Kadar could see that for himself. Nasim's black eyes were glittering, and there was a faint flush on his cheeks. He had never seen Nasim in such a fever of excitement. It did not bode well.
But often signs that appeared adverse could be turned to advantage if you could only find the means. Though, God knows, he could see no way out of this coil now.
"What do we do?" Selene demanded the moment Kadar entered her tent. "I saw Nasim arrive. We're in great danger, aren't we?"
"Yes, I believe we are. It appears he's grown weary of waiting."
"Can you do nothing with him?"
"Not this time."
And she had brought him here into Nasim's hands, she thought in agony. She squared her shoulders. "Well, say something."
"What?"
"I know it's my fault. I wanted you away from Tarik. I thought you'd be safer here. I knew Balkir would be no real danger to you."
"You didn't know Nasim would be coming."
"But it's still my fault."
"Yes, it is." He smiled. "When Tarik first told me you'd fled, I wanted to strangle you."
But he wasn't angry now. He was worried and that made her feel worse. "You were being foolish. You wouldn't listen to me."
"I'll listen now if you can tell me how we'll get out of this. I'm to return to the castle by nightfall, and I must deliver the box to Nasim by dawn."
"And I'm to stay here?"
He nodded. "Nasim is no fool. He knows I'll come back for you."
"Tarik will kill you if you try to steal the box."
"And Nasim will kill both of us if I don't."
"Then we must escape and get away from both of them."
"So simple." He shook his head. "If we escape, we return to Tarik."
"No!"
"Better to ally ourselves with Tarik than be hunted over the countryside by both him and Nasim."
"But Tarik will--"
"Kill me? No, I've been doing some thinking. I don't believe that's what he has in mind."
"I told you what he said."
"He gave you a warning he knew you'd repeat to me. When I left the castle, he said that fortune would decide."
"Decide what?"
"I'm not sure. I'm beginning to have an idea, but I intend to make certain when we return."
"I can't persuade you not to go back to him?"
"It's the wisest way."
