Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [92]
Silence. Then an amused chuckle and the sound of footsteps behind him. “You were never subtle in your challenges, Ware. Did you think a charge of cowardice would bring me running?”
“It did.”
“I was planning on joining you anyway. I was merely waiting to see if you were desperate enough to set a trap for me.”
“Under a flag of truce?”
“Desperation can change a man. I’ve pushed you hard.” Vaden sat down across the fire from him. He took off his helmet and ran his hand through his tawny hair. “And, after Jedha, you’ve reason to wonder if there’s any honor left in the world.”
“You had nothing to do with Jedha.”
“How do you know?” Vaden’s dark eyes narrowed. “How can you be sure? Perhaps I was growing weary of cat and mouse and wished to stir you to action.”
“You wouldn’t do it. You’re not capable of such an act.”
“Ah, but you’re wrong. You’re judging me by your own standards. You could never have committed that depravity, but I’m fully capable of any sin. It’s merely a matter of choice with me.”
“Foolishness. Sin is always a question of choice. You wouldn’t have destroyed Jedha.”
“Have it your own way.” He held out his hands to the fire. “But, then, you always did. You could always see only one path. Right was right. Wrong was wrong. There were no shades in between. At times I envied you that blindness.”
And Ware had envied Vaden’s cleverness, the coolness, the ability to hold himself aloof even in the heat of battle. It was strange that their differences had not prevented them from becoming friends. His own hot-headedness and eagerness had been balanced by Vaden’s control and cynicism. He had never felt he entirely knew Vaden, but he’d sensed that whatever lay beyond that icy, beautiful exterior was no threat to him. Sadness rushed through him as he thought of that time that would never return. “There were no shades of right and wrong about the massacre at Jedha.” He paused. “Or about the killing of Philippe. There might have been some reason to kill Jeffrey. He had trespassed, but not Philippe.”
“The Grand Master said he knew too much.”
“He knew nothing. Even if I’d confided in him, he would never have told anyone.”
“They couldn’t be sure. He was a weak man.”
“A poor excuse. I’m not weak, but you’ll kill me for the same reason.” He added with sudden harshness, “For God’s sake, you know me. I would keep my vow.”
“Perhaps. But you always had a soft heart. If you were given the choice of another Jedha or telling what you saw in the Temple, which would you choose?”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“Which would you choose?”
He met Vaden’s eyes across the fire. “Life, goddamn you. I’d choose life.”
“I thought as much.”
“And so would you.”
Vaden shook his head. “A tiny village or the end of our world as we know it? You know what chaos could ensue. I assure you that I wouldn’t choose your Jedha.”
“I don’t care what you say. You couldn’t do it. You’re not like them.”
“No, I’m not like them. I’m worse. They wish to kill you in the name of God. I’ll do the deed to protect myself and my place in life.” His smile faded. “I hope you believe me when I say that it’s not by my will. When I found out it was you who had fled the Temple, I wanted to throttle you. Why in heaven couldn’t you keep your curiosity in check? If I’d been there, I’d have put a sword through you before I’d have let you go down to those caves.”
“You know Jeffrey. He wanted to see what was secreted down there. If I hadn’t gone with him, he would have gone alone.”
“Christ.” Vaden shook his head. “I should have guessed. Will you never learn you can’t protect the entire world? You should have let Jeffrey run his own risks.”
“He was my friend,” Ware said simply. “My brother.”
“And so was I. So much for friendship. In our own way we’ll both be the death of you.”
“I’m not dead yet.” He lowered his gaze to the fire. “I don’t want to talk about the Temple. That’s not why I came here.”
“The woman? Did you really think Kemal could protect her from me?”
“No, that’s