Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [124]
Something was different about Kadar, Thea realized suddenly. On the surface he was the same, but underneath there was something…hollow. No, not hollow…dark. Oh, she wasn’t certain.
But she could see Selene sensed something also. Her sister’s eyes were narrowed on Kadar with apprehension.
Apprehension? Nonsense. This was Kadar, their friend. There could be nothing to fear.
Nothing to fear. Thea repeated the words over and over as they entered the grim fortress of Maysef and rode past Sinan’s guards. The Old Man’s white-robed followers gazed at them without expression as they stopped before the austere castle that loomed grim and gray in the late-afternoon sunlight.
The interior of the castle was equally austere, and the halls felt cold on this warm day. Imagination, she told herself as they entered the high arched hall and moved toward the robed man seated in a high-backed chair at the far end of the huge chamber.
Power.
Thea had to keep herself from taking a step backward as she drew closer to Sinan.
She had expected evil, but not this sense of cold, unfathomed power. They called him Old Man of the Mountain, but his face, though lined, appeared oddly ageless, and his dark eyes shimmered with a zeal that seemed an entity in itself. She was relieved that his glance rested on her for only an instant before shifting to Ware.
“You are here again.” Sinan’s tone was flat. “Kadar tells me you’re a great warrior, but I have grave doubts. Every time you come to my mountains, you are wounded. If one of my followers was so clumsy, he would be discarded.”
“It’s not clumsy to be overcome by superior numbers.”
“It’s clumsy to rush forward into a situation where you’re surrounded, as I’m told you did. You should have let the woman die.”
“As I told you, he thought to use her to barter later,” Kadar said quickly.
“Yes, you told me. But, then, you lie well. Almost as well as I do. You do many things well, Kadar.” His faint smile was as chilling as that impression of boundless power.
Kadar did not seem to feel the chill. “I’ve been well taught.”
“But many men have neither the talent nor the fortitude. They fear the darkness, you embrace it.” Sinan’s indifferent glance moved to Ware. “This one has no love for the darkness. He has lived in the shadows, but the darkness would strangle him. I don’t know why you bother with him.”
“He has great strength. Strength is like a beacon that draws me.” Kadar shrugged. “But we have discussed this before and we do not agree. I brought them to you, and you can see they’re not as weak as you thought. Now, what is your decision?”
“I did not say I would make an immediate decision.” He smiled again at Kadar. “I don’t wish it to end as yet. Perhaps I can persuade you to stay here with me permanently. After all, I cannot live forever.”
“I’m not sure of that,” Kadar said.
Sinan’s smile broadened. “Well, they say I must die sometime. You could stay and see.” He tilted his head as if thinking. “Perhaps I’ll slaughter these weak ones and then you’ll have no reason to leave.”
Thea tensed and took a step closer to Ware.
“It’s a game,” Ware murmured. “Don’t be afraid.”
If it was a game, it was a frighteningly macabre one. She had no doubt Sinan would not hesitate to kill them all if the whim took him.
Ware took a step forward. “If you think me weak, bring forth your champion and let me do battle with him.”
“And kill in that childish way of the Franks? Full of pomp and bravado?” Sinan’s tone was scornful. “We are masters of death here. We do not play at it.”
“Then let me fight your way.”
“No.” Kadar stepped forward. “This is a waste of time, Sinan. You don’t wish to see such an uneven battle.”
“On the contrary, it might be amusing. I’ve grown a little bored of late.”
Kadar met his gaze and said softly, “I will take two tonight.”
Sinan’s attention was immediately diverted. “Indeed?”
There was a strong bond between them, Thea realized incredulously. It seemed impossible that the chilling evil