He stroked her hair off her left shoulder, baring her neck, and bit her gently, pressing his teeth down as he sucked at her skin. Then he lifted his head just slightly. “Im no expert on miradella. But I think the fever will go soon. The other effects will wear off in a few days.
“Other effects?
He laughed against her hair. “You are so sweetly naive.
Probably, but she was finally getting the idea. With her face burning, she said, “What, its an aphrodisiac?
“Some people say so. He ran the tip of his tongue around her ear. “Others claim it just makes a woman more receptive. I dont know. I wouldnt use it on anyone, given the danger. Its hard to find the plant, anyway, and harder to make the extract. But the TAmbera are experts. Its their living, after all. He sounded amused. “A little extra for me thrown in, eh?
Allegra wanted to punch him. His “little extra came at the expense of her health, even at the risk of her life. She didnt care how callously “expert the TAmbera were at selling illegal pleasure toys to unscrupulous warlords; they could have killed her if they had misjudged her response.
“It doesnt work on me, she said.
He trailed his fingers over her thigh as he bit at her neck and ear. Sensations flared within her. The airs chill sharpened, and the perfume of a night-blooming flower overpowered her sense of smell. Everywhere Markus touched her, she burned. She wanted it to stop. But every time she pulled away from him, he shifted her back, and she didnt have the energy to keep fighting. She finally just turned her head, her cheek against his chest, and stared across the darkening rocks, unresponsive as he caressed her body.
After a while, another rider came up next to them on the other side from where she was looking. Markus pulled her robe closed and sat with his arms around her waist, the reins loose in his hand. Turning her head, Allegra saw General Yargazon riding alongside them. Even silvered by the moonlight, his features had a relentless, hardened quality.
“We should set up camp, Markus told him.
Yargazon surveyed the darkening land. “Its not far enough here from the TAmbera.
If the General held rancor toward Markus over the auction, he showed no sign. It didnt actually surprise Allegra; she doubted it was normal for a prince to let his general bid against him, and Yargazon surely realized it. Given what Rose had told her, it suggested that either Markus wanted Yargazon to know the prince held him in esteem or else Yargazon had some power over him. She wondered, too, why Markus was willing to relinquish such a large amount of wealth when he was a fugitive without the full resources of his title.
“Were coming up on the Drift Basin, Markus was saying.
“Yes, that should work, Yargazon said. “Its easy to defend.
Markus scanned the riders ahead of them. “Have you seen any sign of Escars men?
“Nothing we could identify, Yargazon said.
Allegra knew the name Escar, but in her daze, it took her a moment to remember. Of course. Emperor Cobalts surname wasnt really The Dark; it was Escar. It meant jaguar in the ancient language High Alatian. Cobalt Escar. Maybe he would devour this renegade Jazidian prince like a jaguar on the prowl.
“Let the men know well be stopping soon, Markus said.
“Very well. Yargazon saluted Markus by extending his fist so the heel faced the sky. His gaze scraped over Allegra as if she were the dregs of some mistake. Then he rode off.
Allegra considered what she had heard and then spoke slowly, thinking her way through the details. “Youre fugitives, so youre always moving. Hiding this company cant be easy. But Cobalt cant monitor the whole country. Its too big, and he has the other lands he conquered. Thats why you can do this.
Markus ran his hand down her leg. “Military matters arent for females.
“Oh, stop. In her five days in Jazid, she had thoroughly wearied of their hammerheaded ideas about women.
Markus twirled one of his fingers in her hair. “Shall you put on armor and ride into battle, my lovely singer?
“What makes you think Im a singer? Did he know about her spells? It seemed unlikely, and she preferred it that way. The more resources she had in reserve, the better.
“Aztire TAmbera says you have a beautiful voice.
She was pretty certain he meant Stubble. “He exaggerated.
“You will sing for me tonight, he decided.
“I need a disk. She knew it sounded ridiculous, but what the hell. She might as well try.
“A what?
“Disk. A round shape. I had one as a pendant, but the nomads stole it when they took me from Aronsdale. Even knowing it would make no difference, she added, “Which is illegal, as you know, since you were one of the signers on the treaty that set up those laws. She wasnt certain of that, but it seemed a good guess.
“I know what disk means, he said. “And if you didnt want to come to Jazid, you shouldnt have wandered over the border. His voice lightened. “Though were I the Jazid-Aronsdale border, I would surely shift myself to be closer to you.
Allegra blinked. It sounded like he was teasing her. But that would mean he had a sense of humor, which hardly fit his image as a brutal, murderous despot.
“I wasnt even near Jazid, she said.
“Aztire said you were wandering in the desert, lost and confused. He and his men rescued you.
“Oh, for saints sake. Thats ridiculous.
“Fortunately for you, I happened by. He didnt sound the least bit remorseful.
“You didnt happen by. They invited you.
Markus sighed. “You know, Allegra, I do truly believe you have no idea of your trespass.
She crossed her arms. “The only trespass was when Aztire and his men went into my country and grabbed me.
He pulled her arms apart. “Im referring to now.
“What, talking is a trespass?
“Even my highest-ranked men rarely contradict me. He opened her robe and stroked his hands from her hips up to her breasts. “And you are definitely not a man. Yet here you are, challenging me.
“Im terrible. Appalling. She shoved away his hands and closed her robe. “Obviously you should send me back to Aronsdale and find a pleasure girl with better manners.
He laughed softly. “She would be far less interesting.
Good gods. He was teasing her. Allegra shook her head. “I dont understand you.
“Ah, well. We have something in common after all.
“Why are you acting nice? A few hours ago you were going to whip me and then have me executed.
“I never said I would execute you. Only that it was the sentence for your actions. He touched his tongue to her ear and ran it over the ridges. In a low voice, he added, “But I have no objection to the whipping. You humiliated me in front of the commanding general of my army.
Anger sparked within her. “You and your general had me dragged in there almost naked, made me kneel while the two of you ate, knocked me around, he lashed me with your damn quirt and you say I humiliated you? Thats so turned around backward, its like riding an ass with your back to its head.
He made an incredulous noise. “I truly cannot believe you said that to me.
“I cant believe half of what you say. Maybe if she annoyed him enough, he would send her home.
“I tire of this conversation, he growled. “You will be silent now.
Allegra let it go. She had used up her energy.
Night cloaked the land, and the riders were picking their way below a huge moon that glowed orange above the mountains. A rock spire loomed out of the darkness, its needled peak silhouetted against the stars. In Aronsdale, mist often dimmed the nights splendor, but in this parched air, the sky sparkled as if the legendary Shadow Dragon had painted diamond dust across its arch.
Eventually they entered a basin ringed with peaks like a giant, ancient fortress. The company was surprisingly quiet. The lack of tenders bemused Allegra. In Aronsdale, civilian men and women traveled with the army to look after the soldiers, but these riders seemed to tend to themselves. Although only a few lit torches, the men knew when Markus rode by. They stood to salute him, turning their fists to the sky.