The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [121]
“I’ll get it. Stay here.”
She didn’t argue with him. Her gaze was fixed in fascination on the burning tents. Death and destruction—and justice.
“It’s done, Haroun,” she whispered.
Layla and Tarik met them as they rode into the camp.
“The grail is safe.” Selene jerked her head at the chest tied to Kadar’s saddle. “You can see for yourself.”
Neither made a motion toward the chest.
“And how are you?” Layla asked.
How was she? She didn’t know. Sad. At peace. “Tired, I suppose.” She slipped from the saddle. “I just want to go to sleep.”
“Nasim?”
“Dead.” She grimaced. “According to Vaden, they’ll all be dead before he’s through.”
“It’s safer,” Tarik said.
“I know.” But she didn’t want to think about it. She was exhausted. Her legs felt unsteady as she moved toward her tent.
Kadar was there, his hand beneath her elbow.
“I don’t need—”
“Hush. Yes, you do. It’s all right to need someone. God knows, I need you.”
He was right, she did need him. It was time she accepted that need. She let herself lean against him as he helped her to the tent.
It was dark when she woke, and Kadar was sitting cross-legged on the ground beside her pallet. It was like the night after she had come to Tarik’s villa, she thought drowsily. No, not really. Kadar had been strange and forbidding then, and there was nothing threatening about him tonight.
He smiled down at her. “You slept deeply. It’s almost dawn. Do you feel better?”
“I think so. I had dreams.”
“Nightmares?”
She nodded. “Nasim. He was a terrible man. He deserved to die. Why should he plague my sleep?”
“He shouldn’t. The dreams will go away.”
She shivered. “I hope so.” She sat up and brushed her hair back from her face. “Has Vaden returned?”
“Over an hour ago.”
“And?”
“There will be no one returning to Maysef.”
“What about the Dark Star?”
“It’s docked near Rome. It seems we have a ship to take us home to Montdhu. Of course, we’ll have to get a new crew.”
“Home.”
“You do want to go home?”
“Yes.” Montdhu. She longed to see it again with aching intensity. She wanted to leave these foreign shores and go back to all that was familiar and beloved. “Don’t you?”
He nodded. “But I have a decision to make.”
“The grail? Why should you have to care for it? Let Tarik and Layla do it.”
“Perhaps.” He smiled. “But I’m feeling a small tugging of responsibility.”
And he might still choose to do it. “Why should you? You had no choice about taking Eshe.”
He became still. “What did Layla tell you?”
“Everything you should have told me.” She tossed aside the cover. “Now, go get me some food. I need to wash and eat before I talk of such matters.”
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “We don’t have to talk at all. There’s time.”
“More time for you than for me.” She turned away. “That’s why we must talk. Later we will go for a walk and discuss this.”
The sky was a glory of pink-scarlet as the dawn broke over the ruins of Pompeii. It seemed impossible that it had only been a day since they had stood on this same spot, Selene thought.
“I was going to tell you,” Kadar said.
“When it suited you.”
“It seemed better to wait.”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure I believe any of this, you know.”
“I know.”
“But you do?”
“As much as I can with no proof.”
She looked away from him. “Then I want you to give me the potion.”
He stiffened. “Why?”
“What difference does it make? Just give it to me.”
“It makes a considerable difference. I’ve been struggling to keep myself from persuading you since I was told about Eshe.”
“Then stop struggling. The battle’s won. Go to Tarik and tell him to give it to me.”
He shook his head. “Not because I want it.”
“Very well, then do it because I want it.”
“But you don’t. You told me you’d never choose it.”
“I was afraid.”
“And you’re not afraid any longer?”
“Maybe,” she whispered.
He looked at her.
“All right, I’m still afraid. But I’m more afraid of not taking it. I won’t leave you alone. You need me.”
“That’s a poor reason.”
“I’m not reasonable about this. The entire idea is mad. Why should I be sane?”
“Because I won’t let