Markus was watching the boy intently. “You arent going into battle, Ozi.
“I wont sit in a tent while you all fight! Ozarson said.
“Your Majesty is very brave, Yargazon said. “But we cant risk your life. Its for you that we do this, so you may reclaim your throne.
Markus laid his hand on Ozarsons shoulder. “Youre too young for battle. You must survive. Otherwise all this was for nothing.
“Its never for nothing, Ozarson said, with pain and pride. “Its for Father. And Mother.
A fierce intensity came into Markuss eyes. “Yes.
Allegra felt a sinking in her stomach. Had the boy lost his mother, too? If he had other siblings, she had seen no sign of them. In fact, she had seen no children here at all. If that was true, it meant Ozarson had no friends his age, no family but Markus and no home but this army that stood ready to wreak havoc in his name so that someday he could reclaim the Onyx Throne and rule a dying country. He should have been running in fields and playing games with his friends, not planning a war. Instead both he and Markus could be dead in a few weeks.
The officer Ozarson had spoken to earlier had returned and was standing a few steps back, holding a box about a hand span wide. Markus touched Ozarsons hand, and when the boy glanced at him, Markus tilted his head toward the officer.
Ozarson turned to the man with a relieved smile. “Thank you, Major Gaizz.
Gaizz. This was the tutor Ozarson had mentioned earlier. It made sense he would be an officer; the boy had to learn far more about the military than a child his age should have needed.
Gaizz knelt by the table and gave him the box. “I checked the contents. Theyre sound and undamaged.
Ozarson beamed at him. “Wonderful!
As Gaizz moved back, Ozarson looked around at the others at the table. “No more war talk. This is a celebration for Markus and his bride. As he turned to Allegra, his face lit with pleasure. “I have a present for you.
Allegra smiled. “Youre very kind.
He gave the box to Markus. “Here. For her.
The prince regent watched him intently. “Are you sure, Ozi? You dont have to do this.
“Im sure. Shes your bride. She deserves the best.
Markus smiled, that same flash of white teeth that was so appealing on Ozarson. On Markus, it took Allegras breath.
“Youre generous, my brother, Markus said.
“Not until you give it to her! Ozarson told him, laughing.
Markus offered the box to Allegra. “His Majesty, the Atajazid DAz, wishes you to have this in honor of our wedding.
Her pulse leaped as she took the box. It was a perfect three-dimensional shape. Power thrummed within her. The box was large, which would add strength to a spell, but it had only six sides, keeping it within her ability. If she could put everyone to sleep, she might find the supplies here she needed to escape. To reach the horses, she would have to affect people outside, but a box this size could give the power she needed.
Slow down, she thought. Dont get ahead of yourself. She traced her hand over the top of the box. Onyx and ivory tiles inlaid the wood, fitting together to form a roaring dragon. Its ruby eyes glowed, and topaz flames curled from its fanged mouth. The care it must have taken to place all those tiny pieces spoke eloquently of the artists talent.
“Its lovely, she said, looking up at Ozarson.
“Open it. His eyes shone, but it looked like tears rather than happiness gave them that luster.
She raised the top. A tiara lay inside on a bed of red velvet, a delicate gold circlet inlaid with onyx, rubies, topazes and emeralds. Astonished at the fine workmanship, she lifted the scrolled headpiece. It sparkled in the candlelight. “Ive never seen anything like this, she said. “Its incredible.
“It was my mothers, Ozarson said.
Her heart lurched. No wonder the boy had tears in his eyes. How could she accept such a keepsake? She looked at Markus, trying to understand, and saw the fear in his eyes. She knew then, without doubt, that if she rejected this gift his brother offered, Markus would never forgive her.
She spoke gently to Ozarson. “You are generous, Your Majesty. I thank you for this unparalleled gift.
He smiled with a blush. “Try it on.
Allegra settled the tiara in her mass of curls. “Hows that?
“Beautiful, Markus murmured.
Ozarson nodded and wiped his eyes with his palm.
Yargazon spoke. “That piece has been given by Shadow-Dragon kings to their wives for centuries. Its an heirloom of great meaning to the royal family and the country. He regarded her implacably. “It should have gone to the atajazids wife, when he reached his age of majority and took his own queen. If his stare had been a dagger, he would surely have run her through.
Bladebreak was harder to read. Although he didnt look as if he approved, she didnt sense the same hatred as from Yargazon. Here with Jasmine, he seemed more at ease. Jasmine smiled at her with what looked like hope, though why, Allegra didnt know. Maybe because Jasmine so clearly wanted a friend, and with Ozarson showing his approval, Bladebreak might let her visit with Allegra.
“Ill probably never get married, Ozarson said. “Someone should wear it.
Allegra expected Markus or someone else to chuckle and say he would feel otherwise when he was older. Instead silence fell over the table. She saw the anguish in Markuss gaze and felt the tension as if it were tangible. Then it hit her. Ozarson didnt believe he would live long enough to take a wife.
“You will have the loveliest bride in all Jazid, Allegra told him. “Shell bear you sons just as smart and handsome as you, and the most beautiful daughters in all the land.
Ozarsons face turned red. “I will not! Now he sounded nine again. With dignity, he added, “Girls giggle too much.
“I suppose they do, Allegra allowed, trying not to smile.
Markus spoke kindly to her. “Sometimes they sing beautifully, night bird.
Allegra knew he meant her words to Ozarson. She felt a lurch at the thought of leaving him. She might not have another chance like this for some time, and she couldnt turn away from it, but it was going to hurt in ways she hadnt expected.
“She does sing well, Bladebreak said. “You should hear her, Your Majesty. Its a pleasure.
“You sing? Ozarson asked Allegra. “Oh, do sing for us!
“She cant, Markus said curtly.
“Why not? Ozarson asked. “Id like to hear her.
Markus glanced at the tiara Allegra was wearing, then said, “It would interrupt dinner.
Allegra wondered if he thought she could use the tiara for a spell. Although circular, it had too many deviations from an ideal shape. He didnt even glance at the box in her lap. Well, he had only seen her use curved forms, and he knew she had been around squared-off objects. They hadnt been ideal shapes, so she couldnt use them, but he didnt know that. No one else at the table showed any suspicion that her songs could be anything more than a musical diversion. It didnt surprise her; even in Aronsdale, song mages were rare. She had heard of only about thirty other mages, and of those, only three or four needed songs for their magic to work.
“Just one song, Ozarson persisted.
“Some other time, Markus said.
“My people have a custom, Allegra said. “At weddings. She was making up the “custom as she went along, looking for some way she could convince Markus to let her sing. He would never agree as long as she was touching the tiara. So she said, “The bride asks her new husband to hold her flowers.
Markus squinted at her. “What?
“What flowers? Ozarson asked.
“She wears flowers in her hair, Allegra improvised. “A circlet. To show her love to her husband, she offers the flowers to him. She looked straight at Markus. “He gives them back later, to share his love.
“Thats a lovely custom, Jasmine said.
Bladebreak snorted. “It sounds like something women would think up. What if the flowers wilt?