Iris Johansen - The Treasure

Excitement gripped Kadar as his gaze followed him.

“What did he mean?” Selene asked.

“I’m not sure.” But he was beginning to catch a glimmering on the horizon. Impossible. It could not mean… No, impossible.

“He frightens me more than Nasim does,” Selene said. “He wants to destroy you.”

Kadar shook his head.

“Don’t be foolish,” Selene said fiercely. “You heard him. We must leave here. And don’t tell me you have to keep your promise to Nasim. I weary of such madness.”

“Then I won’t tell you.” She was frightened, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her. He knew she would not permit it. Instead, he gently touched her cheek with his forefinger. “I’d hate to risk your displeasure.”

“Don’t jest.” She moved her face to avoid his touch. “Will you come with me?”

“Soon.”

“Why not now, tonight?”

“Why are you so eager to go? There’s no more threat tonight than there was a week ago.”

“Yes, there is. He… It’s changing. He was-but now he’s-Something’s going to happen.”

He could feel it too. But to him the realization brought anticipation, not fear. “I’ve discussed with Tarik getting you out of the fortress and back to Montdhu. As soon as it’s safe, I’ll-”

“But you won’t go.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Thickheaded ox. Idiot. Buffoon. I want to strike you.”

She whirled and ran out of the hall.

He was tempted to follow and comfort her, but if he did, there would be more arguments. He would let her regain her composure and try to talk to her in the morning.

He picked up his pawn from the board and fingered it thoughtfully. Are we just the pieces on a chessboard to you, Tarik?

Maybe in the beginning, but that had changed. Kadar’s instincts told him that Tarik had become more involved than he wanted. Now that Tarik realized that truth, he would take action.

But what action?

Something was going to happen.

He was a fool.

Selene’s fist crashed down on the stone window embrasure. She wished it was Kadar’s stubborn head or his eyes that refused to see.

She leaned her cheek against the wall as she gazed blindly out at the courtyard below.

Why would he not listen to her? He saw the danger of Nasim, but he appeared oblivious to any threat from Tarik. Kadar didn’t seem to be aware of the dark tempest she could sense gathering around him.

They should leave this place. Balkir was no threat at all compared to Tarik.

And she was hiding in her chamber bruising her hand against a stone wall when she should be doing something about it.

Think.

What would force Kadar to leave?

It was difficult to reason. She was too frightened by that whirling storm she could sense coming nearer by the minute.

Something was going to happen.

____________________

Fear was causing her stomach to clench, but she was breathless with excitement.

It was the same feeling she’d experienced when she’d run away from the House of Nicholas those many years ago, Selene thought.

She drew her cloak closer about her. Breathe deep. Don’t show any emotion.

The guard of the south wall was standing at the head of the rope ladder a few feet above her. He was a young man but not obtuse. She could see he was wary of anyone invading his watch in the middle of the night.

She hoped not too wary. She had waved to disarm him before coming up the ladder. She smiled now as she accepted his hand and he pulled her up the last few feet. “I thank you.”

“You should not be here, Lady Selene.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I could not sleep.”

He gazed at her suspiciously.

“Lord Kadar visited Captain Balkir’s camp today. He said the captain threatened to storm the castle.” She shivered. “He frightened me.”

The young soldier’s demeanor softened a trifle. “You shouldn’t worry. His force is not large enough to prevail against us.”

“I’m not sure. Captain Balkir is a fierce, cruel man. I woke up a short time ago from a dream in which he was creeping closer and closer to this wall. I tried to go back to sleep, but I lay there shaking.” She nibbled at her lower lip as she gazed out into the darkness. “I thought if I could see for myself that he was nowhere near, I’d be able to rest. Is that his encampment over there?”

The soldier nodded. “And there’s been no sign of movement all night.”

“Are you sure? What if he’s managed to slip his men out of the encampment? What if he and his men are down at the bottom of the wall right now, just waiting to loose their arrows?”

He smiled indulgently. “There is no one here.”

“What if there is?”

“I will show you.” He took a step closer to the balustrade and leaned over so that he could see the ground directly below. “No sign of anyone. You see? No one at-”

He grunted as Selene struck him with the brass pitcher she had hidden beneath her cloak.

She caught him as he fell so that he wouldn’t tumble to the courtyard below.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She hoped she had done no more than stun him. He had seemed a pleasant young man.

An instant later he gave a low groan. A mixed blessing. Now she must worry about him regaining his senses before she could get down the wall.

She quickly untied the rope she had wound around her waist and tied it to an abutment.

The guard moaned again.

She slipped over the side and began crawling carefully down the wall.

“There you are.” Tarik threw open the door of the library and limped into the chamber. His dark hair was mussed but he was fully dressed. “I’ve been looking all over the castle for you. What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

Kadar closed the cover of de Troyes’s manuscript. “I remembered something and I wanted to reread a few passages.”

Tarik’s gaze narrowed. “Why?”

Kadar countered, “Why are you so concerned about my whereabouts that you come looking for me in the dead of night?”

“I thought you might have gone too.”

Kadar stiffened. “Gone?”

“Selene saw fit to knock out the guard on the south wall and leave the fortress.”

“Lord in heaven.” Kadar muttered a curse at his own stupidity. He had known she was upset. He should have followed her. “Haroun?”

Tarik shook his head. “She went alone.”

“And you came looking for me.”

“I didn’t think she’d be able to persuade you to leave, but I thought you might have followed and tried to find her.”

“I will,” he said grimly.

“No need. When the guard regained his senses, he saw Balkir’s encampment astir. The captain must have intercepted her as she was trying to escape.”

“She wasn’t trying to escape.”

“What?”

“If she had been trying to escape, she would have taken Haroun. She feels responsible for him.”

“Then why did she crawl down that wall?”

“I wouldn’t go with her. She knew I’d follow if she placed herself in Balkir’s hands.”

Tarik pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. “Clever.”

“I want to strangle her. By God, I’d wager she marched into Balkir’s camp and woke them up so that they’d take her prisoner.”

“That picture doesn’t lack a certain humor.”

“To me it does.” Kadar headed for the door. “I’m the one who has to get her back.”

“Wait.”

Kadar gave him a cold glance over his shoulder. “I won’t let her stay in Balkir’s hands, Tarik.”

“I didn’t think you would. I merely wondered if you wanted me to send an escort with you.”

“If Balkir thought there was any chance he’d lose her, he’d cut her throat. I’ll go alone.”