Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [108]
I will finish it.
If he got the chance. The Grand Marshals had seen the banner, and Vaden had watched them gather their forces after the massacre. The Templars would employ a little diplomatic maneuvering to explain to Richard why the most skilled fighting force in his army was not marching to Jerusalem in his wake, and then the Templars would ride to Dundragon. And when they didn’t find Ware there, they would seek him out elsewhere. Nothing would stop them now.
Damn the woman. Damn that cursed banner. Ware was his prey. He would not have de Sable interfering.
I will finish it.
As those captives at Acre had been finished.
Well, why not? Innocent blood was always spilled in war, and when had he ever worried about anyone but himself? Ware was no innocent. He had made a mistake, and such mistakes were not permitted in this world; they were paid for in blood. Vaden had known this moment would come since the day he had been told why Ware had fled the Temple. He could wait no longer.
It had to be finished.
Thea’s gaze flew to the door as it burst open.
Ware!
She stared at him in stunned disbelief as he strode into the chamber and slammed the door. “What do you do here?”
“Get your cloak. Where is Selene?”
She put her embroidery aside and stood up. “Why are you here?”
“We’re leaving.” He glanced around the room. “Dammit, where’s your sister?”
“I go nowhere with you.” Her hands clenched with anger as she understood. He was taking advantage of Kemal’s absence to reclaim her and destroy all her plans. “Never again.”
“You will go.” In four strides he was there before her, glaring down at her. “We have no time for your protests. You’ll come with me, or I’ll knock you senseless and carry you out of here.”
He meant it, she realized with fury. He would strike her down as he had that first night in the desert. “I see you’ve armored yourself to face an unarmed woman.”
“You’ve never been unarmed. I’ve armored myself to keep us alive.”
“Leave here and you’ll stay alive.”
“But you won’t. Where’s Selene?”
“We’re not going with you.” She took a step back. Should she turn and run toward the door leading to the hall or to the garden? The garden. Dusk would soon fall, and there were more places to hide there. “I’ll call Domo, and he’ll tell the guards that Kemal’s property has to be protected.”
“But everyone here knows you’re my property, including Domo.”
“And Kemal has shown them I’m to be treated with respect, my every command obeyed.”
“Except as pertaining to your freedom. Don’t fight me, you’re going.” He glanced at the window behind her. “By all that’s holy, stop arguing, it’s getting dark.”
She backed toward the door.
His gaze swung to her and his hoarse voice rang with desperate sincerity. “Don’t do this to me. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m trying to keep you alive. Kemal is on his way back here to slaughter you.”
She froze in place. “Why should I believe you? You’ve lied to me before.”
“I don’t lie now. Look at me, listen to me.” He held her gaze. “If we’re not out of this place soon, we’ll all be dead.”
She moistened her lips. “The banner?”
He shook his head. “Richard butchered twenty-seven hundred Muslim captives at Acre.”
She stared at him in shock. “No,” she whispered.
“You know Kemal. What do you think he will do?”
She knew what he would do. She felt a surge of wild frustration and anger. Freedom had been so close. “How much time do we have?”
He gazed at her warily. “You believe me?”
“You don’t lie well. If I hadn’t trusted you, I’d never have let you trick me when you brought me here.”
He flinched. “I had no choice. I had to—” He broke off and returned to the matter at hand. “We’ve no time for talk. Kemal could be arriving here within the hour.”
“Selene!” Thea called as she strode toward the door. “Get your cloak and the bag we packed. We’re leaving.”
“Now?” Selene came to the door. Her eyes widened as she saw Ware. “What’s happening?