“Allegra? a boy said.
She looked up with a start. Ozarson had opened the door and was standing in its archway.
“Goodness, Allegra said. “How did you know where to find me? You shouldnt be here. Both the guild mistress and Marnie had made it clear that only women were allowed in this part of the guild house.
“I heard the cook talking to some girls. He stood tensely, his hand gripped on the doorknob.
Della looked from Ozarson to Allegra. “I think it will be all right for him to spend just a few minutes here. She smiled at Ozarson. “Will you be all right in the stable tonight?
“Yes. He said only one word, but it crackled with tension, also a hint of the regal authority he would someday wield. His excitement from earlier in the day had vanished.
Della stood up and laid her hand on Allegras shoulder. “Ill see what I can do about an audience with Jarid.
“Thank you. Allegra rose, as well. “For everything.
Ozarson stepped aside as Della left. Then he came in and closed the door. “Will you go to the castle with that man?
“I told Della I couldnt, Allegra assured him. “That I was married. When alarm flashed on his face, she said, “Della thinks my husband is a tender with Cobalts army.
His posture remained stiff. “And me?
“I said you were an orphan who lost his parents in the war. Is that all right?
He seemed as if he were balancing on a cliff. He came over and stood by the table, resting his palm on it. His fingers flexed until he was gripping the wood and tendons stood out on the back of his hand.
“And you? he asked. “Will you go with these people?
“Go with them?
“To the castle.
Suddenly she understood. This boy had lost so much, the people he loved, his family and title. His future. She laid her hand on his. “I would never strand you. What happened with Markus and me has complications, but I will never leave you alone. I swear that to you, as your regents consort and as a mage.
He stared at their hands, and his shoulders slumped as if he finally had release. Looking up at her, he spoke in a lighter tone. “The cook told me we could go to the kitchen for a snack.
A smile softened Allegras face. The settled lands could plunge into war, with battles and magic blazing across the desert, but Ozarson would want to eat first. “Well get a snack, I promise. She waved him in the direction of the stable. “ After we wash up.
“I can use the pail of water in the stable. He looked inordinately pleased with the idea.
Allegra spoke warily. “Why is that particular pail of water such a fine idea?
He regarded her innocently. “Thom is there.
“Who is Thom?
“The stable boy. A wicked grin spread across his face. “Ill bet he needs a bath, too.
Allegra could just imagine. She held back her laugh and gave him a stern look. “When you come back here, young man, I want you cleaned up. Not covered in mud and hay.
“I will! He was off before she could say more.
Allegra disliked leaving Ozarson in the stables at night, but he clearly wanted to be on his own. He and Thom got on well, and the other boys father had no objection to Thom staying with him. He promised to check on the boys later. The idea of having a friend his own age, without adults monitoring his every move, seemed so new to Ozarson, it tore at Allegra. So she made herself go to her own room. She wondered how everyone would feel if they realized the coveted Shadow-Dragon king sought by the warlords of half a dozen countries was snuggled in the loft of an Aronsdale barn that some optimistic person had dubbed a stable.
Up in her room, Allegra practiced spells. The green one she had made earlier had drained her, and she only managed to light a candle before exhaustion settled over her. It would be a while before her gifts returned fully, but they were healing.
Worn-out, she tumbled into the first bed she had slept in for days and let slumber take her.
The stable was empty.
Neither stall contained Shadow, nor were there two young rascals anywhere in evidence. Morning light filtered past the doors and drew a ruddy glow from leather saddles hanging on the walls. The scent of hay filled the air, rich and pleasant. But no boys and no horse.
Allegra walked out into an area of hardpacked dirt where Thom had probably walked many a horse. The stable was set back from the guild house, and a meadow stretched from here to the main building. A cluster of girls was sitting in the grass with an older woman, and light-pictures of flowers hazed the air above them. Allegra smiled, remembering how she had drawn such pictures when she had been young, learning from an elderly yellow mage in the village of Spindle Vine how to mold light with her spells.
The girls were laughing and chattering, but they fell silent as she approached. She was glad she had changed into the tunic and leggings the guild mistress had offered her last night, so she no longer looked scruffy.
“My greetings, Mistress Allegra, the woman said, a motherly type with a cheerful smile and gray peppering her yellow hair. “Welcome to the guild.
Allegra thanked her. If they recognized her, chances were they also knew why Della had arranged for her to come. It was awkward, given the situation, but she couldnt say anything. So she just said, “I wondered if any of you had seen the boys who slept in the stable last night.
That evoked a round of giggles, which didnt bode well. Girls in Aronsdale were nothing like those in Jazid. If they felt inspired to bedevil the boys, they would have no qualms about indulging the impulse.
“Young ladies, the woman said sternly. “What did you do?
“They were making a lot of noise, a girl with a mop of gold hair said. “Running around, tussling and shouting and laughing. So we She paused for effect.
The woman frowned at her. “You did what?
Another girl with innocent blue eyes said, “Why, we gave them a bath.
Allegra groaned. She couldnt imagine what Ozarson would do if a gaggle of girls attacked him with buckets of water. It was so far outside his experience, he had probably been dumbfounded into just standing there, gaping.
“And where did the young men go after this tumult of yours? Allegra asked. The situation would have been funny if she hadnt been so worried.
“What does tumult mean? one of the younger girls asked.
An older one snickered. “It means we chased them, and they ran back into the stable.
“They arent there now, Allegra said.
“Oh, they came out on the big horse, the girl said. “The new stable boy with black hair was riding it, and Thom was sitting behind him, holding on. The new boy yelled Hai at us like he was some great warlord or something, and off they went.
That sounded like Ozarson, fending off a wild pack of warrior moppets. Allegra tried valiantly to appear stern, since laughing would only encourage them. “Do you know where they went?
The girls shook their heads, and the teacher looked apologetic. “I suspect the boys rode out to the hills. Thom often does that to exercise horses for our guests.
“Ah. Well, thank you for your help, Allegra said.
The walk out of town didnt take long. As Allegra strolled through the meadows below the castle, a cloud drifted over her, its shadow moving along the ground. She could see a large horse on a distant hill, nibbling grass. Two boys were sitting nearby, one with black hair and the other with yellow.
She paused, torn between checking on Ozarson and leaving him alone. Were he any other boy, he would be fine. Even if he had been a stable boy, no other horses were in the stable, and Shadow probably did want exercise. If she went over there, it would look odd. But he wasnt any other child, and she feared to leave him even in situations that for another boy would be perfectly normal.
He needs to know what its like to be nine. She prayed silently to Saint Azure, the patron of children. Please let him have this time. Let him know some tiny part of childhood before his life takes it away from him forever.