Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [126]
“It occurred to me. She is older now.”
“Kadar is still Kadar. Because she has begun to have breasts does not necessarily turn a man mad.” She entered the chamber. “No, I worry about Kadar. He’s too secretive.”
“He will not betray us.”
“I know he won’t. I just don’t want him—” She broke off in helpless frustration. She could not express the uneasiness she had felt when she had watched Kadar and Sinan together. But it was no use worrying now when she could do nothing about it. “You should rest.” She glanced around the chamber and found it as austere as the rest of the castle. A simple table, a bed, two stools, and a washstand were the only furniture in the room. She spied a bellpull on the far wall and moved toward it. “There are not enough covers on the bed. It grows chill at night. I’ll call for more.” She shivered. “This entire castle is over-cool.”
“Perhaps Sinan doesn’t feel the chill,” Ware said. He moved toward the window and gazed out at the mountains. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”
It would not surprise her either, Thea thought. She forced herself to dismiss the Old Man from her thoughts. “You’ll take the bed. I’ll curl up on a blanket on the floor.”
Ware shook his head. “I let no woman sleep on the floor.”
“You’ve been ill. You must have a good night’s sleep.”
“I’m not ill now.”
She sighed in exasperation as she realized the obstinate man would not be dissuaded. “Very well, we will take turns. I’ll sleep half the night in the bed and then you’ll wake me. Come, I’ll help you with your armor.”
KADAR ROSE FROM HIS PALLET, cast a quick look at Selene sleeping on the bed before moving silently toward the door in the darkness.
“Where are you going?” Selene asked, wide-awake. “It must be the middle of the night.”
Kadar shook his head ruefully as he stopped and turned to face her. She had been watching him all evening; he should have known she was only pretending to slumber. “Go back to sleep. I’ll return soon.”
She raised herself on one elbow. “If they don’t catch you.”
He raised his brows. “I beg pardon? Sinan gives me free run of the fortress.”
She sat up in bed, her cotton robe a white blur in the darkness. “I don’t want you to go.”
“You’ll be quite safe. If you’re disturbed, run down the hall to Thea and Ware.”
“You think I fear for myself?” she asked fiercely. “I’m not such a coward.”
“I must go.” He started to turn away.
“Not two,” she said. “One is dangerous, two would be folly.”
He went still. Then he turned back to her, waiting.
“It’s not Sinan’s assassins who kill one of Kemal’s men each night. It’s you.”
“Is it?”
“It’s part of the game you play with Sinan. You keep him interested and retain his respect in the only way you can. You creep into Kemal’s camp and kill one man a night. But today, to distract Sinan from Lord Ware, you had to promise him a bonus. Two instead of one.” She said desperately, “You cannot do it.”
“I have great talent. Ask Sinan.”
“He would not talk to a beast of the field.” She swung her feet to the floor. “You know they’ll be expecting you. Don’t go.”
“Perhaps you’re wrong. It could be I’m only going for a walk in the courtyard. Thea and Ware seem to have no suspicions.”
“Thea can think only of Lord Ware, and he is still not well.” She was suddenly there before him, her hands grasping his arms. “Find another way.”
Her face appeared pinched and pale in the moonlight, but her eyes glittered with their usual indomitable spirit. He had always found it fascinating to watch the emotions flickering behind the outward boldness of those huge green eyes. “There is no other way.” He gently extricated himself from her grasp. “We need Sinan.”
“It’s not only Sinan. You want to go.”
“I would be mad to want to put my head in Kemal’s hands.”
“But you do.” Her gaze searched his expression. “I can see it. You’re…excited.”
“Am I?” He smiled. “Then it would be useless to persuade me not to go, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh, go away. Let them kill you. See if I care.” She whirled and stomped back to the bed. “I’ll think no more about you.”
“Excellent idea.” He left the chamber