“Here. She moved behind him and massaged his shoulder. It felt terrible, knotted and spasmed in many places.
“Ah, gods, he groaned. “Yes, do that. As the knots eased, he said, “I was afraid Id lose the use of my arm.
“Why did Cobalt let you out? Allegra asked.
“I have no idea.
“Allegra talked to him last night, Ozarson said.
She winced. “I didnt think I helped at all.
“Whatever you did, Markus said, “Im eternally grateful.
“You have to get ready! Ozarson said. “We cant let them put you back down there.
Markus tried to climb to his feet. His legs buckled, and with a grunt, he collapsed to the floor.
“Here. Allegra put one arm around his waist, and Ozarson did the same on his other side. Together, they helped him stand.
“The water in the bathing pool is warm, Allegra said. “You can soak there. It will relax your muscles.
“Yes. His gaze raked over her, and she was beginning to understand him, at least enough to know that what he needed had nothing to do with water.
Allegra spoke to Ozarson as they helped Markus limp to the bedroom. “Can you get our things ready?
“Ill get everything I can, the boy said. “But we dont have travel packs.
“Theyll give us what we need. She wasnt sure of that, but she had no intention of wasting time searching for anything.
At the bedroom entrance, Markus grasped the lintel of the archway. “I can walk now, he told Ozarson. “You go get ready.
The boy glanced uncertainly at Allegra.
“Its all right, she said.
“She helped you, Ozarson told Markus, his expression worried.
Markus smiled and tousled his hair. “I know that.
Mollified, Ozarson headed back to his room. Allegra helped Markus into the bedroom and closed the door.
“I hate this place, Markus muttered. “All doors and walls. Its suffocating.
“Come to the bathing room, she said. “Its more open.
The small pool was steaming with heated water. Water mosaics tiled the walls, and a high window let in early morning light. It had no furniture, which might remind him of home.
“Gods, he murmured, staring at the bath. “So much water.
Allegra blinked. She had always taken water for granted. Maybe in Jazid it was worth more even than the gems they mined.
“Do you want help? she asked, suddenly shy.
He touched her cheek. “Are you all right?
“Well, yes, she said, puzzled. She wasnt the one who had spent a day locked in a pitch-black, suffocating cell.
“Then, yes, he said. “Stay. He didnt ask what she had meant by help; he just grasped her tunic and pulled it up. As she helped him take it off, his palm scraped her breast. He rubbed his hand over her nipple and let out a breath as if an emotional spasm were easing within him much as his shoulder had loosened. When he dropped her tunic by the pool, she instinctively folded her arms over her breasts.
“Dont do that, night bird, he said softly. “Youre beautiful.
Self-conscious, but aware of their limited time, she tugged down her leggings. He put his arm around her waist and lifted her against him, her front against his side, and slid her clothes off faster. She closed her eyes, trying to relax as she put her arms around his neck. Kneeling by the pool, he set her in the shallow end where the side sloped back so a bather could lie down. The water came to her shoulders and rippled against her skin. He undressed quickly, leaving his grimy clothes by the pool. As he slid into the water, he pulled Allegra into his arms so they were lying on their sides on the sloped surface, most of their bodies in the water. He didnt speak, he just held her with his head against her hair.
“Its all right, she murmured. “Its over.
“For now. His hands moved over her, touching. She slid her hand shyly across the muscled ridges of his abdomen.
“You should have stayed with me in Jazid, he said. “Then we wouldnt be Cobalts prisoners.
“Ah, Markus, she said. “Why is it all right for you to hold me prisoner but not for him to hold us?
“Its not the same. You took Ozarson. He caressed her breasts, waist, hips, thighs. “Cobalt may still execute me. I would never have done anything like that to you.
“He swore he wouldnt.
“Because you intervened on my behalf. He drew back to look at her. “Why? You despise me.
“I dont want you to be hurt!
He spoke wryly. “I thought I was a pig.
“Youre a man. A complicated, violent man. Markus, I dont despise you. Not at all. She hit her palm against his chest. “But you took my freedom. I cant fight every law in Jazid. Its always about you, what you want, where you go, touching me, lying with me, dressing me, using me for your pleasure without thinking how I feel.
“Thats not true. He cupped his hand around her cheek. “ Always I think of you. Its making me insane. He pulled her close and spoke against her ear. “I dont want this weakness, but I cant stop feeling it any more than I can stop needing to eat or drink. Looking at you, touching you, lying with youits pleasure, yes, but more than that. ItsI dont know. Like Im dying for water in the Fractured Desert, and youre the Saint Verdant River. If you dont let me have you, Ill die of thirst.
Flustered, she said, “Youre lying in a pool of water.
“Ach! Youre impossible. Sliding his hand behind her head, he kissed her deeply. “I need you now, he growled. “Or you will have a lunatic in this pool of water.
Her voice softened. “Then have me now.
It was all he needed. He rolled her onto her back and shifted his weight so he was on top of her, his hips settling between her thighs. The power in his muscular body seemed barely contained. He caressed her, his hands strong and sure. When he entered her, he pressed his lips and teeth against her neck. She let go to the sensations of his strong body against hers. The water was silken on her skin, and it surged while he made love to her. She was in the center of a storm borne of his anger, fear and pain, but it wasnt directed against her; she was the vessel that contained it. The force of his passion could have been overwhelming, but knowing he wanted her that much excited her, kept her holding him, her arms around his solid waist, her breasts against his chest with its thick, curling hair.
His rhythm increased, becoming more demanding, more urgent. The muscles in his body went rigid, and he groaned, pressing down on her, straining, his hips jerking. They slid down the sloped side until he was kissing her with their lips just at the water.
Markus exhaled with a gasp, stirring the water, and his body finally relaxed. As his weight settled, he eased her back up the side, enough so her nose didnt go underwater. Then he laid his head next to hers on the slope and was still. Allegra closed her eyes, her own body still unsettled. He lay next to her, breathing deeply.
Too deeply, in fact.
“Markus. She nudged his shoulders. “Dont go to sleep.
With a sigh, he lifted his head. A satiated look had replaced his intensity. He brushed his lips across hers, gently this time. “You sing to me even when your voice is silent, night bird.
“If Im a bird, you must have such a name, too. When his look turned wary, she smiled. “But not the pig.
“My mother says I smell like a goat, he offered.
She laughed softly. “Not that, either. A lion.
He kissed her, his lips lingering as he slid his hand between her thighs. It aroused her even more, and she wasnt sure what she wanted him to do, only that she didnt want him to stop. She tilted her hips up and pushed against his palm.
He rubbed her in slow circles. “I wish we could stay here.
She agreed. But she said, “We cantbe late.
His finger slipped inside her, tantalizing. “Later, hmm?
Oh, yes. Later, definitely. She nodded, knowing they had to hurry, but she felt restless and flushed, wanting him.
Markus slid into the water and ruffled his hands throu
gh his hair, making the curls float. He came up, sitting on the bottom of the shallow pool, and shook his head, splashing water everywhere. He rolled his shoulders, then jerked as the injured side spasmed.
Allegra slid behind him and massaged the scar tissue on his shoulder. “Does that help?
“Ah, yes. He sounded blissful. “Very much.
“We should go. But she kept massaging, aware of his back against her front, his muscles sensuous under her palms.
With reluctance, he said, “Yes. We should. When she took her arms off his shoulders, he stood up, water cascading down his body, and stepped out of the pool.
It was the first time Allegra had seen him in daylight. He was as impressive as in the starlight, but she saw now what she had missed before, because she had been shy about touching him. Scars covered his body, especially his torso. She started to ask, then stopped when she realized he would probably describe being hacked on a battlefield. She couldnt bear to hear about him being hurt that way, particularly given how close they were to another war.
They went to the bedroom and changed. Markuss armor had long since disappeared, but someone had left more clothes. He chose riding trousers and a blue shirt with blue embroidery on the cuffs. Although the threadwork barely showed, it seemed an odd choice for someone with such strong ideas about what he considered masculine. Then she remembered how his Jazid clothes had fastened, with complex loops sewn in the leather. Maybe the embroidery reminded him of his home.
Allegra searched the room until she found a stack of games. The playing pieces included two dice cubes, a wooden pyramid with four sides and a little hole at its point and a metal ring. She put the ring on her big toe. She tied a cord through the pyramid to make a necklace and she tucked the cubes into a pocket of her tunic. She had lost the dodecahedron from Ozarsons toys, but she had the octahedral block, which she pocketed with the cubes.
Markus watched her as he drew on his boots. “It isnt just round things, is it?
“No, she admitted. “Any geometrical shape works.
He came over and touched the pendant hanging between her breasts. “Lucky necklace.
Allegra smiled and folded her hand around his. “Markus
He waited, then spoke curiously. “Yes?
“Im glad youre here.
He started slightly, as if stunned, then raised her hand and pressed his lips against her knuckles.
“How did you know I would be in Aronsdale? she asked.
He lowered her arm, holding her hand. “I wasnt sure. But it seemed what you would do. He shook his head with a grimace. “Yargazon was convinced you went to Quaaz. We rode along the Kings Courseway for a while, but we couldnt pick up your trail. So we decided he would take the army to Quaaz while I came here. Then he said, “Actually, I chose. He wanted me with the army. He was furious I decided otherwise. But he couldnt stop me.
It gratified Allegra to know he was willing to stand up to the powerful general. “Before the TAmbera caught me I had been coming to Crofts Vale to study at a guild for mages.
“It is important to you, yes? Learning these spells?
“Yes. Very.
“Can you study even if you dont stay here?
It was a good question. “Possibly. She thought of Cobalts men. “We should see if Ozi is ready.
Markus nodded, and they went out into the parlor. They found Ozarson eating breakfast.
The boy looked up with relief. “I saved you some food.
Markus sat down and started eating without another word. Allegra settled next to him and grabbed the last roll before he could inhale it.
“Youre hungry, Ozarson said, watching his brother.
Markus took a hard-boiled egg. “Its been a while.
“They fed you, didnt they? Allegra asked. He had been in the cell for a day.
“Nothing. He shook salt and pepper on his egg. “They gave me water this morning when they took me out.
Allegra and Ozarson waited while he ate his egg and attacked a slab of meat. Finally Ozarson said, “Markus?
“Hmm? The prince regent glanced at him. “Why do you look so worried? Im fine.
“Father used the dungeons at the Onyx Palace, Ozarson said. “He told me once that sometimes he had people in them for seasons at a time. Even years.
“Yes. He did. Markus lowered his fork and spoke quietly. “And yes. Some of them died.
“That cant be true!
“You never knew our father that well, Ozi.
The boy bit his lip and turned away.
The grate of wood came from the entrance, followed by a tramp of feet. Eight Chamberlight warriors entered the parlor. Cobalt hadnt come this time, but Allegra had no doubt he intended the message implicit in their behavior. Their military bearing, the way they entered with no warning, their large forms turned even more imposing by their armor and swordsit all heightened the sense of their power over the three people they had come to collect.
“Its time to go, the captain with the grizzled face said roughly. He was holding a blue-plumed helmet.
Markus stood, followed by Allegra and Ozarson. One of the warriors stooped to get the manacles Markus had left on the floor, and the captain spoke to Allegra. “The key.
Feeling ill, she said, “Its in the lock.
The captain motioned the prince regent forward. Allegra could see Markus clenching his jaw as he complied. They turned him around and pulled his arms behind his back. He stared at her as they fastened the manacles and closed them with loud snaps.
Then Cobalts men took the three of them away.
CHAPTER 23
DAWNS MARCH
Soldiers were everywhere. Thousands. Three armies converged at Suncroft: Chamberlight, Harsdown, Aronsdale. Allegra could only stare in astonishment.
The guards escorting Markus, Allegra and Ozarson stopped a short distance outside the castle and stood waiting. People covered the hills: men strode in groups, warriors oiled weapons, horses trampled the grass and tenders packed up cooking pots, extinguished campfires, loaded supplies into carts. A stream of humanity flowed between Crofts Vale and the encamped armies. Barracks for the Aronsdale soldiers were on the other side of the castle, and a good portion of the population in Crofts Vale were the families of the men quartered there. A good portion of Jarids men would stay here, though, with several companies of Cobalts men to protect the Dawnstar empress and her son.
Most of the soldiers around Crofts Vale wore armor emblazoned with the crossed swords of Aronsdale, but many Chamberlight men were mixed in with them. To the south, the jaguar flags of the Harsdown army rippled. Pennants snapped everywhere. A woman from Crofts Vale untied a ribbon from her hair and gave it to a man in Aronsdale armor. He put his arm around her waist and kissed her, then tied the ribbon to his spear.
Markus stood with Allegra, scrutinizing the forces. She could almost feel him sizing up what he saw, the men, horses, weapons. His gaze burned. If all these men fought for Cobalt, the prince regents forces would lose.
“Markus, Allegra, look, Ozarson said. “Its Shadow. His voice brightened. “And Thom!
Following his gaze, Allegra saw Thom leading Shadow through the crowds. His father walked with him, a slender man with brown hair streaked by the sun.
“Who is that? Markus asked. “Why does he have my horse?
“Thom is the stable boy at the guild, Allegra said.
“Thom! Ozarson called out, waving.
Their guards tensed, and one dropped his hand to the sword sheathed on his belt. Then the grizzled captain said, “Its just the boy with the horse. That apparently made sense to the others, for they relaxed.
Thom thrust Shadows reins at his father, then took off running up the slope. His father followed with Shadow and studied the Chamberlight warriors. With so many soldiers about, Thom seemed oblivious to the tension of the eight surrounding Ozarson, but his father obviously noticed them.
Thom threaded his way past the guards, oblivious to their hard stares. “Where were you last n
ight? he asked Ozarson.
The atajazid motioned at Suncroft. “Here.
“Hai! At the castle? He pretended to punch Ozarson in the arm, and Ozarson laughed. “They have better stables here, eh?
One of the guards reached to pull Thom away, but the captain shook his head. Allegra wondered if it was as odd for them to see the atajazidthe king whose existence had spurred this great confluence of armiesacting like a normal boy.
“I didnt sleep in the stables last night, Ozarson said.
“No? I know you didnt sleep in a castle! Thom peered past Allegra to Markus, who was watching him curiously. “Who are you?
The prince regent blinked at him. “Markus.
“I remember! Thom said. “Youre the soldier who was here yesterday.
“He came from Jazid to find me, Ozarson told him.
“Thom, a man said. The boys father was a short distance away, beyond the guards, holding Shadows reins. The big horse whinnied and pranced as he tried to follow Thom.
“Let the horse go, Markus said. His deep voice carried with a snap of authority.
Thoms father shot a startled look at Markus. He dropped the reins and motioned toward Allegra. “There she is, boy. Go on.
As the guards around Allegra stepped aside, Shadow walked forwardnot to Allegra, but to Markus. The great horse nosed Markuss shoulder, then snuffled and tried again.
Markus laughed, averting his face from the insistent horse. “Im glad to see you, too. But I dont have any treats. With his hands behind his back, he had to turn to keep his balance as the horse pushed him.
“Just scratch his neck, Thom said cheerfully. “He likes that. His voice trailed off as his gaze fell to Markuss manacled hands. His eyes darted to the armed warriors around them, and for the first time he seemed to realize they werent just soldiers milling about.
“Thom, his father said. “Come on back.
“Ozi should come with us. Thom turned a worried gaze on Ozarson. “We can watch the armies from the hill.
Allegra sensed Ozarson longing to say yes, to run off with his friend and watch from a safe distance. And in that aching moment, she saw something die inside the boy. It was as if another piece of his childhood fell away, broken off, irretrievable.
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