Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [91]
“I cannot change my mind.” Ware’s tone was fierce with leashed frustration. “How many times must I tell you? You wouldn’t have helped me if you hadn’t realized there was no other way out.” He kept his gaze straight ahead. No use looking back. Don’t think about her face when she realized she had been betrayed. It was done. “Unless you can offer a solution, be silent.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. You could take her far away from this land.”
“I’ll not leave here.”
“Don’t you think it’s time to forget pride and remember good sense?”
“Pride?” He gave him a weary glance. “My God, do you still think I’d care if anyone thought they’d chased me away?”
Kadar studied him and then slowly shook his head. “No, I do believe you may have changed. I wonder why?”
“Jedha. Isn’t that enough?”
Kadar seemed about to argue but held his peace. “So why not leave the Holy Land?”
“It would do no good. The Templars are everywhere.”
“But not in such numbers. The world is wide. You might be able to find a pocket of land where you’d be safe.”
“And would Thea be content to hide herself away? You know she would not. She has a dream. She’d fly away to the nearest city to set up her silk house. Sooner or later Vaden would find her.”
Kadar gave a low whistle. “Then it’s Thea who keeps you here.”
“It’s my fault she’s in danger. She’s my responsibility.”
“A responsibility that may cause you to be slaughtered like those poor souls at Jedha. Protecting Kemal’s borders isn’t going to be an easy task.” Kadar again glanced over his shoulder at the gates. “One wonders which one of you is the real prisoner.”
“Ask Thea. She has no doubt.”
“I fear her judgment is clouded at the moment.”
Clouded by anger and bitterness and hatred, Ware thought. She had looked at him with the same horror and distrust as the night he had found her in the desert. No, it was not the same; it was far worse. “Then you’ll have to make your own decisions. She’s not likely to change her mind.” Christ, he had to get away from Kadar. He would keep talking, and each word was like a blow from a mailed fist. He spurred ahead and left Kadar and El Sunan far behind.
Ware kept a brutal pace for the rest of the journey, and Dundragon came into view near dawn of the next day.
Ware reined in his horse and called over his shoulder, “Kadar.”
Kadar rode forward. “You’ve decided I’m worthy of conversation? You’ve been very rude, you know. I should ignore you completely and—”
“If I don’t return in three days’ time, tell everyone to leave Dundragon and scatter to the four winds. Then go to El Sunan and take Thea and Selene away.”
“Return? Where are you going?”
Ware’s gaze lifted to the third mountain.
Kadar instantly shook his head. “From what you’ve told me, it will do no good to offer yourself as sacrifice.”
“I’m no martyr. I’ve no intention of letting Vaden kill me. I only need to talk to him.”
“Because he’ll know you took Thea to El Sunan? You don’t think Kemal could protect her?”
“Not if Vaden decides he wants her dead. Kemal could keep her safe from everyone else, but not from Vaden.” He turned his horse. “Protect my people at Dundragon.”
“And who will protect you?” Kadar called after him. “He’s been stalking you for years, and now you wish to skewer yourself on a spit for the serving.”
Ware didn’t answer.
“You need me. I won’t have you killing yourself when your life is mine.”
“The best way to make sure he slays me is if I don’t go to him alone,” Ware said. “Three days.”
He could hear Kadar cursing with frustration as he rode toward the third mountain.
Vaden was watching him.
Ware stared into the flames of the campfire.
He was there in the darkness behind him. Ware had heard nothing, but he could feel him.
The white flag he’d speared into the ground glimmered in the darkness to the right of the campfire. The Grand Master would disregard any truce gesture and strike him down. Who knows? Vaden might do the same. He must have grown as tired of this game as Ware. No, no one on earth could be that weary.
“Are you