The Treasure_ A Novel - Iris Johansen [60]
“It can change everything. But it must not, in this case. You’re better apart.”
Apart. Separate. She felt a surge of loneliness. “I agree, but not because you say it.” She could feel his gaze on her back as she walked quickly down the corridor.
Kadar turned away from the window when she came into the chamber. He gazed at her searchingly. “Are you well?”
“Why shouldn’t I be well? Do you think a few sharp words can hurt me?” She turned back the coverlet on the bed. “It’s time for your nap. You’ve been up too long already today.”
“Tarik shouldn’t have said that. It was my decision. The fault was mine.”
“Of course it was. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I realized it immediately once I thought about it.” She gestured to the bed. “Now come over here and lie down. Tarik may think you well, but I don’t believe it.”
He hesitated, then crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. “I truly don’t need rest. It seems I’ve done nothing else of late.”
She pushed him down and pulled up the cover. “Be silent and close your eyes.”
“I won’t go to sleep.”
“Close your eyes.”
“Then I won’t be able to see you. You wouldn’t deprive me of my only pleasure?”
He was smiling coaxingly and she could not resist him. She didn’t know when she’d see that smile again. Perhaps never. She sat down on the stool beside the bed. “Do what you like. I’ve told you what’s good for you.”
“You are good for me.” He winked. “And, if you’d slip into this bed beside me, I’d show you how you could cure all my ills.”
She was tempted. Not for the passion that she knew would come but to be near him one more time. What was she thinking? It would only make the agony of parting more intense. Just sitting here by him, she was painfully aware of every nuance of his voice, his every expression.
“No?” He sighed. “I thought Tarik’s words might have inspired enough guilt to make you waver. It seems a long time since the tower.”
“You told me I had no guilt.”
“But when have you ever listened to me?”
“When you speak wisdom instead of foolishness.”
“Ah, you admit I’m not completely foolish.”
“Not completely.” She heard the first hint of unevenness in her voice and knew she must cut the conversation short. “Only when you chatter when you should be sleeping. I will no longer indulge your idiocy.”
“There’s something wrong.” He was studying her face. “God, you look tired. Rest. Don’t come to me tomorrow.”
She nodded slowly. She wanted to keep on looking at him, but she shifted her gaze. He always saw too much. He mustn’t see more than the expected weariness.
He mustn’t see the pain.
______
“Hold the torch higher.” Selene held on to the wall as she carefully negotiated her way down the stone steps. “It’s black as pitch down here, and these stairs are slippery. Do you want me to tumble down them?”
“Stop complaining. I’m the cripple, not you.” Tarik held the torch a little higher. “We haven’t much farther to go. The door to the tunnel is just beyond the next flight of steps.”
“And you’re sure Haroun will be waiting for me in the woods?”
“I told you, I sent him and my man Antonio out earlier this evening so they could fetch the horses from the village.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face her. “Stop questioning me, Selene. You know this is no trap.”
“How do I know?”
He smiled. “Because you trust me.”
“And is that why I ran away?” she asked sarcastically.
“No, you ran away because I was foolish enough to think that I could alter fate by frightening you into action.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re saying you wanted me to go to Balkir’s camp?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps. I’m human. I’ve wavered to and fro since you and Kadar came into my life. My motives can sometimes be twisted by emotion.” He swung open the heavy iron door. “It didn’t alter the situation. Fate seldom allows diversion from her chosen path.”
She tensed as she stared into the darkness.
“You’ll be safe.