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“THAT’S ALL?” Tabia leaned back in her chair.

“You’ve told me everything?”

“Yes. I told you that you probably knew all that I did.”

“Not quite all.” Tabia wiped her hands on her napkin before tossing it aside and reaching for her goblet.

“And have your Kadar’s wounds healed sufficiently for him to travel?”

“He’s not my Kadar.” Selene sipped her wine.

“He almost died. He should not travel.”

“But he could?”

Selene nodded.

“Then I’d wager Tarik has him halfway to Rome by now.”

“I didn’t mention Rome.”

“I noticed that omission. But Tarik has a house there, and it’s a reasonable place to hide Kadar while he trains.”

“Trains?”

“Yes.” Tabia’s abstracted gaze was fixed on Selene’s face.

“This is the first time Tarik has sent me anyone. He must have a fondness for you. Has he bedded you?”

Selene’s eyes widened in shock.

“No.”

“I didn’t really think he would. You’re too bold for his current taste. He likes his women meek and honey sweet. You have nothing sweet about you.” She grimaced.

“That’s good. I sicken at the taste of honey. I enjoy a sharp bite but not smoothness. More wine?”

“No.”

“One more goblet. It will help you sleep.” She got up and strode to the table by the door, where Mario had set a fresh pitcher.

She carried the pitcher to the table and poured the wine into Selene’s goblet.

“You’ll need it.”

“You’re certain now that Tarik purposely sent me to you?”

“There’s no question in my mind. Though he’d probably deny it.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He wants me to do what he cannot.”

Selene tensed.

“And what is that?”

Tabia chuckled.

“By the gods, you think I mean to kill you.”

“It occurred to me.”

Tabia’s smile faded.

“I don’t kill. I would not even kill that monster Nasim. Death is a horror to me.”

Selene believed her.

Every word she had spoken had rung with passion.

“He wanted to keep me far away from Kadar. Perhaps he doesn’t know that you feel as you do.”

“Oh, he knows.” She dropped back onto her chair.

“We know each other very well. Finish your wine and I’ll tell you how well.”

Selene slowly sipped her wine.

“I don’t care about your dealings with Tarik.”

“Even when the dealings concern you and Kadar? Of course you do.”

“Very well, what is Tarik to you?”

“He is my husband.”

Selene stared at her, stunned.

“His wife is dead. He told me so.”

“Rosa? She was never his wife. How could she be when I was still alive when he wed her?” She looked away.

“I’m his only wife.”

“Layla . . .”

Her gaze swung back to Selene.

“He told you about me?”

“He told me of Layla, his first wife. He said I was like her.”

Her lips twisted.

“I assure you that was no compliment. We are not on the best of terms.”

Selene’s mind was whirling.

“You said your name was Tabia.”

“A small, necessary lie.”

“Why is a lie necessary?”

“You were confused enough. I saw no need to increase the muddle. Tarik and I parted long ago.”

“But you still send spies to Sienbara.”

“Because we have a joint interest. Not for any personal reason.”

“The treasure?”

“Tarik is a dreamer. One cannot always trust dreamers to do what is best. The coffer is too valuable to be left in his hands alone.”

“Then it does contain a grail?”

Layla nodded.

“There is a grail. But there is no magic connected with it, as Nasim thinks.”

“It’s the grail of the Last Supper?”

Layla shrugged.

“I do not think so. Perhaps. The grail is very old and was in the Holy Land at one time.”

“At one time?”

“It came into Tarik’s and my hands in Alexandria.” She drank deep of the wine in her goblet.

“Do you know Alexandria?”

“It’s in Egypt. When I was at the House of Nicholas, we had patrons from there come to buy the silk.”

“Ah, yes, I remember now.” She smiled as she saw Selene stiffen.

“You don’t like the fact that I know your roots. I told you that I had to know everything about everyone connected to Tarik.”

“The connection was not by our will.”

“But it exists.” She brushed the argument aside.

“Besides, you should be proud of rising above that prison where you grew up. It was a battle well fought.”

“Kadar got me away from Nicholas’s house.”

“So I was told. But you would have found a way to free yourself given time.” She grimaced.

“However, it’s true, you were fortunate. I was not able to release myself from my prison until I reached womanhood.”

“Your prison?”

“I grew up in the House of Death.”

Selene’s eyes widened.

“But, of course, you don’t know what that is. I was born in a small village north of Alexandria. When I was eight, I was chosen by the priests to be brought to the House of Death at Alexandria. I never saw my parents again.”

“House of Death?”

“The house where the dead are taken to be prepared for burial. The place where their bodies are wrapped to preserve them for eternity and their souls are guided by the priests to the land of eternal joy.” Layla’s tone was laden with irony.

“And I was selected by the gods to help them cross over. Don’t you think it’s a fitting task for a girl of eight years?”

“Gods? There is only one God.”

“Here in Christendom. In Egypt many still believe in the old gods. It’s such a comforting religion. One need not be good if one is rich or powerful. And it’s possible to take all of your most precious worldly goods with you. Providing you can keep the robbers from finding out the location of your tomb. Thieves have been known to strip the linen from the corpse to see if any jewels were left on the body.”

Selene shivered.

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“Thieves are thieves. Whether they steal from the dead or the living. In my opinion, it’s less horrible to steal from the dead. The living need their possessions.”

“From what you say, according to your religion, so do the dead.”

“It’s no longer my religion. Perhaps it never was. I began to doubt from the moment I stepped over the threshold of the House of Death. I could not bear to be used in that fashion.”

“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.

Where was Kadar now?

Aching loneliness washed over her.

It was unreasonable to feel this pain.

Was she going to be this idiotic all the days of her life?

Oh, Lord, she was afraid she was.

Selene was deeply asleep, sprawled over the bed like a weary child.

Layla shook her head ruefully as she gazed down at her.

She couldn’t possibly get in the bed without waking her, and she wasn’t willing to do that.

Selene needed sleep this night.

Oh, well, Layla had slept in chairs many times before.

She dropped into the chair in front of the fire.

She grimaced as she reached for her goblet.

This chair had no cushions and was more uncomfortable than most.

Stop whining.

She would probably not have slept much anyway.

Her gaze wandered from the fire back to Selene.

So much pain. So much passion.

She could see why Tarik had been torn.

He must have become very involved with Kadar and Selene during these last weeks.

Don’t worry, Tarik. I won’t fail you.

Poor Tarik. Was it weariness or discouragement that was pushing him toward her?

It didn’t matter.

She didn’t care about anything.

As long as he came back to her.

Her eyes closed tightly as waves of memory washed over her.

He was leaving.

“But I love you.” Layla’s hands tightened frantically on his arms.

“I know you do.” Tarik’s lips were thin with pain.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“How can you say that? It does matter. Stay.”

“You’re too strong. You’d always convince me you were right and I was wrong.”

“I am right.”

Tarik shook his head and pulled away from her.

“I can’t do it any longer.”

It was killing her.

Couldn’t he see that she couldn’t live without him?

“Then don’t do it. Just stay with me.”

“And watch you do it? It’s the same thing.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

He opened the door.

She wasn’t going to be able to stop him, she realized in despair.

“Then go. Live with your damnable guilt. Eat with it, sleep with it.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You’re not hurting me.” She raised her chin.

“I’ll forget you. Why do I need a fool like you?”

He closed the door behind him.

Tarik!

______

She should not have let the memory return.

The agony was too intense.

It was as if she were living it over again.

How many times during the past years had she smothered the thought of that scene and closed that part of her?

But now it might be all right to remember.

There were signs he was yielding at last.

He had sent her Selene.

She was dreadfully ill, Selene realized even before she opened her eyes.

She barely made it to the basin across the room before she started to throw up.

“What’s wrong?”

Someone was behind her.

Layla.

“Answer me.”

Dear God, couldn’t the stupid woman see she couldn’t answer her?

Layla was beside her, her arm bracing Selene’s shoulders while she heaved.

“It’s all right—I think.”

“It’s not all right. I’m dying.” Her stomach was empty but she was still miserable.

She staggered back to the bed and crawled beneath the covers.

“Go away.”

“You’re not dying.” Layla was standing by the bed.

“I won’t have it.”

She opened her eyes to see Layla frowning down at her.

“Go away.”

“You’re not being reasonable. If you’re truly ill, I’m the only one here who can help you. Now be silent while I decide what course to take.”

Selene was too sick to argue.

She shut her eyes, trying to fight off the new surge of nausea that was overwhelming her.

Cold water was running down her face and onto the covers.

She gasped, and her eyes flew open to see Layla wielding a sopping-wet cloth with vigorous authority.

“You’re drowning me.”

Layla scowled.

“Well, it was all I could think of to do. I told you I wasn’t good at this sort of thing.”

“You’re right.”

“And you’re not supposed to be ill. I hadn’t planned—Why are you?”

It wasn’t enough that she was sick, but this heartless woman expected her to make apologies for it.

“It’s probably from being in the same chamber with you,” she said through her teeth.

“I don’t think so. Do you hurt anywhere?”

“No.” She huddled beneath the covers.

“I don’t want to talk.”

“We must find out the problem. Did the beef from supper disagree with you?”

“Get that cloth away from my face or I’ll throw it at you.”

“Very well. It doesn’t seem to be doing much good anyway. I’ve always suspected bathing brows is much overrated.”

“I’m going to try to go back to sleep. Leave me alone.”

“I suppose that would be all right.” Layla dropped down in the chair.

“But I’ll wake you if the sleep appears too deep.”

Probably with another ice-water dousing.

“If you do, I may throttle you.”

“Ungrateful wretch.” But the gentleness with which she straightened Selene’s covers belied the roughness of her tone.

“Rest. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

The nausea was gone when Selene opened her eyes again.

“Better?” Layla asked.

“Can you eat?”

She was still too befogged from sleep to think.

“I don’t know.”

“You should try. It’s afternoon. You’ve slept half the day away.”

She was hungry, she realized with amazement.

All trace of illness had vanished and she felt wonderfully well.

It was as if that sickness of the morning had never been.

Morning sickness.

Mother of God.

“You’re ill again,” Layla sighed.

“Do you need the basin?”

“No,” she whispered.

“I feel fine.”

“You’ve turned pale.” She frowned.

“Talk to me or, by God, I swear I’ll bathe your face again.”

“I’m with child.”

“What?”

Selene felt as stunned as Layla looked.

“My flux is very late, and this sickness is like the one my sister went through during her early months.”

“You’re sure?”

She was sure.

How strange and wonderful that she was this certain Kadar’s child was growing within her.

“I didn’t want to believe it. I refused to think about it.”

“You don’t want this child?”

“Of course I want it.” The answer came with an instant fierceness that surprised her.

Layla held up her hand.

“Don’t attack me. It’s a reasonable question. You said you didn’t want to believe it, and neither you nor your bastard would have an easy time of it in this world.”

“I know that.” But she didn’t want to be reasonable.

She was feeling soft and mellow as warm honey.

She had never dreamed it would be like this.

Where had all the fear and panic gone?

A child was inconvenient, even a danger.

None of that seemed to matter.

“Do you think that I’d let my child be called a bastard?”

“How will you prevent it?”

“I’ll wed Kadar.” She sat up and swung her feet to the floor.

“It’s not as if he would not wed me to protect our child.”

“And then?”

“I’ll return to Montdhu as I intended.” She went to the basin and rinsed out her mouth.

Sweet Mary, it tasted foul.

“Call Mario.

I need a bath and a meal before we start out.”

“And where are we going?”

“To Rome. You’re going to take me to Tarik’s house.”

“Am I?”

“Or I’ll go looking for it myself.” Selene looked at Layla over her shoulder.

“I’ll certainly not stay here, and I don’t believe you’ll let me go alone, if you think Tarik sent me to you.”

“Very wise. I would not.” She frowned.

“Though things are not going as I would have hoped. I never counted on the child.”

“Neither did I.” But it was here, and the knowledge gave her a buoyant feeling she had never experienced before.

The exuberance might not last, fear and depression might soon intrude, but now she would ride the crest. “We must make the best of it.”

Layla smiled faintly as her gaze rested on Selene’s radiant face.

“Yes, we can try to do that.” She turned away.

“Very well, but we’ll take Haroun and Antonio.”

“I don’t want Antonio.”

“Because he’s my man? You’ll take him anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll have him stay out of sight as much as possible. But I won’t start this journey without a guard to stand watch.” She glanced over her shoulder.

“Nasim is no fool. He will be moving.”

SIENBARA

“Genoa,” Balkir said.

“Tarik has a ship there. We’ve questioned everyone in the castle and village. It has to be Genoa.”

“It’s too obvious.” Nasim frowned.

“Too easy. Tarik is a deceptive man.”

“Should I return and try again?”

“Fool. What if it is Genoa? Should we let them sail halfway to Scotland before we’re able to overtake them?”

“But you said that—”

“We try Genoa.” He frowned.

“The woman may have departed here before Tarik and Kadar. It could be that they sought to confuse me by going in different directions. Now, that’s a ploy worthy of Kadar and Tarik.”

“Then we leave Sienbara at once?”

He nodded curtly as he mounted his horse.

“At once.”

“Not again,” Layla sighed as she fell to her knees on the ground beside Selene.

“This is the third time since we started our journey. When does this morning illness end? It’s most distasteful.”

“I can’t help it.” She threw up again.

“And you’re without wits, woman, to think that I can. I’d wager you threw up many times in the House of Death.”

“Only once. The beating I received for showing emotion made me hesitate to give in to weakness again.”

“Well, I’m not sorry for you.” But she was, and it only made her angrier.

“Go back to your pallet and leave me alone.”

“You’d only keep me awake with your retching here in the bushes.” She made a face.

“And it annoys me to have Haroun look at me with those big reproachful eyes. You’ve not seen fit to tell him of your affliction, and he thinks me a cruel and unnatural woman to ignore you.”

“I don’t care. He’s right. You are a cruel and unnatural woman.”

“Here.” Layla thrust a damp cloth into her hand.

“Bathe your own forehead, since you’re not happy with my tending.”

“Tending?”

“I’m trying. Don’t I twiddle my thumbs, letting you sleep the morning away after you wake me at dawn with this nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense. Many women have this affliction when they’re with child. And I never asked you to—”

“Shh, I know.” She gently brushed the hair back from Selene’s temple.

“It’s a wonder that women have more than one child if this is the way of it.”

“Don’t be foolish. How would they keep from it?”

“There are ways.”

The illness was subsiding at last. She sat back on her heels and drew a deep breath.

“You’ve never had a child?”

Layla shook her head.

“And probably just as well. As you see, I’m not overgentle.”

Selene sensed a hint of pain beneath the carelessness of Layla’s words and said impulsively, “I think you’d be a very good mother.”

Layla’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You would,” Selene insisted.

“You’re clever and strong and protective.”

“That would make me a good father, not a good mother,” Layla said dryly.

“Well, who is to say there must be softness. Besides, I believe you could be . . . gentle.”

“You near choked on that word.” Layla took the wet cloth and dabbed awkwardly at Selene’s lips.

“And you clearly must be dizzy from your sickness. It’s time you went back to your pallet.”

“I’m not dizzy.” But she was weak as the babe she was carrying, she realized as she struggled to her feet.

“I don’t have to sleep all morning. Just a small nap. I know we should not linger.”

Layla nodded as she stood up.

“No, there are too many people at Sienbara who knew Tarik had a ship in Genoa. Nasim would have little trouble finding someone who would tell him about it, and Genoa is a small place.”

“But we’re no longer in Genoa.”

“But Mario is still there, and he has a tongue as loose as his wits.”

“You think he would tell him our direction?”

“With a little persuasion.” She shrugged.

“Or maybe not so little.”

“Then we should leave at once.”

“And have you fall off your horse and break something? Then we would truly have a problem. A few hours will make no difference. We’ll make it up by stopping later for the night.”

Selene was not so sure it wouldn’t make a difference.

“Just a small nap.”

“We will see.” She grasped Selene’s arm and gently pushed her toward the fire.

“Leave it to me. I feel the need of a nap myself after witnessing the disgusting spectacle you made of yourself.”

“I did not ask—” Protests to Layla were like rain beating against a stone wall.

Besides, she was beginning to learn she should pay more attention to Layla’s actions than anything she said.

Her words might be harsh and completely lacking in sympathy, but during the last days she had been constantly at her side, unobtrusively watching, helping.

Perhaps Layla could be no other way after the life she had lived.

Selene could understand the need to build walls.

She had erected high ones of her own.

“I . . . thank you for trying to help me.”

Layla looked at her in surprise.

“Then I’m no longer cruel and unnatural?”

“Yes, but I’ve decided you cannot help it and should be forgiven.” She smiled faintly.

“But I give warning I may not feel the same when you rant at me tomorrow morning.”

“Then you should try to control this sickness. It annoys me.”

“Tell that to the babe.” She had reached her pallet and sank to her knees.

“I seem to have no control of it. My sister’s illness went away after the fourth month.”

“It should not be so. It’s not fair that women must suffer like this. If I were with child, I’d find a cure that would prevent this idiotic—”

“I’m sure you would.” Selene nestled beneath her blankets and closed her eyes.

“By all means, seek out a preventive. But quietly.” She yawned.

“Very quietly. I need more sleep.”

“Oh, very well.” She heard Layla nestling into her own blankets across the fire.

“But you should not give in to this. It insults our bodies to have to undergo this trial. We should find a way for women not to have to suffer to give birth.”

“Fine, you find a way. I need to nap.”

“So it goes away in four months. What if you have another child? Would you have to go through this again? It would not be—”

“Layla.”

Layla sighed and then fell silent.

Selene was almost asleep when Layla murmured, “We will try herbs. I know a great deal about herbs.”