Read Online Behind the Veil by Linda Chaikin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Chaikin
Ads: Link
and magnificent.
“This afternoon in the armory,” the slave whispered as he passed by with the spirited horse.
Rainald was wise to not approach him with the news himself, but to use an agreeable informant. Tancred’s respect for the man grew.
That afternoon Tancred went to the armory of the Varangian guard. The armorer, a powerful man of Scandinavian ancestry, kept a courtyard where soldiers met to practice with various weapons. Hired Normans of Viking ancestry belonging to the Varangian guard were often present as were other bodyguards and soldiers. Discretely scanning those present, he spotted Rufus practicing scimitars with a Persian. Tancred was careful not to draw attention to himself, as he merged among the others, dressed as a common mercenary soldier.
Tancred acted to prepare for sword practice, keeping his face averted. Rufus finished his practice with the Persian, then casually found his way over to Tancred.
“Try your hand at this, soldier.” Rufus handed him a scimitar. “It’s used with deadly precision by the Moors.”
Tancred tried the balance of the menacing weapon. Swiftly he ran it through a few steps of style.
“Not even a Seljuk prince could do better,” Rufus stated distinctly.
Their eyes met. Had he intended to convey a message? Who else could the prince be but Kalid?
Rufus spoke in a lower tone. “She was brought to the Castle of Hohms soon after you disappeared.”
Tancred gritted. “I did not disappear willingly! Philip sold me as a slave!”
“Unfortunate. I searched for you to no avail. Your whereabouts were masterfully covered by Lady Irene. Nevertheless, Redwan, I tell you the truth. She has been sent to Basel at the castle. Undoubtedly, he will—if he has not already, sent her on to Prince Kalid, unless his feelings for her mother, Adrianna, cause him to spare her daughter. With Basel—one never knows.”
Tancred’s hopes revived a little. His uncle Rolf Redwan was at the castle, and both Helena and her mother knew he could be trusted as a friend. Could Adrianna have managed to speak to Rolf without Basel knowing? If she’d been able to tell him of her plight and Helena’s—then Helena’s arrival would not go unnoticed by him. He might prevent her from being sent on to Antioch. It was a hope, at least.
“And Nicholas?
“Imprisoned. For now, Madame Irene is consumed with Nicholas, as well as my son Joseph. Nicholas refused her—she despises him.”
Tancred, always cautious of the golden Jezebel, the mistress of astrology and intrigue, frowned over the news. I must find some way to free Nicholas before going on to the castle. “Where is he held? In the Sacred Palace?”
Rufus’s lip curled with contempt. “She moves him from place to place to make it near impossible to know for certain where he is being held. She plans to hold him indefinitely and foil any allies who wish to free him. Yet,” Rufus said cautiously, “There are ways. I know her better than all others. With both you and Bardas, it may be that we can do something. Joseph may be able to learn Nicholas’s whereabouts. I will be allowed to see my son briefly tonight.”
Hope lived on in Tancred’s heart, but the news about Helena kept it from shining brightly. Philip had betrayed her out of revenge. He stared evenly at the scimitar still in his hand. What if Helena were already a married to Kalid? Everything would change between them, and yet nothing in his heart had changed. He would always love her.
“And Philip?” Tancred asked, his voice deadly cold.
His favor with the emperor has grown since the fall of Nicaea and the Citadel’s return to Byzantine rule.”
Tancred was well aware that Irene had successfully arranged for the victory to be attributed to Philip’s military genius.
“He has worsened,” Rufus went on wearily. “When he was a young he was talented and gracious. Though his pride was evident, recently he is wholly preoccupied with political advancement to the extent
“This afternoon in the armory,” the slave whispered as he passed by with the spirited horse.
Rainald was wise to not approach him with the news himself, but to use an agreeable informant. Tancred’s respect for the man grew.
That afternoon Tancred went to the armory of the Varangian guard. The armorer, a powerful man of Scandinavian ancestry, kept a courtyard where soldiers met to practice with various weapons. Hired Normans of Viking ancestry belonging to the Varangian guard were often present as were other bodyguards and soldiers. Discretely scanning those present, he spotted Rufus practicing scimitars with a Persian. Tancred was careful not to draw attention to himself, as he merged among the others, dressed as a common mercenary soldier.
Tancred acted to prepare for sword practice, keeping his face averted. Rufus finished his practice with the Persian, then casually found his way over to Tancred.
“Try your hand at this, soldier.” Rufus handed him a scimitar. “It’s used with deadly precision by the Moors.”
Tancred tried the balance of the menacing weapon. Swiftly he ran it through a few steps of style.
“Not even a Seljuk prince could do better,” Rufus stated distinctly.
Their eyes met. Had he intended to convey a message? Who else could the prince be but Kalid?
Rufus spoke in a lower tone. “She was brought to the Castle of Hohms soon after you disappeared.”
Tancred gritted. “I did not disappear willingly! Philip sold me as a slave!”
“Unfortunate. I searched for you to no avail. Your whereabouts were masterfully covered by Lady Irene. Nevertheless, Redwan, I tell you the truth. She has been sent to Basel at the castle. Undoubtedly, he will—if he has not already, sent her on to Prince Kalid, unless his feelings for her mother, Adrianna, cause him to spare her daughter. With Basel—one never knows.”
Tancred’s hopes revived a little. His uncle Rolf Redwan was at the castle, and both Helena and her mother knew he could be trusted as a friend. Could Adrianna have managed to speak to Rolf without Basel knowing? If she’d been able to tell him of her plight and Helena’s—then Helena’s arrival would not go unnoticed by him. He might prevent her from being sent on to Antioch. It was a hope, at least.
“And Nicholas?
“Imprisoned. For now, Madame Irene is consumed with Nicholas, as well as my son Joseph. Nicholas refused her—she despises him.”
Tancred, always cautious of the golden Jezebel, the mistress of astrology and intrigue, frowned over the news. I must find some way to free Nicholas before going on to the castle. “Where is he held? In the Sacred Palace?”
Rufus’s lip curled with contempt. “She moves him from place to place to make it near impossible to know for certain where he is being held. She plans to hold him indefinitely and foil any allies who wish to free him. Yet,” Rufus said cautiously, “There are ways. I know her better than all others. With both you and Bardas, it may be that we can do something. Joseph may be able to learn Nicholas’s whereabouts. I will be allowed to see my son briefly tonight.”
Hope lived on in Tancred’s heart, but the news about Helena kept it from shining brightly. Philip had betrayed her out of revenge. He stared evenly at the scimitar still in his hand. What if Helena were already a married to Kalid? Everything would change between them, and yet nothing in his heart had changed. He would always love her.
“And Philip?” Tancred asked, his voice deadly cold.
His favor with the emperor has grown since the fall of Nicaea and the Citadel’s return to Byzantine rule.”
Tancred was well aware that Irene had successfully arranged for the victory to be attributed to Philip’s military genius.
“He has worsened,” Rufus went on wearily. “When he was a young he was talented and gracious. Though his pride was evident, recently he is wholly preoccupied with political advancement to the extent
Similar Books
