“Ive never been outside without guards, he confided.
“Does it bother you? she asked.
“It feels good. He smiled just like Markus, with that gorgeous flash of white teeth.
Longing flooded Allegra, but she fought it. She didnt want to miss Markus. He was the most maddening, arrogant man. Yet he could also be so compelling. Nor could she forget his beautiful body in the starlight. If she enjoyed making love to him, did that mean she wanted to be his wife? She felt as if her heart had betrayed her, trying to make her into someone she wasnt. It was all tangled up in her knowledge of his plans. Jazid and Taka Mal were going to war, and she was the only one who knew outside of his army.
“Do you want to fight Taka Mal? she asked Ozarson.
He glanced at her. “Markus says we must.
“Markus may be wrong.
“He isnt often.
“Hes not actually in the military, though, is he? She had the impression he was a civilian.
“He served for ten years, Ozarson said. “Father made him a colonel even though he was young. But Markus decided to work on the palace staff. He used to say, Ozi, Im a statesman, not a soldier. Pride touched his voice. “Hes a great swordsman, though. You should see. No one can beat him. He led a company of men when Father went to war against Cobalt. In a subdued voice, he said, “They brought his body back with my fathers.
Saints above. Most adults she knew would have reeled with the shocks this boy had faced at age seven. “But he wasnt dead.
“He was in a coma. They said he would never wake up. But he did before Cobalts people knew. Thats how we He stopped, then looked away.
“Ozi? she asked.
“Look. He pointed at a stall. “They have so many shoes.
She could only imagine what it had been like for him to think he had lost his father and surrogate father on the same day. It was no wonder he didnt want to talk about it.
She peered at the stall. Sandals, shoes and boots hung from the overhead slats and were stacked on shelves. A heavyset man stood calling out his wares. Watching him, Allegra had an idea.
“Lets go see, she said.
Ozarson glanced at her feet. “Major Talizs boots fit you.
“Not shoes. Polish. Brown, I think. Well need a lot. She patted Shadows neck. “Everyone notices him. When Markus gets here, hell ask people if theyve seen us. Most wont notice two raggedy boys. But a huge black? That will stay in their minds. So well change his color. Theyll remember a big brown horse.
“I dont think polish would work, Ozarson said, laughing. “Its probably not good for him, either.
“We should do something. I dont want to sell him. Hes stronger than any other horse we could find. And he belongs to Markus. When she was free, she would try to have someone return the horse he so clearly valued.
Ozarson considered Shadow. “Mud could work.
“To make him look less valuable. Yes, thats a good idea.
They found a secluded place on the river and let Shadow roll in the mud, which he obviously enjoyed. As they continued on, the mud dried and flaked, turning his coat a mottled brown. It looked terrible, which was good, but Shadow grew annoyed. He swished flies with angry swipes of his tail and whinnied, baring his teeth.
Ozarson scratched the horses neck. “Dont be mad. Well clean you tonight. Besides, we think you look beautiful. He gave Shadow part of an apple. “See? We love you.
Shadow ate the apple and seemed mollified.
“We need more food, Allegra said. “Id like to find a lookout, too, to see if we can spot anyone following us.
Ozarson waved his hand at the trees. “Have you ever seen so many? We can climb one! Ive never done that.
She smiled at his enthusiasm. Every boy should climb a tree. “All right. After we buy food.
“My guards always take care of He stopped, looking confused. “Do you know how to buy food?
She didnt know whether to laugh or cry at his questions. He was one of the smartest children she had ever met, yet in some ways, he knew less about life than a toddler.
“We go to a stall that has what we want, she said. “We haggle over price, the merchant gives us the food and we give him coins.
“Do we have coins?
She regarded him guiltily. “I stole a bag from Major Gaizz.
“If Major Gaizz had the coins, theyre mine. So you didnt steal them.
She smiled. “Lets spend your coins, then.
In no time, they had supplies and a spyglass. They found some sturdy trees and left Shadow at the bottom of one while they climbed into the branches. Ozarson took to it right away, and she could barely keep up with him. When they reached a good, solid branch, they sat on either side of the trunk with their legs dangling. They had a clear view of the land to the south. In the distance, the Fractured Mountains rose up, harsh and broken against the sky. It was so strange the way everyone went about their business here, oblivious to the three thousand warriors hidden in those mountains.
She scanned the desert with the spyglass. Red and yellow sands jumped into prominence, and jutting spars of rock.
“Do you see anyone? Ozarson asked.
“Nothing. She lowered the glass. “Id have thought they would be after us by now.
“Here. He held out his hand. “Ill look.
She handed him the glass, startled by his manner. He didnt ask, as most children would. He expected people to do as he bid. He wasnt arrogant, at least not yet, but neither did he know any other way. His differences were subtle enough that so far no one had noticed. She just hoped it stayed that way.
“I dont see anyone, either. He lowered the glass. “Yet. But you know Markus wont let us go to Aronsdale.
“He cant stop us if he isnt here.
Ozarson stared across the desert, then up the river, his face pensive. “It would be fun to travel like everyone else. To be a boy no one knows. No one special.
Allegra spoke quietly. “All your advisors want to put you on this throne and that. But youve never said what you want.
He thought for a long moment. “I am the Atajazid DAz Ozarson. It is my right to rule from the Onyx Throne.
“But is that what you want?
He regarded her steadily. “Yes.
Looking at him, for a moment she glimpsed his future, the day when this boy became one of the most formidable sovereigns ever known. The image vanished from her mind almost as soon as it came. Maybe she had imagined it; precognition was among the rarest mage traits. Even without it, though, she sensed the greatness in this child. Whether or not he achieved that potential depended on so many fragile plans.
“Do you want the throne of Taka Mal? she asked.
“I dont know. He let out a breath. “General Yargazon says we must kill the queen and her baby. I dont want that.
“Maybe we can find another way for you to retake the Onyx Throne. She had no idea how a boy and a young woman could manage such a thing, but she didnt know what else to say.
“I dont see how going to Aronsdale will help, he said.
“Theyre the only country not controlled by Cobalt, she said, thinking. “He rules the Misted Cliffs, Shazire, Blueshire and Jazid, and his wife is the heir in Harsdown. Even Taka Mal has his troops and cavalry. Only Aronsdale is free of his influence.
“Not completely, Ozarson said. “His wife is kin to your king in Aronsdale.
“Shes his niece. Allegra suspected Ozarson knew more about the intrigues of the royal houses than most anyone. “Do you think that would make Aronsdale more likely to support Emperor Cobalt?
“I dont know, he said. “Maybe not. General Yargazon told me that your king threatened to help Taka Mal fight Cobalt if the emperor invaded Taka Mal. Its because the queen of Taka Mal married a man related to the royal family of Aronsdale.
She wondered how they kept it all straight. “I can never sort out all those royal lineages.
“I had to draw family trees, Ozarson confided. “The queens consort is Drummer Headwind. Drummers sister is the mother of Cobalts wife. The father of Cobalts wife is your kings cousin. So your king considers Drummer his kin. His face darkened. “Queen Vizarana in Taka Mal told my father she would marry him if he allied with her against Cobalt. Then she married Drummer. She betrayed my father.