"What did you say to them?" he queried as shebegan to swiftlyunbandagehis shoulder. She wasstanding so close to him that her perfume enveloped his senses, heightened bythe heat of her body. He felt an overwhelming urge to draw her into his arms,but somehow he managed to restrain himself. "Maybe I could try it on thebastards when they get too close."
"Has the wound been causing you any pain?"she asked, ignoring his question. She pressed gingerly around the purplish redscar.
Guy shook his head, deciding not to waste any moretime. He had no idea how long the captain would allow her to tend to him beforeshe was escorted from the cell.
"Tell me, Leila. Have you been treating any otherslike me in this prison?"
Her fingers ceased their gentle prodding for thebriefest moment, but she kept her head lowered, not looking at him. "No.The rest of your party perished."
Guy felt gut-twisting grief at her terse pronouncement.He shot a dark glance at the four guards and their morose commander. They wereall watching him closely, their knuckles white where they clutched theirswords. It was men like these who had slaughtered his friends. He swore thatsomehow he would avenge their deaths.
"Your wound is healing well," Leila said,relieved she was almost finished with her task. She was anxious to leave thecell. This encounter with the crusader had been most unsettling and unlikeanything she had expected. Their exchange and his restrained reaction to herunpleasant news had made him seem so much more than a mindless barbarian, andshe could not help but feel pity for him. Perhaps he did not realize how closehe was to being executed. "I don't think you'll need bandagesanymo—"
"Listen to me, Leila," he interrupted her,his tone so urgent she was compelled to meet his eyes. "I need your help."
"My help?" she parroted, the intensity of hisgaze sending a jolt right through her.
"Yes. Tonight I'm going to—"
"Leila! Stand away from the crusader."
Leila whirled at the sound of her father's stern voice,so startled that she dropped a vial of ointment. The glass shattered on theslab floor.Sinjarwas standing next to the captainof the guards, his white robes still rippling from his sudden entrance.
"Wh-what is the matter?"
"I have just come from the hospital. Word was broughtto me there by one of GovernorMawdud'shighofficials."
"I know,Fa—" Sheclamped her mouth shut just in time. "I know, my master," she beganagain. "I've already told our patient that a second messenger has beensent to Acre—"
"No, he has returned,"Sinjarsaid gravely. "Come over here, Leila. Now. There is nothing more to bedone here."
Bewildered, she glanced over her shoulder at thecrusader. His eyes held hers for a fleeting moment,thenshe quickly moved to her father's side.
"The messenger and hisMamelukeescort were met on the Damascus road by one of SultanBaybar'sgenerals,"Sinjarcontinued. "When thegeneral heard where they were bound, he commanded them to return to the city."
"But why? What of the ransom?"
"There will be no ransom."
"What is this, my esteemed lord?" blurted thecaptain excitedly, his hand falling to the curved dagger in his belt. "Noransom?"
Sinjarshook his head slowly,a pitying expression on his face as he regarded the crusader. "The generalhas brought word that Lord Edward and most of his crusaders sailed from Acrethree days ago, though the reason behind their sudden departure has not yetbeen determined. It is believed, however, that they are returning to theircountry across the seas. To England."
Leila gasped. If this was true, the crusader was a deadman. SweetJesu, who could determine kismet?
"What is it, Leila?" Guy asked, rising slowlyto his feet. His expression was hard, and strain showed around his eyes. "Whathas happened?"
Leila's hand was trembling as she touched her father'sarm. "He asks me what has happened. How shall I answer him? "
"Say nothing. In the morning his fate will becomeclear to him,"Sinjarreplied cryptically. Heturned to the captain, his tone commanding as he drew a rolled parchment fromhis scarlet sash and handed it to him. "This was given to me by GovernorMawdud'sofficial. Read it if you do not believe me, as Idoubt you will. It is our lord governor's wish that the crusader be welltreated this night. Give him good food and drink, wine if you have it. Offerhim an opium pipe. It may help him through his final night upon the earth."
The captain hastily unrolled the parchment, hisshoulders visibly slumping as he read the document. "So it reads," hemuttered. He shot a venomous glance at Guy, who was again surrounded on allsides by flashing swords, the guards preventing him from moving a muscle. "Andso, regrettably, I must obey."
Leila's heart thundered in her chest as her fatherpushed her none-too-gently toward the door.
"But we should tell him!" she protested. "Itwould be far more cruel not to. He must have time to prepare, time to pray—"
Sinjargave her anothershove, more insistent this time. "No, there is great danger here. You willdo as I tell you! "
