"Do you see anycanoes?" Ruel asked. "Unfortunately, you caught us off guard."
"I suppose it ispossible." Pachtal gestured toward the large tent. "His Highness willgrow impatient."
"We wouldn't wantthat," Ruel murmured. He took Jane's hand and moved toward the tent. Histouch felt warm and comforting, dispersing some of the chill creeping throughher.
Even that warmth was banishedwhen they entered the tent.
White candles in tall goldenstands lit the dim interior, their light falling on Abdar, who sat with legscrossed on an enormous white satin cushion, and shimmering on the multitude ofgold masks on the ground surrounding him in an obscene circle.
Jane gasped, her stomachclenching as the impact of the horror and pain of those masks struck her.
"Steady," Ruel saidin an undertone, his grip tightening on her hand.
She swallowed and pulled hergaze from the masks. Dear God, she had never been aware of Abdar's fullmalevolence until this moment.
"Power," Abdar saidsoftly, and she became aware of his gaze on her face. "You feel it, don'tyou?"
If evil was power, then shedid feel it here. "No."
His lips curled peevishly."You lie. You must feel it." He threw out his hand to the groundbefore him. "Sit."
When they sat down, the maskswere only inches from her knees, gleaming gold and tortured in the candlelight.She tried not to look at them.
"Benares's work is notnearly as fine as yours, Kartauk." Abdar picked up one of the masks."You would have done great things with this subject. She had great lifeforce."
Zabrie.
Jane had thought her horrorcomplete, but it was even more terrible to recognize someone she knew amongthose tortured spirits.
"He was always tooimpatient in the final stages," Kartauk said without expression. "Itis a common mistake."
"One you nevermade."
"But then, I amsuperb."
"True." Abdar putthe mask down. "But can I trust you not to run away again? That is thequestion. I do not like to be disappointed."
"Can we dispense withthis talk of masks and discuss terms?" Ruel asked.
"You appear a trifleirritated." Abdar smiled slyly. "Were you not pleased with the mask Isent you? Pachtal assures me it was one of Benares's best efforts. I was verydisappointed I did not get to see it myself. Perhaps you will return it to mefor my collection?"
Ruel's face remained withoutexpression. "I think not."
"Why did you not seeit?" Kartauk asked suddenly. Jane noticed his gaze was fixed on Pachtal,and for the first time she became aware of the curious tension of Pachtal'sdemeanor.
"I misunderstood HisHighness's orders and sent the mask without letting him view it," Pachtalsaid stiffly. "He was right to be angry with me."
"Terms," Ruelprompted Abdar.
"I will choose the timefor such discussion," Abdar said haughtily. "You have nothing withwhich to bargain, or you would not be here."
"That's not totally true.You need gold and I have the trust of the Cinnidans. For a percentage of theprofits I could run the mine and deal with the Cinnidans for you."
"I do not need theCinnidans. I understand my grandfather found them surly and uncooperative. Iwill bring my own people from Kasanpore."
"But that would mean adelay you don't want. Together we could—"
"What was that?"Pachtal asked, his head tilted, listening.
