"Leila!" Without thinking he took a steptoward her, but he immediately stopped when the guards surrounded him withtheir swords. He held up his hands. "Calm yourselves. I meant no harm."
He listened to the lilting timbre of Leila's voice asshe quickly translated what he had said, but the guards did not relax theirthreatening stance. It seemed they trusted him just about as much as he trustedthem, which was not at all.
"My master was called away on other duties thismorning," Leila said, glancing nervously at the captain who stood besideher. "I have come in his stead to administer your treatment."
"I am glad," Guy replied, still shocked byher unexpected appearance. His eyes swept over her. "I was beginning towonder if you were ever coming back."
God, she was beautiful!hethought, noting her look of surprise. Her dark blue linen head veil framed heroval face, emphasizing features as delicate and ethereally lovely as an angel's.Only the long, looped braid hanging well below her waist made her appearearthbound, for her hair was not blond but a glossy black, and so silky helonged to reach out and touch it.
He restrained himself, knowing he might well get hishand lopped off if he did. Instead he had to content himself with looking ather and inhaling her rose perfume. Yet why was her expression so somber?Something was wrong. He could see anxiety in her huge, violet eyes.
"The captain has just given me some grim newswhich I must impart to you," she said, as if reading his thoughts. "Thegovernor's messenger who was sent to Acre over a week ago with your letter ofransom is dead."
Guy tensed. "Dead?"
Leila nodded. "Some Bedouin herdsmen found hishorse wandering in the hills northeast of Acre. The messenger's body was lashedto the saddle, his throat cut. The Bedouins guessed he'd been dead for severaldays, judging from the stench and the look of him, exposed to the hot sun, the flies. . ." She was unable to finish, her lips pressed together. She lookedslightly ill.
"When did they find him?" Guy watched as shelifted her chin resolutely, swallowing hard before she answered.
"Two days ago. The herdsmen have only arrived inDamascus within the past hour to return the body to GovernorMawdud. As you can well imagine, the governor's anger isgreat." She cast an agitated glance at the man next to her. "Thecaptain was ordered to give this news to my master as soon as he arrived at theprison, but since I am here, he insisted I should tell you now rather than waituntilSinjarAl-Aziz was also present."
Guy felt an icy coldness growing in the pit of hisstomach. "What about the letter of ransom—"
"It was not found on the body."
Guy absorbed this news, his mind racing. If themessenger no longer had the letter, then it must have been stolen, or lost.Surely it could not have been delivered to Edward. He and Guy were as close asbrothers. Edward would never . . .
A chilling realization struck him. "The governorthinks Edward had the messenger killed, doesn't he? That it's Edward's way ofsaying he refuses to pay the ransom."
Leila was amazed. The crusader's perceptive responsewas hardly what she would have expected after the enraged shouting she hadheard from him just before she had entered the cell. Hardly what she expectedfrom looking at him, either.
He appeared even more the barbarian with his dark,heavy beard and dirtysirwal. His slightest movementscreamed the strength he possessed, proof of his swift recovery since she hadlast seen him. She also sensed a desperation in him which made her verythankful for the guards' wary protection. She had no idea why the crusaderwould have been demanding to see her, but she certainly wasn't going to askhim.
"I do not presume to know the governor's mind,"she replied, "but yes, so this unfortunate event could be interpreted. YetGovernorMawdud—"
"You tell your high and mighty governor for methat Edward wouldn't leave me to rot in this stinking prison!" Guy statedfiercely. "For one thing, he's no cold-blooded killer like the butcheringlot who set upon us in the Lebanonmountains. Thievescould have murdered the governor's messenger, native Christians, rival Arabs,anyone! It matters not that the letter of ransom was missing. There is no proofthat Edward ever received it."
Guy's vehement words echoed in the small cell andthundered into his brain. He felt he was fast losing control. He glanced at theopen door, weighing his odds.
"Easeyourself, Lord deWarenne," he heard Leila say. "If you would onlyallow me to finish."
His gaze riveted back on her face, and he wonderedsarcastically what other good news she had to share with him. Then he chidedhimself, knowing she was but a slave and doing what she had been charged by thecaptain.
"I'm listening," he replied tightly.
"GovernorMawdudhassent another messenger to Acre within this very hour, and not alone. A fullcomplement ofMamelukesoldiers travels with thismessenger to protect him. In his benevolence and wisdom, GovernorMawdudbelieves it is unlikely Lord Edward would sowantonly throw away the life of one of his knights, just as you say. He hasgranted your prince one more chance to pay the ransom."
The words "one more chance" sounded too damnominous to Guy. He had no intention of waiting around to see if anythinghappened to the second messenger.
Leila was here. He could finally ask her for her help.He had no doubt she would jump at the chance to leave Damascus with him, and hecould do no less as a knight bound by the sacred code of chivalry than see hersafely to Acre. Perhaps they might somehow manage to escape together tonight.
"You must ask your master Al-Aziz to thank thegovernor for me," Guy said, choosing to appear grateful. Better that thanshow the frustration and impatience that were eating him alive. The captainseemed positively incensed he hadn't attacked them at this news, giving him theopportunity to force Guy into shackles again. He sensed the bastard might stilldo so at the slightest provocation, which would only thwart any attempt toescape. "I am certain the governor's decision will be well rewarded assoon as Edward receives the letter of ransom," he added.
Leila spoke with the captain, but so fast Guy couldn'tunderstand what they were saying. God's bones, he should have practiced hisArabic more diligently! Then she turned back to him, gesturing to the cots.
"If you will sit so I may see to your wound."
As he did so, the guards moved with him, their deadlyblades a hair's breadth from his body. But they backed off a little when Leilauttered a few sharp words, which surprised him. She was certainly spirited fora slave. Perhaps her position within the renowned physician's household gaveher some special status.
