The Mage felt a hand on her shoulder. “Aurian!” Harihn stood over her, his expression matching the chill in his voice.
“What?” she sighed, and got to her feet feeling grievously ill-used. Considering that she had just saved his life, he seemed scarcely overcome with gratitude!
Harihn’s fists were clenched, his face scarlet with rage. “Lying bitch! Thanks to your machinations, I’ve lost a throne today!” he stormed. “You ungrateful snake! How dare you deceive me into thinking this lowly slave was your husband?”
Aurian gasped. How had he found out?
“By the Reaper, you’ll suffer for this!” Harihn reached out to seize her, one hand uplifted to strike.
“Leave her alone!” Anvar stepped between them. “She did not lie to you, Your Highness. I am her husband.”
“What!” Harihn choked. “You mean . . . You mean it’s truer
Aurian’s astonishment was no less acute. In wondering gratitude, she sought Anvar’s eyes. He put a possessive arm round her shoulders.
“Of course it’s true,” Anvar told the Prince. “Sara lied to everyone. Did you expect her to tell Xiang she had betrayed him? Furthermore, Aurian did not lose you the throne—she offered it to you, and you turned it down! I think you owe my Lady an apology—and your thanks for saving your life.”
The Prince looked utterly deflated. “I—I beg your pardon,” he muttered, his eyes downcast. “I should have known,” he said at last. “The mere fact that you can speak our language as she can . . . Does this mean that you are also a sorcerer?” Aurian gasped. So much had been happening, it had never occurred to her to wonder. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Anvar turn pale.
“No,” Anvar said hastily, “and I don’t know why I can speak your tongue. I think the Lady may have passed on the talent with the spell that she used to bring me back from death . . . But what will you do now, Highness? Aurian may have frightened your father for the time being, but we can’t expect it to last!”
Aurian gave him a questioning look, but he was studiously avoiding her eye. She frowned. Why had he changed the subject so quickly? Yet . . . Anvar was no Mage! Surely his explanation could be the only possible one?
Harihn was looking at her. “Will you really smite the Khazalim with your curse, sorceress?” he blurted out, fear behind his words. “I have relinquished the throne, but these are still my people. If—if my father had refused to agree, would you really have destroyed them?”
“Bless you, no!” Aurian said. “I wouldn’t even know where to start. But Xiang didn’t know that.” She gave him a wicked grin.
The Prince looked astonished, then relief flooded his face. He burst out laughing. “Why, you . . . You are absolutely outrageous!”
“That’s what I’m always telling her,” Anvar said with a shrug, “but what can I do?”
“Take my advice, and beat her more often. She has a habit of taking control of events that is most unbecoming in a mere woman!”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Anvar growled, ignoring Aurian’s indignant glare. She was even more infuriated when the Prince took him completely seriously.
“Very well,” Harihn said. “I have much to attend to, if we are to leave before nightfall. I believe I will travel north. My mother’s people may take me in—if we get through the land of the Skyfolk. You will come with me, will you not? You will never get across the desert alone.”
“I think that suits us, don’t you, dear?” Anvar turned to Aurian, his eyes glinting, and she realized that he was paying her back for the lie that she had told about him.
“Of course, dear,” she replied sweetly, restraining an urge to kick him. Inwardly, however, she was relieved. Now that she had found Anvar and regained her powers, she could not afford to waste more time in these lands. But she needed Harihn’s help a little longer, and was uncomfortably aware that her debt to him remained unsettled.
When Harihn had gone, Aurian turned to Anvar. “Thank you for supporting me.”
He shrugged. “Jt .was the least I could do. I suppose you had your reasons for lying to the Prince?” There was an edge of disapproval in his voice.
“Of course I did! Harihn decided to make me his concubine—that’s the law hereabouts for an unaccompanied woman. I was badly wounded in the Arena, and he saved my life. I was helpless, without my powers, and I needed Harihn’s help to find you. I was forced to lie. He left me no choice.”
Anvar scowled. “You mean ... I can’t believe it! Did he —did that bastard . . .” He was almost choking with rage.
Aurian laid a hand on his arm. “No,” she said gently. “He didn’t touch me, once I told him about you. I don’t believe he likes it, though!”
“Well, he had better get used to it—fast!” Aurian could not help but smile at Anvar’s fierce expression. “Thank you, Anvar,” she said, touched by his support. “But we must be careful. To get back north, we need Harihn’s help to cross the desert, but with his soldiers to back him, we’re very much outnumbered.”
“Oh Gods, what a situation! But—” Suddenly Anvar looked sick. “Does this mean that Sara was forced to—to . . .” Anvar, I’m sorry, Aurian thought. But for his sake, she had to be brutally frank. “You saw her today. You heard what she said. What Sara is doing is her own choice. I used Harihn to find you. She could have done that through Xiang, but she was too busy furthering her ambition. And if she’d had her way today, you would be dead by now. What sort of woman would do that to the man who loved her?”
Anvar shuddered, and his face grew stern and grim. “That’s what I thought,” he said.
28
Escape from Taibeth
As the afternoon progressed, the courtyard of Harihn’s palace turned into a scene of utter chaos. The entire household was mobilizing, ready for departure. Barrels and waterskins were hauled up from cellars and outbuildings and trundled down to the river to be filled, for the Prince would need them in crossing the desert. Light silken tents were rolled around their poles and stacked in a corner, ready to be loaded onto the mules that had been picketed in a long line down one side of the courtyard. Food for traveling was being prepared, along with fodder for the horses and pack animals. Soldiers of the Prince’s guard milled about the yard with their horses, adding to the general confusion.
Harihn had freed his slaves in accordance with Aurian’s edict. Some would be staying behind to search for long-lost friends and families, but many had chosen to follow their Prince into exile. He was moved by their loyalty, but the organization involved in crossing the desert with so many folk was a nightmare. The Khisal was constantly on the move, trying to be everywhere at once. All around, farewells were being said, freed slaves were celebrating, and people were sorting possessions, trying to make impossible choices, for everyone must travel light. A horse broke loose, panicked by the noise and confusion, and plunged across the courtyard, scattering people and goods alike.
Anvar, entering the courtyard, covered his ears against the din. This is ridiculous! he thought. To his annoyance, the Prince had summoned Aurian from her chambers, cutting short her much-needed rest, to help sort things out. She was talking to Harihn now, and he could hear her straining to be heard above the general racket. “Start ferrying the soldiers and horses across the river, and get them assembled on the other side. That will clear a space, at least. Then we’ll get the rest sorted out.” Harihn nodded gratefully and went off to speak to the captain of his guard. It took a while to get the fivescore troopers moving down to the river, but Aurian was right—it did clear a space. After that it was fasier to apportion tasks. The courtyard was cleared of those who would not be joining the exodus, and the mules were loaded and sent, one by one, down to the ferry. Now that it was easier to count heads, Harihn looked worried. Anvar strolled across with Bohan, to hear him talking again to the Mage.