The Treasure by Iris Johansen Page A

me.”
    She smiled. “And you should not have swum out and clung to that anchor line. But, since you did, we must forget what is fitting and try to help each other to stay alive.”
    “You did not tell Lord Ware the truth in your note, did you?”
    “No. I’m a hostage and so are you.” She sat down on the bed.
    “But we don’t want Lord Ware to know, do we? You know what danger he would face if he came after us.”
    He nodded. “That’s why I told Robert nothing was amiss when I gave him the note.”
    “Good boy—man.” Dear heaven, she was weary. She wanted only to lay her head down and go to sleep. “But while you’re on board this ship, you must do nothing to anger Balkir’s men. Stay out of their way.”
    “I will try.”
    Of course he would try. He seemed terrified of everyone connected with Sinan.
    “I’m not usually a . . . coward,” he said, as if he had read her thoughts. “Lord Ware has trained me to be a warrior. He says I’m a good soldier. It’s only . . . all my life I’ve heard of the Old Man of the Mountain. His people are not as others. They are . . . demons. One cannot fight demons.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. Kadar was once one of Sinan’s people. Is he a demon?”
    He shook his head. “But Lord Kadar is different. He walks alone.”
    “How many times have I seen you dicing together? He’s your friend.”
    “Yes.” He looked confused. “But he’s . . . different.”
    She gave up. Kadar was different. One had only to be with him for a short while to realize that beneath that light, charming facade lay impenetrable depths. “But you trust him?”
    Haroun brightened. “Oh, yes.”
    “Then trust him to see that nothing happens to you at Maysef.”
    “I not only worry about myself. Great harm can befall a woman. I know you belong to Lord Kadar, but still the danger is—”
    “I do
not
belong to Kadar.”
    “But everyone knows that you—” He saw her expression and added hurriedly, “But it seems you—”
    “Everything is not always as it seems. I belong to no one but myself.”
    “But a woman must belong to someone. It is—” He sensed the storm approaching and changed the subject. “It does not matter. I will care for you.”
    She would probably be the one to have to care for him, but he meant well, so she resisted the impulse to tell him that. “Thank you, Haroun. If I’m in need of help, I will certainly—”
    She stopped as the door opened and Kadar came into the cabin.
    His gaze raked Haroun from head to foot. “Well, you look a pitiful sight.”
    “Lady Selene made me take off my clothes. You are not angry that I am with her like this? I told her it wasn’t fitting.”
    “I’m not angry.” He smiled. “She’s hard to refuse, isn’t she?”
    He nodded, relieved. “And she has most strange ideas about . . . Even though she says she does not belong to you, I hope you will aid me in caring for her on this journey.”
    “Oh, is that what she says?” Kadar asked silkily. “I do hope you didn’t make the mistake of believing her?”
    “No, everyone knows—” He cast a glance at Selene. “I mean, everyone thinks that—”
    “Enough.” Selene was holding on to her temper by a thin thread. “What of Balkir? Are you sure Haroun’s out of danger now?”
    “As long as he doesn’t make himself obtrusive.”
    “He can stay in this cabin with me.”
    “No!” Haroun’s eyes were wide with horror.
    Kadar shook his head. “That will make his position more tenuous. If the sailors think he could be getting favors they’re being denied, they may throw him overboard. But there are only two cabins on board this ship, and one is occupied by Balkir.” His gaze shifted to Haroun. “Suppose we sleep outside on deck in front of Lady Selene’s cabin? Then anyone who tries to pass will have to go through us.”
    Haroun nodded vigorously. “Much wiser.”
    Of course he thought Kadar’s plan was wiser than Selene’s. They were both men. “Oh, go