"He will not forgive me." Kalim's words were almost inaudible. "He's closer to me than anyone but Viane, and I have acted without—"
"Merde, will you be silent?" She pushed him down on the cushions. "You could do nothing else. You had to save her."
"What of you?"
"I'm not like Viane." Tess began to untie the cloth tied about his head. "You care very much for her?"
"I would give my life for her," he said simply. "I have already given my honor by this act."
"I didn't know…"
"From the time I was a wild boy down from the hills, I have loved her," he said. "I'm not good with words. I do not have your cousin's winning ways. I am only a soldier with—" He broke off, his hands clenching into fists. "She cannot die."
"Of course she won't die." Tess examined the cut on his temple. "This doesn't look too bad. Is the wound on your shoulder worse?"
"A mere scratch."
"Good. Though you're probably lying." She moved toward the entrance of the tent. "I'll get Yusef to bandage your wounds and give you some laudanum. I'm better with a horse's than a human's ailments." She stopped at the entrance. "And I wish you'd stop looking at me as if I were going to march into a tomb. I have no intention of allowing Tamar to best Galen. I just must think of a way to prevent it. It should not be so difficult."
Fine, bold words, she thought wearily as she left the tent, but how was she to save herself from Tamar and Galen from a tribal war? She would have difficulty escaping by herself if Tamar's force was as large as Kalim said, so she must rely on Galen. If Tamar changed his camp each day, though, how could Galen find him?
Weapons. There must be some weapon she could wield against Tamar. Perhaps she had one advantage that could be used. It was clear that Tamar, like Hakim, regarded her as only a mindless, highborn pawn in Galen's scheme. Maybe she would be able to— She stopped short, her eyes widening. "Sweet Mary, I wonder if I could?"
She turned and ran back into the tent to Kalim. "I think I have it!"
* * *
Tamar took one look at Tess sitting straight and proud on her horse and threw back his head and shouted with laughter. "Allah be merciful, what have we here? Did you bring all the goods of the entire encampment with you?"
"I see nothing amusing." Tess lifted her chin haughtily as her gaze traveled from Tamar to the grinning tribesmen mounted behind him. "I could hardly travel without a few necessities. Who knows to whom you'll decide to ransom me, or how long it will take?"
"Necessities?" Tamar's gaze went from the band of emeralds encircling Tess's throat to the gold cloth parasol she carried in her left hand. Her horse's mane was braided with matching gold cloth ribbons, and the horse on lead behind her that was heavily burdened with trunks, valises, and even a beribboned wicker cage containing a bird. "A peacock. Galen's wed a peacock!"
"He's wed a princess of Tamrovia," Tess said. "Which he would never have done if I'd known of the barbarism to which I'd be subjected when I came here." She pouted. "In Belajo I would never have suffered these indignities." She turned to Kalim and said impatiently, "Let's get on with it. Take the girl and go, so that I can get off this abominable horse. The heat is insufferable."
Kalim looked inquiringly at Tamar.
Tamar's gaze was still fixed in bemusement on Tess. "You dislike our country?"
"Zalandan is pleasant enough, but the desert country is unbearable." She wiped her brow with a perfume-drenched handkerchief and said pointedly, "You're keeping me waiting."
"My apologies, Your Highness." Tamar swept her a mocking bow. He snapped his fingers, and the riders behind him parted to reveal a small figure toward the rear of the column. "Viane!"
Viane rode forward toward Tess. The young girl's face was white and set, her eyes dark with pain. Tess felt a flare of anger at Tamar that she knew was reflected in her face, and deliberately turned it to Viane. "You foolish girl, you've caused me a great deal of trouble."
"I'm sorry," Viane whispered.
Tess shrugged. "Perhaps it's for the best. If he's sensible, this brigand and I may deal very well together. It may be fate that brought us together. "
Tamar lifted his brow. "Indeed?"
"Later." Tess gestured haughtily to Kalim. "Take her and leave."
"Tess." Viane stopped her horse beside Pavda. "I'm sorry, I would not have—"
"If you're sorry, then leave so I can get off this animal. You know I detest horses."
Viane's eyes widened in shock. "But, Tess, I don't—"
"Come, Viane." Kalim quickly took the reins of Viane's horse and led her away.
Would Tamar let them go? Tess held her breath as she saw the sheikh's speculative gaze follow Kalim and Viane. She had no faith he would honor the exchange if it suited him to do otherwise. Galen had said he was a man who acted on whim.
Distraction. She swiftly nudged Pavda forward, blocking Tamar's view of Kalim and Viane. "Now, I have a proposition for you."
His gaze shifted back to her. "A proposition?"
She nodded. "Why else would I have consented to this exchange? It was my opportunity to leave this dreadful country. If you wish to hold me ransom, why not ransom me to my father in Tamrovia?" She wiped her brow again and said peevishly, "Why do you keep me here in this heat? Is there no shade anywhere in this country? Come, we will go back to your encampment."
"Oh, will we?" Tamar's lips twisted. "I think not, Your Highness. We've broken camp, and we'll have a long ride before we stop." He glanced at Kalim and Viane, who were almost out of sight, hesitated, and then turned back to Tess. "And I will decide when you will be permitted to rest. You'll find I'm not Galen Ben Raschid. He was always soft where women were concerned. It was that bitch of a mother who ruined him for the pleas—" His eyes suddenly widened, and he started to laugh again. "Damn!" He slapped his thigh. "Of course, why not?" He turned his horse. "Come along, Your Royal Haughtiness, I've just had a wonderful thought. Let's get on our way."
"My proposition," Tess protested, shooting a sidewise glance at the curve of the road. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized Kalim and Viane had rounded the curve and joined Yusef and the waiting escort.
"Be sure I'll listen." Tamar laughed. "You're proving to be more amusing than I thought. I'll let you speak all you wish as long as you continue to amuse me. After all"—he shot her a malicious glance—"we must have something to do… between."
Tess kept her expression pettish. "You're as crude as my husband. I will not tolerate this treatment any longer. I'll be glad to be home in a civilized country again, where gentlemen speak sweetly and courteously."
Tamar gazed at her in astonishment as if she were some startling new animal he had discovered. "Don't you understand what I'm going to do to—" He stopped and began to laugh again. "Impossible!" He was still laughing as he put spurs to his horse. "I could almost pity Galen. What he must have suffered, dragging you from tribe to tribe these last two months. He should reward me, for I'm truly saving him from himself."
"Dear God, you left her with him?" Galen had the odd feeling he was breaking apart inside. "You gave her to him?"