Well, that was one challenge she was ready to meet. No mysterious Eshe, no groping into the future, just a duty to be done, a debt to be paid.
A life to be taken.
"Why should I believe you?" Nasim's gaze narrowed on Kadar's face. "It would be no small thing to steal the grail from Tarik. What if it's a lie? It could be a trap."
"Why would I want to trap you? I want gold, not blood." He glanced at Balkir hovering by the tent entrance and smiled maliciously. "Well, some blood. I want him. That wound in my chest still pains me at times."
Balkir stiffened, his gaze flying to Nasim's face.
Nasim didn't look at him. "I don't have to give you anything. If you've truly stolen the grail, I could torture you until you tell me what I need to know."
Kadar chuckled. "But you won't. It would take too much time. You're the one who taught me to withstand torture. Who knows? I might even die before I told you where I hid it. Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"
Nasim was silent. "How much gold?"
"I want the golden coffer that holds the grail and enough sacks of gold to fill it." His glance went to Balkir. "Perhaps not quite fill it. There should still be room for Balkir's head."
Balkir's face flushed with anger. "The master would not consent to such a bargain."
"No?" Kadar's gaze returned to Nasim and he said softly, "I really do want him, Nasim."
Nasim made an impatient gesture. "You know that's not possible. What else?"
"The Dark Star to take me back to Montdhu and your promise that Montdhu will continue to exist."
"A high price."
"Too high for the grail?"
"He thinks to beggar you," Balkir said. "Let me have him. I'll make him give you the grail."
"You interrupt," Nasim said icily. "Leave us."
Balkir's eyes widened. "I did not mean--forgive me. I only wished to--"
"Did I ask for your aid?"
Balkir shook his head and backed quickly out of the tent.
"A fool," Kadar said. "I'm surprised you endure him."
"A loyal fool. Not like you, Kadar. I could always count on your brilliance, never your loyalty."
"Because I'm not a fool. I'd not throw my loyalty down a bottomless pit." He smiled. "Now that he's gone, we can talk freely. I wasn't joking. I want him dead."
Nasim shrugged. "It's an unimportant thing. However, the ship . . ."
"Is also an unimportant thing." He paused. "When tossed in the balance. Look at me, Nasim: I was a dead man."
He became still. "You know it was the grail?"
"What else? You saw the wound."
Nasim's gaze hungrily raked Kadar's face. "Do you know how fortunate you are? You're young and frozen in time. Every year that passed, I knew my body was failing me and I couldn't get my hands on the grail." He frowned. "But perhaps if I drink constantly from the grail, I will reverse in aging. Is that possible?"
He shrugged. "I know little about the grail."
"Tarik does not seem to be getting younger. He only stays the same." His lips twisted. "So I'll take what I can get."
