“I didn't think you would let her go,” Paulo said with a sidewise glance at Zack's tense, set face. “Until the very last minute I thought you'd change your mind and either make her stay or go with her.”
“A time to set free.” Zack's eyes were still on the horizon where the lights from the helicopter had just vanished. “It was time to set her free to be her own person.”
Paulo nodded slowly. “It was a wise move. Now she'll return to you and be your person as well.”
“Dear Lord, I hope so.” Zack suddenly realized his hands were clenched. He carefully relaxed them. He needed patience and control now more than at any time in his life, and he had to concentrate on gathering those forces to him. It had nearly ripped him apart to stand and watch her take off in the helicopter. She had looked so damned alone. “Let's go back to the saldana. I told Perry to contact my men in Belajo by radio to be on the lookout for her. I want to see if they've heard any more from the palace.” He glanced around. “Where's Marna?”
Paulo shrugged as he fell into step with Zack. “She probably wanted to be alone. She does not like this.”
“Who the hell does?” Zack growled. “It's tearing my guts out. The only thing giving me any comfort at all is that I know, as autocratic as Stefan may be, he's not likely to imprison his own sister.”
“You would have to argue with Marna there,” Paulo said dryly. “She thinks he's capable of every stupid action imaginable.”
“You're not very reassuring.”
“Realities must be faced.” Paulo's eyes narrowed speculatively on Zack's face. “What would you do if he did decide to do that?”
“I'd go in and get her,” Zack said grimly. “And on the way I'd flex enough economic muscle to topple King Stefan from his throne. Then I'd make sure that Marna didn't have to put a curse on Stefan's nudocs. I'd rip them off myself.”
Paulo laughed softly. “Well, it's nice to know you have an alternative plan. I do like a man who thinks ahead.” They had arrived at the saldana, and Paulo paused by the fire to clap him on the shoulder. “We didn't finish that bottle the other night. Shall we try again? I think you have more to forget tonight than you did then.”
“There may be a problem, Zack.” Perry Bentley had emerged from the caravan and was climbing down to the ground. “There's something funny going on in Belajo.”
Zack became very still. “What do you mean ‘funny’?”
Perry shifted his shoulders uneasily, “You know Fontaine hasn't been able to get any word from his people in the palace. Well, he sent a few men to nose around to see what they could find out.” He hesitated. “Something weird is happening there. No one goes in. No one goes out. And there's a cordon of soldiers around the palace. Not palace guards, regular soldiers.”
Zack muttered a violent curse. “A coup?”
Perry shook his head. “I don't know. Maybe.”
“Not a coup,” Paulo said slowly. “A revolution, I think.”
Zack glanced at him sharply. “You know something?”
“It fits together. That strange new prey I mentioned moving around in the hills? Bands of men. Large bands of men.”
“Guerillas,” Zack muttered. “Damn, why did you keep all this to yourself?”
“They left me alone. I left them alone.” Paulo shrugged. “I did liberate a few of their weapons. They are in my wagon at the encampment if you'd like to see them. They are very high powered.” He paused. “And Russian-made.”
“Get them,” Zack said tersely. “We may need them.”
Paulo's wide smile shone with feral pleasure. “We are going hunting?”
“We're going hunting,” Zack confirmed grimly. “Perry, radio Fontaine and tell him to get together enough men for a small force and meet us in the woods south of the main gate. But before you do that, try to raise Kira on the helicopter radio and warn her.” He looked at his wristwatch. “I doubt if you'll be able to do it. She should have landed a few minutes ago. Try anyway.”
“Right.” Perry jumped up to the wagon seat and disappeared into the caravan.
Paulo raised his brows. “So much for setting the little one free.”
“I set her free to walk right into a damn revolution.” Zack's voice held an edge of agonized desperation. “I should have gone with her. God knows what she's going to run into once she reaches the palace.” He turned with barely concealed violence. “Get those weapons. I'll meet you at Perry's helicopter.”
The soldier's hands were rough as he pushed her into Stefan's library. Kira's eyes were shooting sparks and she murmured something a trifle off-color as she watched the door swing shut behind him. “Stefan, what's going on here? There are soldiers all over the palace and that idiot was actually rough as hell with-” She broke off as the tall, shadowy figure stepped out of the dimness by the bookshelves into the shallow pool of light formed by the desk lamp. “Sandor! I told that soldier I wanted to see Stefan.”
“So he told me,” Karpathan said wearily. “Kira, what the devil are you doing back here? I thought you'd be out of the country by now.” He dropped down into Stefan's oversized executive chair. “And how did you get in without coming through the main gate?”
“That's none of your business, Sandor. Where is my brother? I came to see Stefan.”
“Stefan is safe. Which is more than I can say for you. Everyone in the palace must know you've returned by now.”
“Safe? Why shouldn't I be safe? This is all very irregular, Sandor.”
“Revolution has a way of being irregular,” Karpathan said dryly.
“Revol-” Kira's eyes widened in shock. She felt a wave of panic wash over her. “Where is Stefan?”
“That's what we'd like to know,” a deep baritone voice said from behind her. “He's been most elusive, hasn't he, Sandor?”
She turned to face the short, bull-chested man who had entered the library. There was no question of not recognizing him. That strong, deeply grooved face was completely unforgettable. “Naldona!”
He smiled a trifle unpleasantly. “I don't believe we were introduced at that meeting two years ago, but I recognize you as well. Your photograph caused me a good deal of trouble, Your Highness.”
“It merely escalated your plans,” Karpathan said smoothly as he rose to his feet. “It may even have helped your cause by creating a martyr image.”
Marc Naldona strolled forward to stand beside Karpathan. “It's very difficult to remember that, when I recall how uncomfortable I was hiding in the hills those first few weeks.”
“I didn't mean to hurt you,” Kira whispered. “I only wanted to help. I admired you very much, Mr. Naldona.”
“Well, it's fortunate that I'm going to be able to give you the opportunity to make amends.” His smile was hard and slightly menacing, “We're going to make good use of you.”
Kira shivered. The whole episode was wildly unbelievable and everything was topsy-turvy. Nothing was as she had thought it was. Even the two men facing her appeared to have changed places in some subtle manner. Naldona, whom she had only seen in rough work clothes and who had always seemed totally of the earth and the people, was faultlessly dressed in an expensive-looking, dark blue business suit. Karpathan, on the other hand, had shed his fastidious elegance and was dressed with utmost simplicity in black jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt. It should have detracted from his forceful presence but somehow only served to magnify it. That force was charging the room with electricity at the moment. There was an air of antagonism between the two men that was nearly tangible. She felt as if she had been thrown into a cage with two rogue tigers and couldn't be sure if they were going to rend her or each other.