Tarik nodded. "As you know, I'm in no rush for any of this to come into being. I'd just as soon have Nasim grow impatient, pack up, and set sail."
"He won't grow impatient," Kadar said.
"And I would have known if he'd moved his camp," Vaden said. "I've not gone to all this trouble to have him slip the net."
"What trouble?" Selene asked.
"My men are gathered, armed, and camped south of the city."
"That seems a great deal of trouble for them, not for you."
Vaden grimaced. "I hope Ware had greater fortune with his choice of wife, Kadar. Though I thought I saw the same signs of willfulness."
Kadar smiled at Selene. "I've grown used to it. I wouldn't have her any other way."
"But that's because you're obviously besotted. Is your mind clear enough to put it to such mundane things as a battle plan?"
Kadar's gaze shifted back to Vaden. "We use the grail. I meet with Nasim first and tell him I've managed to steal the grail from Tarik. It's the task he sent me to do, and it won't seem unreasonable to him. Since he no longer has Selene as a hostage, I'll tell him I'm in a position to demand a price for the grail. I'll set up an exchange point to receive payment and give him the grail at a location where he won't be entirely surrounded by his men. I'll argue it would be too easy for him to take the grail and dispose of me as he sees fit. He'll still demand a small protective force and twenty of his men are worth fifty of yours."
Vaden shook his head.
"Believe me, it's true. Nasim's followers are fanatics who would die for him. Would your men die for you?"
"I hope not. I'd rather they live and wreak havoc among my enemies. You mean me to attack his force on the way to the meeting place?"
"That won't be possible. You won't see the assassins until they want to be seen and he'll probably select the site and then send a message to me after they've arrived. He'll expect me to reconnoiter the area and make certain everything is safe for me, but I'll be watched. You can't come too close."
"It's difficult to attack from a distance," Vaden said dryly.
"You can't attack until I accomplish what I have to do."
"And what is that?"
"Kill Nasim."
Selene had known it was coming, but she still tensed.
Vaden raised his brow. "And what of his guards you say are willing to die for him? What are they going to be doing?"
"I'll have to find a way to get him alone. After I've killed him, I'll signal you to attack."
"I realize Nasim is a most unpleasant fellow, but why can't we attack and you kill Nasim after we've secured the camp?"
"He could slip away. He's not a warrior with a warrior's code. I trained under him. I know him. He'd think nothing of leaving his men to die in an attack, if it meant his survival."
"And what will be the signal?"
Kadar shrugged. "I won't know until an opportunity presents itself."
"It's not as safe a plan as I'd like."
"Nothing is safe with Nasim." Kadar looked at Tarik. "You know Nasim. Can you think of a better plan?"
Tarik shook his head. "What of the grail?"
"It can't be just a lure. I'll have to take it with me and actually show it to him. Otherwise I'll be dead two minutes after I reach the camp."
"And what if Nasim slips away?" Layla asked. "You know he'll take the grail."
