Midnight Warrior Read Online Free Page A

restless in the past year. You’re a man who must always have a new mountain to conquer and William’s knights are not enough to challenge you. If it was not England, it would be Byzantium.” Malik gave a mock shudder. “Or that cold land to the north again.”
    “You need not worry. It will not be Norway.” His lips suddenly twitched. “And it cannot be Byzantium if I’m to continue to be honored with your company. I believe the sentence was to be castration and then beheading?”
    “Do not remind me of that idiocy. As if castration were not enough indignity, they would take away my power of reasoning. They truly wished to destroy me.” He sighed resignedly. “But such is the fate of those granted the gifts of the Almighty. A man with my brilliance and hunger for knowledge always has enemies seeking to bring him down.”
    “I believe it was the hunger of your nether parts that brought you down. The beheading was just an afterthought. I’ve never understood why you chose the wife of the head of the Imperial Guard to seduce.”
    “She needed me,” he said simply. “Her brute of a husband was cruel to her.”
    Gage shook his head. Malik’s words did not surprise him. A woman need not be young or even comely toearn a place in the rascal’s bed; he loved them all. He appeared to enjoy every woman with equal passionate enthusiasm, and they certainly enjoyed Malik.
    “I wonder how she is.” Malik frowned. “Perhaps we should return to Karza and—”
    “No,” Gage said firmly. Though they had barely escaped from Byzantium with skin intact, Malik had insisted on taking the woman with them and escorting her safely back to her village. “She’s fine. I left enough gold to give her a chance to make a fine life for herself. She does not need you.”
    “You are probably right. I must give her a chance to find a lesser man to satisfy her.” He waved his hand at the comet. “I am like that comet that dims everything else in the heavens with its splendor.”
    Gage snorted. “It would make my life easier if you would shine a little less brightly and with far less frequency.”
    Malik turned, a grin lighting his bearded face. “But you do not need an easier life. I provide you with both entertainment and challenge. That is why you chose me for a friend.”
    “I was wondering why I burdened myself with such a scalawag.”
    “Why did you not ask me? You know how wise I am.”
    “I know how arrogant you are.”
    “Like to like. I have not heard you described as being either shy or modest. So, do we go to this England?”
    “I’ve not decided.”
    “I think you have.”
    “If I go, William says I must leave you here. He’s afraid that your heathen soul may corrupt his holy expedition and bring down the wrath of heaven.”
    “Did you tell him I’m a warrior without equal and could vanquish these Saxons even without his army?”He struck his chest with his fist. “That they would run like sheep from my mighty sword? That they would cover their eyes with terror when they saw me draw aim with my bow? That they would cower and tremble when I rode over them on my giant steed?”
    “No, but I told him you would have no problem blowing them off their feet with boastful words.”
    Malik shook his head mournfully. “You strike me to the heart. To know me so long and not realize my true worth.”
    “How could I help but realize it when you keep me apprised of your infinite value every minute of the day?”
    “Well, it keeps growing. I would not have you ill informed.” He looked away from Gage and said quietly, “If it will save trouble, I will stay at Bellerieve.”
    “And let William dictate to me?”
    “He rules Normandy.”
    “He needs me. I do not need him. If I go, you will go with me.” He grimaced. “There’s no telling what mischief you’ll bestir if I leave you here alone.”
    “And you will miss my company. How could you help it?” Malik’s expression suddenly sobered as he glanced back up