“Are you waking up? she asked. He needed water and food, which he couldnt take in his sleep, and her arms ached terribly from holding him upright.
The boy shifted, but showed no sign of rousing.
“Wake up, she sang softly, holding the octahedron. “Wake little sprout, someday a mighty tree, come softly my child, softly with me. She didnt know if she had enough strength left to affect him. No matter what, this would be her last spell for a while.
Ozarson sighed and opened his eyes. “Allegra?
“Good morning, Your Majesty.
He lifted his head. “Where are we?
“In Taka Mal. Weve been riding all night. The sun had just risen above the distant mountains. “Would you like some water?
“Yes, that would be good, he mumbled groggily.
She pulled out a sac and gave it to him. “Try not to go through it too fast. Im not sure when well reach the river.
He took a few sips. “How did we get out here?
“I put everyone at dinner to sleep with a spell.
“A spell! He laughed sleepily. “Do you know magic tricks?
“This isnt a trick, she said. “I knocked out your bodyguards, put you in a cart and stole Shadow. Then I rode away.
He gave her the water bag. “You kidnapped me? He sounded more perplexed than alarmed.
“Well, yes, I did. She stowed the bag with their supplies.
He was silent for a while. Then he said, “When they catch us, Allegra, I wont let them execute you.
She grimaced. “Im hoping they wont catch us.
The boy rubbed his neck. “Im stiff.
“Youve been sleeping while we rode. His lack of concern surprised her. She would have expected more indignation from a king, even one who was only nine.
“I had a lovely dream, he said. “It was the place you sang about, the hills of Aron and the purple edgerows. Everything was beautiful there, and no one wanted to kill me.
It broke her heart to hear him talk so matter-of-factly about something that would chill most adults. She felt guilty for taking him as a hostage. A part of her just wanted to get him away from the warlords perpetrating violence in his name and destroying his childhood. They treated him with deference, and she didnt doubt it was genuine, but she also had no doubt they were in control of his life. It wasnt her business, and it could be what Ozarson wanted, but she couldnt help the maternal feelings he evoked in her. Perhaps that made her a fool; she knew only that she didnt want him hurt.
“Maybe we can find you a place like that, she said.
“Are we going to Aronsdale?
“I was thinking of it.
“Markus and General Yargazon will catch us.
“They might. Uneasily she said, “If I didnt kill Yargazon.
“What a thing to say. He seemed more amused than outraged.
“Im not joking, she said. “We had a fight. I pushed him, and he fell onto one of your chests. His head hit the corner.
“By the dragon, he said, sounding like a youthful version of Markus. “Was he breathing?
She nodded, then realized he couldnt see, sitting in front of her. “Yes. He started to wake up.
“Hes all right then. Hes tougher than anyone else I know.
“I hope so. As much as Yargazon terrified her, she hadnt meant to kill him.
Ozarson laughed softly. “The prettiest girl in Jazid fought with my fiercest general and carried me off. No one will believe me. Theyll think I made it up.
She was glad he didnt really understand what had happened. His version of events was far more palatable. He hadnt seen all her bruises, for one thing. Her fight with Yargazon would leave some bad ones, including a black eye. Gouges ached where the skirt had bit into her skin when he dragged her across the carpet. And yetshe felt strangely exhilarated. She had fought a person who terrified her, someone far stronger and more powerfuland incredibly, she had won.
“You didnt really put us to sleep, did you? Ozarson said. “We drank too much wine.
“You didnt drink any wine at all.
“Markus doesnt let me, he grumbled. “Major Gaizz does. So does General Yargazon. But never Markus.
She smiled at his grouchy tone. “Markus is a wise man.
“Ive never known anyone who claimed to do real magic.
“Mages are rare.
“Whats a mage?
“A woman who does spells.
“Like the queens in Aronsdale?
“Something like that.
He snorted. “Markus told me that wasnt true.
Allegra smiled slightly. “I think hes changed his mind.
He thought for a moment. “When he catches us, Ill say I told you to ride with me out in the desert. Hell believe me. Im always saying I want an adventure.
Allegra knew Markus wouldnt believe it for a moment. But she said only, “Well, you shall have your adventure.
“I shouldnt run off. I have duties.
“You didnt run off. Guiltily she said, “I kidnapped you.
“As a hostage. He didnt make it a question.
“You know thats why I took you?
“Isnt it?
“Well, yes, she admitted. “Im sorry.
“Its an honorable military tactic, he told her. “Jazid and Taka Mal have done it for centuries. A hostage exchange ensures no one attacks anyone else.
She was beginning to understand his response to what she had done. “Is that what you want? To resolve matters without a war?
“Sometimes you must fight. He had the same withdrawn quality as when he talked about his fathers death. “But sometimes He took a breath. “I wish we could find other ways than killing.
He had a great deal more to him than she had expected. “I wish that, too.
His voice turned wistful. “I dream about places with plants instead of sand. No one is angry or needs a sword. If I could decree it, I would. He sounded subdued. “But ordering people aroundthat isnt really what it means to be the atajazid. I have to do what is right for my people.
“Its true. She was struck by the boys maturity. It also spoke well of Markus that the young king in his care understood the responsibilities of his position rather than just seeing it as a title that led people to kneel to him and cater to his wishes.
“Well find you someplace beautiful, she added. She realized she wanted that for him more than she wanted a hostage. She knew she shouldnt let such feelings interfere with her plans. It was difficult, though; she liked him.
“My mother is in a place like that, he said.
His mother. Not the father he worshipped? “Ozarson, she said, then stopped, unsure how to ask about her.
He settled back in her arms. “You may call me Ozi. Then he said, “Youre sort of my mother now, arent you? Because you married my regent.
“If you would like. Using this boy for political gain was going to be a lot harder than she had thought.
He watched the shifting shadows of the predawn desert, all dim reds and browns. “I would like.
She spoke gently. “May I ask what happened to her?
“My mother?
“Yes.
He just shook his head and kept looking ahead. They rode in silence. Shadow didnt seem tired, but she thought they should stop soon, to tend the horse and break their morning fast.
Up ahead, a line of green edged the sands. If it was the river rather than a mirage, they had made good time. Had Markus come after them right away, he might have caught them by now. She had needed a spell to wake Ozarson, though. He had received more of her sleep song than the others, but probably not enough to make a large difference. Maybe everyone else was still out. Eventually they would awake, but without her intervention it might be a while yet.
“She was at the palace with me, Ozarson suddenly said.
“Your mother? Allegra asked.
“Yes. When we learned aboutabout Fathers death.
“How did you find out?
“A company of the emperors men came to the Onyx Palace. They said Cobalt had claimed the Onyx Throne. His voice cracked. “They had Fathers body with them.