"Yes."
"And offer what influenceyou possess to gain us what we seek?"
"Just what do you seekfrom him?"
Ruel shook his head. "Ibelieve we'll not discuss that at the moment."
"You expect me to promiseblindly?" Abdar didn't wait for an answer. "Oh, very well, it doesn'tmatter. Bring me Kartauk and I'll give you whatever you wish." He turnedand strode across the room. At the door he paused, glanced over his shoulder atRuel, and for a moment a curious smile curved his lips. "I believe I wouldlike you to pose for Kartauk."
"What?"
"The molding of yourfeatures has a certain beauty that rather reminds me of the sun god the Greeksfavored. When I get Kartauk back, I'd like you to pose for a golden mask forthe wall in my study."
"I think not."
"I can be verypersuasive. We will discuss it later." The next moment the door had closedbehind him.
"Arrogant bastard,"Ian said.
"Yes." Ruel's tonewas absent as he gazed at the carved panels of the door. "But he just maybe able to give me Cinnidar."
"You're going to look forthis Kartauk?"
"No." He startedtoward the door. "I'm going to find Kartauk."
Ian frowned as he followed himacross the room. "I'm not sure we should have dealings with this Abdar.Kartauk may have had good reason to leave the court."
"I'm sure he did. But nobetter than I do for finding him."
"You're obsessed."
"Possibly."
"Even if you do find him,you won't turn him over to Abdar."
"Don't bet on it. I'llmake that decision when I find him."
"I'll bet on it,"Ian said placidly. "You intend to watch and follow the woman?"
"Probably."
"But Abdar said shehadn't met with Kartauk in two weeks."
"Which should make hervery frustrated and eager to bed him at the earliest opportunity."
"Even if it places him indanger? What could justify that?"
Ruel's lips twisted cynicallyas he murmured a single obscene Anglo-Saxon verb.
Ian immediately shook hishead. "Carnal pleasure isn't that important."
"Perhaps not toyou." Ruel inclined his head in a mocking nod. "But to self-indulgentvoluptuaries like Jane Barnaby and myself, it can cause a temporary fever thatmakes it seem worth quite a few risks."
"You don't know if he'stelling the truth about her either."
"True. I admit he paintedher a little too black. Even the most lustful of whores usually has somediscrimination when choosing a bed partner. We'll have to see."
Ian shrugged as he glancedback at the statue. "Any man who can worship that monstrosity is capableof any falsehood."
