"I made a promise."
"Promises to assassins should not be kept."
Kadar chuckled. "Speaks a man who never breaks his word."
"I've never given my word to a devil like Sinan."
"We all have our own devils. Mine just happens to be a true demon. Or so his men claim."
"You should know. You were once his man."
"I've known worse demons."
"Well, I haven't." Ware stood up. "I'll call the men to arms.
We'll go to--"
"No, Ware," he said quietly. "I told you, no battle. I've told Balkir I'd give him my decision in three days. I won't have you interfere. If you attack the Dark Star, you'll make my decision for me. Even if you defeat Balkir, I'll find another way to get to Sinan."
"Damn you," Ware said in frustration. "Why won't you let me help? You made that promise to Sinan to guarantee he'd free us."
"Why would you think that?" Kadar teased. "I freed myself. I just took you along because you amused me. You know how I hate to be bored."
"Stop joking."
"Laughter is what makes life bearable. I've never been able to teach you that." He turned to leave. "You'll not tell Thea or Selene about this. There's no need to worry them."
"And how am I to keep them from finding out? They travel all over the glen, visiting the cottages."
"You'll find a way. You wouldn't want me to be forced into making a premature choice." He closed the door behind him and moved down the steps to the courtyard. The choice was already made, and he was sure Ware suspected what it would be. That was the reason he had told him the decision was to be made in three days. He didn't trust Ware not to explode into action as the deadline approached.
The clever thing would have been to say nothing and set sail with Balkir last night. He might have done it if the captain hadn't been so damn demanding.
He was lying to himself. He wanted these three days. He was always the stranger, living on the outside, but for the first time in his life he had begun to feel at home. Montdhu had drawn him in and made him part of it. He wanted to spend time with Thea and Ware. He wanted to walk the hills and talk to people who had become friends.
He wanted to be with Selene.
No, that would be a mistake. He should stay away from Selene. Sinan's summons had filled him with frustration and anger. His instinct was to claw and cling to what he had here. He was feeling too desperate, and desperate men sometimes destroyed what they wanted to protect.
Yes, he would watch her from a distance, but he must stay away from Selene.
"Kadar Ben Arnaud has made no attempt to leave Montdhu," Murad told Balkir. "He's done nothing of note for the past two days. He wanders about the countryside. He dices at the inn in the town. He visits his ship, the Last Hope."
"Is he readying the ship to set sail?"
Murad shook his head.
Balkir frowned. "Nothing else?"
"I cannot watch him while he's within the walls of the castle. Lord Ware's guards let no one in but townspeople having business with the household. I can only report what he's done outside those walls."
And that was to act as if the Dark Star did not exist, Balkir thought. Not a good sign.
"Has he talked to anyone at length?"
"Not outside the castle. He's at his ship again tonight. Shall I go back and set watch?"
Balkir's frustration was growing. "Of course. What else can we do?" He made a sudden decision. "Wait, I'll go with you."
