Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [80]
She quickly looked away. “I thank you for caring for my sister. I think you know what it means to me.”
“I told you I would care for her.” He smiled. “Besides, Ware tells me that you’ve done what I asked of you.”
“What did he say?”
He didn’t answer for a moment, and she could feel his gaze on her averted face. “Only that you had grown to know each other.” He paused. “What else is there to say?”
It appeared Ware had not told him of their intimacy. He would learn soon enough from the servants, but she found she could not confide in him. “Nothing.” She moved on to the next tree. “It was not an easy task you set me.”
“Retrieving Selene was not easy either. But we both succeeded in what we set out to do, so all is well. Isn’t it?”
She nodded. “And it will be better once we reach Damascus.”
“Ah, yes, Damascus. When do you intend leaving?”
“I have a task to complete here that should take no longer than a month. After that, we will leave.”
“What task?”
“I promised Lord Ware a banner. I cannot leave until it’s completed.”
“A month doesn’t seem long enough to fashion a banner.”
“I’ll do it. I can be very determined if I set myself entirely to a task.”
“I know that well enough.” His expression was thoughtful. “Why Damascus? Wouldn’t another place do as well?”
She shook her head. “I considered many towns before I decided on Damascus. It’s a place well-known in the trade, and fine embroideries are treasured there. Our silk house wouldn’t do as well in another city. It has to be Damascus.”
“I see.” He didn’t speak until she had moved on to the next tree. “There’s a possibility Ware may decide Damascus is not safe.”
“I’ve heard Damascus is a vast city. It should not be difficult for two women to lose themselves in such a place. I’ll take the chance.”
“But will Ware?”
“I’m a free woman now, with a free will. It’s my decision to make.”
“Well, there’s no sense discussing it at the moment. You still have a banner to create. Tell me, what device will you use? A dragon breathing flames? Or perhaps a bull for obstinacy? Either would be appropriate for our friend Ware.”
“He says he doesn’t care. When I sit down to draw the design, something will come to me. It always does.”
“An idea falls from heaven?” he teased.
She didn’t smile in return. “I don’t know where it comes from, but it comes. My mother once said she had heard it is so with all artists. I sit down with pen and let the whisper tell me what to draw and then guide my needle.”
“Whisper?”
“Not a real whisper. It’s inside my head….” She shrugged helplessly as she realized she was making little sense. “Or perhaps my heart. I don’t know…it’s just there. Whatever it is, it brings beauty. Isn’t that what’s important?”
“I can’t think of anything more important,” Kadar said gently. “I’ll be interested to see this banner.” He bowed. “But now I must join Ware. We had little chance to talk last night. I will see you at dinner?”
At her nod, he moved down the path toward the castle.
She felt a vague sense of unease as she watched him go. He had posed questions and stirred uncertainty in matters she had thought perfectly obvious. But, then, it was Kadar’s way to question everything and everyone, and she had been too filled with new and different emotions to think with any clarity.
None of it mattered anyway. The trees were here and growing strong. Let Ware do what he willed with them. After today she would give them into Jasmine’s care and concentrate on Ware’s banner.
A strong, beautiful banner, a banner to raise the heart and bring memories of—
Memories of her? Was she so vain that she would use her gift in such a cause? she wondered in self-disgust. Memories came from the soul, not from a piece of silk. She did not need a banner to remember Ware. All her life she would—
Dear God, let those memories dim. Leave the sweetness, let regret fade.
But Ware would know regret. She felt she would have known if life stirred within her. The one gift he wanted, she would not give him.
But she could give of her talent and her labor. She would empty her heart