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gone three days.”
    “Three days?” Was that all? It seemed she had been struggling in and out of her fever for weeks, but Bardas told her they had arrived at the residence just a few days ago.
    He explained all that had happened while she ate, and Helena was surprised at her appetite. Her burdens became lighter again, and the smiling face of Bardas convinced her that the future would brighten now that Tancred was with her.
    “Have you the jewels I entrusted to you? Did you sew them into the garment?”
    “The garment is safe, but I did use an emerald to bribe the guard of the family that owns this house. It was Count Redwan’s idea,” he said, a hint of complement in his voice.
    Helena smiled. “The perfect place to rest and prepare for the journey to the Castle of Hohms.”
    Bardas brought his tunic to her. “Everything remains sewn inside as you requested.”
    Helena was pleased that her idea had worked. “Did you say Tancred has gone into Constantinople?”
    “He ventured there, yes. Hoping to learn news of Master Nicholas.”
    “And our horses, and Apollo?” she asked of the prized horse she had given to Tancred when his own Alzira had been stolen by his cousin, Mosul.
    Safe, and waiting for your recovery. Count Redwan will be greatly pleased when he returns to see you up and well.”
    “Good.” She hesitated, thinking of her mother and Bishop Basel’s obsession with her. However, she could feel some peace in knowing that Basel, unlike Irene, would not harm her mother.
    “There is something you must do, Bardas. I must get a message to Philip to learn whether Irene is aware of the hide-away where Bishop Basel was likely to bring my mother until the birth of the baby. No one else must know, however. Disguise yourself in the monk’s robe and go to Philip.”
    “Mistress! Alas! Do you think it wise? Suppose the enemy is watching him, expecting you to send a message to Philip?”
    “Philip has proven his abiding friendship with me. You saw how he was willing to fight for me when Kalid arrived.”
    Bardas scowled. “He did not fight, Mistress, he—”
    “Enough, Bardas. I’ll not be content until I have learned all that is known about Bishop Basel’s plans and my mother. Is Philip strong enough to meet me at the Golden Horn?”
    “Yes, he is not bodily ill—but is this wise, Mistress? Count Redwan will heartily disapprove, and if I should do this thing he will accuse me of breaking my allegiance to him as my new seigneur!”
    She caught a breath of surprise. “You have sworn allegiance to Tancred rather than Philip?”
    “I have,” he said gravely. “I now know the Norman is a knight of honor, and that he is in truth a titled count from the Norman kingdom of Sicily. He has the courage of a tiger!”
    She laughed in spite of herself, pleased.
    “The Norman will not be pleased if you send me to Philip,” he stated again.
    “No, he will not,” she confessed. “But, he trusts me now about Philip. Tancred knows I do not love Philip, and he knows how I must learn where Bishop Basel has taken Adrianna!”
    Bardas, grieved and scowling, grumbled like a displeased dog but bowed stiffly and left the room for the garden…
     

Behind the Veil  / The Royal Pavilions boo k3 / Linda Chaikin
     
     
     
     
     

Chapte r 4
 
 
Betrayal
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Bardas, dressed as a monk, left the house by the back garden and stopped when he reached the gate. Here, he waited, pacing among the trees and flowering bushes. Where was the Norman knight? An hour passed before the sound of footsteps approached. He concealed himself until recognizing Tancred with a monk’s mantle thrown over his shoulders to cover his weapons. Bardas paused inside the gate until Tancred’s arrival.
    “Seigneur Redwan! I have been waiting for you! My mistress intends to sail to St. Symeon as soon as her mother is brought here by Master Nicholas. She sends me to make arrangements. In loyalty to you, I could not depart