"Sorry." Ruel'svoice was abstracted as he lifted Margaret down from the mare. "Kartauk?"
"I'm not sure."Margaret leaned against the saddle and closed her eyes. "He may have beenfollowing Ian's chair. I saw a horse… "
"Come and sit down."Jane slid her arm around Margaret's waist and led her toward her blanket nearthe campfire. "Get her coffee, Ruel."
Ruel turned and walked towardthe pot hanging above the embers.
Margaret collapsed on theblanket. "I think Kartauk… " She wrapped her arms around herself tostill her trembling. "I believe he meant…to stay."
"Why would he do that?"Jane asked.
"Because he's a foolishman who thinks only he knows the proper thing to do." In spite of the tartwords, tears were running down her cheeks. "He should have given me thechoice to—" She stopped and wiped her damp cheeks with the back of herhand. "But no, he'd rather stay and be killed by that fiend. He was alwaystoo obstinate for his—" Her voice broke and she was forced to stop.
"Even if he did stay,that doesn't mean he's dead." Ruel thrust the metal cup into her hand."Kartauk's a clever man and Abdar wanted him alive."
"for how long?"Margaret asked fiercely. "He told me about that monster. Kartauk won'tgive Abdar what he wants, and when he refuses, he'll die."
"You said he might havefollowed Ian," Jane reminded her gently. "You don't know that hestayed."
"That's right."Margaret took a deep breath. "There's still hope, isn't there? I'mbehaving very foolishly." She sat up straighter. "Kartauk said totell you that Abdar's force were foot soldiers, armed with English rifles, andhe did not believe there would be reinforcements."
"With two hundred armedmen they probably think he won't need them," Ruel said grimly. "SinceI have no army at all." He jumped to his feet. "But he's wrong, damnhim."
"What do we do?"Jane asked.
"You and Margaret movethis camp across the river. It will be a better defensive position. If anythinghappens and I don't return or send you word, cut the hanging bridge and headfor the Cinnidan village." He moved toward his horse. "I'm going toMedford's camp and make sure Ian and Kartauk made it safely."
"And if theydidn't?" Margaret asked unevenly.
Ruel glanced at her."Then I go after them."
"Even if it's onlyKartauk?"
He frowned. "Of course.Kartauk's here because I brought him to Cinnidar. Did you expect me to sayanything else?"
"I suppose not," shesaid, relieved.
"What about Dilam and LiSung?" Jane asked suddenly. "Did you stop at their camp,Margaret?"
She shook her head. "Ipassed it, of course, but I didn't stop." She wearily rubbed her temple."Elephants…I never saw so manyelephants."
Jane turned to Ruel."Surely Dilam could help."
"And risk killing herpeople? Not likely."
"I think you may bewrong. She said something the first night I met her... I'll go to their campand talk to her."
"I want you across theriver," Ruel said.
"After I talk toDilam." She got to her feet. "You stay here and rest, Margaret."
"I'm going withRuel," Margaret said. "I'll need another horse, the mare isexhausted."
"Not only thehorse," Jane said, gazing at Margaret's white, strained face. She did notattempt to dissuade her. Ian might still be in jeopardy, and she knew she wouldnot be able to rest either if she thought Ruel was in danger. Then theabsurdity of that thought hit home to her.
Dear God, Ruelwasindanger. He might be riding right toward Abdar's forces. She wanted to scream,to tell him to stay, to tell him they could run away, lose themselves in thejungle until the danger passed. "Ruel!"
He turned to loot at her.
