Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [138]
Dear heaven, she was weary of facing a new danger every time she turned around. “Will you be able to convince him?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps Sinan can be persuaded that our leaving will be to his advantage, but it may require a bargain Selene has forbidden me.” He changed the subject. “Don’t take your soldiers to Maysef. Sinan would make sure they never entered any gates but those of hell.”
“I had every intention of leaving them camped here,” Ware said. “We may need rescue.”
“Pray that we don’t require rescue. I assure you the soldiers would be no help.” Kadar turned his horse. “I’ll go ahead and talk to Sinan. Give me a few hours alone with him.”
Sinan stood waiting on the steps as Kadar rode into the courtyard. Kadar was reminded of the night he had first come to the fortress.
He rode up to the steps and stopped before Sinan.
“You know why I’m here. We’ve removed Kemal from our path. Is it your will that we leave?”
“It is not my will. You know what I wish of you.”
“I cannot walk your path.”
“You’re wrong, no one can walk it better. You just will not.” Sinan said harshly, “These foreigners have swayed you with their soft words. I will not have it.”
“When have I ever been swayed by a will other than my own?” He paused. “Even yours, Sinan. Is that not why you wish me to stay?”
“You will stay.”
“Only in death.”
A flicker of expression crossed Sinan’s face. “You will yield before I have to kill you. You embrace life with too much pleasure.”
“But the first lesson you teach is that death is never to be feared. Not our own and not the ones we cause. You say I’m a reflection of you. When you look into your mirror, do you see a fear of death?”
Sinan’s gaze held his. “You mean this,” he said slowly.
“I mean it.” He smiled. “But death should never be wasted. Particularly of one you value. So why not make me pay a price of passage and let us go?”
“A price of passage,” Sinan repeated slowly.
Kadar was careful to keep any hint of fear from his thoughts or expression. Sinan fed on fear, and Kadar had seen many instances of the Old Man’s uncanny perception.
“Get down. We will talk about it.” Sinan turned on his heel and started up the steps. He glanced back over his shoulder, and his smile breathed of malice. “On consideration, there may be a price only you can pay.”
The courtyard was deserted except for the usual white-robed guards.
“I don’t like this,” Thea said uneasily. She had felt sure Kadar would meet them when they rode through the gates. He had known they would be anxious regarding his interview with Sinan. She got down from her horse and moved toward the watering trough. Anxious or not, she must wash the blood from her face and hands before Selene saw her. “Where could he be?”
“In the stable.” Kadar smiled as he strolled toward them across the courtyard. “I was helping Selene saddle her horse. I decided we should not wait until dawn to ride out of this hospitable place. It’s always more pleasant to travel in the cool of the evening.”
“Your talk did not go well?” Ware asked.
“If it hadn’t gone well, we would not be alive at this happy moment. I just wish to be gone from here before Sinan decides to ask more of me.”
“What did he ask?”
“Enough.” Kadar changed the subject. “But I fared better in our bargain than I thought possible. How fortunate that you have such a brilliant negotiator in me. We not only have our freedom, but a ship and a crew to sail it.”
“What?”
“I see you understand the importance of such a coup. No one who is not mad would try to seize a ship belonging to the Old Man of the Mountain. Sinan is sending a message to Hafir, to Ali Balkir, the captain of the Dark Star, requesting that he place himself at your disposal. He will take us to Scotland and then return to report to Sinan.”
“Report what?” Thea asked.
“Where he left us.” He held up his hand as Ware started to protest. “Don’t worry, no torture would ever make Sinan’s followers reveal something he didn’t want them to tell.”
“But Sinan would know.”
“You