Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [89]
Selene looked past Thea to the fretted windows. “This is not fair. We were free….”
“We’ll be free again. It may take a long time, but we will never be slaves again.”
“Goddammit, I told you that you weren’t slaves.” Ware stood in the doorway. “Why the devil won’t you believe me?”
Thea stiffened as she turned to face him. “Because you lie. Look around you. Do free women live behind bars?”
“If their husbands so decree.” He held up his hand to stop the barrage of words he knew would come. “I told you once that no woman is really free. I can’t give you freedom, but you’ll have every comfort here.”
“You didn’t give me freedom, I took it. Now you’re trying to take it away.” She said between gritted teeth, “I won’t have it.”
“Yes, you will. I’ve made certain—” He broke off and said to someone over his shoulder, “Yes, bring them in.” He stepped aside to allow four soldiers to enter carrying the bolts of silk. “Where do you want these? Here?”
Selene jumped to her feet. “No, I’ll find a place.” She moved toward the door Domo had indicated as leading to other chambers. “Come with me.”
Selene’s moment of uncertainty was clearly over, Thea thought. She watched her sister lead the soldiers into the adjoining room before she turned back to Ware. “She’s only a child. She doesn’t understand this. Find her a place in Damascus and set her free.”
He shook his head. “It’s not safe. Why do you think I had her brought from Constantinople?”
“To make my prison more bearable.” It was all clear now. Why hadn’t she seen it sooner? “You intended to keep me at Dundragon, didn’t you?”
“Yes, until Vaden gave me warning. Then I realized I’d have to find somewhere else to secrete you.”
“For how long?”
“Until it’s safe.”
Rage surged through her in a dizzying tide. “I won’t let you do this. I’ll make my own decisions and protect myself. You have no right.”
“I take the right.”
“I’ll never forgive you for this. I’ll curse you every day of my life.”
“I know you will.” His face was a shade paler as he smiled mirthlessly. “But perhaps this action will assure that your death will be a long time from now.” He turned way. “I’ll send Kadar here from time to time to make sure all goes well with you.”
“I don’t want him here.”
“He’ll still come. After all, I have to make sure Kemal is keeping to his side of the bargain. My services as a war lord are very valuable.” He suddenly turned around and looked at her, searching for words. He finally said hoarsely, “I could do nothing else. I couldn’t let you die. I couldn’t bear it if—” He broke off and made a helpless gesture with his hand. “I could do nothing else.” He whirled and strode out of the room.
He was gone and she was a prisoner. She wanted to run after him and rave at him, tell him that he could not do this to them.
But he could—he had already done it.
“Now, begone.” Selene was ushering the soldiers from the anteroom. “We want nothing more to do with you.”
The soldiers fled the chamber as if pursued. Selene must have given them a tongue-lashing. Thea would have smiled at such stalwarts being intimidated by one small girl if she had not been so enraged. “The silk is unharmed?”
Selene nodded. “Should I unpack our boxes?”
It would be good for Selene to be busy. “Yes.” Thea moved back to the window. Ware had mounted his horse and was looking down at Kemal. They were speaking, probably discussing her and Selene’s imprisonment, Thea thought bitterly. Then Kemal stepped back and Ware lifted his hand and moved toward the open gates.
Thea’s fingers gripped the keyhole openings in the fretting. He was leaving. He was riding through the gates.
A wave of despair and desolation rocked her. She knew now she had not believed it would happen, that he would really desert them in this alien place.
“Thea?” Selene was standing beside her. “Don’t worry. I was frightened at first, but we’re together and that makes it better. Everything will be