The Tiger Prince (61 page)

“Why should I do that? In a day or two we will be able to launch rafts and crush you.”

“I’m not a fool, Abdar. It’s clear you’ve won the game, but I can make it hard or easy for you. Let Kartauk and me come over and we’ll—”

“Kartauk?” Abdar interrupted, interest flaring. “Kartauk will come?”

“Kartauk has an excellent instinct for survival, and he’s aware that we need to negotiate.”

“He should have negotiated three years ago if he wished me to be merciful.” Abdar’s pleased laugh rang out. “But come ahead, Scot, I will listen to your pleas.”

“This is a mistake,” Pachtal protested. “It could be a trick. We have no need to—”

“Do not question my wisdom,” Abdar snapped. “It is you who have become prone to mistakes. Call me when they arrive.” He whirled and vanished from the pool of light.

“Success,” Kartauk murmured when Ruel once more stepped beyond the barriers. “The first step.”

Ruel nodded grimly. “I hope it’s not going to be our last. Let’s get over there before he changes his mind.”

“No one told me you would be going too.” They both turned to see Margaret standing a few feet away, staring incredulously at Kartauk. “Why? There is no need for both of you to go.”

Kartauk shrugged. “Abdar enjoys my company, and Ruel is only a puling Scot. He needs my help.”

“Don’t joke about this. It’s not enough you tried to kill yourself before. Now you must complete the task.” She drew her shawl closer around her shaking body. Then suddenly her eyes were blazing at him. “Well, go! I don’t care. It is nothing to me if that monster draws and quarters you. I hope he does. It would serve you well for being so foolish as to—” Her voice broke, and she was running away from them.

Kartauk gazed after her with a curious expression on his face.

“She didn’t know what she was saying,” Ruel said quietly.

“Margaret always knows what she’s saying.”

Kartauk was now smiling faintly, Ruel noticed. “You don’t appear upset.”

“I’m not upset. She’s coming alive again.” Kartauk turned away. “Let’s go.”

•     •     •

Jane was waiting at the canoe when Kartauk and Ruel approached it five minutes later. “I’m going with you.”

“No,” Ruel said. “We don’t need you.”

“You do need me. You need every distraction you can muster. Abdar regards you only as an annoyance, but he has a personal animosity toward me for depriving him of Kartauk.”

“But he will have me,” Kartauk said. “Such a prize should be enough. Stay here, Jane.”

Jane ignored him as her gaze met Ruel’s. “I either get into that canoe with you or I swim across. Take your choice.”

Ruel stared at her in frustration. “Dammit, what are you trying to do to me?” he said hoarsely. “I can’t lose you too.”

“Do I swim?”

“Damn you.” He grasped her waist and lifted her into the boat. “But you’ll leave Abdar to me and obey instructions. Do you hear me?”

“I hear you.”

“You notice she doesn’t say she will obey,” Kartauk said. “I consider that a significant omission.”

Ruel didn’t answer as he picked up the paddle and dipped it into the water.

Pachtal, Abdar, and a guard of ten soldiers stood waiting on the bank when the canoe reached the opposite shore.

“Ah, what an extraordinary pleasure,” Abdar said as he saw Jane in the canoe. “I was not expecting you. Kali has given me good fortune.”

“Why all three?” Pachtal asked slowly. “I have no liking for this, Your Highness. Why should all of them be so willing to risk their lives?”

“They could not help themselves. I told you, if I drew power from my masks, all would come to me.” Abdar smiled. “And so you did, Miss Barnaby. You may think you came to help your friends persuade me to spare you, but it’s not true. Kali called you.”

“Kali does not exist,” Jane said.

“Be quiet,” Ruel said harshly. “Do you want to make things worse for us?”

Abdar’s attention shifted to Ruel. “You were always the clever one, Scot. Under other circumstances Kali could have used your services. You are far more sensible than your brother.”

Ruel shrugged. “He was always a fool.”

“Yet we have heard that you have cared for that crippled fool for three years,” Pachtal said.

“Our God promises paradise for such acts. It cost me little and I thought it worth the chance.” He met Abdar’s gaze. “You should understand that.”

Abdar laughed. “Oh, I do. Gods may be manipulated as well as manipulate.”

“May we get out of this boat?” Kartauk asked. “Or are we to conduct this entire conversation in these uncomfortable circumstances.”

“Arrogance.” Abdar’s smile faded. “You’ve learned little, Kartauk.”

“I’ve learned I like life.” Kartauk paused. “And I’ve learned that sometimes I have to make certain concessions to keep it.”

A flare of interest touched Abdar’s face. “Indeed? Then by all means we must talk. Come to my tent.” He turned and walked toward a large tent several yards from the bank. “Search them for weapons and bring them, Pachtal.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Pachtal’s gaze was on the opposite bank. “I do not like this. It is most strange …”

“That we come to bargain for our lives?” Ruel asked as he got out of the canoe and lifted Jane onto the bank. “Not against these kinds of odds.”

“Perhaps.” Pachtal’s comely face lit in a vicious smile. “But I doubt if your bargaining will do you any good. His Highness has every intention of having you join his collection. He believes you will add great power.” He turned to Jane. “And you will join him there after you have provided us diversion.”

“I promise I will be very diverting,” Jane said. “Perhaps too diverting for your taste.”

“Oh, you intend to fight? That is always very exhilarating.” Pachtal quickly searched them before turning to an officer. “Watch for other canoes being launched from across the river. This is too easy.”

“Do you see any canoes?” Ruel asked. “Unfortunately, you caught us off guard.”

“I suppose it is possible.” Pachtal gestured toward the large tent. “His Highness will grow impatient.”

“We wouldn’t want that,” Ruel murmured. He took Jane’s hand and moved toward the tent. His touch felt warm and comforting, dispersing some of the chill creeping through her.

Even that warmth was banished when they entered the tent.

White candles in tall golden stands lit the dim interior, their light falling on Abdar, who sat with legs crossed on an enormous white satin cushion, and shimmering on the multitude of gold masks on the ground surrounding him in an obscene circle.

Jane gasped, her stomach clenching as the impact of the horror and pain of those masks struck her.

“Steady,” Ruel said in an undertone, his grip tightening on her hand.

She swallowed and pulled her gaze from the masks. Dear God, she had never been aware of Abdar’s full malevolence until this moment.

“Power,” Abdar said softly, and she became aware of his gaze on her face. “You feel it, don’t you?”

If evil was power, then she did feel it here. “No.”

His lips curled peevishly. “You lie. You must feel it.” He threw out his hand to the ground before him. “Sit.”

When they sat down, the masks were only inches from her knees, gleaming gold and tortured in the candlelight. She tried not to look at them.

“Benares’s work is not nearly as fine as yours, Kartauk.” Abdar picked up one of the masks. “You would have done great things with this subject. She had great life force.”

Zabrie.

Jane had thought her horror complete, but it was
even more terrible to recognize someone she knew among those tortured spirits.

“He was always too impatient in the final stages,” Kartauk said without expression. “It is a common mistake.”

“One you never made.”

“But then, I am superb.”

“True.” Abdar put the mask down. “But can I trust you not to run away again? That is the question. I do not like to be disappointed.”

“Can we dispense with this talk of masks and discuss terms?” Ruel asked.

“You appear a trifle irritated.” Abdar smiled slyly. “Were you not pleased with the mask I sent you? Pachtal assures me it was one of Benares’s best efforts. I was very disappointed I did not get to see it myself. Perhaps you will return it to me for my collection?”

Ruel’s face remained without expression. “I think not.”

“Why did you not see it?” Kartauk asked suddenly. Jane noticed his gaze was fixed on Pachtal, and for the first time she became aware of the curious tension of Pachtal’s demeanor.

“I misunderstood His Highness’s orders and sent the mask without letting him view it,” Pachtal said stiffly. “He was right to be angry with me.”

“Terms,” Ruel prompted Abdar.

“I will choose the time for such discussion,” Abdar said haughtily. “You have nothing with which to bargain, or you would not be here.”

“That’s not totally true. You need gold and I have the trust of the Cinnidans. For a percentage of the profits I could run the mine and deal with the Cinnidans for you.”

“I do not need the Cinnidans. I understand my grandfather found them surly and uncooperative. I will bring my own people from Kasanpore.”

“But that would mean a delay you don’t want. Together we could—”

“What was that?” Pachtal asked, his head tilted, listening.

Abdar frowned. “I heard nothing.”

“There was … something. A sort of whoosh … like water or …” Pachtal strode out of the tent. “I’ll return shortly. I’m sure I heard—”

Unearthly screams filled the air.

Abdar jumped to his feet and ran toward the tent entrance. “Pachtal! What is it?”

“Stay here.” Ruel told Jane as he followed Abdar. “Keep her here in the tent where she’s safe, Kartauk.”

She ignored him and ran out of the tent. She had known what to expect, but the sight that met her eyes was still astounding. All along the shore, elephants were surfacing from the river, leathery coats gleaming wetly, like nightmare creatures from the deep. The riders on their backs were almost naked, carrying only spears and the reed pipes they had used to breathe underwater as the elephants had swum beneath the surface from downriver.

The herd of elephants was already running through the encampment, the vanguard led by Li Sung on Danor. The soldiers, caught completely off guard, were fleeing before the elephants thundering toward them, over them.

Chaos broke out everywhere—soldiers running, shouting, guns exploding.

“Out of the way!” Dilam leaned down from the female elephant she was riding and grabbed one of the standing torches bordering the shore. She fired Abdar’s tent and then turned the elephant and followed Li Sung, lighting tents and shrubbery along the way.

“So much for keeping you safe inside,” Kartauk murmured as he grabbed Jane’s arm and drew her away from the burning tent.

“Where’s Ruel?” Her gaze frantically searched the melee of elephants and soldiers. “I don’t see him.”

“That’s not surprising.” He pulled her toward the trees lining the banks. “With all this smoke and confusion, it would be odd if you did.”

She shook off his grip. “Let me alone. I’m not going anywhere without Ruel.” The entire encampment was now ablaze, and she could barely discern figures in the thick smoke. She could hear Abdar screaming, shouting orders, and moved toward the sound. She knew Ruel would be wherever Abdar could be found. Her eyes stung from the smoke, and her lungs felt scorched. She dodged to the side as an elephant thundered out of the thick black haze.

She could no longer hear Abdar for the screaming of the soldiers and the trumpeting of the elephants. “Ruel!”

“Harlot!” Pachtal emerged from the haze, his face twisted with rage. He lifted his hand and she saw a glimpse of steel gleaming—a dagger!

“Down!” Kartauk knocked her to her knees as Pachtal’s knife tore toward her breast.

Pachtal lunged forward, off balance. Kartauk stepped behind him, his massive arm encircling Pachtal’s throat.

Pachtal was cursing, his eyes popping from a face no longer beautiful. Kartauk’s arm jerked backward and Jane heard a sickening crack as Pachtal’s neck broke.

He looked so surprised, Jane thought dazedly. Not pained, just … surprised.

Kartauk released him and Pachtal slumped to the ground.

“And good riddance,” Kartauk said as he bent down and retrieved Pachtal’s dagger. “I could only wish it were Abdar, but Ruel will be attending to him.”

“How do you know?” Jane asked frantically. “He can’t even see in this smoke. Abdar could slip up behind him.”

“There he is.” Kartauk was looking at something beyond her shoulder.

She whirled to see Ruel only a few yards away.

Abdar lay on the ground, his leg bent at an awkward angle, his lip cut and bleeding. Ruel stood over him, his hair, loosened from its queue by the struggle, falling wild and full about his face.

Dear God, his expression …

Tiger burn bright.

Ian’s words came back to her. Ruel was burning now with a terrible beauty, flaming with hatred and vengeance.

Abdar screeched something inaudible at him as he tried to scramble to his knees. “Ruel!” Kartauk called.

When Ruel looked up, Kartauk tossed him the knife he had taken from Pachtal.

Ruel let the knife fall to the ground. “No. Too quick.” He picked Abdar up and carried him thrashing and struggling deeper into the smoke near the blazing tent. “You and Jane get over into the trees.”

“Kali will punish you,” Abdar sobbed. “You will see. Kali will strike you down.”

“You can talk it over with her soon,” Ruel said as he carried Abdar past the tent and dropped him on the riverbank. “Li Sung!”

“Here!” Li Sung called out of the veil of smoke across the clearing.

Ruel walked over to the protection of the trees, where Jane and Kartauk now stood. “The elephants have done their part,” he shouted. “Take them back across the river!”

“Gladly,” Li Sung said. “They have no liking for all this fire and smoke.”

“No!” Abdar screamed as he realized what the order meant.

Too quick, Ruel had said about the dagger. This might also be quick, but Abdar would die in an agony of terror, the death he feared the most.

“No, do not—” Abdar broke off as he saw the elephants thundering toward him out of the smoke. “This is not Kali’s will! This is not—”