Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [83]
Thea nodded.
“It’s beautiful. I don’t think you’ve ever created anything this wonderful.”
Thea knew she hadn’t, and it was growing stronger and more beautiful with every stitch.
“But it makes me feel uneasy. There’s too much…power.”
“That’s good. A banner should have strength and splendor.”
“It’s hard to look away from it. It fascinates.”
Thea didn’t answer.
“The other bolts of silk came last week. I left them in the wagon. There’s no use unloading them when we’ll need to take them to Damascus. Isn’t that right?”
Just a few more stitches and she could start on the scarlet. What had Selene asked? Something about the silk and Damascus. “You were very clever to think of getting the silk.”
“You’re not listening.” Selene sighed as she got to her feet. “I’m moving back in here with you again. It’s the only way I’ll be sure you get a little sleep.”
“Whatever you say.”
“And an entire army of turtles are eating the lions in the courtyard.”
“I’m sure it will be all right.”
Selene shook her head and moved over to the bed. “Nothing will be all right until you finish that banner.”
It was done.
Thea wearily straightened her back and stared at the banner. Three weeks and the most intense labor she had ever lavished on any work.
Glorious.
The banner still had to be hemmed, but the design was finished. The scarlet and gold leaped from the silk canvas and held her captive. She could not look away from it.
For an instant she experienced a flash of uneasiness. Selene was right. There was power here.
But wasn’t all beauty power?
And, of course, she could look away from that splendid scrap of silk.
She stood up and arched her back to rid it of stiffness. She felt strangely hollow, as if she had poured everything within her into the vessel of the banner.
Well, her strength would be replenished after she rested. She carefully took the silk off the frame and folded it. She would hem it after she woke and then give it to Ware.
If he was here. Selene had not mentioned his return. He might still be gone. This chamber had been her entire world for the last few weeks. The castle could have been seized by Saladin and she would not have known it. She would have to ask Selene when she woke…
She took off her gown as she moved across the room. Selene was sprawled inelegantly over the entire bed.
“Move over,” she whispered, nudging her.
Selene opened sleepy eyes. “Is it finished?”
Thea nodded as she crawled beneath the cover. “All but the hemming.”
“I’ll do that for you.”
“No, I have to do it. I have to do it all.” Her lids felt as if they bore weights. “But…tomorrow.”
Selene threw an arm over her and nestled close. “I’m glad it’s over,” she murmured.
Yes, it was over.
“You’ll do it at once?” Kadar asked as he watched the drawbridge being lowered.
Ware nodded. “There’s no use waiting. The longer she’s here, the longer she’s in danger. There’s no telling when the Grand Master will decide to strike.”
“I’ve no liking for this,” Kadar said. “It’s not a good thing.”
Didn’t Kadar think he knew that? “Then find another solution to keep her alive. God knows I cannot.”
“She will hate you.”
Ware nodded and spurred his horse across the drawbridge.
Selene was walking toward them across the courtyard, thin, small, but militant as the soldiers in the column behind him. “I’m glad to see you,” she said. “Why did you not come earlier?”
“Where is your sister?”
“Sleeping. She’s been sleeping for four days. She wakes only to eat and goes back to sleep.”
Ware frowned. “She’s ill?”
Selene shook her head. “Only weary unto death. She wanted to finish your banner before we left.” She turned to Kadar. “Your falcons are doing well. I think they like me better than they do you.”
Kadar grinned. “I wouldn’t be surprised. They probably feel a kinship for you. You have the same fierceness as Eleanor, while I’m a meek and gentle man.”
Selene grunted derisively. “As meek as a striking cobra.”
“Cobras can be meek as long as one is careful not to tread on them.” He got off his horse. “And it’s