“Right away, Sire.
Markus nodded to him, then grasped Allegras arm and headed off, striding through the camp. The other three guards came with them, one on either side and one behind, all easily matching the prince regents stride. Allegra had to run to keep up. The soft soles of her fur boots offered little protection against the rocks stabbing her feet. She tried to slow down, but Markus kept up his pace and wouldnt let go of her arm. By the time they left the camp, a stitch burned in her side. She stumbled on the stony ground and pitched forward.
Markus barely caught her before she fell. “Careful there!
She braced her hands on his arm while she gulped in air. The company had camped in a basin deep in the foothills of the Fractured Mountains. Here on the rim of the basin, columns jutted up, and shadows lurked among them, dark spaces like holes that could swallow a person into some inky hell.
Markus shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Are you ready?
“No, she said, knowing it wouldnt matter. Her attempts to be so disagreeable that he would want nothing more to do with her had so far failed miserably.
“Come. He took her arm and started off at the same pace.
“No! She braced her feet, really digging in this time, and refused to go. “I cant go that fast!
He stood next to her. “That was fast?
“Yes. She tried to pry his fingers off her arm. “Youre hurting me. She was going to have another bruise tomorrow.
He seemed ready to snap with tension, but he did release her. Maybe it wasnt tension as much as his inability to stay still. He was always restless, always moving, never able to concentrate for long. That combined with his sharp intelligence reminded her of a boy she had once taught. The fellow could never sit; he had to be up and about. He hated being indoors, particularly in confined places. He had a sweet nature, charming and funny, and she had soon realized he genuinely had a hard time controlling his hyperactive need to move. Although he had outgrown it a bit as he matured, he would always be that way to some extent. Markus seemed a lot like him.
“Why do you stare at me so oddly? he asked. “You look as if Ive sprouted dragon wings.
She rubbed the small of her back, which ached from all their horseback riding. “Dont you ever slow down?
“What for?
“Youre exhausting.
“Im not tired.
“I wasnt referring to you.
“Oh.
“Oh? Thats it?
“What did you expect me to say?
She glowered at him. “How about, Im sorry for dragging you all over creation, and Ill attempt to be more aware of your needs in the future.
“Men dont talk that way to women. He crossed his arms. “It is your pleasure in life to serve my needs, whatever they may be, however it pleases me. Thats why you exist.
“Well, goodness me, she said. “I cant imagine why women dont want to immigrate to this lovely country.
He lowered his arms. “Allegra, I dont want to argue. He held out his hand. “Come with me. I want to show you something. A special place Ive always loved.
Again he caught her off guard. When he cleared his throat awkwardly, she flushed and took his hand. He started off again, this time at a more moderate pace. It felt odd holding his hand, more like something she would have done with an Aronsdale boy. She had no doubt that if Yargazon showed up, Markus would drop her hand as if it were an ingot in a furnace. Even so, it was nice.
“Where are we going? she asked.
“Its called the Anvil. He indicated a place up ahead where darkness blocked the stars. “There.
“What about the men sleeping in your tent? she asked.
His laugh was low and satisfied. “Theyll be fine. And if Im gone when they awake, they cant ask me questions.
She doubted they would find it so amusing, but she was glad to be away from them. Although in military terms, Ardoz was probably the most violent, he didnt frighten her like the others. She had absolutely no idea what to make of his interest in Markus, though. She had never known a man could feel that way about another man.
They were approaching another rock formation, this one taller than the others, at least the height of ten people. It jutted up from the desert like, well, a huge anvil, impressively massive, blocking the rich canopy of stars.
Markus turned to the three guards. “Two of you wait here. When Izad returns, send him up.
The men bowed. “As you wish, Sire.
The hike up the Anvil was steep, and the path wound into the formation rather than around it, which relieved Allegra. She didnt want to be on an edge, in the dark, so far above the ground. The walls on either side rose up until they met overhead and formed a tunnel. The path was too narrow for more than one person. Markus went first, she followed and his third guard came after her, his tread heavy in the inky darkness. Rocks poked her feet through her flimsy boots. With no light, she had to feel her way along with her hands on the walls.
They came out onto the flat top of the Anvil under the icy stars. Far below, the desert stretched in plains of sand and distorted shadows, all etched in silver by the moonlight. To the east, the Fractured Mountains rose in broken spires against the sky.
“Saints above, she breathed. “Its incredible.
“Worth the walk? Markus asked.
“Itits A gust of wind hit her, and she gasped from the chill, wrapping her arms around herself. She had never thought before that peoples teeth really could chatter, but hers were doing it.
“Eh. Come here. Markus drew her against his side, folding her in his arms. Even through his shirt, his body felt like a furnace. She pressed closer to his warmth, her arms between their bodies, her cheek against his chest.
“Thats why you wont give me clothes, she said. “So I have to do this.
“I like to look at you. He stroked her back. “To touch you. Everywhere. Youre so soft.
“You shouldnt freeze me just because you like my body. She could hardly get out the words, she was shaking so hard.
“By the dragon, he growled. “Youre as bad as my mother.
“You froze your mother?
“No! She was always telling me such things, about being considerate. My father told me not to listen, that she was just a woman and I could do as I pleased.
“Oh, well, theres an example of fine parenting.
“My father was a great man. He rubbed his hands up and down her bare back. “You really are shaking.
“Im cold!
“I can help. Markus glanced over her head at his bodyguard. “Wait here. This is the only access to the top.
“Ill send Izad up with the blanket when he arrives, Sire, the guard said.
“Excellent.
Markus led Allegra to an edge of the Anvil where a small half dome of rock faced the desert. As they stepped within its shelter, the wind eased. He drew her to the back wall and sat down, settling her between his legs with her back to his front. He bent his legs on either side of her and enfolded her in his arms, surrounding her with the warmth of his body.
“Better? he asked.
“Much. She turned sideways so she could burrow deeper in his arms. “Youre like a campfire.
He kissed the top of her head. “Its another of my plots, to make you behave as if you want to be with me.
That gave her pause. Beneath his joking, it sounded as if he cared how she felt about him. Maybe that wasnt so surprising. Most people wanted their lovers to like them. Given his lack of remorse for what he had done to her, though, she hadnt expected it to matter to him. Probably she was reading too much into his tone because she hoped it would make her situation more bearable. And yetthe tenderness toward her that she had felt in his mood tonight had been real. He could be far more appealing than he had any right to be, given his life, and if she were being honest, she had to admit his mischief made her smile.
In his arms, she continued to warm up. After a while, when her shaking stopped, she said, “You should have listened more to your mother and less to your father.