Silver was suddenly once again conscious of the icy void within Monteith that had frightened her before. Now that chasm appeared wider and deeper, glowing strangely.
She tried not to let him detect tremors from the chill that attacked her every limb. "Even if you manage to kill Etaine and me, Nicholas will see that you're punished for your wickedness. Perhaps if you let Etaine go now—"
"No, Silver." Monteith was shaking his head. "Do you think I'm afraid of your husband? I don't doubt he'll try to rescue you. I've studied the two of you very closely in the past months and I know what flows between you. But I'll win no matter what he does. If he appears after I've made my sacrifice, I'll have more power than he could dream and be able to vanquish him without effort. If he happens to succeed in stopping me before the sacrifice, then I'll merely wait until the next opportunity to seize Etaine again. I have enough powerful followers at court to prevent Savron from doing me irreparable harm."
"And what if Nicholas or I manage to kill you?" Silver asked fiercely.
A curious smile carved his lips. "I'd still find a way of destroying you, Silver. Perhaps not Etaine, but certainly you, my dear."
"You can't hurt me. I wouldn't let you hurt me."
Admiration glinted in his eyes. "You sit there, in pain, barely able to stay upright and still defiant. Is it any wonder that I regret losing you?" He shook his head. "It will be a wonderful sight watching you at the ceremony. Shall I tell you what's in store for you, or would you like it to be a surprise?"
"Tell me."
"First, Etaine will be sacrificed. You'll both be taken down to the big circus tent in the meadow. My followers will be gathered there to watch, but they'll not be permitted to participate in the actual sacrifice. However, I've told them they may partake of the essence."
"Essence."
"Blood," he said simply. "I will cut Etaine's wrists and they may each garner a few drops but not too much. She must be alive when the dagger enters her heart."
"You're a monster!" She stopped. There were no words to describe the evil in Monteith.
"How clever of you to finally understand." His gaze met her own. "You're going to witness the sacrifice, of course. I'm only sorry I'll be too occupied to watch your face at the final stroke." He sighed. "But I'll receive compensation later, when you are sacri-ficed, Silver. You did know you'd have to die also?"
"It doesn't surprise me."
"Not only are you Savron's wife and therefore a potential danger, but the total experience must be very gratifying to my followers. I refuse to let them use Etaine, but their participation in your sacrifice will give them what they need. Many of them are like stupid children, thinking only of lust and blood. You'll provide them with both." He glanced at her as if gauging her reaction.
Silver carefully kept her expression impassive.
"You'll be strapped to the sacrificial table for many hours before you receive the knife. Any man who desires to do so will be permitted to copulate with you." He paused, waiting for a response.
She gave him none.
"I might even take you myself. It's not often I so favor one to be sacrificed, but you're very special to me, Silver."
"Don't get too close or I'll sink my teeth into your jugular and tear out your throat."
He burst out laughing. "You probably would at that. I shall be most careful if I do decide to spend time between your thighs." He glanced at the rapidly fading light streaming through the window. "It's growing late and I have arrangements to make. I fear it's time we ended our little meeting and I took you to Etaine. Are you strong enough to walk or shall I carry you?"
"I can walk."
"Or if you can't, you'll crawl," Monteith said. "How proud I would have been to have claimed you as one of mine. Come along then."
Silver swung her feet to the floor and then grasped the arm of the couch to steady herself. Dizziness, pain, nausea. She pushed them all aside and forced herself to stand upright.
"Bravo," Monteith said softly. "Now walk across the room toward me."
She knew if she took a step that she would collapse in a heap on the floor and she wouldn't reveal that weakness to Monteith. She stood swaying, gazing at him in defiance. She would bargain for time to gather strength by asking the one question to which she must have an answer. "You said you had kept me here in Russia. How did you do that?"
Some undefinable emotion flickered in his face. "How do you think?"
She braced herself. "I think you bribed Dr. Rellings to give me a potion that would kill my baby and then paid him to leave St. Petersburg so that no questions would be asked. If I were ill, I wouldn't be able to travel."
"That is true. And, of course, since I'd studied you for a long time, I'd know how you would react to losing your baby, how it would devastate you." His voice was coolly objective. "Yes, it would have been a very clever move on my part."
"You did do it," Silver accused, her eyes blazing. "And you paid Dr. Rellings to leave St. Petersburg."
"Oh, Dr. Rellings never left St. Petersburg," Monteith said calmly. "He made a trifling but adequate sacrifice."
Her eyes widened in shock. "You murdered him?"
"Sacrificed. You must recognize the distinction," Monteith chided with a faint smile. "His remains are buried beneath that huge evergreen tree that grows beside the summerhouse." He opened the door and gestured mockingly for her to precede him. "If you like, I'll show you the exact spot when I escort you to the circus tent tonight."
Rage rioted through Silver, blinding her, choking her. Monteith had killed her baby. She moved toward him, no longer aware of weakness or pain, conscious of nothing but the anger and hatred dominating her. "I'm not going to let you kill me, Monteith. Not until I've killed you for what you did to my child."
"You hate well," he said approvingly. "I knew you'd feel like that. But you can't attack me now without being attacked yourself." He stepped into the hall and indicated the two burly peasants standing guard at the door before adding softly, "And then what would Etaine do without her friend to help her through her final hours?"
His words pierced the haze of fury surrounding Silver. Etaine. She must find a way of helping Etaine before she was free to deal with Monteith.
He effortlessly read her reaction. "She's right down the hall. We gave her a fine room with every comfort." He turned and walked gracefully down the corridor. "Come along, Silver."
Silver hesitated for the fraction of a moment and then slowly followed him toward the chamber door he had indicated.
As soon as the door closed behind Monteith, Silver hurried to the canopy bed where Etaine was lying. "Are you all right? Is your breathing—"
"It's much better," Etaine assured her. "The attack passed soon after they brought me to this room. It's you I was worried about. I thought Rogoff had killed you when he struck you with that whip."
"It's nothing." Still, Silver was glad to sit down on the edge of the bed. Her knees felt as if they were snowflakes on the verge of melting. Her gaze raked Etaine's face and relief rushed through her. The child was pale and appeared exhausted but otherwise re-covered. "I'm sorry, Etaine. I broke my promise to you. I thought I could keep your father away but—"
"There was nothing you could do, Silver," Etaine interrupted gently. "I've known all along that this would probably happen. No matter how many guards you put on me, my father would have found a way."
Silver took Etaine's hand in her own clasp. "He told you what he intends to do to yoù?"
Etaine nodded. "He told me everything. He said I must be brave and accept my death in a fashion that will bring no shame to him."
Silver muttered a curse beneath her breath. "The bastard could have at least spared you the anticipation."
"Oh, no, Silver, all my life he's prepared me for this." Etaine's voice was calm. "Even though he never put it into words, I think I must have sensed what he had in mind for me."
"And you accept it?" Silver asked incredulously.
"No." Et
aine's gaze was clear and serene. "That's what he expects me to do. He thinks he's created the perfect sacrifice, but he doesn't realize that in giving me strength he's defeated his purpose. He's made me strong enough not to let him do this to me without a fight." She paused. "He is no longer my father in my eyes."
Silver's grip tightened. "We'll find a way out of this."
"Yes. And Mikhail and Nicholas can't be far." Etaine sat up in bed. "But I think we mustn't count on them. We must plan our own escape."
"There are guards outside the doors," Silver said. "We need weapons, blast it."
"I think we may already have one," Etaine Said slowly. "The sacrifice is to take place in the main circus tent in the cage. My father said—" She paused for a deep breath before continuing. "Monteith said that was why he made me do the sacrificial act with the lions all those years. He wanted to make sure I'd become accustomed to the sacrificial table and more easily accept my fate. If they're using the tent, then Monteith must be sending the circus folk away from the grounds for the night." She smiled. "But they won't go."
"You've got to remember that Sebastien and the rest of the circus people are afraid of Monteith," Silver said gently. "And they may not know we're here."
"Rogoff was bleeding badly and thought only of getting to the manor house, so he drove straight through the meadow where the circus is encamped. Sebastien saw us in the troika."
Silver's heart gave a leap of hope. "You're sure?"
Etaine nodded. "I had no breath to call out to him, but I know he saw me and he must have noticed you were unconscious. He may pretend to go away but he'll come back. He'll help us, Silver."
"I know he'll try to help." Silver smiled with an effort. "And if he doesn't succeed, we'll just have to help ourselves."
Etaine frowned thoughtfully. "Sebastien is my friend. He'll find a way to get close enough to speak to us. And when he does, I think he'll be able to give us our weapon."
12
Tall poles crowned by blazing torches bordered the path leading from the manor house to the circus grounds. Hooded, black-robed figures crowded close to the path, their faces masked, their gazes fixed eagerly on Monteith standing in the courtyard with Etaine and Silver.
He alone was unmasked, his black robes flowing gracefully about his lean body as he raised his hand. "What I have promised you has come to pass. Let the ceremony begin."
Chanting rose on the still evening air from the hundreds of black-robed acolytes gathered there. Rhythmic, powerful chanting in a language totally unfamiliar to Silver.
Monteith turned to Etaine. "Your time has come. Are you ready?"
Etaine's voice was serene. "I am ready." She didn't wait for her father but started down the torchlit path, her white robe and matching cloak in startling contrast to the dark-robed figures lining the path on either side of her.
"You see, Silver, she knows this is her destiny." Monteith's face held fierce pride. "My destiny."
"I'll see that you have no destiny," Silver said, her gaze following Etaine. "And Etaine is more than you think she is."
"All the better." The chant was rising as Monteith took Silver's elbow and urged her down the path. "Neither of you has proved a disappointment to me. It's all proceeding quite well."
"Are all these people from Alexander's court?" There must have been well over two hundred robed figures lining the path.
"A good many of them. But there are also merchants, soldiers, servants ... I have power in every circle."
Silver glanced sidewise at him. The aura of power he was speaking about was now almost tangible. She shivered and jerked her gaze back to Etaine. The child appeared to be hesitating, her gaze on one of the black-robed figures. It was only for an instant, and then she continued down the path. Hope soared dizzily within Silver. Had Etaine caught sight of Sebastien? Or perhaps even of Nicholas?
Silver, too, searched the passing faces, but she recognized no one behind the masks and was sickened by the expressions of eagerness and anticipation for the act to come. Yet even as she glanced away she caught a glimpse of the same massively built acolyte fading in and out of the crowd and keeping pace with Etaine's progress down the path.
Then as Etaine reached the perimeter of the circus grounds, she paused again and Silver saw the child's lips move. Silver was too far away to hear the words Etaine spoke, but the large, hooded figure was suddenly gone, merged into the crowd.
"Are you hoping for rescue?" Monteith asked. Silver turned to see him gazing at her with a mocking smile. "There will be none. Peskov has the woods surrounding the estate filled with an army of guards. Accept your fate as Etaine has."
What if that hooded figure hadn't been Sebastien, Silver thought desperately. What if Nicholas had been stopped by Peskov's guards and there was no help for them? She must think of some way herself to help Etaine. Some of those black-robed vultures must have weapons, or perhaps the torches ...
"No answer? Are you frightened. Silver?"
"I'd be stupid not to be afraid." She met his gaze. "But I don't fear you."
"You lie," he said softly. "You are afraid. Because you know I'm my master's servant."
She refused to look away from him. "I know you're a charleton and a coward who kills children." Fear twisted in her stomach as she glimpsed something leaping behind the emptiness shining in his light eyes. She looked hurriedly away and her pace quick-ened. "Etaine is entering the tent."
Monteith's attention was immediately diverted. "Then we mustn't keep her waiting." His fingers on Silver's elbow propelled her forward. "I believe I shall let you help prepare her."
The acolytes were now streaming into the big tent. The chant rose higher, fuller, the mysterious words resounding ominously.
Silver entered the tent, watching as the black-robed figures took their seats on the benches encircling the big ring. Etaine was already in the cage, mounting the black marble slab as she had hundreds of times before.
"Do you see how beautifully trained she is?" Monteith murmured as he half-led, half-pushed Silver across the ring toward the cage.
He actually sounded proud that he had trained Etaine to go so meekly to her death, Silver thought in sick disgust.
Monteith entered the cage and strode toward the marble slab where Etaine was already on her back, her hands crossed over her chest. Monteith smiled down at her in approval. "You're doing very well, my dear. I was afraid I was going to have to tie you down and that would have lessened the beauty of the ceremony."
Etaine returned his smile. "I would like to say good-bye to Silver, Father."
He nodded, and motioned Silver into the cage.
"Alone," Etaine said softly. "Please."
Monteith hesitated and then shrugged. "As you wish." He left the cage. "One minute."
Etaine held out her arms and Silver took the child in a close embrace. "Sebastien?" Silver whispered.
"Yes."
"I saw you say something to him."
"I hope he understood. I had time for only one word—"
"Enough." Monteith was back in the cage. "It's time for the ceremony. Silver can stay in the cage if she likes. I need someone to hold the cup."
"No!" Etaine said quickly. "It would hurt me to see her here and I might turn coward. Send her to sit in the audience with the rest."
"Perhaps that would be best." Monteith gestured and a black-robed figure approached Silver. "Take her out of the cage to a place where she can enjoy the spectacle." He caught Silver's gaze. "Such hatred. I don't think I've ever seen such hatred."
"You killed my child," Silver said. "And you're trying to kill my friend. Why shouldn't I hate you?"
"I'm not complaining. I welcome it." Monteith bowed mockingly. "Take her."
Silver was pushed from the cage and across the ring to the first row of benches. What had Etaine said to Sebastien, she wondered desperately. Only one word. What had Etaine told him to do?
The chanting was rising again. Silver's gaze flew back to the cage. Monteith was
holding the dagger above his head, the expression on his face exultant. She couldn't wait for help from Sebastien or Nicholas.
The torch on the pole a few feet away from her.
The black-robed man guarding her was as absorbed as the rest of the acolytes in the sight that was taking place in the cage. She would grab the pole and charge forward toward the cage.
Monteith was taking Elaine's wrist and smiling down at her.
Etaine smiled back at him.
Silver took a furtive step toward the torch. She could wait no longer.
Then she heard it.
A sound she had heard so many times before.
And she knew the single word Etaine had murmured to Sebastien.
Lions.
The three roaring lions bounded down the aisle between the benches, racing toward the ring, the cage where they'd been trained to go.
Chants became screams! Monteith turned and looked up just as the lioness bounded into the cage. He dropped Etaine's wrist.
"Sultana." It was Etaine's clear voice. "To me!"
"No!" Monteith whirled toward Etaine, the dagger raised.
Sultana's charge struck Monteith squarely in the back, her talons ripping the black robe from his body. Then, as he crumpled beneath her weight to the sawdust, her claws tore at his throat, spraying blood on the sawdust.
Silver grasped the torch pole and jerked it from the ground.
"Silver!" Nicholas, dressed in a black acolyte's robe, thundered into the tent on a gray stallion. He spurred forward and threw the torch he was carrying at the cloth wall of the tent. The cloth caught immediately and the flames hungrily climbed the wall.
Monteith's followers were screaming, weeping, scrambling to get out of the tent like a flock of frightened black birds.
Nicholas reined up before Silver and reached down a hand. "Come up. Let me get you out of here."
"No!" Silver hurled the torch in her hand like a flaming javelin into the fleeing covy of acolytes and then turned and dashed toward the cage. "Etaine!"
The three lions were milling around the fallen Monteith, but that didn't mean Etaine was safe. They could turn on her at any moment and savage her.
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