Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [133]
“This is not funny.” She gazed at him, outraged as she saw the eagerness in his expression. “You like this. You want to go.”
“What can I say? I am what I am. I’m tired of being helpless and glad to have something to do that may help us.” He turned away. “Come, Kadar, we must make sure my horse has rested enough to be able to make the journey.”
“You can switch horses when you reach the camp.” Kadar gave Thea a wary glance as he stood and followed Ware.
Ware had already forgotten her. No, not forgotten, but put her aside, she realized. Last night the power had been hers, but now he was in control.
And would she have really wanted it any other way? She wanted a strong man, not one who could be ruled by her.
Well, perhaps a man sometimes ruled by her. It would not hurt to take turns.
She just wished his turn had not come in a fashion that would put him in danger and make her feel this helpless.
But she was not helpless, and she would not accept that niggardly farewell. She dropped the cover and moved toward the washstand. She would dress and go to the stables and garner every bit of his company she could before he left Maysef.
“If I don’t return, you’ll take Thea and Selene to Damascus and arrange passage to Scotland. I look to you to protect her.” Ware tightened the cinch. “Pay no attention if she protests. She’ll be safer there.”
“It’s difficult not to pay attention when Thea protests.” He watched Ware strap a water skin and packet of rations to the saddle. “I was surprised she had agreed to go with you. Selene was right, Thea must be truly enslaved by your charms.”
Ware winced. “Don’t mention enslavement. I fear I’ll suffer the rest of my life for El Sunan.” He stepped away from the horse. “How will you distract Kemal?”
“The camp will still be awake, so I cannot rely on action. I’ll have to depend on fear.” He smiled. “Fear can be a terrible weapon. Sinan uses it almost as frequently as poison.”
Ware fixed him with a probing stare. “We heard footsteps last night. I told Thea it was probably a guard, but I know your step well. You went to Kemal’s camp.”
“Did I?”
“I want your promise you’ll not go again while I’m gone. The risk is too great.”
“The risk grew less with every visit.”
“You cannot kill all of them.”
He shrugged. “I won’t give you my promise. I’ll do what is necessary to protect us while you’re gone.” He grimaced. “Even if I break my vow to Selene.”
It was the second time he had mentioned Selene. “What does Selene have to do with this? She’s only a child.”
Kadar chuckled. “Ah, but she’s a child who owns me. And I know my duty far better than you in such a situation.”
“She saved your life?”
“No, something far more valuable.” Kadar’s gaze went beyond Ware’s shoulder. “Here is Thea to bid you good-bye. I’ll leave you alone. I must go make arrangements for our ‘distraction.’”
Ware turned and watched Thea striding toward him, bold, fair, purposeful. “I would have gone back to say farewell.”
“She’s not one to wait.”
No, she wasn’t. She would always grasp the moment and make it her own. As she had made him her own, thank God. Last night still seemed a miracle to him. He forced himself to look away from her and returned to the odd comment Kadar had made regarding Selene. “But what could be more valuable than the saving of a life?”
Kadar smiled over his shoulder. “Why, a soul, my friend. What else?”
IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT when Kadar rode into the courtyard.
Thea’s gaze desperately searched his face, but the shadows made it impossible to read. “He got through?”
She went limp with relief when Kadar nodded.
He lifted a brow. “Did you expect anything else?”
“You’re sure he’s safely away?”
“I assure you, they didn’t even realize he’d slipped past them. They were too terrified by the drums.” He got down from his horse. “It was most enjoyable to see Kemal dashing about trying to pour some backbone into them.”
“You have a strange idea of enjoyment.”
“That’s been brought to my attention. Let me escort