“There!” Astra pointed. “Up in the trees!”
Yes! About fifty paces away. With a wave of his hand, Zanos set the trees aflame. The two archers yelled in fear as they leaped from their hiding place. Even before they hit the ground, the Adept was on his feet, concentrating his powers. The killers’ hearts stopped.
He concentrated again to extinguish the fires, just as Astra warned, “Behind you!”
Zanos spun and leaped aside as a ball of fire came hurtling at where he had been. The Adept who threw it was standing openly at the north edge of the village, pressing his attack with more fireballs. Zanos stood his ground and deflected them, then tried to stop the hill bandit’s heart. The other Adept clutched at his chest, but resisted-just as Zanos had done in his last arena battle. They were locked in a struggle of powers and wills when-
“Zanos!”
He heard Astra’s cry, heard other bandits attacking, felt Trel and Kimma rushing into the fray, swords swinging.
But he dared not move, couldn’t let his concentration slip or the other Adept would win out and kill them all.
He kept up the pressure, knowing they were evenly matched, knowing that only determination would decide the winner-until finally his opponent screamed and dropped to his knees.
But Zanos dared not collapse in relief-it could be a ruse to make him let down his guard.
And as, indeed, the bandit glanced in his direction to see where to direct another Adept blow, Zanos reached out once more with his full powers-and the man collapsed, dead.
Breathing heavily, he turned to look for Astra- and found a world of silence. The battle was over.
Several bandits lay dead. Trel and Kimma were unhurt, looking grimly satisfied, while Astra-
Astra stood by the tree stump, unmoving, staring at nothing. Her dress was covered with blood, as were her hands-and the blade of Zanos’ knife. He didn’t even know when she had taken it from him.
Slowly, her fingers loosened their grip and the knife fell. Zanos ran to her as she tried to sit down on the stump, stumbling over the corpse of the man she’d killed.
Zanos grabbed up his wife and held her gently in his arms. “It’s all right, Astra, ” he whispered. “It’s all right…”
But she was not all right. Her skin gray with shock, she suddenly clutched him with incredible strength, and screamed.
And screamed. And screamed.
Chapter Seven
” ‘First kill?” Trel echoed.
“It’s the term used in gladiatorial training,” Zanos explained. “Some react to the experience without remorse. Others work it out with their consciences, as I did. And still others”-from his sitting position, he glanced over his shoulder into the hut where his wife lay sleeping-“experience deep trauma, like Astra.”
“I see.” The old man nodded. “Most of us here go through the experience, sooner or later. Kill or be killed is the natural law of this land.”
“I know. Astra had to understand that. I just wish she hadn’t learned it this way. I had to put her into recovery sleep to stop her hysterics, but she’s the one who knows how to help injured minds, not me.”
“Perhaps the rest will be enough,” Kimma said gently. “That… and your love.”
“I hope so, because that’s all I’ve gat.” He sighed. “Mowart! If only I could’ve stayed at her side, to protect her!”
“What you did protected us all,” the woman reminded him. “I was closest to Astra when the one with the sword came at her-but there were two others after me. I could see her dodging that sword-I guess her Reader’s powers let her evade his moves. Finally she pulled off her cloak and threw it in his face.
And then she saw your knife-”
“I don’t even remember her taking it!”
“She had to,” said Trel. “She was unarmed-hadn’t touched her sword since she cleaned it this morning.”
Zanos sighed. “I have to make her wear it. She says it’s too heavy-and after today, she may never pick it up again.”
“She will,” Trel assured him. “If she’s only half the woman I perceived last night, when she helped us prepare that mass grave, then she will be everything you need in a wife. Only a woman of the strongest character would be willing to travel with you all the way to Madura.”
Zanos looked up sharply. “How did you know that?”
“From the way you questioned your prisoner. We stayed out of sight, as you asked, but we had to know what you wanted with him. We overheard every word, and…” Trel paused to look at Kimma, then back. “Friend Zanos, wed like to ask you to delay your journey. These are dangerous times for all of us.
The hill clans fear that the Aventines will retake these lands. They’re like animals before a forest fire, not knowing which way to run, attacking anything in their path. We need your help to keep those of us left alive.”
“It might be better if you moved your village on north,” Zanos observed. “Your wife and the others will be well enough to travel in a few days.”
“This is our homeland,” the old man said firmly. “We’ve fought long and hard to keep it. Besides, from what Astra told us last night about Lord Wulfston and the Aventine fleet, I don’t think their army will get very far inland.
“But it’s more than not believing the Aventines can defeat the new alliance. I’ve been waiting thirty-five years to see the end of Drakonius’ reign, and something better rising up to take its place. That finally seems to be happening. The Adepts and Readers who now hold this cluster of lands base their rule on peace and trust rather than the terror and oppression with which Drakonius ruled.”
“If it’s such a good alliance”-all three of them started as Astra stepped out of the darkness of the hut-“then why aren’t you a part of it?”
Zanos jumped to his feet. “Astra-”
“I’m all right, Zanos,” she said flatly, her upraised hand stopping him from touching her.
“But you were asleep for only an hour or two.”
“You put me into recovery sleep. I’ve recovered.”
Have you? he thought as he scrutinized her. She had the sleepy look of someone needing more rest, but her entire attitude had changed. She was… cold. Could her first kill have changed her that much?
She turned to the village elder. “I would like to know why you have not joined this wonderful alliance, Trel.”
“I’m a cautious man, and a very patient one,” he said slowly. “An alliance is like a young tree: it must survive a few storms before it’s able to bear fruit. This alliance weathered an attack by Drakonius and his allies two years ago, and an attempted takeover by several strong Adepts last year. Now the Aventines are challenging them, this time with a powerful army. I believe the alliance will successfully defend us all, and eventually make a peace treaty with the empire. The prophecy will come true.”
“Prophecy?” Astra questioned.
‘ In the days of the white wolf and the red dragon, there shall be peace throughout the world,’ ” he quoted. “The lands just east of here belong to Lord Lenardo, whose symbol is the red dragon. Bordering his lands to the east are those of Lady Aradia, whose symbol is the white wolf. Their marriage last year became the heart of the alliance, and the center of all our hopes. When the young tree has grown a bit more, I wish to taste of its fruit.”
“You may find it bitter,” Astra said grimly. “Last winter, two members of this alliance destroyed the largest hospital in the Aventine Empire-with an earthquake. A hospital, Trel, full of sick and injured people. Hardly an act to promote peace.”
“I hadn’t heard that tale,” Trel replied with a frown. “Who saw them actually start the quake?”
“Portia, the Master of Masters.”
“Is she someone whose word you can trust?”
A strange look crossed Astra’s face. “… no,” she finally admitted.
“I do not want to speak ill of the Master of Masters,” Trel said gently, “but she must be very old by now-Portia was Master of Masters when this was still part of the empire! Can you be sure she told you the truth? As I recall, she’s related to the royal family some way. Could it be that a natural earthquake destroyed the hospital, and the members of the alliance were blamed to give the Emperor support in this war?”