Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [35]
“No.”
“Then why did it?”
“My fault.” His voice was almost inaudible.
“What?”
“My fault. I thought it was the ones here at Dundragon who were at risk. That’s why I never let anyone but my soldiers stay too long. The villagers were no risk to them….” His fist pounded down on the windowsill. “Dammit, they were no risk.”
She drew a few steps closer. “I don’t understand. Why—” Then she saw his face.
Twisted, tormented with agony. She had never seen such pain.
“They killed them just to let me know they could reach me.”
“The Knights Templar? But they’re men of God. I can’t believe they would do that.”
“Believe what you like.” He drew a long, harsh breath, and she saw his face become a shield once more. “But I believe it, and I must make sure it doesn’t happen again. Never again. I cannot bear—I must protect—” He turned to face her. “And I’ll start with you.”
She took an involuntary step back at the sudden fierceness in his expression. “Me?”
“They know what goes on at Dundragon. They will know you’re here.”
“But I have nothing to do with you. I will leave here soon.”
“Haroun had nothing to do with me. He was here for only a few days. His mother died…the village died.” His hands fell on her shoulders. “I’ll not stand by and see anyone else die for my sake. I want to know who you are and who they can reach through you.”
“I wouldn’t tell Kadar.” She moistened her lips. “And I won’t tell you.”
“I’m not Kadar.” His grasp tightened on her shoulders. “I’m not gentle or kind. I’m selfish and angry, and I’d just as soon throw you into a dungeon rather than see you die because of me. I will know everything about you.”
“You’re hurting me.”
“You should know by now that is what I do. I hurt and kill and—” He broke off and then said haltingly, “You have a warm heart, and I think you must have people you care about. Tell me who they are so that I can protect them.”
Selene. But Selene had nothing to do with this. “She’s in Constantinople. She’s in no danger.”
“The Knights Templar are everywhere. They can walk into any palace in Christendom and demand what they like.”
“I can’t believe—”
“Even if you don’t believe, do you wish to take the chance?”
She didn’t know what to do. She could take no risk with Selene. Yet wasn’t revealing everything to him a greater risk to them both? “You’re certain it was the Knights Templar?”
“They wear a cross on their tunics, and when they enter the order, they’re commanded to grow their beards.” His lips twisted. “I assure you I had no wish for Haroun to tell me I’d murdered his village.”
“If I tell you…”
“You will tell me.”
She suddenly flared. “You won’t tell me what to do. I’ll decide what is best.” She paused. Kadar had said Ware always kept his word. Perhaps she could wrest some safety from this uncertain situation. “You must promise I will be free. You must promise that Selene will be safe and free.”
“Who is Selene?”
“You must promise.”
“I promise you will be free. Who is Selene?”
“My sister.”
“And where is she?”
“Still at the House of Nicholas. It was too dangerous to take her with me, not until I could find a place for us.”
“There is no one else?”
“No one I care about.”
“Then I’ll have her brought here.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “What?”
“You heard me.” He released her and stepped back. “I can’t be worrying about someone so far away. She’ll have to come here.”
Her heart leaped with hope. To see Selene again…
He turned away. “I’ll tell Kadar to go fetch her.”
“Wait.” She moistened her lips. “He may not want to let her go.”
He turned, waiting.
She hesitated and then said in a rush, “Selene is a slave.”
He did not change expression. “And you?”
“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “No. Not now. I’m a free woman.”
“But this Nicholas would disagree with you. You ran away?”
“It was not fair. I worked all my life in the House of Nicholas. My mother died in his service. I deserve to be free.”
“But he will want you back?”
“I have great value for him. He would be foolish not to want me back.”
“What of your sister?”
“She has