"What did they have you do?"
"I was the symbol of Akuba. I wore the mask of the jackal and stood over the body when the priests chanted and purified the body." She paused. "And then I stood and watched while they removed the organs."
Selene's stomach lurched. "Dear God."
"Don't look so horrified. I grew accustomed to it. Soon I didn't even smell the decay of flesh and the scent of incense. Children can become used to anything."
Selene's gaze searched her face. "I think you lie."
Layla lifted her goblet in a mocking toast. "Wise child. I hated it every minute of my waking days and dreamed of it every night.
I wanted only to be free. I tried to run away once and they brought me back. I was beaten until I couldn't stand. They told me the next time it would be death. I knew about death. I decided not to risk it until I was sure I wouldn't be caught. So I stayed in the House of Death until my twenty-sixth year. I listened, I learned, I sought a way to free myself. I found it."
"How?"
"I heard stories of a young man called Selket, who had labored in the House of Death before I came there. He had been killed by the priests."
"Why?"
"He'd found a special treasure among the belongings of one of the dead and wouldn't share it with them. They tortured him to death, but he died without revealing where he'd hidden it. Selket was clever. He made sure that even after his death they couldn't find it."
"What treasure? The grail?"
She nodded. "And if the priests wanted it, I knew I didn't want them to have it. I would have buried it or burned it rather than let them have anything they wanted. The priests gave up the search after a few years. I did not. I saw the treasure as my salvation. For years I searched and dug and questioned. I had to be very careful not to let the priests know what I was doing. In time they began to think me cowed and submissive to their every whim. I was even permitted to go alone about the city. Then I found a clue. Two weeks before his death, Selket had visited his uncle, who was a scribe in the halls of the Great Library."
"Library?"
"A place where thousands of scrolls and documents were kept. Scholars and scribes came from all over the world to work and visit the library. I learned Selket's uncle was dead, but there might still be something to point the way. He was a scribe--perhaps he'd written something on one of the scrolls. But the library was not a place a woman could go without suspicion, and there were thousands and thousands of scrolls. I had to find someone to help me. I watched and studied the people who worked in the library and finally chose a scribe who seemed more approachable than some. He had lived within the walls of the library most of his life, and his work was his only passion." She smiled. "His name was Tarik."
"Tarik was a scribe?" It was not really such a surprising thought when she remembered the expression on his face when he had shown them the manuscript. "Go on."
Layla shook her head. "I believe I've told you enough for the moment. Far more than Tarik would like. He always counseled caution. Besides, you're almost ready to swoon from weariness. It's time to go to sleep."
"No, I want to hear--"
Layla was on her feet and heading for the door.
"Wait. Don't you go one more step until you tell me what plans Tarik has for Kadar."
"Oh, he wishes him to guard the grail." The answer was offhand.
"That is all?"
"I assure you it's more than enough to cause him many problems." She opened the door. "We'll have to share the bed. Finish your wine and get to bed while I go down and make sure your Haroun has been fed and provided with bedding."
"I can do--"
Selene stopped as the door slammed behind Layla. It was clear the woman would brook no arguments. Well, perhaps she was right. Selene was tired and her head was buzzing from the events and revelations of the day.
But she didn't want to go to bed. She wanted to hear more. She had been touched and horrified by Layla's story. Her own time at Nicholas's had been terrible, but to live in a House of Death . . . She could see why the woman seemed hard and self-willed. It was a wonder Layla had managed to survive and keep from going mad in such a place.
She was making excuses to pardon Layla, Selene realized with astonishment. The woman was volatile, reckless, and probably as hard as stone. Selene should be wary of being in the same room with her, and tonight they were going to occupy the same bed. Why wasn't she more cautious?
Because she sensed that Layla had a streak of vulnerability beneath that hard surface.
Perhaps she and Layla possessed similar qualities. Selene, too, disliked anyone seeing too deep and wanted things her own way. Well, one of those things was making sure Kadar was safe, and she couldn't do that unless she knew where the danger lay. Tomorrow she would make sure that Layla told her more.
She finished her wine and set the goblet on the table before stripping off her clothing and climbing into bed.
