She had never felt moreconfident or sure of her own strength of will than she had these past days. Hecould no longer hurt her, so why shouldn't she satisfy her curiosity about him?
"Why not?" She movedacross the room toward him. "As you say, it will pass the time."
"Jane is with Ruel at thesummerhouse," Margaret said as she watched Kartauk pack the sand aroundthe mold of Ian's seal.
"Oh?" He raised ashaggy brow. "And is that troubling your stern Scottish morality?"
"No, though I suppose itshould. I'm afraid he's going to hurt her."
"Leave them alone,Margaret. You can't save the world."
"Only a heathen does nottry to change bad to good." She wearily shook her head. "Butsometimes the fines become blurred, don't they?"
"Good God, I believe Idetect a softening in that rigid backbone. Jane's not nearly so vulnerable asshe used to be, and she and Ruel must play out what's between them in their ownway and time. Neither of them would thank you for interfering."
"Ruel is—"
"Many things,"Kartauk interrupted. "And will be many more before he is fully formed. Itwill be interesting to watch."
"You don't think he'swicked?"
"Ruel?" He shook hishead. "I don't doubt he believes he is, but he doesn't know the meaning ofwickedness."
"And you do?"
"Oh, yes, I studied undera master."
"Abdar?"
He nodded. "A true andcomplete monster."
It was the first time he hadmade more than a passing mention of Abdar. She asked curiously, "Then whydid you stay so long with him?"
"My work was principallydone for his father, the maharajah, and I had little to do with Abdar until theyear before I left the palace. Then the maharajah became interested in hisrailroad and Abdar received permission to have my services put at hisdisposal." He shrugged. "After six months I decided I could stomachno more and departed."
"What work did you do forhim?"
"I did a statue of hisfavorite goddess, Kali. It was quite a splendid effort."
"Kali?"
"The goddess ofdestruction. Abdar regards himself as her true son, sent to earth to do herwork." His lips set grimly. "But he also believes that his power mustbe constantly fed. That's why he needed me;"
"To create statues?"
"No." He paused."Masks."
"Masks?"
"Masks of gold." Heturned to look at her. "Are you sure you wish to hear this? It's not apretty tale."
"Yes, go on."
"Abdar believes his poweris strengthened by the emotion of those around him, and the stronger the soul,the more powerful emotion to feed on. But emotions are fleeting and Abdar grewmore and more irritated. He decided he needed to stabilize the emotion, freezeit so that he could draw on it at any time." He lifted a brow. "Andwhat better method to freeze an emotion than death?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"You wanted to hear it.Abdar believed if he could capture that last tremendous burst of emotion andenergy, he could draw it into himself."
