Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [36]
“How young?”
“Ten years.”
He frowned. “Will he sell her?”
“You would buy her?”
“It’s the safest way to get her away from him. Is it possible?”
“If the price is high enough.” Her lips twisted bitterly. “Nicholas is a merchant, and all things have a price.”
“The price will be high enough.”
She hesitated. “There is something he may use to drive up the price. You should expect it.” She paused. “Selene is his daughter.”
He went still. “Yes, I’d say that would drive up the price. Is he your father, too?”
“Yes, my mother bore him three children. My brother died when he was born.”
“And he still kept you as a slave?”
“It was not unusual for Nicholas to use his slaves for pleasure…if they were comely. At least two other women bore him children. But they were boys, and Nicholas took them away and made them servants in his house.”
He said slowly, “I don’t think I like this Nicholas.”
She waved an impatient hand. “You don’t have to like or dislike him. You must just realize he’ll use her birth to ask a higher price. You must not act too eager or he’ll cheat you.” She was afraid to believe this was happening. Her dream of bringing Selene to freedom would come true not in a few years but in a matter of months. “You can really do this?”
“Kadar can bargain with anyone over anything. Why not a child?”
Simple words. Why not a child? Why not Selene? Yet they were words that meant everything. “How soon?”
“I’ll send him tonight…if it’s safe.”
“This is a miracle,” she said unsteadily. “I cannot thank—I will repay you. I vow it.”
“Miracles are not wrought by men like me. I’m not doing this for you or her. I’m doing it for me.” He moved over to the table and poured wine into a goblet. “I’ll have no more Jedhas.”
“No one could know that such an evil would be committed.”
“No?” He drank deep. “I’d wager the Grand Master de Ridfort didn’t consider what he ordered evil. He’s decreed any means are just if they bring me down.”
She stared at him in bewilderment. “Why are they so angry with you? What did you do?” she whispered.
“What did I do?” He poured more wine into his goblet. “They say I stole a wagonload of gold from the Temple storehouse. I’m sure you’ll not find that surprising. You called me a thief on our first meeting.”
“I didn’t know you.”
“But now you’re impressed with my honesty and gentle demeanor.”
“You have no gentleness, but I believe you to be honest. You’re too impatient to indulge in deceit.”
He smiled crookedly. “So even that attribute is tainted.”
“You do have one virtue. You keep your promises.” She met his gaze. “And that’s the only virtue I care about. You said you’d bring me Selene, and I believe you.”
He was silent for a moment, staring into her eyes. Then he turned abruptly away and said harshly, “Go back to the boy.”
She started for the door and then stopped. She did not want to leave him alone. Beneath that hard, rough exterior she sensed a pain so great it was almost incomprehensible. “What can—Is there—Can I help you?”
“Help?” He smiled mockingly. “Are you offering me your body as distraction?”
She flushed with annoyance. She should have known better than to try to comfort him. Only fools tried to stroke a wounded animal. “No.” She turned on her heel.
“Wait.” He was suddenly beside her. “My tongue is clumsy. I did not mean—I strike out when—” He muttered a curse and turned away. “Never mind.”
He had been trying to say he was sorry, she realized. She was probably foolish, but she had to try again. “May I help you?”
“I need no help.” He moved heavily across the room. “Yes, I do. One thing. Send someone with another bottle of wine.”
THE EMBERS OF the conflagration still glowed dimly in the darkness.
The odor of smoke and death was everywhere as Vaden moved slowly through the ruins.
When he’d seen that malevolent glow, he’d not been able to believe it. He had to come see for himself.
“You madman,” he murmured. “Is it worth this?”
The Grand Master thought killing Ware was worth destroying half the world. Vaden’s father no doubt agreed