"Death masks," shewhispered. "He had you create death masks?"
"I did three for him. Thefirst was of one of his concubines, a young woman named Mirad. Her body wasbrought to me early one morning by Pachtal, and I was told the woman had diedduring the night of a seizure and Abdar wished a mask in gold to remember herby. It had to be of gold because it was the purest and most immortal of metals.I made the mask. Actually, it turned out very well. The woman was beautiful andher expression sad but serene.
A week later Pachtal broughtme another dead woman with the same story. This mask was much harder to do. Themuscles of her face were twisted, frozen in an expression of pain andterror."
"Another death sosoon?"
"I found it odd as well,but I didn't allow myself the indulgence of questioning him. The third bodythat was brought to me was that of a young boy no more than eleven or twelve,and his face—" His lips thinned. "I could lie to myself no longer. Nosane man could want t hat face preserved for eternity. I refused to do themask.
"An hour later Abdar paidme a visit and told me that I would make his masks and ask no questions or hewould cut off my hands. I was to be the divine tool of Kali and create himmasks with which to surround himself so that he could look on them and drawtheir energy into himself."
"He murdered them?"she whispered.
"Oh yes, with Pachtal'shelp. Pachtal experimented with various poisons to get the exact effect Abdarwanted. Abdar told me he had decided that pain gave the greatest explosion ofenergy, so he had Pachtal accommodate him with a poison that induced therequired result."
She felt sick. "You'reright. They are monsters. And Ruel believes Abdar will come here?"
He nodded. "That's whyhe's working so hard to be prepared for him. He wants to bring a final end toAbdar."
Her gaze searched his face."Thatiswhy you came to Cinnidar, isn't it? You want Abdar killedtoo."
"I admit I think theworld would be a brighter place without him. I'm tired of hiding my gloriouslight under a basket." He met her gaze. "But that's not why Icame."
"Then why did—" Sheinhaled sharply. Another precipice. These days it seemed every word and gesturecould become fraught with danger in the space of a heartbeat. It was a momentbefore she could look back down at the mold in the box. "When do we pourthe gold?"
"Soon." He saidslowly. "It's unwise to lack patience in these matters even when it'sdifficult to wait."
Ruel's gaze narrowed on Jane'sface. "You're bluffing." He spread out his hand. "Two kings.Call."
Jane threw down her cards indisgust. "How did you know? I thought I was getting better."
"You are." Hegathered up the cards. "No outward signs. If I hadn't known you, I mighthave been fooled."
"Then how did you know,blast it."
"Instinct. With somepeople you can sense their tension. It's nothing you can put your fingeron."
Well, he could certainly senseher emotions, she thought ruefully. She had won only four games out of the manythey had played in the past day and a half. It should have been an exasperatingexperience, and yet for some reason she had not found it so. "Instinct?You can't be that good. I probably twitched an eyebrow or something. I'll watchit next time. Deal."
He set the cards on the table."Later. Time for your nap."
"I'm not tired.Deal."
"Later," herepeated. "Right now you rest."
"I'm well again,"she protested. "I'm going back to work tomorrow."
"I've been thinking aboutthat. You should have another week."
"Tomorrow," sherepeated flatly. "And I'm not going to rest any—"
She stopped, startled, as aknock sounded on the door. No one came to the summerhouse except Tamar, whodelivered their meals, and it was only midafternoon.
Ruel threw open the door toreveal Dilam standing on the doorstep.
Jane's heart lurched and shejumped to her feet. "What's wrong?" She moved quickly across theroom. "Is Li Sung well?"
"Li Sung is in goodhealth," Dilam said. "It is the elephant."
