Iris Johansen - The Treasure

“Safer than she was here,” Tarik said. “She has Haroun and my best man, Antonio, to guard her. Antonio has instructions to join us in Rome to tell us that she’s safely away, as soon as she boards the ship.”

“Rome?”

“This place isn’t safe for either of us any longer. We can’t count on Nasim sitting quietly outside the gates forever.”

Kadar was cursing.

“Why are you so upset? You once asked me to send her away.”

“It was different then. You shouldn’t have done it. Not with Nasim waiting outside the gates to pounce on her. Not without telling me.”

“I didn’t abduct her. It was her choice to go. She knew it was best.” He met Kadar’s gaze. “And so do you. She’s safer at Montdhu. You heard Nasim. As long as she was within his reach, he would try to use her against you.”

“You had no right. She’s mine.”

“Think.”

Kadar didn’t want to think. He wanted to strangle Tarik. “I would have gotten her safely away. I would have taken her to-”

“And had Nasim following you. That would have put her in even more jeopardy. My way is better. It will keep you both alive.” He shook his head as he saw Kadar’s expression. “You’re too angry to reason now. I’ll come to see you when you’ve had a chance to grow calmer.”

“I’m not going to get calmer about this,” he said savagely.

“We’re not game pieces for you to move at will.”

“If you were, my lot would be much easier,” he sighed. “You’re both very difficult people. Selene trusted me. Cannot you do the same?”

Kadar didn’t answer.

“I’ve made plans for us to leave the castle tonight after midnight. Come to my chamber, and please be ready.”

Kadar uttered an obscenity.

Tarik shrugged and started up the stairs. “Later.”

Kadar’s hands clenched at his sides as he watched him go. He felt helpless and enraged and terrified.

Selene.

He had always known where she was, always been able to reach out and protect her since they had come together when she was a child. Now she was alone, on her own. It didn’t matter that Tarik had done what Kadar would probably have done in his place. He had no right. He should have told him. He should have let Kadar go with her and put her on the ship himself.

And Nasim would have followed.

Tarik still had no right. Kadar would not let-

He was letting anger shatter his control and keep him from thinking. That was dangerous. If he had learned nothing over the years, it was that only the stupid allowed rage to control their emotions.

Selene was out there and he was helpless to protect her.

He drew a deep breath. Tarik had urged him to think. He would think.

But he doubted if Tarik would care for the results of his pondering.

It was almost midnight when Kadar strode into Tarik’s chamber.

Tarik was sitting quietly in a chair by the fire, reminding Kadar of the first night he had come to the castle.

“Ah, I presume this means you are to go with me?” Tarik asked.

“Perhaps. When I have answers.” He moved toward the carved chest across the room. “I’m weary of your secrets. Unlock the chest. I want to see the grail.”

Tarik shook his head.

Kadar turned and stared into his eyes. “I’m not asking you. Unlock the chest or I’ll smash it open.”

Tarik shook his head again. “You’re not one who smashes. That would lack both subtlety and finesse.”

“I don’t feel in the least subtle.” He paused. “And I would take great pleasure in smashing either you or your chest at the moment. Take your choice.”

“I don’t like either one. Suppose I choose to argue instead,” Tarik said. “I believe you need an incentive. Naturally I’m taking the chest with me. Suppose I agree to open it when we reach Rome?”

“Now.”

He studied him. “I suspected that you’d be angry but not that you’d lack reason. It convinces me that I was right in sending Selene away. She’s truly your Achilles’ heel.”

“Unlock the chest.”

“You’re not ready.”

“Unlock it.”

“In Rome.” He hurriedly held up a hand as Kadar took another step toward the chest. “Wait.”

Kadar stopped. “I want answers. Give me answers and I’ll wait until we reach Rome to see the grail.”

Tarik sighed. “Very well. Ask your questions.”

“Is it truly the grail in the box?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“I’m tired of your forked tongue. Answer me.”

“I did.” Tarik met his gaze. “I think you’ve already reached some conclusions of your own and merely want me to confirm them. Isn’t that true?”

“Perhaps.”

Tarik chuckled. “It is true. Was it the manuscript?”

Kadar was silent.

“Tell me. What secrets did I reveal by showing you my wonderful book?” He leaned forward. “Am I the magician Nasim believes me to be?”

“No.” He paused. “You’re no magician.”

“Oh, dear, don’t tell Nasim. He would be very disappointed.”

“I wouldn’t think of telling him. Not after you’ve gone to all the trouble of trying to fool him.”

“Have I done that? In what manner?”

“I believe you wrote the manuscript yourself.”

Tarik’s smile faded. “Interesting. And what led you to such a belief?”

“In every Celtic legend mentioned in the manuscript, there is a fisher king who is custodian of the grail. He’s always crippled. The coincidence is too blatant. You wrote the manuscript yourself.”

“Why would I do that?”

“How do I know? Maybe to lead Nasim to believe that the custodian must be crippled and so make you the obvious choice. Perhaps it’s part of the games you and Nasim play. Perhaps surrounding yourself with mystic powers is your way of protecting your treasure.”

“Wouldn’t it be more logical to assume Nasim is right about my powers? Or don’t you believe in magic?”

“In my life I’ve seen many things I cannot explain, but this I know. You’re not a magician, Tarik. Though you may be clever enough to fool Nasim into believing you are.”

“I’d have to wish to fool him very much indeed to spend years creating that weighty manuscript. You think me that patient?”

Kadar slowly nodded. “I think you can be anything that you wish to be.”

“I wish that were true.” Tarik sighed wistfully. “Life would be so much easier.”

“Did you write the manuscript?”

“I did not.”

“Did you have it written?”

Tarik smiled. “It could be that I had a little to do with its creation. I’ve told you how I worship books.”

Kadar pounced. “Then you admit it?”

“My only admission is that you’re entirely correct in assuming that I’m no magician.” He stood up and limped toward the door. “Now pick up the chest and follow me. It’s time we left.”

“I didn’t say I’d go with you.”

“Of course you’ll go with me. There was never any question of that. The only way you’ll know Selene is safe is to accompany me to Rome to receive the message from Antonio. Besides, you wouldn’t want to stay here. You’ll be lonely. I’ve given orders that within four days Sienbara is to be abandoned. My men will use the tunnel and fade into the countryside. I’ll leave no sacrifices for Nasim to vent his anger upon.” He turned at the door. “Wait here. I have to go down and fetch the manuscript. It’s only a matter of time until Nasim discovers that we’re gone. I can’t chance him going into a fury and destroying it.”

“You act as if the manuscript is more important than the chest.”

“You find that unusual?”

“Not if there’s no de Troyes and you created the manuscript.”

Tarik smiled. “That would be a singularly good reason. But another would be that, to me, the written word is more priceless than any treasure. You can try to decide which is the most likely on our way to Rome.”