"You agree to the bargain?"
"On my terms. I'll not go unguarded to meet you, and I'll send you word of the meeting place tomorrow afternoon."
"Send it to the old cypress near the stream seven miles from here. I think it best that you not know exactly where I am from now on." He added mockingly, "Not that I don't trust you. But Balkir might be tempted to attack while I'm unaware and run another sword through me. Send a messenger to the cypress at midday and I'll be there."
"You're never unaware." Nasim smiled slyly. "Do you wish me to send Balkir with the message tomorrow?"
"You are annoyed with him. You don't wish to see him alive again?"
"On second thought, I'll send someone else. I won't give you Balkir until I see that golden coffer."
"As you like, but he'd better not live a minute longer."
"No longer than you'll live if you try to betray me." He paused. "And I'll find the woman and kill her too. You cannot hide her forever."
"I'm not worried. When you have the grail, you'll lose interest in both of us."
"That's true." Nasim's eyes glittered in his taut face. "Nothing is more important. Bring me the grail. I have to have the grail."
"Tomorrow." Kadar turned to leave. "You won't be disappointed. Just make sure you don't disappoint me."
Vaden's army was camped some fifteen miles east of Nasim's camp on the southern slope of Mount Vesuvius.
Selene, Tarik, and Layla arrived at the camp in the late afternoon.
Kadar strode out to meet them. "You brought it?"
Tarik jerked his head to indicate the mule behind him. "Selene saw that I did. She watched me like a hawk as I loaded it on the mule. She wasn't about to let you go to Nasim without something to bargain with. Did all go well today?"
"As we expected." Kadar turned to Selene with a smile. "You see, all your worry was for nothing."
"I wasn't worried." It was a lie. The relief that had surged through her when she saw him had almost made her dizzy. "I wasn't expecting anything to happen today. I had every confidence you could keep Nasim from killing you as you dangled the prospect of the grail before his nose." She slipped from the saddle. "We both know it's after he gets the grail that you'll be in danger. Is Vaden ready?"
"Oh, I'm always ready," Vaden said as he joined them. "But I'm not sure I'll be given an opportunity to test that readiness. We're too far away."
"Tomorrow after I receive the message about Nasim's new location, you'll move closer. If you can do it without Nasim's guards seeing you."
"I can do it." His gaze went to the chest tied to the mule. "Is that it?"
Layla nodded. "And you'd better be prepared to protect it."
"I'll protect Kadar and do my best to destroy Nasim and his men. That's my only commitment. I wish nothing to do with your grail. I've had my fill of such tripe." He turned on his heel and walked away.
"Vaden is not enamored with objects of power," Kadar said. "You'll have to rely on me." He turned to Selene. "Our tent is over there. Are you ready to eat or would you prefer to refresh yourself?"
"Neither. I'm stiff from the ride." She set out for the perimeter of the camp. "I want to walk."
Kadar caught up with her. "May I go along?"
"If you like."
"But I'm not invited?"
"I won't be good company. I'm in a foul humor."
"I'd rather be with you in bad humor than anyone else in good."
She felt that usual melting at his words. This was not the night to quarrel with him, no matter how tense she felt. She slowed down and they walked in silence for a while. "Do you have any idea where he'll choose to meet you?"
