The Night Bird lc-5

by Catherine Asaro

  “Gods, Allegra said. “He cant mean it.

  Markus looked ill. “We never planned this.

  “He cant! Ozarson spoke frantically to Cobalt. “Give me a parchment and pen. Ill write to him. Command him to stop.

  Cobalt stared at the boy, his face impassive. “And he will say we coerced you. He shifted his dark gaze to Markus. “You claim this wasnt part of your plan. You expect me to believe you never intended to take Drummer hostage?

  “A hostage, yes, Markus said. “But not like this.

  “It makes no sense, Allegra said. “What can he hope to gain?

  “I should think its obvious, Vizarana said coldly. “Your husband. You. She turned her fiery gaze on Ozarson. “This child who mistakenly believes he can usurp my throne.

  “But it will antagonize Drummers kin, Allegra said. “Even if you get Drummer back, this will only make Aronsdale and Harsdown more likely to join Cobalt. Which works against the Jazid army.

  Cobalt glanced at Jarid and Muller. “It is a conundrum, yes? Avenge Drummerand give me the Topaz Throne.

  “You will not have it, Vizarana told him calmly.

  Cobalt turned his formidable stare on her. “If I rescue your consort and take back Quaaz, I keep the throne.

  Vizarana crossed her arms. “Youve done neither. She scowled at him. “My army isnt defeated. After we bring down this force that came sweeping out of Jazid, maybe I should take your throne.

  “That would prove interesting, Cobalt said dryly.

  Allegra suspected “interesting was far too mild a word for a challenge between Vizarana and Cobalt. She spoke with deference to the queen. “You escaped the Jazid army?

  Vizarana lowered her arms. “We received King Jarids warning in time. We almost made it out before Yargazons men stormed the city walls. When they breached the palace, Drummer misled them long enough for Ginger, my daughter, and me to get out.

  “Ginger? Markus asked. “You mean the fire girl?

  Cobalt jerked his chin toward the curtained area at the back of the tent. “Shes with the queens child. She wont come out here. Shes a Dragon-Sun priestess.

  Muller came to stand with Cobalt. “Would it be so wrong to let Allegra go back? If Yargazon keeps his word, Drummer might survive longer.

  “No! Markus said. “You cant send her back without me.

  Vizarana stared at him, incredulous. “You would let him torture my husband just so you can be with your wife?

  “If he gets Allegra, Markus said grimly, “shes the one hell torture.

  Ozarsons voice cracked. “I wont have this done in my name.

  “Its you that Yargazon wants, Muller said to Ozarson.

  “Im not so sure. Cobalt narrowed his gaze at Markus. “This is as much about you. Yargazon wants to control you, doesnt he? But its harder than he expected. He motioned toward Allegra and Ozarson. “Maybe you arent so much your fathers son after all. Otherwise, this remarkable woman would never have stood by you, nor would this boy love you as he does. He rubbed his chin, his expression thoughtful. “You went to Aronsdale without Yargazons support. You act as your own man even when he forbids it, eh? He cant control you, and if he cant control you, hell never control the throne.

  Markus met his gaze. “Im no ones puppet.

  “I still dont understand, Allegra said. “Even if his threats convince you to trade all three of us back, it works against him because it pushes Aronsdale and Harsdown into allying with you.

  Vizarana snorted. “If he acted like a civilized human being, what motivation would Cobalt have to trade three people for one?

  “They arent Cobalts damn hostages, Jarid said. He was sitting on the chest, one leg bent, with his elbow resting on his knee. “Theyre in my custody. The scar on his neck darkened in the torchlight.

  “Either way, Cobalt said, “we have three people he wants and he has one that we want.

  “Oh, Ozarson suddenly said. “No, thats not why he sent his ultimatum this way.

  Cobalt looked down at the boy. “You know otherwise?

  “Dont you see? Ozarson said. “Its obvious.

  “Ozi, Markus began. He sounded worn-out.

  “Let him talk, Allegra said.

  “Look around, Ozarson told them. “At everyone.

  Cobalt glanced around, then turned back to the boy. “I see many grim-faced soldiers waiting for you to get to the point.

  “Youre here, Ozarson said. “The Dawnstar emperor. He indicated Vizarana shyly. “The queen of Taka Mal. He glanced at Jarid. “The king of Aronsdale. Then he nodded at Muller. “The king of Harsdown. And me. Thats almost every ruler in the settled lands, fugitive or not. King Jarids men went in to get Queen Vizarana and her family. I know how General Yargazon thinks. He doesnt care about codes of war. He probably had spies looking to follow

  “Gods almighty. Cobalt swung around. “Everyone out of here! He grabbed Markuss arm and hauled him to his feet, then literally threw him toward the grizzled captain. “Split up the three of them. The only reason Yargazons men havent moved yet is because these three are in the tent. They needed to find out where we had them, so they waited until we brought them here. Now they know.

  A warrior pulled Allegra up, and another had Ozarson. They strode to the entrance in ground-devouring steps, pulling her and the atajazid, and she had to run to keep up. A baby cried somewhere, and a woman spoke softly, urgently.

  Then they were outside, running through the dark. Stumbling, with rocks stabbing her bare feet, Allegra bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. People were running past them in the darkness, men in armor.

  Suddenly the man on Allegras right spasmed as if someone had struck him. He stopped and stared at her with shock. Then he crumpled to the ground.

  She dropped next to him. An arrow had hit his neck, one of the few places on his body with no armor or mail. She laid her hand on the wound, on either side of the shaft, trying to stop the bleeding. She needed a shape! She couldnt heal him, but she could help him survive until the doctors

  Then she realized it didnt matter. The man was dead.

  “Saints, no, she whispered, taking her hands from his neck. Blood dripped from her fingers, but it no longer pumped out of his wound.

  Ozarson spoke dully next to her. “This man is dead, too.

  She sagged as people ran by them in the dark. Swords clanged somewhere. She and Ozarson stayed crouched by the fallen bodies of two warriors much larger than either of them, which in the darkness probably made it difficult to tell them apart from the dead.

  “Ozi, she said. “Keep low. He was a shadow in the starlight, but she could see his frightened eyes. “Do you recognize the arrows that hit them?

  “Jazidian.

  “How could Yargazon sneak your forces up here? They would have to get past sentries from four different armies.

  “I dont think he did, Ozarson said. “It was probably just a few men, enough to attack one tent.

  “Thats suicide!

  His voice shook. “Even if every man that he sent died, they had only to kill the people in that tent. Or just one of them. Cobalt.

  A chill went up Allegras spine. It probably couldnt have worked, but it wasnt impossible. If it had succeeded, then in one attack, Dusk Yargazon would have killed every sovereign in the settled landsexcept Ozarson. They would have been within reach of putting the boy on the throne of the Dawnstar emperor.

  “Ozi, listen, she said. “Never, never tell General Yargazon youre the one who warned Emperor Cobalt. Never.

  His eyes widened. “I didntIt didnt occur to me

  “I know. She held her breath as more men ran past them.

  “Allegra. Ozarson pressed something into her hand.

  “What Then she realized what he had given her. The dodecahedron. “I thought I lost it.

  “I found it in the travel bags.

  “But why did you bring it?

  “No one would search a Jazid boy for a mage shape. Softly he added, “Its a Platonic solid. Twelve si
des, all regular pentagons. Surely that must be powerful.

  “Yes, very, she whispered, hiding it in her pocket. “Thank you. A twelve-sided form like this might burn her abilities to ashes, but if she could control it, she could make incredible spells. It stunned her that he had figured out so much about her spells. But then, Ozi was no normal boy.

  “Ho! someone shouted. “Theres children here!

  A warrior dropped by Allegra and grabbed her arm. “Not a child. A woman!

  Another man crouched by Ozarson. “Your Majesty! Dragons blessings, weve been worried.

  As the man holding Allegra turned toward Ozarson, his grip on her arms loosened. She wrenched free and tried to lunge away, but he caught her easily around the waist and yanked her back.

  “Give me a cord, he said to the other man. “Its her. The witch who took the atajazid.

  “Dont hurt her! Ozarson said.

  “We wont, the other man said. He was between Allegra and Ozarson, so she couldnt see the boy anymore. She fought the man holding her, raking her fingernails down his arm, but gauntlets protected his hands and forearms, and he had armor everywhere else. Her silk tunic caught on his mail and ripped.

  “Your Majesty, well get you to safety, the other man told Ozarson. “Id lay my life down before I let anyone take you.

  “Thank you, Ozarson said in a low voice.

  The other man handed something to the one holding her, who then twisted her arms behind her back and bound her wrists together. “Help! she shouted, then choked as he shoved a wad of leather into her mouth. He pulled back two straps attached to it and fastened them together behind her head. Then he leaned over her, pushing her forward with his arms wrapped around her torso so she couldnt struggle. The stench of his sweat nauseated her.

  “What did you do? Ozarson said.

  “Shes fine, the man assured him. “We need to get you out of here, and if she shouts, shell bring Cobalts men. Grimly he added, “If she sings, the dragon only knows what shell do to us.

  “She wont harm you, Ozarson said.

  “We can reach the horses from here, the man holding Allegra said. They were crouched in the dark, and the sounds of battle had moved beyond them.

  “Where is Prince Markus? the other one asked.

  “Cobalt took him, Ozarson said. “Can you find him?

  “I wish we could. The man spoke kindly to the boy. “But well be lucky if we can get the two of you out of here.

  “Youll have to run with us, Your Majesty, the other man said. “Stay bent over as much as you can, and keep close.

  “You have to guard Allegra, too, Ozarson said.

  “We will, the man holding her said. “You have our word well get both of you back.

  “All right, Ozarson said. “Lets go.

  No! Allegra shouted, but it came out as a muffled grunt. Ozarson couldnt see well enough to realize what his men were doing to her. She didnt doubt, either, that he believed going with them was the right thing to do. Why the blazes wouldnt he? They were his army, who answered to her own husband. He didnt understand what would happen if they took her back without Markus to keep Yargazon away from her.

  The man holding her stood, still bent over, with one arm clamped around her waist and his other hand gripped on her upper arm. The second warrior grasped her other arm and they took off running, dragging her between them. Rocks and stubby plants stabbed her feet. She fought their hold, to no avail. When she balked, they lifted her off the ground and ran holding her up so her feet dangled. It hurt her arms and shoulders so much that when they put her down again, she kept running.

  They half slid and half ran down a rocky slope at the edge of the camp. Sentries should have been patrolling the hill, but either they had died or were fighting elsewhere. Allegra couldnt see or hear Ozarson. It was all happening too fast.

  Then they were out of the camp and racing through the dark.

  CHAPTER 25

  SHADOWS OF NIGHT

  “The horses should be over there. The man spoke in a low, urgent voice.

  The warriors stopped, and Allegra sagged in their grip, out of breath, barely able to draw in enough air past the gag. Dark bluffs surrounded them.

  “I see the horses, Ozarson said. He sounded far away. “Two of them.

  “Ill take you on one, the man told him with respect. He turned toward the other soldier. “You can bring her.

  “Allegra? Ozarson said from somewhere. “Are you there?

  “Shes here, the man said.

  Her stifled protest was almost soundless. With her wrists tied behind her back, she couldnt use her arms, so she twisted her shoulders back and forth, trying to free herself. One of the men put his arms around her, his front to her back, holding her still while the other man disappeared into the darkness. A horse snorted, and someone spoke in a low voice. Allegra caught bits and pieces: “leave saddleriding blanketHold the reins, Your Majesty.

  The man reappeared out of the shadows, walking a horse without a rider. “Here, Zeik. He handed the reins to the man with Allegra. “You can take her in.

  No! Allegra redoubled her efforts to twist free.

  The man holding her, Zeik apparently, handed her to the other man. She kicked at him, and her foot hit a boot, then his knee. He swore under his breath and pulled her hard against him so she couldnt kick.

  Zeik swung onto the horse. He reached down, and the other man lifted Allegra up to him. She wrenched back and forth, fighting them. The gag muffled her shouts, but in the silence of the night, even her grunts were audible. She twisted hard and began to slide off the horse. Zeik hauled her back up, then dragged her leg across the animal so she sat astride in front of him. He clamped his arms around her torso to hold her in place.

  “You got her? the man on the ground asked.

  “Fine. Zeik sounded out of breath. “We should split up. It will increase the chance that at least one of us gets through.

  “Dragon willing, well both make it. Good luck.

  “And you. Then Zeik set off through the night.

  Allegra eventually wore herself out struggling and sagged in Zeiks hold with her head hanging down. As exhaustion caught up with her, nightmarish images flickered in her mind. Over and over, she remembered the man next to her collapsing in the dirt, an arrow in his neck as he died.

  Her jaws ached. As soon as Zeik had a chance, he readjusted the gag so the leather ball settled firmly in her mouth, filling it and pushing down her tongue. He did something with the straps, locking them behind her head. When he finished, she doubted she could have taken the thing off even if she had her hands free. They had figured out too well how to “disarm what they considered a weaponher ability to do spells.

  The pound of hooves sounded nearby, several horses perhaps. Zeik guided his mount behind a large bluff that rose as a darker shadow in the night. He laid the blade of a dagger flat against her neck. “Hold still. No noise.

  Allegra barely breathed. After the riders passed, Zeik set off crossways on a steep hill instead of riding down to flatter land. His horse had to step carefully on the precarious slope. At first she hoped the slower pace would make them easier to catch. She soon realized why he had done it, though; no other riders were up here.

  After a while, Zeik said, “I know youre evil. A witch. If you could sing, you would curse my soul. He shifted her in his arms. “But hell, I cant help it, you just seem like a frightened girl to me, one whos so pretty, men cant think straight around her. Even powerful men. Then he muttered, “Especially them. Theyre used to getting what they want. But even when they have you, they dont.

  She had no idea what he meant by the last statement, but he had it right about one thing: She was frightened. Terrified.

  Some time later, he said, “The General is a good commander. Harsh, its true. But a man must be harsh to conquer the barrens of Jazid. He pulled our forces together out of nothing. He gave us hope when we had none. He brought the atajazid and Prince Markus to freedom. Its my honor to follow him. He sound
ed as if he were arguing with himself. “Nor is he weakened by sentiments that would undercut his strength.

  Allegra didnt doubt he felt what he said. But she wondered whom he was trying to convinceher or himself.

  They were riding around a jumble of rocks when he brushed back her hair and leaned down so his lips touched her cheek. “Still, if I had a woman like you, I would never hurt her.

  Then dont take me to Yargazon, she tried to say. It came out as a faint, scared sound.

  “Dont cry. He sounded miserable. Then he gave an angry whistle. “Damn it, stop weakening me! After that, he said no more.

  Eventually they reached flatter land. He made an odd noise, like the call of a blackwing hawk. As they continued on, another call drifted on the air. A rider appeared out of the darkness, almost upon them before Allegra realized he was there.

  “Zeik, the newcomer said.

  “Its me, Zeik said.

  The other man, apparently a sentry, exhaled. “The dragon has blessed us twice this night.

  “Twice? Zeik asked. “Did the atajazid make it back?

  “He did indeed. The sentrys tone lightened as he rode with them. “Weve been quiet, no noises, but the men are rejoicing.

  “At least some good came of this night.

  “What happened with the raid?

  “Everyone else in the tent escaped, Zeik said sourly. “As soon as they started to disperse, we attacked.

  “Only two of you have made it back. The sentry sounded subdued. “It looks like all the rest were killed.

  “Its a sad business, Zeik said. “But they died for the atajazid, that he could go free.

  Tears gathered in Allegras eyes. Yargazons plan had failedalmost. In the greater scheme of these history-making events, she was nothing, just one girl with a bit of mage power. Whether she ended up in Jazid or Aronsdale made little difference in the long view. It mattered only to her, who would suffer the brutal consequences of her capture, one small victory in a failed attempt to murder all the leaders of the settled lands.

  They reached the Jazid camp and rode among shadowed tents. Sentries passed them, patrolling in the dark, and the one escorting them quietly sent another soldier out to keep his watch. He took Zeik deeper into the camp, past other guards. Ahead, a dim light grew larger. They were approaching a tent whose sides glowed from the inside. As Zeik reined in his horse, a stable boy ran to them.