The Treasure

by The Treasure (v5. 0) (lit)

  She tensed as she stared into the darkness.

  “You’ll be safe. There’s nothing in that tunnel but a few rats.” Tarik handed her the torch. “In a week you’ll be in Genoa, boarding a ship for Scotland. I’ve given Antonio a note to the captain of my ship. He’ll set sail at once.”

  “What about Kadar?”

  “We’ll go to Rome and be lost in the crowds there.”

  “That’s your fine hiding place?”

  He shook his head. “Merely the first stop.”

  “You’ve got to keep him—” She broke off as she met his eyes. What was she thinking? He was an enigma. She had never been entirely sure of Tarik’s thoughts, even in his most approachable moments. But there was no use talking now. Her decision was made, and it had all been said before. “I don’t know why I should trust you, but I do. Don’t you dare betray us.”

  She strode into the darkness of the tunnel.

  “YOU’RE LOOKING ABYSMALLY BORED this afternoon.” Tarik strode into Kadar’s room. “What are you doing back in bed? Aren’t you well?”

  Kadar shrugged. “Fine. Selene needs rest. I told her to stay away today, but she may come anyway. If she sees me in bed, I’ll be able to convince her I don’t need her hovering over me.”

  Tarik didn’t speak for a moment. “Good thinking.” He changed the subject. “I came to tell you we’re going to have a visitor. Nasim sent word that he wishes to see you.”

  “And you’re permitting it?”

  “I feel a certain malicious pleasure in satisfying his curiosity. Besides, I have a reason to keep his mind occupied.”

  “What reason?”

  “Nasim should be riding through the gates any minute.” He turned toward the door. “Why don’t you come down and meet him in the great hall?”

  Kadar made a face. “Selene would not be pleased if I left my chamber. She would make me pay.”

  “I don’t think that will be a problem. I haven’t seen her today.”

  Then she must have stayed in bed as he’d told her, Kadar thought with sudden anxiety. She must be even more weary than he thought. After Nasim had gone, he would stop by her chamber to see if—

  “Well, are you coming?”

  “Yes.” He threw the cover aside and sat up. “Go greet him. I’ll be down shortly.”

  Nasim and Tarik were just coming through the front door when Kadar reached the bottom of the stairs.

  Nasim’s disgusted gaze raked Kadar’s face. “You look weak as a puling babe.”

  “And a good day to you, Nasim,” Kadar said.

  “I thought you said he was doing well, Tarik.”

  “As well as anyone could expect considering his wound,” Tarik said. “Contrary to your belief, I cannot perform miracles.”

  “Can’t you?” Nasim’s gaze narrowed on Tarik’s face. “I’ve never seen a man survive a wound that severe. That was a miracle.”

  “Kadar is very strong.”

  “No man is that strong. It was sorcery. It was the grail that gave you the power.”

  Tarik gazed at him guilelessly. “What grail?”

  Nasim turned to Kadar. “Since you’re well, you’ll do as I ordered.”

  Kadar raised his brows. “You don’t believe the sword Balkir thrust into me ended my obligation?”

  “That was not by my will.” He gestured toward Tarik. “You will fight his magic and return to me.”

  “He is no sorcerer.”

  “No?” Nasim smiled grimly. “Ask him the circumstances of our first meeting.”

  “As I remember, it was not an unusual encounter.” Tarik pretended to think. “Did I pull lightning from the sky?”

  “By Allah, you will not laugh at me.” Nasim glared at him. “I will have your magic, Tarik. And then I will have your head.”

  “Indeed?”

  Nasim whirled on his heel. “I’ve seen what I came to see. You will do my bidding, Kadar, or you will suffer for—” He stopped suddenly as he reached the door. “Where is the woman?”

  Kadar stiffened.

  Nasim turned back to face him. “Where is she?”

  “Why do you ask? You believe a woman has no place in the affairs of men.”

  “But she is a very interfering woman and you permit it. I find it strange that she’s not here.”

  Tarik said quickly, “She was weary from nursing Kadar, and we didn’t tell her of your arrival.”

  Nasim studied him for a moment in silence. “I still find it strange.”

  Tarik gazed after him with a frown as he left the hall. “Unfortunate. I hoped he wouldn’t notice her absence.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s a clever man. It may start him thinking.”

  “Stop talking in circles.” Kadar took a step toward him. “Why are you so worried about him commenting on Selene?”

  “Because she’s no longer here.”

  Kadar froze. “What?”

  “I sent her and Haroun away last night. They should be well on their way to board a ship that will return them to Scotland.”

  “Where is the ship docked?”

  Tarik shook his head. “I’ll not have you following her this time, Kadar.”

  “You won’t have me—” Kadar tried to smother the white-hot rage searing through him. “Damn you, where is she?”

  “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 ther
e 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.”

  “I’ll not promise to stay with you in Rome. When Antonio comes with the message, I’ll have a few words with him.” He paused. “And if I find you’ve lied to me about putting her on a ship to Scotland, you won’t live another day.”

  “I haven’t lied. I made all the arrangements.” He shrugged. “But men’s arrangements are often altered by destiny. One must always take that into account.”

  “Not where Selene is concerned. This Antonio had better be able to care for her.”

  “I thought long and hard before I chose Antonio for the task.” Tarik moved down the hall. “He can be trusted to do what’s necessary.”

  GENOA

  “I don’t trust him,” Haroun whispered, his gaze on Antonio riding a few yards ahead of them. “And I don’t think this is the way to the waterfront.”

  Neither did Selene. She had caught glimpses of the sea from outside Genoa and, since they entered the gates, it seemed they were moving away from it. But she might be wrong, and Haroun’s first judgment was the most important. “Why don’t you trust him?”

  “I don’t know. He keeps too much to himself. He’s too quiet. When he was in the guardroom, he would not . . . He was not like the other soldiers.”

  “That’s no condemnation. All men are different. Tell me something of substance.”

  “I don’t trust him.” Haroun scowled. “And we should not be here. Lord Kadar would not like it that you ran away without telling him.”

  It was not the first time he had made his feelings known on that score, and her temper was raw. The journey had been long and one she had not wanted to make. Haroun’s criticism was only an additional abrasive. “I don’t care what Lord Kadar likes,” she said through clenched teeth. “How many times must I tell you that I don’t belong to him or any man? I make the decisions that concern me.”

  Haroun immediately backed down. “I did not mean—It’s just that Antonio is not—”

  “Antonio led us safely here. If he was betraying us to Nasim, he would have done it before we left Tuscany. And Lord Tarik sent Antonio with us. Do you suspect him also?”

  Haroun shook his head. “Lord Tarik is an honorable man. But Antonio could be in the pay of Nasim. Perhaps he paid him to bring us here, where he could gather us in like fish in a net.”

  “And perhaps you’ve decided you like serving Lord Tarik and don’t wish to go home to Lord Ware?”

  “No.” Haroun’s eyes widened in horror. “It’s not so, Lady Selene
. Lord Ware is my master. It’s true I’ve enjoyed serving under Lord Tarik, but I would never—”

  “I know you wouldn’t,” Selene cut him short. The rawness of her own pain was making her unfair. Haroun was genuinely worried, and it was never wise to ignore instinct. She just wished her mind was clearer so that she could make a judgment. She had felt as if she were wading through a fog since she left Sienbara. “And we will watch Antonio carefully until we meet the captain of Lord Tarik’s ship.”

  Haroun nodded with satisfaction. “We must be ready to—”

  “We’re here.” Antonio was riding back toward them, smiling broadly. It was the first smile she had seen on his face since they started the journey. He waved at a small building just ahead. “I thought it best to bring you to an inn, where you could have a clean bed and water to wash away the dust of the road before we go to the ship. I’ll wager you’ll have enough of seawater before your journey is over.”

  She heard Haroun mutter a curse as he dismounted. “I’ll go in and see if the quarters are fitting for you.”

  And that there was no trap waiting inside. She could not allow him to do it. “No, I’ll go by myself.”

  “It’s clean enough,” Antonio said as he turned his horse. “I’ve stayed there many times. But see for yourself. I’ll go fetch the captain.”

  She watched him ride leisurely away. If he had set a trap, he showed no sign of guilt. Perhaps there was no trap. It could be that Haroun’s suspicions were groundless. She slipped from the saddle. “Wait here.”

  “No, I’ll go in and—”

  “Wait here,” she repeated. “That’s an order, Haroun.” She strode into the inn before he could protest.

  The hall was small and filled with crudely crafted wooden tables. The scent of herbs and meat drifted to her from the large open fireplace across the room.

  The rushes on the floor were fresh, the wood of the tables clean. She had seen many inns like this before. The plump, balding man coming toward her was smiling cheerfully. “Ah, welcome, I’m Mario. How may I serve you?”

  She could see nothing threatening here. It was certainly too small to hide any force sent by Nasim. A little of her tension left her. “A chamber, a bath, and hot meals for me and my man in the stable yard.”