Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [144]
“But we’ll still have our house of silk?”
“I’m not sure what the conditions will be for the making of silk.” Her lips tightened. “But if we cannot make it, we’ll get it from somewhere and I’ll still have my house. I’ll persuade Ware to settle near the sea. Where there are ships, there can be trade. No one need know where the embroideries come from, and if they’re fine enough, people will be too glad to get them to ask questions. We’ll find a way.”
“Good,” Jasmine said. “Now I must go pluck Tasza from Abdul. He has more important things to do than listen to her chatter.”
“So we’re to settle near the sea,” Ware murmured from behind Thea. His hands fell on her shoulders, affectionately kneading them.
“It will be good for you also. It’s safer to have a way of escape if we’re attacked,” Thea said. “You’re taking me to this land of mists and mountains. I should be the one to say where we live in it.”
He chuckled. “And what we are to do once we get there.”
“I’m telling you what I’m to do. You may do as you wish as long as the danger is not too great.” She leaned back against him. “You must take great care of yourself so that you can protect our son and daughter.”
“Daughter? Before, it was only a son.”
“I decided I must have a daughter to learn my skills. So you must stay home enough to get me with child at least twice. A son would probably be like you, running about the countryside and making war.”
“A hideous prospect.”
Warmth rushed through her as she thought of a son with Ware’s eyes and great heart. “Not so hideous.” She qualified, “If he doesn’t have your obstinacy.”
His lips brushed her ear. “I believe I can promise to be at your side any time you require me. In fact, you’ll have to sweep me out of your presence when I’m not wanted.”
She would want him every minute of every day. She wanted to linger there even now when she should be overseeing the unpacking of the wagons. She sighed and stepped out of his arms. “I have to find Selene and have her help me. She needs to keep busy. She’s been watching the road for Kadar since we set up camp.”
“So have I,” Ware said. “Perhaps she’s right—maybe I was wrong to let him go.”
And was now suffering his usual burden of guilt. “You weren’t wrong. What you said was true. Kadar would have found a way to go anyway.” She added to comfort herself as well as him, “It’s only been five days. He said he would return in eight.”
Ware nodded. “He’ll keep his word.”
Kadar did not arrive in the next three days.
Nor on the day after.
Selene did not eat or sleep. She did nothing but watch for Kadar and care for his falcons, which Abdul had brought from Dundragon. Thea had tried to keep her busy, but the ship was quickly loaded and ready to depart. Now they could only sit and wait.
At sunset on the tenth day Thea climbed the hill to Ware, who was sitting, watching the road. His face was almost as strained as Selene’s, she thought wearily. Her own expression was probably equally drawn. She sat down beside him. “What will we do if he doesn’t come?”
“I’ll wait another two days and then you’ll set sail. I’ll go in search of him and we’ll join you in Scotland.”
She had no intention of setting sail without him, but she would not argue now. “You don’t even know where he went.”
“Sinan knows.”
She closed her eyes. Dear God, she didn’t want him to go back to that devil’s stronghold. “Is there no other—”
“He’s coming!”
Thea’s lids flicked open to see Selene running down the hill toward the road. She jumped to her feet.
A rider was on the horizon, a dark silhouette against the setting sun.
“Selene, come back. It may not be—”
“It’s Kadar.” Selene’s shout rang with joy. “Do you think I don’t know him?” She had reached the road and was running toward the rider. “It’s Kadar!”
Her voice was so certain, Thea’s heart leaped with hope. She ran after Ware, who was already striding down the hill.
“Ah, you come to greet me,”