Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [62]
Not for robbing him of a daughter but of a slave to give service. Kadar had had enough. He turned and strode toward the door. “I’ll send a messenger each day to see if she has returned.”
He paused outside the gates of the House of Nicholas. Where should he start? He knew nothing about Constantinople. Well, according to Nicholas, neither did Selene. The knowledge brought him a ripple of unease. Cities were all the same, infested with the wolves of the world, all ready to gobble up the innocent and unwary.
He could only hope he reached Selene before the wolves did.
DUNDRAGON
“I was right. Women have no head for chess,” Ware said as he looked down at the chessboard. “I find it very satisfying to beat you at the game.”
“Is that why you insist we play after we sup each evening?” Thea asked.
“No, I have another reason.”
“What reason?”
“Would you like to play another game?”
“What reason?”
He leaned back in his chair and smiled at her.
He wasn’t going to tell her. He often had those maddening moments of reticence, but they came less frequently now. “Well, I’ll play no more with you.” She pushed her chair back and stared into the fire. “And I could win, if it meant enough to me.”
“I know you could.” When she glanced up, he quickly amended, “At least, part of the time.”
She grinned at him. “Most of the time. Your attention wanders on occasion.”
“Does it? I must watch that fault. Such conduct could kill a soldier.”
“But not here.”
“No, not here.”
A comfortable silence fell in the firelit room. Who would have guessed she would ever be this comfortable with Ware of Dundragon? she mused. “Isn’t it time Kadar returned with Selene?”
“Soon. He may have had trouble persuading Nicholas to relinquish her.”
A flicker of anxiety disturbed the peace of the moment. “But he will be able to do it?”
“Kadar can be more manipulative and patient than Saladin himself. If he doesn’t wrest victory one way, he’ll approach it from another direction. He’ll bring her.”
“And what if he doesn’t?”
“She’ll still come to you. I’ll go after her myself.” He smiled grimly. “But my ways are not as civilized as Kadar’s. I may be forced to make orphans of you.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “You jest.”
“We’ve already established I rarely jest.” He shrugged. “So we must hope Kadar succeeds.”
“It would be too dangerous for you to journey to Constantinople.”
“The danger exists every time I leave Dundragon. The threat is no greater in Constantinople than in Damascus. I made you a promise.”
“But I would not have you die for it,” she said fiercely. “I will find a way to get Selene myself as I first intended.”
His gaze fastened intently on her face. “Promises must be kept.”
“Don’t be foolish. I survived many years in Nicholas’s house. Selene can do the same. A few years out of her life is not worth your death. I will not hear more of this—Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was wondering if you’d weep for me should I fall.”
“I do not weep readily.” His curious expression didn’t change, and it was making her uncomfortable. “And I see no reason why I should weep for a man who would risk himself so foolishly.”
“But you have a tender heart and you insist I’m your friend. Would you weep for me, Thea?”
She could not read his expression, but there was a note in his voice that made her hesitate to avoid the question. He was a man who lived constantly with death as his companion. Perhaps the knowledge that he would be mourned meant something to him. She met his gaze. “I would weep for you.”
He nodded slowly. “I believe you would.”
She could not look away. The room suddenly seemed to be without air. He was trying to tell her something. No, there were no words or thoughts, just…what? She didn’t know, but she could not bear this intensity. She tried to smile. “But I shall not weep, because Kadar is going to bring me Selene.”
“She is ready, my lord.” Haroun had appeared in the doorway.
Thea breathed a sigh of relief at the interruption. “What are you doing still awake, Haroun?” she asked him.
Haroun gave her an indignant glance.