Lion's Bride - Iris Johansen [95]
“How is she?” Ware asked as Kadar rode into Dundragon’s gates on his return from that visit.
“In splendid health. In very bad temper.”
“Is Kemal treating them well?”
“Exceptionally well. Kemal is cosseting our Thea as if she were an empress.” He dismounted. “He wants nothing to happen to those magical fingers.”
Ware frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“He’s convinced himself that she’s a sorceress.”
“You’re jesting.”
Kadar’s lips were twitching, but he answered solemnly. “No, it’s true. He thinks she has the power to embroider spells into her cloth. He says he has proof of it.”
“I can scarce wait until you tell me what proof,” Ware said caustically.
Kadar took off his gauntlets and started across the courtyard. “Your banner. Thea gave him the banner she made for you. Kemal said every time he takes it into battle, he’s victorious. He’s had six skirmishes with bandits since you left her at El Sunan. No matter what the odds, he’s vanquished the foe.”
“Superstitious fool.” He frowned. “She gave him my banner?”
“Surely you didn’t expect her to send it to you with her fond regards?”
“No.” He knew his outraged response was out of proportion. He didn’t care about a banner he’d never even seen. But he did care that she had seen fit to slap him in the face in this manner. She could not have told him any more clearly that any feeling she had had for him was gone. Goddammit, he would not accept it. “It was mine.”
“And now it’s Kemal’s.”
“I want it back.”
“Back? You’ve never had it.”
He was not prepared to be reasonable. “She made it for me.”
“Are you willing to give up Thea’s haven and fight Kemal for its return? I assure you, he won’t give up his talisman without a battle.”
Of course Ware was not prepared to make such a sacrifice. “But I want it back.”
“Wait until he’s lost a few battles to prove this ‘magic’ false. Then I’ll approach him with gifts and sweet words and you’ll have your banner.”
“Did you see it?”
Kadar shook his head. “He uses it only when he rides into battle. At other times he keeps it in a special trunk with his armor.” He shook his head as he understood the direction in which Ware was going. “And I won’t steal it. I may be a magnificent thief, but I won’t risk my extremely handsome head when waiting will bring you what you want. We both know Kemal’s streak of good fortune cannot last.”
Ware knew Kadar was right. Kemal had been trained to protect a fortress against siege but did not have a warrior’s mind. The reason Ware had been able to strike a bargain with him so easily was that Kemal’s defeats were becoming too frequent and the sheikh was afraid of reproof from Saladin.
But he wanted the banner now. It belonged to him, just as she belonged—
Christ, what was he thinking? He could not have Thea, so he would take the banner and put her at risk again? This fragment of silk was not Thea and would bring only bitter memories.
No, the memories would be sweet. Thea lying next to him at night. Thea in the firelight, her brow furrowed as she looked down at the chessboard. Thea watering the mulberry tree with the sunlight on her hair.
“Ware?”
He turned to meet Kadar’s quizzical stare. Stop thinking like a lover. Maudlin sentiment would not keep her alive. “Forget the banner. I have no need of it.”
“You are sure?”
“I’m sure.” A thought occurred to him. “No, wait. Don’t forget about it. When Kemal starts losing battles, he’ll be too vain to blame himself. He’ll fault the banner. We may have to move if he also blames Thea. Increase your visits to once every month and keep watch on the situation.”
“These visits are not easy for me. I felt more welcome with the Old Man of the Mountain and his assassins.” He sighed. “I suppose I’ll have to call on all my reserves of charm and intelligence to get Thea and Selene to accept