He glanced at the cell window and was grateful it wasopen to the breeze. There was a chance he might be affected by the intoxicatinghaze, but he hoped the effect would only be slight.
Guy purposely made a lot of noise as he fumbled withthe lacquered opium box and the lantern, packing and relighting thewaterpipeseveral times. Finally the cell became so cloudedwith white smoke that the guards swore and slammed the peephole shut.
Guy smiled grimly at their coarse, knowing laughter andset the pipe aside, yetcloseenough so that he couldeasily grab the long clay neck. It was obvious he had convinced them he wouldbe no more trouble tonight. Blessed fools. Soon it would be dark outside. Whenthe guards came in again to check on him, which they no doubt would if heremained very, very quiet, he would make his move . . .
***
"You are home early," Eve said, smoothing anerrant tendril loosed from Leila's braid as she sat on the marble couch besideher. "You told me this morning you had so many patients to see at thehospital that you didn't expect to return until long after dark. Here it isbarely dusk."
"Father sent me home," Leila replied moodily.She continued to stare at the little stream rumbling not far from her sandaledfeet. "He was displeased with me."
"That is, indeed, a rare occurrence for a favoreddaughter. What could you have possibly done to displease him?"
Leila shrugged. "I'd rather not talk about it,Mother."
Indeed she did not, Leila thought as Eve sighed softly.How could she explain something that she didn't understand herself? She wouldnever have guessed the episode with the crusader would so affect her. She hadseen his face in every patient she encountered, causing her hands to tremblewhenever she performed even the simplest treatment.
Eve's voice nudged her back from her unsettlingreverie. "Surely it was not that serious—"
"No, though my patients might disagree. I wasclumsy, 'tis all, but it's hardly worth discussing. Father will have enough tosay to me when he comes home."
"As you wish." Silence settled between themfor a while,thenEve patted her hand. "How isthe crusader faring today? Has any word come about his ransom?"
Leila glanced at her mother in surprise. It was thefirst time Eve had mentioned the crusader since the night on the roof terrace.How uncanny that she should think of him now. Could Eve read her mind? "Kismethas not favored him, Mother. There will be no ransom paid for his release. "
Eve's eyes grew dark with disbelief. "What do youmean,no ransom?"
"The English prince, Lord Edward, sailed from Acrethree days ago. It seems he has left his crusader knight to die. "
"No, this cannot be," Eve whispered,horrified. "I knew Edward as a child. He was a good boy and of a justtemperament, like his father, King Henry. If Edward was aware that one of hisknights languished in prison, surely he would never desert him."
Stunned by what her mother had just shared with her,Leila did not reply. Eve had never told her that she knew Lord Edward and theking of England.
"But what of the letter of ransom, Leila? Themessenger left Damascus well over a week ago. Surely Edward would have receivedit—"
"The messenger was killed," Leila said, andquickly explained that morning's unsettling events at the prison. Eve listenedin silence until Leila finished, her face deathly white. "Edward neverreceived that letter of ransom. I am certain of it," she said softly,staring unseeing at the gurgling stream. "Perhaps he believes the crusaderand his companions are still in Anatolia or on their way back to Acre. Hecannot know the ill fortune that he has befallen—"
"Mother," Leila interrupted gently, "itno longer matters what Lord Edward knows or doesn't know. He has sailed home toEngland without his knight. Lord deWarenne'sfate issealed. He will be executed in the morning."
Eve's gaze grew wide as she searched Leila's face. "Didyou say deWarenne?"
"Yes." Leila suddenly realized she had nevertold her mother the crusader's name, and judging from Eve's startledexpression, neither had her father. "Guy deWarenne.Why?"
"The deWarennesare avery well-known family in England, at least they were when William and I . . ."Eve's voice trailed off and she sighed, her private thoughts clearly milesaway.
"Mother . . ."
Eve started as if she had forgotten they were sittingtogether on the couch. "Yes . . . the deWarenneswere great and loyal servants of the king. Our nearest neighbors in Wales wereof that family. They had a son named Guy, about the same age as my Roger. Theboys were good friends."
Leila drew in her breath, for she had rarely heard hermother mention the son born to her when she was a child-bride of fifteen.
Leila could recall asking Eve once as a little girl howshe could leave her young son behind in England. Her mother had answered thatit had been her duty and desire to journey with her husband to the Holy Landand that it had been best to leave Roger with a family friend. Then she hadchanged the subject. Leila could count on one hand the times she had heard Evesay her brother's name since then.
"How old is this crusader?" Eve askedurgently, clutching Leila's arm.
"I don't know. Twenty-seven, eight. Maybe thirty."
"Roger would be twenty-eight now, if he stilllives," Eve said, growing more agitated. "Yes, this prisoner could bemy son's boyhood friend."
