The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [14]
If he lived through it.
He would live. He wouldn’t let Sinan win by claiming either his soul or his life. He would come back to Montdhu.
He would come back to Selene.
Kadar wasn’t following any longer.
The drawbridge of the castle loomed ahead.
Selene could barely see anything in the dense shadows cast by the stone walls.
Soon she would be in her chamber, closing out the shadows, closing out Kadar.
Fool. She had been a fool. No more.
Build the wall again. Let no one in.
Safer that way. Let no one—
Agony seared through her left temple.
Darkness.
ALI BALKIR WAS WAITING on deck when Kadar walked up the gangplank of the Last Hope. “Good evening. What a fine ship you have. Almost as good as the Dark Star.”
“Better,” Kadar said curtly. He was raw and frustrated and in no mood to confront Balkir tonight. If the captain pushed him, he’d probably break the bastard’s neck. “Go back to your ship. I told you I’d—”
“Give me your decision tomorrow,” Balkir finished for him. “But Sinan gives neither of us a choice. I have orders and they must be fulfilled. We’ve waited too long already. I’ve decided we leave tonight.”
“Indeed?”
Balkir started to take a step back and then stopped. “It would be most unwise of you to harm me. If I don’t return to the Dark Star, the consequences will be most unpleasant. I’ve taken measures to assure your compliance.”
Kadar stiffened. “What measures?”
Balkir’s smile was smug. “It was necessary. The master must be obeyed.”
“What measures?”
“The woman. Lord Ware’s kin, the sister of his wife. We’ve taken her. At this moment she’s on her way to the Dark Star.”
“Selene?” Bluff. It had to be a bluff. “You lie.”
“I do not lie. I had Murad take her as she was returning to the castle.” He paused. “After we watched you coupling with her on the hillside.”
Terror iced through him. No bluff.
“Ah, you’re upset,” Balkir said. “It is natural. She is of some importance to you.”
It had been a mistake to let Balkir see that first response. It gave him a weapon. “She’s only a woman. I forgot her the moment I left her body. Why would you think anything else?”
“I don’t. As you say, a woman’s body is nothing, a toy.”
“Then release her.”
“But this woman is of importance to your friend Lord Ware. He will be able to barter her to gain lands and found alliances through marriage.” He tilted his head as if to consider. “Though her worth is considerably diminished since you’ve seen that she’s no longer a pure damsel. Still, she is comely, and that may help.”
Balkir was enjoying this, Kadar realized. The weasel thought he had the upper hand. “She’s of value to Ware. Not to me. Release her.”
“I think she is of value to you. I believe you would not want to face your friend with her blood on your hands.” He paused. “So you will come with me to the Dark Star and we will set sail at once.”
“You’ve done this for no reason.” His fists clenched at his sides. “Dammit, I was going to come with you anyway.”
“Then you’ll not mind coming now.” He moved toward the gangplank. “Before my men get impatient. They’ve had no women since we left Hafir, and fair-skinned women have only one purpose in their eyes. I’m sure Murad will tell them how willingly she took you between her thighs tonight.”
Kadar carefully controlled his rage. The time would come to kill Balkir, but this was not that time. “If I go, will you release her?”
“We will see.” Balkir’s smile was slyly triumphant. “I must think upon it. Come now. We must hurry.”
Selene’s eyes were closed, and a thin stream of blood trickled slowly from the wound on her temple.
“You bastard, you hurt her.” Kadar looked away from Selene lying on the bunk to cast a lethal glance at Murad. “How bad is it?”
“I think she’ll wake soon.” Murad instinctively moved closer to Balkir for protection. “It was necessary