Flight to Savage Empire se-4

by Jean Lorrah

  you own-including your stable of fighters-will be confiscated.”

  The magistrate left, followed by the gambler. The two thugs released Zanos and followed their master out the door. The gladiator slammed it shut behind them, then closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against it, not moving… not even when Astra approached and gingerly touched his shoulder.

  “There’s no gold in those chests, is there?” he asked.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “There must be something I can do to help-”

  Zanos whirled around, glaring at the bedroom. The small bedside table exploded into pieces, sending the wooden chest crashing to the floor. It split open on impact, spilling stones in all directions.

  “Zanos, please! Calm down!”

  Slowly the anger drained from his face. “Let’s sit down,” he said. “I’ve got to think.”

  They sat in the kitchen, for Zanos suddenly realized that he was very hungry, a delayed reaction from yesterday. He consumed eggs, bread, cheese, fruit-anything that didn’t take much preparation. Astra sat across from him, nibbling on a piece of cheese while she stared at him intently.

  As he satisfied his body’s needs, his mind ran in circles, searching for a way to pick up the pieces of his shattered dream.

  “Why do you have to bribe the captain of the Nightwind?” Astra interrupted his thoughts. “Cant you just buy a passage on a merchant ship headed north?”

  He shook his head. “One of the things I hate most about this empire is that freedmen have different laws than natural-born citizens. A freedman is not allowed to leave the empire without applying for permission and proving that his business is not to go home. If former slaves could reach their homelands, they might reveal some of the slavers’ kidnapping tricks, and make it more difficult to obtain slaves for the empire. A freedman can’t even become a merchant sailor or fisherman unless he has a family in the empire-in other words, hostages-to make sure he remains a loyal citizen.

  “Besides, I don’t have any money now. And all the ships of honest merchants are part of the war fleet, launching in a day or two.” He slammed the table with his fist. “I can’t believe that Ard and Lanna would do this to me! In less than a month, they would’ve been free and on their way back home.”

  “Perhaps Vortius threatened them into betraying you,” Astra suggested.

  “No. Ard created the pretense of safeguarding my ‘winnings.’ My trust allowed him to get away with it.

  He arranged things so that there would be plenty of time for him and Lanna to flee-probably to Vortius’

  town house.” He let out a short, angry laugh. “When I woke up this morning, I thought I had about a week left to my enslavement in this land. Then you told me I had to reduce it to less than a day. Now, thanks to Vortius, I have less than three hours to get you, me, and my friends out of Tiberium.”

  “But where will we go?” she asked.

  “North. Across the border and through the savage lands. The border is four days’ ride from here. By the time we cross it, the Aventine army will be invading the savages’ west coast. The Adepts will be too busy moving against them to worry about our little group. We should be able to avoid the battleground and reach a port in the far north. Once we get there, we’ll do whatever is necessary to get on a ship to Madura… What’s wrong?” he asked at the strange look on Astra’s face.

  “I–I guess I’m just finding it hard to believe this is happening. I cant go back to the Academy; I have to go with you. I never dreamed of any man wanting me-”

  He reached across the table for her hand. “I want you and need you, Astra. Even without the danger to our lives and freedom, I couldn’t have left without you. ” He realized this even as he spoke, hoping she could Read how true it was. “But I can’t let you come without knowing that the greatest dangers may face us when we reach our destination.” He started to tell her what Mallen had said in the arena.

  “Yes, I Read both of you during the combat, and could make out most of what you were saying,” she said. “What do you think he meant by a ‘great evil’ forcing him to leave Madura rather than face death or

  ‘something far worse?”

  “I don’t know. It could mean a number of things, including slavery, ” he said. “But I believe that renegade Portia confronted was right-there’s nothing we can’t do, combining our powers.” He wondered, suddenly, if she understood just how he yearned to “combine” with her. And whether she had heard the rumors he had deliberately spread…

  What if her idea of their relationship was considerably different from his?

  “Astra,” he began, “like you, I’ve had to remain celibate in order to protect my special abilities. When people noticed that I didn’t celebrate my victories like most gladiators, I… invented an excuse. I let it be known that a wound I received early in my arena career had left me impotent.”

  Astra nodded. “I heard that story, and believed it… until that day I watched you training for the match.

  You were so strong, so appealing, that I…” She blushed a deep scarlet, unable to look at him. “I Read you. Thoroughly.”

  Zanos laughed, a good hearty laugh that helped to ease his pain. He came around the table, gently lifted Astra to her feet, and hugged her.

  “And when I discovered the truth,” she added as she let her arms slide around him, “I didn’t know what to think.”

  “No, but I can imagine,” he chuckled. It felt so good to have someone with whom he could share his secrets besides—

  Serafon! By Mawort, he’d nearly forgotten that he had to get to her, tell her that all their plans had been upset!

  “What’s wrong?” Astra asked at his sudden sobriety.

  “Nothing. It’s just that we have much to do and very little time in which to do it.” He gently touched her cheeks and looked into her eyes. “Astra, you never actually said that you would come with me, face the dangers-”

  “Oh, yes, my love.” She smiled. “I’ll journey with you to the ends of the world and beyond, and face the dark gods themselves if they should stand in our way!”

  He kissed her then, for the first time-and as she clung to him he felt a kind of strength he’d never before experienced. Over the years, he had eased his natural yearnings by convincing himself that love was, for him, a dangerous weakness. He was glad to discover he’d been wrong.

  They spent the next hour hurriedly packing what they thought they would need for the journey. Zanos’

  plan now called for nine people to travel together-Astra, Serafon, Zanos, and his six fighters. Astra pointed out that the larder held not a day’s supply of food for so many.

  “And who is Serafon?” she asked.

  “High priestess of the Temple of Hesta,” Zanos replied. “Like me, she’s an Adept, but her powers are strongest ‘in the realm of nature,’ as she puts it. For many years, she’s been secretly helping the farmers around Tiberium, doing what she can to change the weather in their favor. She knows more about living off the land than the rangers of the deep forests. Without her guidance, I would have been dead long ago-executed for trying to escape, or exposed as an Adept.”

  “But how did-” Astra stopped in midsentence, staring at something beyond the villa wall. “Zanos, we’re being watched. An old man in the alley across the street. He’s pretending to be asleep, but he’s watching this house!”

  Zanos slid over to a front window and peeked through the shutter. “That’s Varan,” he muttered. “Looks like I owe you an apology-you were right that Varan frightened Clea into running away. Vortius is using him to deliver messages now-and his message to me is that I am being watched.”

  “No,” the Reader said as she moved close to him, keeping clear of the window. “Vortius is punishing him with assignments like this because he said something to Clea-he let slip that he’s associated with Vortius! Vortius wanted to use Clea again, but she ran the moment Varan tried to approach her-he’s thinking right now about how he didn’t handle her ri
ght… because Morella’s coming up the street!

  Phaeru’s with her, and they’re coming here.”

  Zanos concentrated in Varan’s direction for a moment, and the old man slumped over. “Now he really is asleep,” he said, “and will stay that way for quite a while. Tell me-how did you get Morella and her girls to help you disguise yourself for Gareth’s party last night?”

  “I told her our lives were in danger, and that I had to speak with you without Vortius knowing about it.

  Morella hates Vortius as much as you do, but she has to deal with him and his men anyway. When she told her girls that you were in danger, they immediately volunteered to help. Morella knew about Gareth’s party, and he certainly didn’t object to some of her girls helping to keep his guests happy.”

  When Morella knocked at the door, Zanos was already moving to let her in. Both Morella and Phaeru had been crying, but he waited for them to tell him what was wrong.

  “Astra told me what you and your girls did to help us last night, ‘ he said as he led them to the music room. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Friends help friends, Zanos.” She looked at Astra, then back at him. “It’s all over The Maze that Vortius is claiming your property and freedom for gambling debts-I take it he somehow cheated you?”

  “Somehow,” Zanos replied.

  “That viper! He’s got all the local law in his pocket-I hope you’re planning to run rather than try to fight him. Astra, we brought you some clothes suitable for traveling. I know you can’t go back to your Academy-”

  “How did you know?” she asked.

  “Readers aren’t the only ones who know things-as soon as I heard about Vortius and Zanos, I realized that you’d been caught in that corruption trying to help your friend. And you’re not the first I’ve helped escape enemies in Tiberium. ” Tears welled up in Morella’s eyes. “I only wish Clea had trusted me to help her this time!”

  “Clea?” asked Zanos. “You know where she is?”

  “Word reached me this morning. Yesterday, a farmer in the southlands was tilling his field for spring planting. He found her… remains. She’s been dead for weeks-had to be identified by the rings she was so fond of wearing.”

  Phaeru turned away with a choked sob.

  “She must have been trying to go home-her parents’ home is the southlands,” Morella went on. “If I could get my hands on the monster who caught up with her-”

  “I’m sorry,” Astra whispered, remembering Clea’s courage in breaking her addiction to white lotus.

  “I wish we could do something to help, ” Zanos added.

  “The best thing you two can do is get out of this

  corrupt land,” Morella said firmly. “Now tell me what Phaeru and I can do to help.”

  “And just what kind of help are they giving you?” Serafon asked.

  “I gave them what money I had left,” Zanos told her. “They’re buying us horses and supplies. I don’t know what to do about my fighters-”

  “Don’t worry about them,” the high priestess said. “They’re happy as gladiators. If you had been able to free them, you would have done better to encourage them to join the army, for the chance to gain glory in battle. None of your fighters are from Madura, Zanos. All along, you’ve failed to consider that living in the far north might not suit those not born there. I was hoping you would come to realize that.”

  Zanos swallowed hard. “Meaning that you would prefer to stay here-and that I shouldn’t take Astra?”

  “I’m too old to make such changes in my life. Even if I survived the journey, I’m too old to start life over in a strange land. ” She turned to look at Astra, who had been listening without comment. “And I only partly understand why you are so willing to go with him.”

  The Reader gave that smile which so intrigued Zanos. “With all due respect, Priestess Serafon, I think you do understand. You have loved and helped Zanos for most of his life. My feelings are very similar, and just as deep.” She linked her arm with his, and he let their fingers intertwine as she continued, “I’ve already told him that I am willing to go anywhere with him, share any danger that threatens him-”

  “And risk losing your powers?” Serafon asked.

  “We have discussed that,” Zanos said. “Since we don’t know what enemies we may face in Madura, we will remain celibate until we find a place that is safe to live in. We will consummate our love only after we are wed to one another in a proper Maduran ceremony.”

  “Which you may not live to see, if you leave here unprepared,” the priestess said firmly. “There are so many things I wish I could explain. I have never had a husband, but I have married many couples, and seen the changes that happen to them in a brief space of time. But with the powers you two possess-Zanos, I have only one piece of counsel for you, and Astra, I would like to give you Hesta’s blessing. Let me marry you, in the temple, right now. I cannot expect you to understand fully why I must do this, but as the two of you grow to become one, the meaning will become clear.”

  Zanos was puzzled, but never in his life had Serafon given him bad advice. A glance at Astra told him that she was willing to do as he chose.

  Without another word, they followed the high priestess into the main temple.

  The ceremony was brief and simple, involving only the three of them. Other priestesses watched the ritual from a distance, but there was no reason for them to interfere.

  Serafon added her personal blessing to the closing prayer, then dramatically spread her arms and commanded Zanos and Astra to rise from their kneeling position. A feeling of joyful disbelief touched Zanos as he hugged his wife and-

  “Stop this ceremony!”

  Vortius’ voice rang through the temple like a mourning bell. The three at the altar looked around to see the gambler stalking toward them, closely followed by the same city magistrate and half a dozen guards.

  “What is the meaning of this intrusion?” Serafon demanded with the full weight of her religious authority.

  Her hand settled lightly on Zanos’ shoulder, and he knew she was signaling him to remain silent. Astra’s powers must have warned her to do the same.

  “Forgive us, High Priestess,” the magistrate puffed as they approached the altar, “but this couple cannot be married. Zanos’ gambling debts have lost him that right until he has made restitution. That is the law.”

  “And this is an old trick, Zanos!” Vortius exclaimed. “Trying to escape servitude by marrying a free citizen. Well, it won’t work! Aventine law does not protect you in this instance-and certainly one of Morella’s girls brings no dowry to-” His arrogant expression changed, his words trailing off as he stared at Astra’s face. He seemed to be trying to place her, and looked greatly puzzled.

  The magistrate, though, was only performing his duty. “Unless you have the money, here and now, Zanos, you must come with us to Debtor’s Court, so that justice may be served.”

  Zanos wanted to laugh at his choice of words, but could only bring himself to show a contemptuous smile. It would be so simple to stop Vortius’ heart—

  Serafon’s hand gripped his shoulder in warning, and the plea in Astra’s eyes required no Reading power to understand. Zanos forced down his anger and wordlessly surrendered himself to the city guard. Let them think they had him; his powers would take him from whatever custody they locked him into, at the first chance to escape without detection. But Astra-As they led him away, he tried something he had never done before. He projected his thoughts with the greatest intensity he could muster: Astra, don’t worry. I’ll get away from them. Take the horses.

  When you reach the border station on the Road of Kings, I will be one day behind you. Do you understand?

  Astra nodded, her worried look easing. He smiled at his wife, then turned away to allow himself to be escorted out of the temple.

  The four days that Astra spent on horseback, leading the two horses packed with the possessions she and Zanos shared, went by in a long gray b
lur. She slept in barns, stealing away before the farmers rose at dawn. Anticipation of being reunited with her husband buoyed her spirits, even though she could not detect his presence when she Read back behind her on the Road of Kings.

  She camped about a mile from the border station, well off the road. A day passed. Another. And then a third.

  Surely she couldn’t have missed him! And he wouldn’t go on without her. He wouldn’t!

  By the morning of the fourth day, she had become desperate enough to search for Zanos out of body. At last, she detected his presence-two miles away, on a different road, approaching a different border station.

  He was part of a caravan of over two dozen people-a caravan led by Vortius. And as Astra Read them, she found most of them with the dull, blunted contentment of those locked in the grip of white lotus addiction.

  And… Zanos was one of them!

  Vortius now truly owned him, body and soul!

  Chapter Five

  The two-mile stretch of land between the roads was wild country, dotted with animal burrows that could break a horse’s leg. Astra Read every foot of it, guiding her mount and the two packhorses across the treacherous ground. She was trying desperately to think of a way to rescue Zanos, but memories kept intruding-her conversation with Serafon after Zanos had been taken away-

  “It was Zanos himself that Vortius wanted, wasn’t it?” she had asked the priestess when they were alone in the anteroom. “We thought he was after his property!”

  “So did I,” Serafon had replied, “until now. I should have realized that this conflict was over honor, not wealth. Zanos defied Vortius. That could not be allowed. It was all I could do to keep Zanos from using his powers to kill Vortius.”

  “Why? The man was overwrought. If he had dropped dead of an apoplexy-” Astra looked sharply at Serafon. “You were protecting Vortius? It was Zanos who needed your help. I thought you and he were like mother and son!”