Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [137]
“For God’s sake, put that dagger away.”
Ware!
He leaned down and gathered her up on his horse. “Are you hurt?”
Ware. Strong and blessedly safe.
“You’re covered in blood. Answer me.”
“I’m not hurt.”
He rode his horse to the edge of the encampment. “I’m going to kill Kadar.” He tore the turban from her head and her hair tumbled free. “Don’t put it back on. Being a woman may be your only protection. Hide behind that rock and don’t let anyone see you with a weapon in your hand.”
He wheeled his horse and went back into the fray.
Her hands clenched at her sides as she watched the battle. It was terrible to be forced to stand on the sidelines and feel so helpless. A woman should be taught the same skills as warriors.
However, Ware did not seem to need her help. Kemal’s followers were outnumbered and outfought. It was only a short time later that Kemal’s men capitulated.
Ware rode toward her. “Will you never obey me? Would it have hurt you to hide?”
“Kemal is dead.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I saw him. And the banner is gone. I think Kadar did it. Where is he?”
He gestured. “I caught sight of him on the other side of the camp as I rode in.”
She started in the direction he’d indicated. “I have to go ask him if—”
“Oh, no.” He scooped her up and set her before him. “I won’t have you running around in an armed camp. We’ll let him find us.”
“But I need to know—” She stopped and leaned back against him. No urgency existed now, and it was good to be held like this. “I’ll ask him later.”
“And I have questions to ask of you,” he said grimly. “What are you doing here?”
“I came for the banner.”
“My God.”
“And I’ll hear no harsh words from you. You didn’t ask my permission when you risked your life. I did what I thought necessary. Now, finish what you have to do here and take me back to Maysef. I didn’t like leaving Selene alone in that place.” She lowered her voice. “And I would be alone with you so that I can express my affection without the witness of an entire army.”
“Affection? I’ve seen no signs of affection.” Never the-less, his arms tightened around her as he rode back into the center of the confusion. The next few minutes he devoted to giving orders regarding the securing of prisoners and receiving reports on the wounded.
“You look as if you’ve been fighting hand to hand, Thea,” Kadar said as he rode toward them. “May I say you don’t look at all well bathed in blood?” Then he added, “I suppose I should have known you’d follow me.”
“If you knew it, why didn’t you stop her?” Ware asked grimly.
“One can only do so much.” Kadar changed the subject. “What do we do with the prisoners?”
“Take their horses and set them free,” Ware said. “With Kemal dead they’ll give us no trouble.”
“Kemal is dead?”
Thea could see no sign of anything but surprise in Kadar’s expression. But, then, Kadar was expert at disguising his emotions. “And the banner is gone,” she said. “I thought you had killed him.”
Kadar shook his head. “Perhaps one of his men grew impatient with his stubbornness in remaining here and decided to save his life and take Kemal’s.” He smiled teasingly. “Or it could be that your banner grew weary of being used by such an unpleasant man and worked its magic on him.”
She met his gaze. “Or it could be that you don’t wish to get into Selene’s bad graces if she finds out you broke your word to her.”
“Yes, that’s a possibility also.” He gazed at her innocently. “We shall never know, shall we? Unless we discover the banner in one of the prisoner’s possession.” He turned to Ware. “I feel obligated to clear my name of this crime by conducting the search myself.”
And so be in a position to make sure the banner is conveniently discovered, Thea thought.
“It doesn’t matter who killed Kemal,” Ware said impatiently. “We have to go back to Maysef and get Selene. We need to leave this place by dawn tomorrow. I barely avoided one of Saladin’s troops on the way here. Every minute we waste makes the journey more dangerous.”
“If Sinan decides he wishes us to go,” Kadar said. “He may be quite peevish