Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [81]
Ware stood gazing out the window when Kadar strode into the Great Hall.
“Did you take Thea to your bed?” Kadar asked without ceremony.
Ware glanced at him before returning his gaze to the courtyard. “Is that what she told you?”
“She told me nothing in words, but her manner…Did you?”
Ware turned to look at him. “What did you expect? You know what I am. You asked her to bear me company.”
“I didn’t tell her to become your whore.”
“She’s not my whore. I won’t have you—” He broke off and shrugged. “It’s done. I won’t ask her to come back to my bed.”
“And what if she’s with child?”
“Then I’ll find a way to protect her and the babe.” He glared at him. “Do you think me so lacking in responsibility that I’d not consider that?”
“And what if she won’t permit you to protect her?”
“She will have no choice.”
Kadar shook his head. “There is always choice when one has strength.” He paused. “You’ve not told her that she cannot go to Damascus.”
“In time.”
“If you don’t send her, she’ll go anyway. She believes that she can lose herself in the city.”
“Not from Vaden. She’d need four walls and an army to keep him away from her.” He muttered, “And even that may not be enough.”
“Four walls and an army,” Kadar repeated. “That sounds uncomfortably like a prison. Thea has just escaped from one prison. She would not tolerate another.” His gaze narrowed on Ware’s face, and then he gave a low whistle. “You mean it.”
“She will live.”
“That’s why you brought the mulberry trees here. You were making a nest for her. A safe, cozy nest, behind stone walls. You were providing her with everything she needed to lure her to stay. That’s why you had me bring Selene. It was to be her own little world.”
“Why not? She would have been very comfortable here.”
“And what if she’d chosen not to stay?”
Ware met his gaze. “She would have been very comfortable here.”
“By all the saints.” Kadar shook his head in wonder. “I’ve underestimated you, my friend. I didn’t think you capable of such subtle machinations.”
“I’ll have no more innocent blood on my hands.”
“So you seek to protect your entire world.” He tilted his head. “Was I to be imprisoned in your castle also?”
Ware didn’t answer.
Kadar laughed. “You were going to do it. I cannot believe it.”
“I’m no fool. I hoped to persuade you to leave me, and if you would not—” He shrugged. “I’ve told Abdul that from now on four men are to protect you at all times.”
“So you’re putting me behind a wall of guards instead of stone.”
“Until I can convince you that life would be both safer and more pleasant in some far-off land.”
“But not as interesting. I’d miss seeing you attempt to keep Thea imprisoned here at Dundragon.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Thea can’t remain at Dundragon. Vaden knows about her, and he may have already told the Grand Master. If something happened to me, he’d know exactly where to find her, and I wouldn’t be here to defend the fortress. I have to find a safer place for her.”
“She prefers to find her own hiding place and take her own chances.” He sighed as he saw Ware’s implacable expression. “I fear I’m not convincing you.”
“How long before her silk arrives?”
“Wednesday of next week perhaps.” He nodded as he understood the relevance of the question. “You’re wondering how much time you have to find this haven? You have at least a month.” He smiled sardonically. “She wishes to repay your kindness by creating a banner for you. Though she may decide to wrap it around your neck and throttle you with it.”
“A month…”
“I’d be curious as to how you intend to find a haven for her in this land when you can find none for yourself.”
“I’ll have to consider,” he said. “But I will find it.”
“And after you find it, you have only to convince her to use it.” He turned away. “All this talk of prisons has made me uneasy. I think I’ll go to the tower to see my falcons. Do you know, I’m tempted to set Eleanor free today.”
“You’ve trained her too well. She would only come back to you.”
“One