The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [126]
“Wait,” Kadar said.
Tarik shook his head. “Now isn’t the time to talk. You’re too upset with Layla, and I’d feel the necessity to defend her. Much better to let everything settle and let you become accustomed to the situation.”
“When? Another hundred years?”
Tarik chuckled. “Much sooner. You’ll be surprised.” He raised his hand and put spurs to his horse.
Layla lingered a moment. “The babe,” she reminded Selene. “Send word.”
Selene nodded, still in a daze.
Layla’s smile lit her face. “I told you Eshe was wonderful.”
The next moment she was riding out of the courtyard after Tarik.
Selene’s knees felt suddenly weak. She abruptly sat down on the steps and watched the wagons roll slowly out of the courtyard.
“Are you well?” Kadar asked quickly.
She nodded. “It’s just that—I never expected—I thought I’d lost—”
“Idiot woman.”
“She’s not an idiot.”
“No, she’s a ruthless, self-absorbed—”
“Hush.” She couldn’t deny the condemnation, but she felt the need to defend Layla. “She was desperate. She loves Tarik.”
“So she gave you no choice. Do you know what a struggle I’ve had to keep myself from giving in to that temptation? And that blasted woman had already given it to you.”
“Why are you so upset? It would have come to the same thing anyway. I’d already told you what my decision would be.”
“That doesn’t matter. What if you’d changed your mind later?”
She shook her head. “I’m relieved. Now I don’t have to put up with your noble restraint for the next five years. I couldn’t bear such—”
“I’ve brought you a present.” Vaden galloped into the courtyard. “Though I doubt if you’ll like it overmuch. I would not.” He got down from his horse and untied the wooden chest. “Tarik said to tell you it was now your responsibility. He was starting anew and there were enough bones of contention to plague him.” He set the chest down on the stones of the courtyard. “So here it is.”
“Take it back to him,” Kadar said.
Vaden shook his head. “I don’t want him distracted. I have use for him. That’s the only reason I agreed to deliver it to you.” He got back on his horse. “Give Ware my greetings.”
Before they could protest, he’d galloped out of the courtyard.
Selene stared at the carved chest.
Kadar muttered a curse. “By God, I won’t be saddled with this against my will. I’m tempted to ride out of here and leave it sitting there.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“What?”
“It isn’t against your will. I think you’d already made up your mind. I think you were looking forward to it.”
“And what of you? Was I going to force it on you as well?”
She shook her head. “But you hoped . . .” She closed her eyes. She felt in a fog, drunk. “Let me think for a moment. Everything has happened too fast. I never dreamed—”
“There’s nothing to think about. It’s bad enough that you weren’t given a choice about Eshe. You don’t want this.”
“Don’t I?”
“You know you don’t.”
“I didn’t think I did. I only wanted to take the potion because it was the only way we could be together. It seemed there was too much danger of unhappiness. . . .” Her eyes opened and she slowly stood up and moved toward the chest. She put a tentative hand on the carved top. It felt smooth, pleasing beneath her palm. “There’s still that danger.”
He stood watching her.
“But there’s something else too.” Her hand moved in a gentle stroking motion. “I told you I didn’t think Eshe was a miracle, but if it saved my baby, then it can’t be anything else. If it saved my baby, then it’s worth protecting. Maybe it’s as wonderful as Layla thinks it is.”
“May I point out you’re thinking with your heart and not your mind?” Kadar asked gently.
“What’s wrong with that?” Her palm left the wooden chest and rested on her abdomen. No flutter of life, but it would come again. She was filled with wonder at the realization. Life. Eshe. “Feelings are good. Instinct is good. I’ll let you think