“I know that army. His voice trembled. “A company of those soldiers brought my fathers body home afterafter he died. A man led them. General Agate Cragland.
A sharp breath came from above them. Allegra may have never heard the name Cragland, but it obviously meant as much to someone here as to Ozarson.
“You dont have to remember, she told the boy.
He let her go and straightened up, almost as tall as Allegra with the two of them sitting on the stairs. His eyes blazed despite his fear. “They came to the palace with hundreds of men. They said Cobalt claimed the Onyx Throne, and I was to be executed.
She felt ill. “They told a seven-year-old boy they were going to kill him? What kind of monsters would do that?
“They told my mother. They didnt know I was hiding and listening. His voice shook. “That night I snuck into the place where they had laid my fathers body.
“Ozi, no. With horrible certainty, she knew what was coming. She couldnt stop it, couldnt protect the boy from what had already happened.
“His body had been laid on the floor. Tears ran down his face. “I pulled the cloth off his head andand I tried to kiss his cheek. His voice cracked. “His head rolled away from me, across the floor.
Allegra wanted to hold him close, as if that futile gesture could banish the memory. But he kept going. “I tried to scream. It wouldnt come out. II put his head b-back on his body. Then I ran to my room. I put cloths around my neck, and a belt to protect it. I hid in my bedcryingmy Nannashe camemy mother camewe all cried.
“Im so sorry, she whispered. So sorry the world was filled with monsters whose greed and ambition mattered more than a child.
“General Cragland said they had to wait until Cobalt arrived. All the leaders from the war were at a meeting. In Taka Mal. No one knew what they would decide. They couldntcouldnt kill me until they knew. His face had gone deathly pale. “Cobalt arrived three days later. With his army. They came on and on, burying the world like a sandstorm, burying the palace, thousands, like a plague, like locusts that strip the land.
“Ozi. Allegra didnt know what to do, what to say.
He choked on the words. “Cobalt came into the hall where I waited with my mother. He was so big, his shoulders were so big. In armor and mail. The sword on his back was longer than me. Ozarson was shaking in her arms. “My mother cried. She had never knelt before any man but my fatherbut she threw herself on the ground before Cobalt and begged him to spare my life.
Tears ran down Allegras face. No one else around them moved. The silence could have deafened. “What did Cobalt say?
“He told her that he would let me live. Ozarson took a shuddering breath. “But they would take me away, far away, and she would never see me again. He lifted his chin. “I stood in front of him, and I said he was a fool to let me live, because someday I would cut his head from his body and avenge my father.
“Ozi, she whispered. “How did you get away? How did your mother and your nanna die?
His voice was low, and sounded so very, very young. “General Yargazon camehe and his men smuggled me out. Cobalts men thought Markus was dead. He almost was dead. Yargazons men carried him. There was a river, a gorge. It was night He was crying, his words fractured. “Cobalts men found out about our escape. They separated my mother, Nanna and me from the others. Cobalt had his sword uphe was going to k-kill me. Right there. I saw the blade coming down. But he d-didntdidnt do it. He told his men to take me away instead. General Yargazon, everyonethey were down in the gorge, in a boat that could go over the rapids. My mothersheshe His voice caught on a sob.
“Its all right, Allegra murmured. “Its all right.
“No. Its not! She and Nannathey grabbed me away from Cobalts men and wrapped themselves around me. Then he whispered, “And they jumped.
“Saints, no, someone said.
“Into a gorge? Allegra asked.
“Their bodies protected me. Just my leg broke. The words tore out of him. “Nanna d-died when we hit. My motherShe was alivebarely. She could hardly talk. She told me to avenge my father. Then General Yargazon reached us. He promised her, he swore on his soul and his life, that he would put me on the throne and avenge her husband. She wasShe told me she was going to a golden place, that someday I would be there with her and Father and Nanna. And shesh-she died. His voice broke as if he were shattering. “When you and I rode into Crofts Vale, with everything gold and green and all the children playing, I thought we had found that place. But it isnt. There is no place. Cobalt has come for me.
Allegra pulled him close and sat there rocking him while he clung to her, crying. She heard a rustle and looked up to see Jarid coming down the steps.
“Stay away! she said. “All of you! Stay away from him.
Jarid froze. Behind them, a clank of metal came from the foyer. Allegra turned with a jerk and saw an Aronsdale soldier entering the palace. Judged from his windblown hair, he had probably been out riding. Holding his helmet in his hand, he looked around, obviously trying to figure out what was going on with so many people in the entry.
“Sire. Seeing Jarid on the stairs, he dropped to one knee.
“Rise, please, Jarid said. “You have a report?
Allegra wasnt certain why Jarid didnt go down, but she thought it might be for Ozarson. The boy could panic if anyone came closer to him, especially a king he had no reason to trust. He genuinely thought Cobalts army had come to kill him. The worst of it was, he could be right. But they would have to take him from her first, which meant they would have to kill her, too.
“My patrol saw the army and headed back to tell you, the messenger told Jarid. “We took a group of travelers into custody.
Ozarson lifted his head from Allegras arms and wiped his sleeve across his eyes. He watched the man with wide eyes, and Allegra felt him clutching the back of her tunic.
“Five men on horseback, the messenger said. “They refuse to identify themselves.
A mans voice interrupted him, rumbling as he stepped around the soldier. In a deep, drawn-out accent, he said, “I will speak only to Jarid Dawnfield.
He stood in the light from outside, a barbarian warlord transplanted from a place of wildness, a warrior in chain mail and bronzed armor with a huge sword on his back and a black-plumed helmet under his muscled arm. His black hair was blown around his strong-featured face, and black stubble covered his chin. He faced them all, defiant and bold, his dark gaze smoldering.
Markus.
CHAPTER 18
THE HOUSE OF ONYX
“Markus! Ozarson tore away from Allegra and ran down the steps to his brother. He threw himself into Markuss arms. The prince regent hugged him close, and as he lowered his head over his brothers, Allegra saw the immensity of his relief.
For several moments, they held each other. Allegra rose to her feet on the stairs. If Markus had only five men, she had little doubt King Jarid could hold him prisoner until they decided what to do. Aronsdale effectively had in their custody what remained of Jazids royal House. Including her, unfortunately. Watching them, the last descendants of an ancient dynasty holding each other, she thought of all the violence others had committed to keep those two royals alive. Both Markus and Ozarson had suffered far too much in the name of conquest, honor, greed and vengeance.
After an eternity, Markus raised his head and looked at her. If a stare could have incinerated, she would have burned to ashes.
“Get down here, he said.
She stayed on the stairs. “No.
A rustle came from above her, and she looked up as Jarid came to stand with her. He spoke in a low voice. “The boy said, Markus. The prince regent? Still alive?
Allegra knew she couldnt hide their identities after what Jarid had heard. “He survived his injuries from the war. She spoke quietly. “Hes been Ozis guardian for most of the boys life, even before their father died.