Relief poured through her. She hadn't known until this moment how frightened she'd been of facing that evil old man again. Joy followed on the heels of relief as she realized that the threat that had dangled over Kadar's head all these years was gone. "Thank God."
"It may not be an occasion for rejoicing. Nasim sent Balkir to bring me here."
"Nasim?" He had mentioned Nasim, she recalled. "The man you said was linked to Sinan?"
He nodded. "Sheikh Jabbar Al Nasim."
"What do you mean, linked ?"
"When one of Sinan's followers was deemed ready to walk the dark path, Sinan sent him to Nasim."
"Why?"
"Training."
"But I thought Sinan trained you."
"He did. Nasim's teaching was . . . different. Some called him a sorcerer. Sinan was able to go only so far. It's not easy to take the final step on the dark path or lead someone else to take it."
She didn't like this. It seemed impossible that anyone could be more threatening than Sinan, but Kadar's tone was making her uneasy. "He wasn't at Maysef when we were there."
"He has his own camp a day's journey away. He seldom came to Maysef except during the training or when he wanted something from Sinan." He paused. "And he always got what he wanted, Selene. I never saw Sinan yield to anyone but Nasim."
"And does he now lead Sinan's followers?"
He shook his head. "He was never interested in that kind of glory. He only wanted the power. According to Balkir, Nasim just comes and goes as he always did, watching the power struggles among Sinan's followers. He always stood apart."
"Then why does Balkir obey him?"
"He trained most of Sinan's assassins, and it's difficult to shrug off . . . I suppose the fear is still there. It's hard to describe the influence he wielded. He held absolute control over us." He stopped beside a small mare whose reins were held by one of Balkir's sailors. "Don't be frightened. It will be all right. I just wanted to warn you."
Don't be frightened? He had just told her that this man was even more evil than Sinan, and he expected her to be calm about it? "What does he want of you?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Balkir said he was only told to bring me and not to let me know Sinan was dead."
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I," Kadar said soberly. "Not at all."
The fortress of Maysef was everything Selene remembered it to be: the castle strong, stark, forbidding; the white-robed followers moving ghostlike about the courtyard and dim halls. She hadn't realized her memory of that first encounter was so clear and vivid.
"Wait here." Balkir dismounted from his horse. "I must go and make my report to the master. I will send for you if he wishes to see you."
"But Kadar never likes to wait." A man in a billowing black cloak stood on the top step, looking down at them. "So I came to greet him."
Kadar inclined his head. "Good day, Nasim."
"It is a good day now. I've been waiting a long time."
Selene suppressed a shudder as she saw Nasim's fierce gaze fasten on Kadar like the talons of an eagle. Why, she was afraid of this man. She hadn't been afraid of Sinan, though she supposed she should have been. But this man . . . The menace and power that surrounded him were nearly visible. Nasim was clearly an old man. His face was deeply lined and his dark hair, tied back in a queue, was white at the temples. But his eyes glittered with an almost feverish vitality that defied age.
Kadar didn't seem afraid. He said lightly, "It's the least you could do after I've come such a long distance at your request."
"Command."
"Request," Kadar repeated with a smile. "I no longer obey commands, Nasim."
"Brave words. It's deeds that count. You don't seem surprised that it's I who summoned you." His glance shifted to Balkir.
