Lion’s Bride

Chapter Eighteen

WHEN THEY REACHED THE CAMP, Ware moved with speed to divide his army. He sent one division under Abdul’s command back to Dundragon, and he took the other under his command. They broke camp and galloped away from Sinan’s mountain as the first weak streaks of dawn streamed through the clouds.

“I leave you here,” Kadar announced when they were safely out of the Nosarai mountains.

“What?” Ware asked, startled. “You’re not going with us to Scotland?”

“Of course I’m going. It’s clear you cannot do without me.” Kadar put spurs to his horse and said over his shoulder, “I’ll join you in eight days’ time at Hafir. Don’t sail without me.”

“But where are you going?” Thea asked.

“I have a task to complete.”

“No,” Selene shouted after him. “Come back. I won’t have it.”

Kadar waved. “Eight days.”

Ware grabbed Selene’s reins as she tried to ride after him. “You can’t follow him.”

“He’s going about that evil man’s business,” Selene said. “And he does it for us. I’ll not let—”

“You can’t stop him. Do you think I wouldn’t try? He’ll only slip away later,” Ware said. “Kadar always keeps his promises. He said he’d come back to us.”

“He shouldn’t do it.” Selene’s voice was agonized, her gaze on Kadar’s rapidly vanishing figure. “You don’t understand. It…damages him.”

“In eight days he’ll be with us,” Thea said, trying to comfort when there was no comfort to be had. She was as terrified as Selene. “He’ll come to Hafir.”

If he was still alive.

“What is it?” Thea edged her horse closer to Ware. It was the third time in the past hour he had reined in and looked back over his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t tell me nothing. I won’t have it.”

“Vaden.”

She inhaled sharply. “Did you see him?”

He shook his head. “But I feel him.”

“You set a man to watch our rear. He’s not reported any riders.”

“He would see an army, he wouldn’t see Vaden.”

“Then he may not be there. You cannot know.”

“I know. He’s been watching me so long, sometimes I feel as if he’s a part of me.”

She moistened her lips. “And what if he is following us? He’d be mad to attack. One man against so large a force. He’s never taken a chance before.”

“We’ve never been this close to escaping before. He must know by now that we’re heading for Hafir. By tomorrow we’ll be under Sinan’s jurisdiction again, and even Vaden would have trouble getting to us there.” He put spurs to his horse. “I don’t think he’ll wait. Let’s get out of these woods before dark.”

Dark was already falling, and in the dimness trees loomed on either side of the path, shadowy ghost figures hovering over them.

Like the shadow that was Vaden.

Thea muttered an imprecation and followed Ware. “Come along, Selene. Hurry.”

“What’s wrong?” Selene asked as she came abreast of her.

What could she say? A threat that could not be seen, only felt? Yet Thea could not discount the danger when she remembered how Ware had sensed Vaden that day at the mulberry grove. Oh, she didn’t know. Perhaps in some mystical way the two men were joined. “I’m not sure. Ware doesn’t like these woods.”

“I don’t either, but it’s less rough than those mountain trails.” Selene stood in her stirrups and peered ahead. “I think the forest ends a little after we cross that stream. It’s difficult to tell with all these shadows, but I don’t see any more trees.”

Ware was already slowly crossing the shallow stream, his gaze searching the shadows on either bank.

He reached the other side of the stream and waved at them to cross.

They were almost at the other bank when fire arched out of the heavens toward them.

“Christ!”

Thea barely heard Ware’s exclamation as she saw the burning arrow speeding toward her.

No, not toward her. The burning arrow struck the water in back of her.

The ribbon of water exploded into a wall of flame!

“Dammit, get out of the stream, Thea.” Ware’s voice.

Selene was directly in front of her. Couldn’t he see she couldn’t move until Selene reached the other bank?

She could hear the soldiers shouting, horses neighing in terror on the bank behind her. She glanced back to see that they were cut off by the wall of flame licking down the stream. As she watched, the fire leaped up onto the bank, catching bushes, moss, and piles of dry leaves ablaze.

“Thea.” Selene had reached the other bank. Sparks had ignited the trees there. Soon Selene would be surrounded by an inferno.

“Don’t wait.” Thea desperately nudged her horse forward, but he was rearing, struggling, terrified by the combination of water and flames licking at his hindquarters. “Go ahead. Get out of the trees.”

Selene did not move.

“Go!” Ware’s hand came down hard on the rump of Selene’s horse and set him tearing through the blazing trees toward the clearing. Then he was riding back into the blazing stream.

“No, you have to go too. The fire is—”

“Be silent,” he said harshly. “Do you think I’ll lose you now?” He grabbed her horse’s reins and with sheer might jerked the beast’s head down. He wheeled his horse and started across the stream. “Hold tight and kick him—hard.”

She obeyed and then clung desperately as Ware half dragged, half pulled the horse through the water.

Fire.

All around them.

Devouring trees and bushes like a hungry monster.

So fast. How could it spread so fast?

Curls of black smoke before them and behind them.

Searing their lungs, stinging their eyes.

She could only pray that Selene had made it through the woods in time.

They reached the shallows and the horses struggled up the bank.

She realized with despair that she could no longer see the clearing through the dense smoke.

“Take a deep breath and hold it.” Ware’s hand tightened on her horse’s reins. “We’re going through.”

The acrid breath she drew hurt her lungs, but she had no time to think of pain.

Smoke.

Black as the deepest reaches of hell.

Heat.

She closed her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks from her stinging eyes.

She couldn’t hold her breath any longer. It rushed out and she was forced to inhale. She was immediately punished by a fit of coughing.

She couldn’t breathe. Panic rushed through her as she began to gasp.

Ware was coughing too.

Dear God, they were going to die in this blackness.

“Thea!”

Selene. Thea opened her eyes and could see nothing. But she had heard Selene’s voice just ahead. She must not be caught in this hideous trap. “Don’t come back. Don’t—” She broke off as she began coughing again.

“It’s all—right,” Ware gasped. “We’re—through.”

How could he say that? The smoke…

No, it was lighter, a thick gray fog instead of a black wall.

The sky, she could see the sky. Cool, twilight purple and glittering icy stars. “Thank God.”

The horses sensed salvation too. They streaked toward the edge of the forest.

They reined in as they reached the plain, and Ware slipped from his horse. He was still coughing as he lifted Thea down and reached for his water skin. “Drink.” He handed it to her. “Slowly.”

She was coughing so hard, she couldn’t swallow. She finally managed a small drink. Gentle balm on her tight, dry throat. She handed him back the water skin, and he carefully sipped the water. His face was so smoke blackened, he looked like a Nubian, she noticed wearily. She probably looked the same. “But where’s Selene? I heard her just ahead.”

“We’ll find her.” He drew his sword. “He doesn’t want Selene.”

She stared at him.

“It was Vaden’s arrow. Water doesn’t catch fire by itself. He poured oil on the stream.”

The arrow. She had not thought beyond surviving the fire, but now the threat of Vaden returned. “He wanted to kill us with the fire?”

“Don’t be foolish. I merely wanted to separate you from the others. I knew Ware would manage to get you through the blaze.”

She whirled at the unfamiliar male voice.

A man in armor was strolling out of the forest, sword drawn. Selene was walking before him, fingers clenched.

“Vaden,” Ware murmured.

Vaden’s face was as soot blackened as Ware’s, and he looked like a devil from the hell they had just come through. But his sword was from this world and poised only inches from Selene’s back.

Thea took a step forward and said fiercely, “Let her go.”

“He jerked me from the saddle just as I reached the plain.” Selene glared at Vaden over her shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting him.”

“Even so, I had trouble subduing her,” Vaden said. “In the smoke I had no idea she was the child. I thought she was your lady, Ware.”

“Get away from her,” Thea said. “If you want a hostage, take me.”

“Unfortunately, I will have to take you. You’ve given me no choice.” He added regretfully to Ware, “You should never have described the throne to her. I was hoping to find some way to spare her.”

“I didn’t, dammit. The design on the banner was just coincidence.”

Vaden lifted a brow in disbelief.

“I tell you, I didn’t lie to you.”

Vaden shrugged. “It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s gone on too long. It has to be finished.”

“Or you’ll kill Selene?” Thea asked. “She’s only a child.”

“He won’t do it,” Ware said.

“No? I watched many children being killed at Acre only a short time ago. No one saw me flinch.”

“You witnessed the massacre?”

His lips curled. “Oh, yes, from the best vantage point by the side of the Grand Master.”

Terror tore through Thea as she thought of the callousness it would take to watch the killing of twenty-seven hundred souls.

“Good,” Ware said.

Thea turned to stare at him in astonishment. His expression as he looked at Vaden was filled with eagerness and some other emotion she could not define.

“I assure you there was little good at Acre that day.” Vaden gestured to the sword in Ware’s hand. “I’ll give you a chance. Come forward and do battle.”

Ware didn’t move. He said softly, “It was like Jedha, wasn’t it? All those helpless and innocent dying.”

“The helpless and innocent always die, only the strong survive. We both know that. Come forward and do battle.” He smiled. “Who knows? You may kill me and live.”

Ware still didn’t move, his gaze searching Vaden’s face. He slowly shook his head. “Battle would be too easy for you. The blood runs hot and makes it hard to reason. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

“The time for thinking is over.” Vaden’s hand tightened on his sword.

“Yes, but realization has just begun.” Ware threw away his sword.

“What are you doing?” Vaden said harshly.

Ware walked toward him, unarmed.

What in heaven was he about? Thea thought desperately.

“Step away from him, Selene,” Ware said.

“I will not. What foolishness is—” Selene broke off as Vaden swept her aside with one swing of his arm. Then he took an eager step forward.

“You wish to kill yourself? Then come ahead, Ware.”

“No, I wish to save myself. Life has never been sweeter.”

“Then pick up your sword, goddammit.”

Ware took off his helmet and dropped it onto the ground. “You see, I’m making it easy for you, Vaden. Just as I did once before.”

“There were reasons why I didn’t take your life then. They don’t exist now.”

“I think they do.” He fell to his knees before Vaden and jerked his mail down to bare his throat. “Strike now. One clean blow should do it.”

“Stand up and get your sword,” Vaden said between his teeth.

“Were they forced to kneel at Acre?”

“Stand up.”

“I told you that you couldn’t do it.”

“I can do it.”

“Then one clean blow.”

Vaden raised his sword.

“No!” Thea started toward them.

“Stop, Thea.” Ware’s gaze held Vaden’s. “This isn’t your concern. You couldn’t reach me before his sword anyway.”

“ You’re my concern.” But he was right, she realized in despair, and her interference might hasten the blow. “I’ll kill you myself if you hurt him, Vaden.”

Ware ignored her. “Strike, Vaden.”

Vaden’s blackened features were twisted. Thea had never seen a wilder or deadlier visage. His hand tightened on the hilt of the sword.

The blade sliced through the air.

It passed by Ware’s head by no more than an inch.

“Goddamn you.” Vaden hurled the sword to the side. “May you burn in hell.”

“If I do, I won’t be sent there by your hand.”

“Don’t be too sure. A momentary weakness.”

“A realization.” Ware rose to his feet. “It comes to all of us.”

“Because I’m choking on blood after Acre?”

“Because you realize I’m your friend and you love me,” he said simply.

Vaden stared at him. “Christ, what a fool you are.”

“I was a fool,” Ware said. “I always thought you were a threat. I didn’t understand that you were there protecting me.”

“Protecting you?” Vaden repeated, stunned. “You’re truly a madman.”

“No, you always stood between me and the rest. Even if you didn’t realize it. Think about it.”

“I won’t think about it. It’s not true.”

“Then pick up the sword and kill me.”

Vaden glared at him. “This softness won’t last. I’ll come after you again.”

“I’ll welcome you,” Ware said. “As friend to friend.”

The sound that came from Vaden’s throat was the frustrated growl of a tiger robbed of its prey. He turned on his heel and strode back toward the forest.

For the first time in the encounter Thea drew a deep breath.

Vaden rode a white stallion out of the woods a moment later. “Hand me my sword.”

Ware reached down and handed him the weapon hilt first. He stood looking up at him, the blade of the sword between them.

Thea stiffened as she saw Vaden’s hand open and close yearningly on the hilt.

“A fool like you doesn’t deserve to live,” he said. “Fortune blessed you today, Ware.”

“A good friend is always a blessing.”

Vaden shook his head incredulously. He put spurs to his horse and started to ride away. He had gone only a short distance when he reined in, wheeled his horse, and galloped back. Before they knew what he was doing, he had gathered the reins of Ware’s horse, then Thea’s.

“What are you doing?” Ware called, startled.

“You can’t expect fortune to give you all its bounty. You made me very angry. It will be pleasant to think of the two of you walking the rest of the way to Hafir.” He smiled maliciously. “I’d walk very fast, if I were you. A troop of Knights Templar cannot be more than a day’s ride behind you on the trail.”

He was gone in a flurry of dust.

Thea watched him tear across the plain in bemusement.

“I was stupid,” Selene said in self-disgust. “It’s all my fault. I made you lose the horses.”

“It could have been worse.” Thea suddenly realized what an understatement that was and began to chuckle. “Oh, yes, it could have been much worse.” She turned to Ware. “Do we start to walk or wait until the fire dies out?”

“What?” His tone was absent. “Oh, we wait. I don’t want to risk being caught in the open. The fires on the other bank were minor. He torched only this side of the stream. It should burn out before dawn, and the men should be able to cross.”

She frowned. “He shouldn’t have killed those trees.”

“Better the trees than us,” Selene said. “The fire is drawing closer. I’ll go get my horse before the flames do.” She moved toward the edge of trees and then stopped. “No, it’s your horse now, Thea. I shouldn’t be allowed to keep it when I made you lose yours.”

Selene had to be feeling exceedingly guilty to sacrifice her horse. “I’m sure that Ware can persuade one of his men to lend me a mount.”

Selene’s expression brightened. “Oh, good.” She still hesitated before saying haltingly, “I would appreciate it if you would say nothing to Kadar about my stupidity.”

“You were surprised. It wasn’t—”

“It was stupid. ”

It was clear Selene was not accepting words of comfort. “Ware and I won’t mention it to him.”

Selene muttered as she strode away, “Not that I should care if he thinks me foolish when he’s idiot enough to wander away into Lord knows what danger.”

Thea turned to see that Vaden was almost out of sight. “You were so certain he wouldn’t kill you?” she asked Ware.

“No.”

She whirled to face him. “Then why did you run the risk?”

“I wasn’t sure I could best him in battle. If he’d killed me, he would have been committed to his course and been forced to kill you too.”

“So you put your head under his sword.” Her hands clenched. “I may kill you myself. Vaden was right, you are a fool.”

“It was the only way to save us all.”

She shivered as she remembered how close that sword had fallen. “Was he really protecting you all these years?”

“I think so.” He whispered, his gaze on Vaden, “God, I hope so.”

“You risked too much for hope.”

He finally turned to face her and smiled. “How can you say that? When it was you who taught me to hope again.”

Five days after Thea, Ware, and Selene reached Hafir, the wagons from Dundragon came.

Wagon after wagon, filled with furniture and goods and people, poured into the valley. Behind the wagons walked a stream of more men, women, and children.

Ware gave a low whistle. “We may need another ship.”

“What did you expect?” Thea asked. “You see, choice is best. There’s little for them here but one kind of slavery or another. They know you will guard and care for them even in a foreign land.” As she knew he would care and guard her. “I wonder if—” She broke off when she saw Jasmine walking behind the second wagon. “There she is.” She had thought Jasmine would come, but there was always a chance she would stay behind. She ran toward the woman. “Jasmine. I’m so glad you decided to come with us. I was afraid I’d have to send for you later.”

“Where else would I be?” Jasmine asked. “But I would rather go to Damascus than on this ship to nowhere. I’ve never been on the water and I hear it’s a fearsome experience.”

“Neither have I sailed. But Selene did all the way from Constantinople, and she says it can be quite pleasant when the weather is fine.” She looked searchingly beyond Jasmine. “Where’s Tasza? Didn’t she come?”

“Of course she came. She’s lolling behind talking to Abdul. She cannot see or hear anything but him when he’s within a mile of her.” Jasmine looked down at the ship in the harbor. “Abdul said it belongs to the Old Man of the Mountain. Some of our people are afraid that death clings to it.”

“It’s safer for us than a ship flying under any other flag.” She added gravely, “But I cannot promise safety. I cannot even tell you where we’re going until we set sail.”

“But we’ll still have our house of silk?”

“I’m not sure what the conditions will be for the making of silk.” Her lips tightened. “But if we cannot make it, we’ll get it from somewhere and I’ll still have my house. I’ll persuade Ware to settle near the sea. Where there are ships, there can be trade. No one need know where the embroideries come from, and if they’re fine enough, people will be too glad to get them to ask questions. We’ll find a way.”

“Good,” Jasmine said. “Now I must go pluck Tasza from Abdul. He has more important things to do than listen to her chatter.”

“So we’re to settle near the sea,” Ware murmured from behind Thea. His hands fell on her shoulders, affectionately kneading them.

“It will be good for you also. It’s safer to have a way of escape if we’re attacked,” Thea said. “You’re taking me to this land of mists and mountains. I should be the one to say where we live in it.”

He chuckled. “And what we are to do once we get there.”

“I’m telling you what I’m to do. You may do as you wish as long as the danger is not too great.” She leaned back against him. “You must take great care of yourself so that you can protect our son and daughter.”

“Daughter? Before, it was only a son.”

“I decided I must have a daughter to learn my skills. So you must stay home enough to get me with child at least twice. A son would probably be like you, running about the countryside and making war.”

“A hideous prospect.”

Warmth rushed through her as she thought of a son with Ware’s eyes and great heart. “Not so hideous.” She qualified, “If he doesn’t have your obstinacy.”

His lips brushed her ear. “I believe I can promise to be at your side any time you require me. In fact, you’ll have to sweep me out of your presence when I’m not wanted.”

She would want him every minute of every day. She wanted to linger there even now when she should be overseeing the unpacking of the wagons. She sighed and stepped out of his arms. “I have to find Selene and have her help me. She needs to keep busy. She’s been watching the road for Kadar since we set up camp.”

“So have I,” Ware said. “Perhaps she’s right—maybe I was wrong to let him go.”

And was now suffering his usual burden of guilt. “You weren’t wrong. What you said was true. Kadar would have found a way to go anyway.” She added to comfort herself as well as him, “It’s only been five days. He said he would return in eight.”

Ware nodded. “He’ll keep his word.”

Kadar did not arrive in the next three days.

Nor on the day after.

Selene did not eat or sleep. She did nothing but watch for Kadar and care for his falcons, which Abdul had brought from Dundragon. Thea had tried to keep her busy, but the ship was quickly loaded and ready to depart. Now they could only sit and wait.

At sunset on the tenth day Thea climbed the hill to Ware, who was sitting, watching the road. His face was almost as strained as Selene’s, she thought wearily. Her own expression was probably equally drawn. She sat down beside him. “What will we do if he doesn’t come?”

“I’ll wait another two days and then you’ll set sail. I’ll go in search of him and we’ll join you in Scotland.”

She had no intention of setting sail without him, but she would not argue now. “You don’t even know where he went.”

“Sinan knows.”

She closed her eyes. Dear God, she didn’t want him to go back to that devil’s stronghold. “Is there no other—”

“He’s coming!”

Thea’s lids flicked open to see Selene running down the hill toward the road. She jumped to her feet.

A rider was on the horizon, a dark silhouette against the setting sun.

“Selene, come back. It may not be—”

“It’s Kadar.” Selene’s shout rang with joy. “Do you think I don’t know him?” She had reached the road and was running toward the rider. “It’s Kadar!”

Her voice was so certain, Thea’s heart leaped with hope. She ran after Ware, who was already striding down the hill.

“Ah, you come to greet me,” the rider called. “A fitting welcome for one who has striven ceaselessly on your behalf.”

It was Kadar.

Selene had already reached him and grabbed the reins. “You’re late. You broke your promise. You said eight days.”

“I had a few problems discharging my task.” He got down from his horse. “And I knew you would wait. It’s not often people are gifted with such a splendid individual in their midst. You would have been most depleted by—” He broke off. “Tears, Selene?”

She angrily brushed them from her cheeks. “I always cry when I’m angry. You should have kept your word. You should never have gone.”

“But you told me to go.” He reached out and touched the child’s wet cheeks with exquisite gentleness. “What a beautiful treasure tears can be. I thank you for the gift.”

“Are you mad? I didn’t tell you to go,” Selene said. “I would never have told you to do the bidding of that Old Man. I want to slap you.”

“But Sinan didn’t set me this task. You did.” He turned and glanced back the way he had come. “You said you wanted your boxes of embroidered silks. It was not easy. I had to find horses and someone to drive the wagon, and then we had to dodge both Richard’s and Saladin’s forces on the way here. At one point we had to backtrack and go around—”

“You went after our embroideries?” Thea interrupted, stunned. “You have them?”

“Ali should be in sight any moment—Ah, there he is.” Kadar gestured at the wagon silhouetted against the horizon. “I could not bear the slowness of the wagon, so I hastened ahead to—”

“We thought you went on Sinan’s task,” Ware said gruffly.

Kadar was genuinely surprised. “Why? I said nothing about Sinan.”

“You said nothing about anything,” Selene said. “You just left.”

“More tears. Your anger must be truly great.” He smiled coaxingly. “Will it lessen if I promise I’ll tell you when I go to pay Sinan’s price?”

“No, it will never lessen. You’re stupid and without kindness or—” Her voice broke and she stalked away from them.

Kadar sighed. “I thought I was doing a good deed. It’s going to be difficult being owned by such a one.” He hurried after her. “Think of your beautiful embroidery I saved from the weather and the ants. Does that not deserve praise instead of harshness?”

She did not answer.

“And consider the risk I ran to bring it to you. Let me tell you of the travail I suffered, the nights I did not sleep….”

Thea could no longer hear Kadar’s words, but she could see his lips move and the persuasive smile she knew so well. She hoped Selene would forgive him. She was as irritated as her sister, but his intentions had been good and his gift beyond price.

Evidently, Selene had the same thought. She was tilting her head as if listening, her pace slowing.

She stopped and turned to Kadar. A luminous smile lit her face.

His head went back and his laughter rang out.

“Why are you frowning?” Ware asked as he slipped his arm through Thea’s. “Kadar is safe and you have your embroideries.”

“But what about next time?” she whispered. “Kadar will never truly be safe. Sinan will always be like a huge spider spinning his web to draw him back.”

“He’s a match for Sinan. Kadar has survived for nineteen years, and he gains more weapons as time goes on.”

“But Sinan has weapons we don’t even know about.”

Ware suddenly chuckled. “Do you know what you’ve said? My love, none of us are safe. I’ve been trying to convince you that both you and I will be forever in mortal danger, and you worry about Kadar.”

“That’s different.”

“Because God saved me once and you’re convinced he’ll not allow His handiwork to be ruined?”

“Not as long as I’m with you and here to remind Him.”

He brushed her temple with his lips. “Then I’ll most certainly have to keep you safe just to preserve my own life. How clever of you to so obligate me.”

“But women are far more clever than men. Do we thunder about and try to kill one another? No, we try to build, not tear down. That’s why the more I consider it, the more relieved I am that Asherah is an aspect of God. She must be the part that furnishes not only fertility, but wisdom as well.”

“Next, you’ll claim she’s the part that created heaven and earth,” he said dryly.

“I’ll have to think about that.” Her gaze went back to Kadar on the path ahead. “Does he have the banner, Ware?”

“We may never know. This journey took overlong. If he did take it, he may have tarried to find a courier to send it to the Knights Templar.”

“I hope he did.” A sudden thought occurred to her. “He would not have used the banner to bargain with Sinan?”

He shook his head. “Remember? He cautioned us not to let Sinan know about Kemal’s belief in the banner.”

She didn’t believe he would have gone to the Old Man either, but she was glad to have her intuition reinforced. “He said Sinan knew everything that goes on in this land.”

“Why are you worried?” He glanced away from her. “You said the banner has no power.”

She was making him uneasy for no reason. They must forget about this war-ravaged land and lion thrones and banners that seemed to have a life of their own. “Perhaps he will tell us someday.” She took his arm. “Come, we must see to the safe storing of the embroideries in the hold.”

“And then tell everyone to board the ship.” His pace quickened with eagerness. “We’ll leave on the midnight tide.”