"I have not." Rueltook a sip of whiskey. "Yet."
"You still believe thisKartauk is her lover?"
Ruel's lashes lowered to veilhis eyes. "Why should I have changed my mind? She's risking a good dealfor him."
"You think the assassinin the alley was waiting for her?"
"It makes sense. When Ishowed up with her, he decided the first blow should be for the more dangeroustarget."
"But you're not certain,are you?"
"You're beginning to readme too well. No, I'm not sure. This particular crocodile may have cunning aswell as teeth." He shrugged. "But it does make the search moreinteresting."
"The lass could have losther life tonight." He frowned, troubled. "Everything is changing. Iwant you to give up this nonsense of using her to find Kartauk."
Ruel didn't answer.
"Ruel?"
"Nothing has changedexcept I'm now in a far better position to receive confidences and find outinformation than I was earlier this evening." He smiled sardonically."Don't look so appalled. I tried to tell you what I am."
"You just like to shockme." Ian added quietly, "She saved your life. You won't betray hertrust."
"She doesn't trust me.She probably doesn't trust anyone, unless it's this Kartauk."
"And that bothers you,doesn't it?"
"Goddammit, it doesn'tbother me!" Ruel crashed his glass down on the table and sprang to hisfeet. "The only thing that bothers me is your infernal probing. I've had abellyful of it." He strode toward the door.
"Where are yougoing?"
"I need some air. I'msuffocating in here." He glared back at Ian. "And I don't give a damnabout you, or Glenclaren, or that blasted girl. All I want is Cinnidar."
The door slammed behind him.
Ian smiled slightly as helifted his glass to his lips.
Tiger pad softly, tigerburn bright…
At the moment, the tiger wasnot padding at all softly but he was definitely burning. Even in that moment inthe barroom when Ruel had been goading Barak, Ian had not seen him this savage.Still, it was not a bad sign. Sometimes a flame could purify as well asdestroy. He could only hope all those nonsensical dreams of Cinnidar would beburned away in its wake so they could go home.
Home.
Though he constantly heldGlenclaren up before Ruel as a beacon, when he was alone he tried not to thinkof it. It made the yearning for home only deeper and more hurtful.
Instead, he would think ofMargaret. Margaret was not his own in the same way Glenclaren belonged to him,and he had waited so long for her, the anticipation had lost all bitterness andbecome sweetly wistful. Margaret, cool and brisk, yet with a heart as warm as awinter bonfire.
Yes, he would think ofMargaret...
"He's dead." Zabrielooked up at Pachtal from where she knelt beside the body. "From thebruises on his throat it looks as if he was strangled. Will this interfere withyour plans?"
"Not at all,"Pachtal said. "Resard's death is of no importance." He gazed withoutexpression into the staring eyes of his servant. "Not if he firstaccomplished his task."
"There's blood on theknife and more drops leading across the street. You wished the Scot onlywounded?"
Pachtal nodded. "Eventswere moving too slowly for His Highness. He wished the Scot placed in aposition of intimacy with the girl." A faint smile touched his lips as hegazed down at the bloody knife on the pavement. "I believe I can tell himhis wish has been granted."
Zabrie suppressed a shiver asshe looked down at the dead man. It should not have surprised her that Pachtalregarded the man's death as weighing nothing against Abdar's whims. She hadknown from the first time she had met Pachtal he could be either a danger or aboon to her, depending on how she handled him.
