Empress Unborn se-7

by Jean Lorrah

  Aradia was in no mood to fight off sleep, however. Content that she had something good to offer Pyrrhus and Wicket, she fell asleep the moment she lay down.

  All the time Julia was following Wicket with her Reading, Galerio was scolding Mosca and Antonius.

  When he finally let up, Mosa said with a scowl, “It’s all very well for you to be high and mighty, with Lady Julia as your friend-but Capero’s gonna be after Antonius an’ me tonight. We don’t pay him, he’s gonna slit our throats. “

  “Not if we all stick together,” said Galerio. “Capero cheated you-you know that.”

  “How?” asked Antonius. “We won at first.”

  “I thought you were smarter than that!” said Galerio. “Of course you won at first, so you’d think it was a fair game and you could win. Then he started taking your money, and counted on you being stupid enough to think you could win it back. You know what he wants, don’t you?”

  “Yeah,” Mosca said reluctantly. “He wants us to work for him.”

  “Do you want to?” Galerio asked shrewdly.

  “Well… he’s got money, connections,” Mosca admitted. “People that work for him live well.”

  “Some do,” Galerio agreed. “But for how long? Ever notice it’s the kids the guards pick up for stealing, or cheating at gambling? You want to spend months in jail?”

  “Better’n gettin’ killed,” Mosca muttered.

  “Capero won’t kill you if you pay the money you owe,” Galerio said.

  “But how?” Antonius demanded. “We gotta steal it. There’s no other way to get that much by tonight.”

  “And then Capero will have a hold on you,” said Galerio. “Once you steal for him, he’ll find other ways to make you do the work, while he takes the money.” He sighed. “We have to show Capero that Galerio’s people won’t fall into his trap.”

  By this time Wicket had returned the stolen items to their owners, and was on his way back toward the young people. Julia let her full attention return to Galerio, proud of the way he assumed responsibility for Mosca and Antonius because they were his followers.

  “But how?” Mosca demanded again.

  “By cheating Capero right back,” Galerio replied smugly.

  “What?” Antonious asked. “How? He’s got a Reader at the game, Galerio; she’d know if we were cheating.”

  Galerio looked at Julia, his dark eyes questioning.

  Looking into his handsome face, Julia could deny him nothing. “You can have a Reader on your side, “

  she said.

  “You?” Antonius’ adolescent voice squeaked in astonishment. “But everybody knows you, Julia. You’d be recognized, and then they wouldn’t play with us.”

  “I’ll go in disguise,” she said, charmed with the idea of an adventure to break up the routine of her life.

  “And don’t worry-I can fool any Dark Moon Reader.”

  “What’s this now?” asked Wicket’s voice-and Julia realized the man had sneaked up on her a second time. “Whore you playing, and why do you need a Reader?”

  Silence fell.

  “Mm-hmm,” said Wicket. He turned to Galerio. “I know you want to help your friends, but this Capero sounds like a real mean ‘un. Even if he can’t figure out how you’re cheatin’, he’ll know you have to be if you win, right?”

  “Right,” Galerio was forced to agree.

  “And then what will happen?” Wicket asked.

  Galerio grimaced. “He’ll want revenge-and there are only eight of us, when he probably has thirty people in his operation and another hundred who owe him favors. So what do I do about Mosca and Antonius? I can give them my share of money, but that’s only half what they need-and I can’t ask the others to give up their reward money because these two got themselves cheated.”

  “No, no,” said Wicket. “You can’t give in. Capero would snatch you up and make you worsen his slave.

  No, what you gotta do is cheat him without him ever knowin’ you’ve cheated him.”

  “Huh? How?” asked Galerio.

  “You go with Mosca and Antonius to Capero tonight. Tell him you want to dice with him for the money they owe.”

  “I’m not that stupid, and Capero knows it,” said Galerio.

  “You underestimate the professional gambler,” said Wicket. “Capero assumes everyone can be tempted.

  Trust me, he won’t question your motives, and you, Galerio, are too fine a bait for Capero to resist. But just to make sure he bites-Lady Julia, will you help Galerio bait the trap?”

  “I’ve already said I’d go,” she replied.

  “Not in disguise-or at least Capero must know who you are. That way he can’t cry foul, because you can bet that he knows your face, Julia, and that his Reader constantly checks strangers to make sure no one’s sneaking in a Reader of ‘is own. Galerio, you make it a condition: you will provide your own Reader to make sure the game remains honest.”

  Julia frowned. “In an honest game Galerio might win, true, but everything is reduced to chance. What if he loses?”

  “He won’t lose. I’m going to lose,” said Wicket.

  “You?” asked Galerio.

  “I’m a rich merchant from Tiberium, likely to drop twenty times what these boys owe Capero.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Julia.

  “Galerio, you have to make Capero agree that you’ll play tomorrow night, to give me time to connect. ‘

  “I can say I need a day to get my stake together,” said Galerio.

  “You young men,” Wicket continued, “tell me where in Zendi to let it be known that I’d like to do some gaming tomorrow evening. Then leave it to me to get into the game.”

  “But what good will it do for you to lose the award money Aradia gave you?” asked Julia.

  “Were you planning to help these young men?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then help by staking me to seed money. You’ll get it back. Caperos to think I’m in Zendi because I’ve made a big deal, and I’ll get paid day after tomorrow. He’ll want me to win the first night, figuring to take it all back and much more the next. Now, the law would be on to this Capero if he had his Adepts obviously influencing the games, right?”

  “Right?” said Julia. “Readers haven’t been able to catch them at it.”

  “Well,” said Wicket, “I can manipulate dice with my hands as well as one of your minor Adepts with his mind-and I’ve got the easy part. First I let them let me win, just as they plan. But just when they want to sink the hook by letting me win really big, I start to lose. To Galerio.”

  Julia studied Wicket. He really doesn’t know how he does it.

  Galerio was grinning. “I like it.”

  “Then,” Wicket continued, “I start to complain that they’ve set me up. Lots of noise, threats to call the guards-and a nice fight to break up the game and get us all out of there, winnings intact.”

  “He’ll connect you with us,” said Galerio.

  “How? I arrived in town two days ago. Any of Capero’s people here?”

  Although as they talked the minor Adepts braced their powers and Julia carefully kept from broadcasting what they were saying to other Readers, she was Reading Wicket, who had his usual camouflage running through his mind. Nonetheless, she could catch his feelings-and what she did not catch was any hint that he was either lying or trying to deceive them.

  “There’s just one thing,” Wicket warned. “Don’t get greedy. We’re there to break Capero’s hold on Mosca and Antonius, not to make any of us rich.”

  “I like your plan,” said Galerio, “but why should you help us?”

  Wicket grinned. “You’re friends of the Lady Julia. Always good to have connections in high places.”

  “Wicket, ” said Julia, “there’s something you ought-”

  Screams erupted!

  Human shouting was drowned by the snorts of frightened horses.

  “Fire!” someone cried nearby.

  Julia saw smoke com
ing from the other side of the market-the biggest pavilion was on fire!

  Galerio, Mosca, Antonius-every Adept in the marketplace turned toward the blaze, uniting their efforts to put it out.

  But it didn’t go out!

  Fanned by a sudden brisk wind, the fire engulfed the main pavilion. Julia’s mind was assaulted by the fear of fleeing people, the terror of the horses.

  Flames flashed upward, leaped from one pavilion to another, but no people were burned, although some were pushed or stepped on in the panic.

  There was only one way fire could spread when dozens of minor Adepts were concentrating their efforts to stop it: one or more Lords Adept were deliberately feeding the blaze!

  Julia Read, finding no one anywhere nearby who could possibly be the culprit.

  Still the flames leaped from one tent to another, while the horses screamed in panic, pulling loose from their tethers.

  Stallions, mares, geldings, racers and plowhorses, colts and fillies-all fled the flames, stampeding toward Julia, Wicket, Galerio. Mosca and Antonius took to their heels.

  “Run!” Wicket shouted, following his own order.

  But even with Adept strength, no human could outrun a horse!

  The animals were mindlessly driven by fire. Inexorably, they bore down on the five fleeing people.

  Heart pounding, Julia heard and Read the lead horses bearing down on her, felt the ground shaken by their hoofs.

  The horses’ panic filled her mind, mingling with her own.

  In moments, they would all be trampled to death!

  Chapter Five

  Aradia was deep in the dream of her unborn daughter. The girl opened her eyes.

  “You stole my powers, witch!” Aradias mother accused. “Die, sorceress. Burn!”

  Aradia was consumed in flames!

  Searing pain! Her clothes burned, her hair—

  Her flesh charred as she screamed—

  Screamed-

  “Lady Aradia! Wake up, my lady!”

  “Help me!” Aradia begged, grasping at the person who had come to her aid. “She’s burning me! My child is trying to kill me!”

  Slowly, she realized that she was clinging to Devasin, seeing fright in the woman’s eyes.

  Gasping for breath, Aradia shook off the dream and loosened her painful grip on Devasin. “I’m sorry,”

  she whispered. “It seemed so real.”

  “It was only a dream, my lady,” Devasin soothed. “Lie back down now, and rest.”

  “Oh, no,” said Aradia. “I have too much to do. Bring me my dress, Devasin.”

  “Yes, my lady,” the other woman said primly, rising from where she had sat on the edge of the bed to comfort her mistress.

  “Devasin,” Aradia said.

  “Yes, my lady?”

  “I am sorry to inflict the foolish fantasies of pregnancy on you.”

  “It is quite all right, my lady,” Devasin replied. “I’m glad I was there to help.”

  By the time she had dressed and smoothed her hair, Aradia could relegate the dream to the world of fantasy. But why had it seemed so real? Perhaps Master Clement would know a way to forestall it, let it remain the pleasant dream of her child, or at least let her wake up before it turned to nightmare.

  Determined to tell him about it, she left for the hospital, to see if Pyrrhus was awake yet.

  Julia could not run as fast as the boys or even Wicket.

  Her breath burned in her lungs. Her legs ached.

  The horses’ panic tore through her mind. Dust choked her lungs.

  Galerio dropped back, gasping, “Run!” He grabbed her hand. She felt him trying to pour strength into her, but he hadn’t enough power.

  For a few steps they went faster, nearly catching Mosca, Antonius, Wicket-but in moments the horses would run over them all.

  Clutching Galerio’s hand, Julia was able to think again.

  If only Wulfston were here!

  He could make animals obey his will; he would calm those horses, or at least turn them aside.

  Other Readers had found their Adept powers in moments of desperation-her father had, in order to save his people and Aradia.

  Desperately she reached out to the lead horse, urged him to one side as the herd reached the fleeing people.

  Galerio pushed her to the ground, flung himself on top of her, protecting her with his own body.

  But Julia had it now! She sent images to the horses, directing their course.

  The herd split, thundering on either side of the trembling, gasping people. Wicket fell, huddled into a ball.

  Mosca and Antonius leaned on one another, breathless, as the horses galloped by.

  And Julia sobbed against Galerio’s arm beneath her face as she realized.

  “It’s not an Adept trick!” she gasped as, the horses safely past, Galerio drew her to sit up against him.

  “Oh, Galerio-it’s Reading, and he never knew it! He wanted so much to learn to Read, and now maybe he’ll never know!”

  Mosca and Antonius moved slowly, but Wicket jumped up and ran to where Julia and Galerio still sat on the ground. “Are you all right?” he asked anxiously.

  Julia nodded.

  “Then why are you crying? Who’ll never know about Reading?”

  “Wulfston,” she replied. “My uncle. He-he went to rescue my father, weeks ago, and we haven’t heard from them since.” Julia got hold of herself, her tears abating as she continued, “Wulfston is a great Lord Adept, but he’s always wanted to learn to Read, ever since we found out they’re the same power. He never could-and yet he’s always had this power over animals.”

  “Ah,” said Galerio, ” you made the horses go around us.”

  She looked up into his eyes, her lips trembling into a smile as she asked, “Are you Reading now?”

  “No-but how else would you make such a discovery in the middle of a stampede? Thank you, Julia.”

  “Thanks, indeed!” Wicket added, squatting down beside them. “Now, what’s all this about your uncle going to rescue your father? From what?”

  “Nobody knows!” Julia replied. “People from Africa kidnapped my father-and Aradia couldn’t go because she’s pregnant, so Wulfston went, and now they’re both gone!”

  Galerio, who knew the story well, said, “They’ll come back. After all they’ve been through together, how much trouble could a few Africans be? A Reader and an Adept working together-why, they’ll be here any day now, with wonderful stories to tell.”

  But Wicket was puzzled. “Brothers? One a Reader and the other an Adept?”

  “No-Wulfston is Aradia’s brother,” Julia told him. “But we don’t worry whether kinship is by blood or marriage or adoption. We’re family.”

  “Mm-hmm,” said Wicket. “Well, then-you say your uncle can Read, but doesn’t know it? That hardly seems likely.”

  Julia couldn’t help laughing, although painfully. “No? Then why are you not aware of your own Adept powers?”

  Wicket was squatting beside them, balanced precariously on his toes, but at Julia’s words he paled, lost his balance, and sat down, hard. “What?”

  “I Read you restoring the items Mosca and Antonius stole. You think you’re just a skilled cutpurse, but you’re using Adept power when you make something land exactly where you want it. The pendant, and the man’s money pouch. You blanked to my Reading when you did those things.”

  Wicket put up a casually denying hand. “Oh-that’s just a trick Pyrrhus taught me, to fool Readers.” He winced. “Never thought to ask him how he knew what’d fool ‘em. But it’s just a bunch of nonsense to distract attention.”

  “No, Wicket, I don’t mean your songs and rhymes and riddles,” Julia told him. “I mean the moment when you want that necklace to fall exactly in the girl’s line of vision. Then the nonsense stops. To a Reader, you become invisible. A Dark Moon Reader would miss it, unless he were focused specifically on you, and until four years ago few Readers in the Aventine Empire would’ve known what tha
t moment’s blankness meant.”

  Wicket was staring at his hands. “No. I can’t.”

  “You can and you do,” Julia assured him. “Well test your talents now, and teach you to use them most effectively.”

  Wicket’s eyes fixed on hers, wariness in their depths. “No!” he said. “Lady Julia, you must be wrong-but even if you’re right, it doesn’t matter. I’m not an Adept!”

  “Wicket,” said Galerio, “don’t act as if it’s something bad. You’re not in the old Aventine Empire-nobody will kill you for it. You don’t have to go to their training sessions and get lectured about using your talents for the public good. But-”

  “I said no’t” Wicket interrupted him. “You shut up about it, all of you. It’s not so! And if any of you says anything to Pyrrhus-well, you can just forget me helping you get out of your problems with Capero!”

  With that, Wicket got up, made a futile attempt to-brush the dust from his clothes, and started toward the road back to Zendi.

  The four young people stared after him. “Never saw anyone act like that when he found out he had a talent,” said Antonius.

  “I think I understand,” said Julia, aware of people from the horse market running to see if they were hurt.

  She climbed to her feet saying, “Let him go. And do as he says. Don’t tell anyone, not even your closest friends.”

  At the hospital, Aradia was not surprised to find Pyrrhus awake, although she had not expected him to be up and dressed. The door was open, and she could see him standing by the bed, his attention on items laid out on it.

  The plate on the bedside table was empty except for apple cores and the skeleton of a bunch of grapes.

  Pyrrhus wore the same clothes in which he had been injured, which Aradia had paid no attention to at the time. Now she noticed that although his accent, short hair, and beardlessness showed his Aventine origins, Pyrrhus chose to dress in the savage style.