Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [139]
“And what task—”
“It’s better you do not know.” Kadar’s tone became flippant. “I should think you’d have learned by now how dangerous other people’s secrets can be.”
“You do this for us,” Ware said. “That makes it my secret.”
“It’s no use questioning him,” Selene said as she led Kadar’s and her own horse out of the stable. “He’s probably promised Sinan some foul or impossible deed, but he won’t tell.” She added grimly, “Right now.”
But Selene’s chances of extracting that information from Kadar were better than anyone else’s, Thea thought.
“May we leave now and discuss my concerns later?” Kadar swung into the saddle. “We need to be gone from here. Your army should be out of the foothills by evening if we don’t wish to make Sinan impatient.”
“A ship,” Ware murmured. “An entire ship.” His brow was furrowed in thought as he rode after Kadar through the gates. “It could be…”
“What is it? What are you thinking?” Thea asked.
“Dundragon.” Excitement illuminated his face. “I was worried about my people there. I planned on sending Abdul and the army back with orders to distribute money and find a place for them. But now I don’t have to do that. I can take them to Scotland with me, can’t I?”
She should have known, Thea thought, her throat tightening with emotion. Ware would never abandon any burden he had willingly assumed. He would protect his world even if he had to take it with him. “Yes, you can bring them.” She swallowed and tried to steady her voice. “Providing they wish to come. You can’t just whisk them on board the ship. Abdul will have to give each person a choice.”
Ware frowned. “It wouldn’t be safe to tell them where we go.”
“No, so they must make the choice blindly. They may decide to stay here, where all is familiar.” She could see he was about to rebel. “I know you wish only to keep them safe, but I’ll have no one in this new land who obeys blindly. Only slaves act without free will. They will choose. Do you understand?”
She didn’t think he was going to agree, but then he nodded jerkily.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
They had almost reached the camp when he murmured, “But I’ll tell Abdul to make sure they know what a wondrous, free life they’ll lead if they go with me.”
“How can you promise—” She shook her head and gave up the battle. He was impossible.
An utterly impossible, stubborn, gloriously splendid man.
WHEN THEY REACHED THE CAMP, Ware moved with speed to divide his army. He sent one division under Abdul’s command back to Dundragon, and he took the other under his command. They broke camp and galloped away from Sinan’s mountain as the first weak streaks of dawn streamed through the clouds.
“I leave you here,” Kadar announced when they were safely out of the Nosarai mountains.
“What?” Ware asked, startled. “You’re not going with us to Scotland?”
“Of course I’m going. It’s clear you cannot do without me.” Kadar put spurs to his horse and said over his shoulder, “I’ll join you in eight days’ time at Hafir. Don’t sail without me.”
“But where are you going?” Thea asked.
“I have a task to complete.”
“No,” Selene shouted after him. “Come back. I won’t have it.”
Kadar waved. “Eight days.”
Ware grabbed Selene’s reins as she tried to ride after him. “You can’t follow him.”
“He’s going about that evil man’s business,” Selene said. “And he does it for us. I’ll not let—”
“You can’t stop him. Do you think I wouldn’t try? He’ll only slip away later,” Ware said. “Kadar always keeps his promises. He said he’d come back to us.”
“He shouldn’t do it.” Selene’s voice was agonized, her gaze on Kadar’s rapidly vanishing figure. “You don’t understand. It…damages him.”
“In eight days he’ll be with us,” Thea said, trying to comfort when there was no comfort to be had. She was as terrified as Selene. “He’ll come to Hafir.”
If he was still alive.
“What is it?” Thea edged her horse closer to Ware. It was the third time