind in taunting challenge.
Vaden put spurs to his horse to keep Kemal’s escort in sight as they thundered toward El