The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [118]
“Oh, yes.” He smiled and drew her into the tent. “By all means, come lie with me, my love.”
The tents hugged the side of the cliff that overlooked the western slopes just as Nasim’s messenger had told Kadar when he had met him earlier.
Kadar reined in a hundred yards distant.
It was not as formidable a sight as Nasim’s full force, but it was dangerous enough.
Kadar could see Nasim and Balkir standing in front of the largest tent, their eyes fixed on him. He could count at least twenty assassins milling about the camp.
Well, he had known it would be so. He would just have to rely on wits and opportunity.
He kicked his horse into a trot.
“Where’s the coffer?” Nasim demanded.
“It’s close by. Do you really think I’d bring it here?” Kadar’s gaze traveled around the circle of men surrounding Nasim. “What would stop you from slicing my throat and taking the coffer anyway?”
“My promise.”
Kadar chuckled. “That is amusing.”
“Where is it?”
“I’ll take you there. But only you and Balkir. We’ll stay within view of your men, but I’ll want a head start once you have the grail.” He glanced at Balkir. “Go fetch the bags of gold and tie them to your saddle.”
Nasim shook his head. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“What do you fear?” Kadar gestured toward the steep drop beside which Nasim’s camp was situated. “You’ve seen that no trap is possible. I defy anyone to climb up that cliff.” He took his dagger from its sheath and dropped it on the ground. “And I’m unarmed.”
Nasim was silent for a moment, then mounted his horse. “Let’s go. But we stay in sight of the camp.”
“Balkir?” Kadar asked.
“I don’t like this,” Balkir said.
“Fetch the gold, Balkir,” Nasim said.
Balkir hesitated and then went into the tent. He came out a moment later carrying four sacks and tied them to his saddle.
“Very good,” Kadar said.
Balkir glared at him as he got on his horse and followed them from the camp.
“Where did you hide the grail?” Nasim asked when they were several hundred yards from the camp.
Kadar nodded toward a clump of boulders in the distance. “Not far.”
“I’ll not go behind those rocks. I stay in the open, in full view of my men.”
“Of course.” Kadar nudged his horse to a faster pace. “I didn’t expect anything else.”
When they reached the boulders, he jumped down from his horse and disappeared behind the rocks. A moment later he returned, carrying the wooden chest. He set it down in front of Nasim. “Both of you get down and look at it.”
Balkir slowly dismounted, his gaze on the coffer. Nasim was already off his horse, his face flushed with eagerness. “That’s it?” he whispered. “It’s really the grail?”
“I’d be a fool to bring you anything else.” He opened the chest and pulled off the purple silk cover. The gold of the coffer shimmered in the sunlight.
Nasim reached for the coffer.
Kadar stepped in front of it and glanced at Balkir. “Haven’t you forgotten something?” he asked softly.
“Do it yourself,” Nasim said impatiently. “You don’t need a dagger for such a one.”
“Not with every assassin in your camp looking on.”
“Oh, very well.” Nasim drew his dagger, whirled, and plunged it into Balkir’s heart.
Balkir’s eyes glazed over, an expression of shock forever frozen on his face.
Nasim watched him fall to the ground before turning back to Kadar. “Satisfied?”
“Yes.” Kadar stepped away from the front of the coffer. “Quick. Graceful. But I could have done it better.”
“No one does it better.” Nasim stared hungrily down at the box. “Open it. Do you think I’ll turn my back on you?”
Too bad. He’d hoped Nasim’s eagerness would have overcome his caution. It would have taken only a few seconds to attack from behind and break his neck. “And do you think I’ll turn my back on you?”
“It doesn’t matter. The grail’s not there anyway,” Selene said.
Kadar went rigid. He whirled