Reaching beyond the tent with her spell, she touched the minds of soldiers, distant and vague. She focused on them even as she redoubled her efforts with the officers here. Markus fought, but his resistance softened as his starved need for sleep caught up with him. His mood grew more diffuse, saturated with drowsy contentment.
A loud snore broke into her song. Startled, she looked up. Ardoz and Bladebreak were sprawled in their pillows, fast asleep. Yargazon had collapsed on his side and dropped his wine goblet. A red stain was spreading on the blue and violet carpet. Markus lay on his back, his chest rising and falling with the even rhythm of sleep. His eyes twitched under his lids as if he were dreaming.
“General Yargazon? she asked. “Would you like more wine? If he were the least bit awake, that ought to provoke him.
No response.
“Colonel Bladebreak? she asked. “General Ardoz?
Bladebreak snored, and Ardoz didnt budge.
Saints above. It had worked. It was fortunate, because she couldnt have maintained the spell much longer without falling asleep herself. The effort had strained the limits of what she knew how to do with her gifts. Before her kidnapping, she hadnt even thought she could do green spells. She felt drained, ravenous and sleepy.
Allegra twisted the shackle on her wrist and tugged the chain around the pole. The metal felt too hard to be pure gold. She couldnt bend the manacle, nor could she do anything with the pole; to support such a large tent, it needed to be sturdy, and they had driven it deep into the ground.
Markus sighed and rubbed his eyes. Sitting up slowly, he smiled at her. “Hmmpretty songbird.
“Oh. She blinked at him sheepishly, her hands gripped on the chain she had been trying to wrest free.
“You cant unlock that, he said.
Allegra flushed and released the chain. “You woke up.
“Ive spent the last ten years fighting to sleep. Whod have thought I would have to fight to stay awake? He regarded the others with a grin. “Looks like they lost the battle.
“They were easier than you, she admitted.
“Thats amazing! You can even knock out experienced officers who should know better.
“Dont you trust them?
He leaned toward her. “I dont trust anyone. Especially you. But theyre excellent officers.
She kept her opinion on that to herself. “So why did you want them to sleep?
“To see what you could do. He considered her. “What about the guards? You tried with them, too, Ill bet.
“I dont know, she hedged.
“Hah. He climbed to his feet. “Ill go check.
“Markus, wait!
He turned back. “Eh?
She tugged at the shackles. “Dont leave me like this!
His eyes took on a bedroom look that had nothing to do with sleep. Although he didnt have Yargazons or Bladebreaks hard edge, she needed no spell to realize that seeing her chained excited him.
“Ill come back, he murmured.
“Your men might wake up, she said, trying not to panic. “They would find me alone here, without you.
His smile faded. “No, that wouldnt be good. He strode across the tent and took the key off the chest. He came back and released her, then tossed the shackles on the table. “Come on. He grabbed her hand. “Lets go visit my guards.
She stumbled along with him as he strode across the tent. “Slow down.
He moderated his pace. “I keep forgetting your legs arent as long as mine. He sounded immensely pleased with himself.
Outside, the moon glowed with a red tinge from dust in the air. The man who guarded the entrance was lying on the ground. Snoring.
“Hah! Markus toed his bodyguards arm, which was flung across the ground. “Izad. Wake up!
The man grunted.
Markus pushed Izads shoulder with his boot, rolling him onto his back. “What kind of protection is this, eh? An assassin could have slipped into my tent and knifed me between the ribs.
“What? The guard peered blearily up at Markus. Then comprehension dawned on his face. “Your Highness! He scrambled to his feet, clumsy with sleep. “Sir! IIGods almighty. Even in the dim light, it was easy to see his face had gone deathly pale.
“Why were you sleeping, Izad? Markus asked mildly.
“Sire! It wont happen again!
“Yes, I know. But why did you go to sleep?
“I dontIts never happened before. Izad seemed as bewildered by Markuss calm response as by finding himself snoring on duty. “I dont know.
Markus nodded. “Carry on. He took Allegras arm and headed around the tent.
Allegra glanced over her shoulder at Izad. He was staring after them with his mouth open.
“That was astonishing, Markus said. “He had no idea why he fell asleep.
“He was terrified of what you would do to him.
He snorted. “If he really had fallen asleep on duty, he would have been endangering the person of the prince regent. Thats an executable offense.
“Is that why you threatened me with execution over the wine? she asked tartly. “Because I endangered your exalted person with my fierce, bellicose behavior?
His laugh rumbled. “Ah, well. If all dangers were so lovely, Id die a happy man. When Allegra glowered at him, he grinned.
“Youre not going to tell Izad what happened, are you? she said.
“I doubt it. The fewer people who know what you can do, the better weapon you make.
“Im not a weapon, she said, exasperated. “And for saints sake, Markus, your military advisors are going to wonder why they passed out in your tent.
“Why? It wouldnt be the first time we drank too much and fell asleep. He laughed with satisfaction. “This is incredible. Think what I could do.
“ You dont make the spells.
“Youre dangerous, you know, knocking out my bodyguards. He thought for a moment. “I need to figure out how Ill stop you from doing spells when I dont want them to happen.
Great. Just great. Saints only knew what he would think of.
They found two more of his guards asleep. Only the one on the far side of the tent was awake. Markus admonished the others enough so his reaction was less out of kilter with their expectations. As punishment, he ordered them to muck out the horse stalls. The confused guards asked which stalls he meant, given that the company had none, but Markus was already moving on, and he just waved. Allegra wondered what they would think when they realized they had all fallen asleep at the same time.
Markus returned to the entrance and peered inside. With a soft laugh, he said, “Look, and lifted the flap. Yargazon, Ardoz and Bladebreak were still fast asleep, sprawled on their cushions. With a grin, he dropped the flap.
“Izad. Markus beckoned to the guard. “Get the others. Were going for a walk.
As Izad went for the other bodyguards, Allegra shivered, her arms folded. The nights cold seeped into her bones. “Im cold. I should get a
“No. He caught her as she started into the tent. “Youll wake our sleeping beauties.
“Saints, Markus. She couldnt stop her shivering. “Cant you be considerate?
“What, its inconsiderate to let them sleep?
She was too cold, hungry and tired to deal with him. “If you cant see the problem, I give up.
His expression tightened. “I must be too stupid, eh? After all, I amwhat was it? A tyrannical despot who inflicts brutal punishments and terrorizes girls half my weight and age, a man sorely limited in intelligence, unbearably rude, illegitimate and with bad hygiene. Oh, I almost forgot. A pig, too. The dragon only knows how you can stand to inhabit the same world as me.
Allegra blinked. “You have a good memory. She hadnt thought he listened that closely to what she said, but apparently he remembered the parts he didnt like.
He beckoned to someone behind her. Turning, she saw his four guards waiting far enough back so they werent intruding.
Izad came over to Markus and saluted. “Yes, Sire?
“Assign four men to guard this tent. Then meet me at the Anvil. He glanced at Allegra, then back at the guard. “And bring me one of those ocelot blankets.