Iris Johansen - The Treasure

“And we have to stay here?”

He nodded.

Her hands clenched into fists. “Is there nothing we can do?”

“Escape?” He shook his head. “I must do the task he sets me, or everything I won from him will be lost.”

“And you hate to lose.”

“So do you. Particularly when it affects the people you love.” He crossed to the window and looked down at the courtyard below. “I must stay with you in this chamber. It’s not safe for you to be alone.”

She stiffened.

“Don’t fight me on this. We’ve shared a chamber before and for the same reason.” His tone was abstracted. “I’ll make a pallet on the floor.”

“It’s necessary?”

“Without question.”

“Then, of course, I’ll permit it.”

“I won’t inflict my presence on you overmuch. Nasim will allow me the freedom of the fortress and the countryside.”

“But not me or Haroun.” It was a statement.

“Haroun can be allowed limited freedom. It’s not safe for you to leave the chamber.”

But Kadar would be wandering among these assassins and would often be in Nasim’s presence. The thought chilled her. She said lightly, “You need not think I will permit you to abandon me. I will not suffer boredom here any more than I would on the Dark Star. You must entertain me.”

He smiled faintly. “Oh, must I?”

“Yes, and I need something else to wear. I’m weary of these rough garments. Fetch me cloth and needle and thread. And I may wish you to help me with them.”

“You want me to sew?”

“Are you too proud?”

“Pride? I’ve set myself to humbler tasks, but I find it unusual you would require my aid.”

She shrugged. “You are here. You might as well help.”

“Anything else?”

“Not now. Perhaps later.”

“I’ll journey forth immediately on the quest.” He turned and headed for the door. “Bolt the door and open it only to me.”

She leaned her forehead against the wood of the door after she had bolted it behind him. Everything was going amiss. She had meant to keep Kadar at a distance, but she had been forced to draw him closer. Well, it was only for the short time she was here.

She would not let that evil man have Kadar.

“SWEET MARY,” Kadar swore softly as he stabbed the needle viciously through the soft muslin. “You will not be able to wear this gown. It’s stained with the blood of a thousand pinpricks.”

“It’s brown.” Selene bent to stir the fire in the hearth before settling back on her stool. “The blood will hardly show at all.”

He scowled at her. “I have no liking for this task. Why must we sew in the evening as well? I might survive if I could see what I was doing.”

“The fire gives adequate light. We’ve only completed one gown. I need another.”

His gaze suddenly lifted from the cloth. “Do you? I think not.”

“Why else would I go to this bother? Do you think I like hearing you curse and moan over a little pinprick?”

“A little pinprick? My fingers are-” He paused. “Very clever. You almost distracted me.” He set aside the cloth and linked his arms around his knees. “You don’t need another gown. You wish to keep me with you.”

“Nonsense. Your vanity is out of all bounds.”

He looked at her, waiting.

“Why should I wish to keep you with me? You curse and moan and I must show you stitches that a babe would learn in the cradle.”

“You’re trying to annoy me.” He smiled. “But I would never be so ungallant as to show anger to my savior.”

“Savior? I don’t know what you mean.”

“We’ve never talked about it, but you know. You’ve always been my savior.” His gaze shifted to the flames. “It’s so easy to walk the dark path. Easy and exciting. And once you’ve tried it, you always want to go back. It’s like the first scent of hashish. You want more.”

“But you didn’t want more. You left here.”

“Because I didn’t want to be like Nasim. I could see myself being drawn deeper and deeper… Life has never treated me with any particular kindness, and I liked the idea of the power Sinan and Nasim wielded.”

“Nasim is evil.”

“Yes, but then, so am I. Most men have a wicked streak.”

“You’re not evil. You may be witless and unfair, but you’re not like him.”

“Part of me is. But I can control it, if I have reason to fight him.” His gaze shifted from the fire to stare directly into her eyes. “You give me reason, Selene.”

His dark hair shimmered in the firelight, and his eyes…

Dear God, she was melting. She wanted to reach out and touch him.

She would not be drawn like this. She would not be hurt again.

She tore her gaze away. “Then find another reason. I won’t be responsible for your virtue or lack of it.”

“You can’t help yourself.” He smiled. “Why else am I here suffering grievous wounds? You don’t trust me enough to let me out of your sight.”

“I can help myself. I just choose to-Haroun and I have no one else in this horrible place. It’s only sensible to-Don’t laugh at me.” She threw the gown at his head.

“Ouch.” He pulled the gown from around his face and gingerly touched the scratch on his cheek. “You could have removed the pins.”

“Go away. Go to that hideous old man and walk your dark path. What do I care? I don’t want to see you-”

He was heading for the door. Panic raced through her.

“Wait.” She struggled for words. “You cannot leave with this gown half finished. I won’t-”

“Shh.” He smiled at her, his warm, beautiful smile. “I’m not going to Nasim. I’m going to take a walk in the courtyard. I’ll return before the hour has gone.”

She tried to hide her relief. “It’s nothing to me where you go.”

“My God, you’re stubborn.” He sighed. “Sometimes I wish you were not quite as strong as you are. It would make my lot much easier.”

She didn’t feel strong. She was shaken. He had never spoken to her of his past and his struggles before. Seeing beyond that cool, mocking facade made him seem infinitely closer. She didn’t want him closer. “If you’re going for a walk, do it.” She snatched up the gown again and began to stitch. “Don’t come back tonight. I won’t have you waking me up.”

The night was clear and cool, and a full moon cast a silver luminescence on the gray stones of the courtyard. It was the kind of night Kadar had hated when he had been in training here. It was difficult to move with the deadly invisibility Nasim required on such an evening, and failure was met with swift and brutal punishment. But he had learned; moonlight merely meant adjustments, distractions, and a-

“So she released you from woman’s duties?”

Kadar turned to see Nasim coming toward him. “I released myself.” He wasn’t surprised Nasim knew what transpired behind a closed chamber door. Nasim made it his business to be aware of everything that happened. “I felt in need of air.”

“Why do you let her dishonor you in this way?”

“To learn a new skill is never a dishonor. It may be useful later.”

“You wish to make more gowns for women?” Nasim asked contemptuously as he fell into step with him.

“No, but sewing a gown requires the same skill as stitching a wound.” He glanced at Nasim. “What do you want?”

“Perhaps I also need air.”

“Then you would go to the battlements, as you usually do. I’d wager you saw me down here and decided to join me. Why?”