He came over and cupped his palm around her cheek. “Just touching you calms me down. I dont know why.
Flustered, she drew away. “You must be very calm, then.
He gave her a startled smile. “Was that a joke?
“I do make them sometimes.
“Not with me.
She could tell he was about to embrace her. “I should go back to the other room. King Jarid is waiting. She made a quick exit, before he started kissing and confusing her again.
Jarid and Della were relaxed in armchairs, deep in conversation. Ozarson sat at a round table by the long window, showing Brant Firestoke a school problem. Outside, clouds scudded across the sky.
“See, its a square root plus a constant, all inside another square root, Ozarson said. “You set it equal to this term. Then square both sides. Sometimes it works, but you have to solve a quadratic and only one root is good. Sometimes it doesnt work. It depends on the numbers.
“Thats clever, Brant said.
Allegra blinked at the sight of the fugitive Jazid king doing number games with a kings advisor from Aronsdale. Hearing a nine-year-old talk about quadratics was almost as strange. Few of her students ever reached that level before they left school to marry or work their farms. Lord Firestoke must have studied it, though. She wondered what it was like for Ozarson, when even so few adults could follow where he went with his intellect.
Jarid glanced at her. “Is he awake?
Allegra nodded self-consciously. “Hell be out as soon as he cleans up. She remained standing, unsure how to act. She gathered she wasnt expected to kneel every time Jarid came into the room, but she had little idea how court protocols worked. Della had hinted in her letters that Allegra could learn at the guild, but Allegra hadnt believed they were considering her as a bride for Aron, so she hadnt thought much about it.
“Please sit. Jarid indicated the couch.
“Thank you. She sat across from him and Della.
“Your bruises are almost healed, Jarid said.
She touched her face. “Theyre much better.
He spoke awkwardly. “What happened to youIf I offend in my questions, please accept my apology. Youre the only person from outside of Jazid who has been with this outlaw army, at least who has returned to talk about it. Youve had contact with Dusk Yargazon. No one else outside their army can say that.
Allegra felt ill. She didnt think Ozi or Brant could overhear their discussion, but she spoke in a low voice anyway. “Yargazon wanted to kill me. No, not kill me. Just hurt me until I wished I were dead.
They stared at her, and Dellas face paled.
“Im sorry, Jarid said.
She couldnt answer. He was right. She knew the size of the army, where it had hidden, which commanders did what. She had lain in Markuss tent while he discussed strategy with his advisors. She had listened at dinner while they talked over the war. But she was Markuss consort. For her to tell Jarid any of that would be treason against the House of Onyx. Yet she had come here to warn her king about the army. She hadnt known she would feel this fealty to Ozarson, and she couldnt sort out her confused response to Markus. She had agreed to stand by him, yet if she withheld knowledge about his forces, she was turning her back on her own people. No matter what she did, she betrayed someone.
She was grateful Ozarson was here, though, rather than with his army. Yargazon couldnt have left him behind; the Jazid army was his protection, the reason he survived. He would have stayed with the thousand or so tenders while the army fought, but if Taka Mal defeated Jazid, the tenders couldnt protect him. If she were willing to admit it, she also cared that Markus was here instead of marching with his forces. He probably hated it. But seeing him safe and alive mattered to her.
“Allegra? Jarid asked.
She took a breath. “What did you want to know?
“Do they plan to kill the queen and her family?
She had expected him to ask about tactics, supplies, troops. Then she remembered; his kin had married into the royal family of Taka Mal. At least she had no qualms about answering that question. “Markus wants them as hostages. Yargazon wants them dead. Theyve targeted the queen, her child, her consort and Baz Quaazera, her cousin. Then she said, “Even Yargazon wants her consort alive, to use as a hostage against Cobalt.
Jarid exhaled, then glanced at Della, whose face had gone as white as linen sheets. She shook her head. “The treaty leaves no room for interpretation.
Jarid spoke grimly. “I know.
“I dont understand, Allegra said.
“He means his treaty with Taka Mal, a deep voice rumbled.
Allegra turned with a start. Markus was walking toward them, toweling his hair, dressed in dark trousers and a dark red shirt. He had shaved, and despite the toweling, it looked like he had brushed his shaggy hair. Lowering his arms, he considered the Aronsdale king. “Will you march with or against the emperor when you go to Taka Mal?
Jarid met his gaze. “I havent said Im going to Taka Mal.
“If you dont support Taka Mal against the Jazid invasion, youre violating your treaty with them, Markus said. “And if you fight against Jazid, youre fighting for Cobalt.
“Ive made no decisions, Jarid answered coolly.
“Do you have news of Cobalts army? Allegra asked Jarid.
The king nodded, and he suddenly looked tired. He glanced at where Ozarson sat with Brant. “Perhaps you should bring the atajazid over here.
Unease washed over Allegra, and she saw her tension mirrored in Markuss face. Without a word, he went to the table. As soon as Brant looked up, his smile faded. Fear surged across Ozarsons face, and Allegra wondered if he had really forgotten it or just kept it at bay by playing with numbers, which were always either right or wrong, with no moral ambiguities.
Ozarson came to sit on the couch between Markus and Allegra. Brant sat across from them in an armchair. Although Ozarson looked composed, his fear seemed like a tangible presence to Allegra.
“The envoy I sent to Cobalts army has returned, Jarid said. “The situation is even more complicated than we thought.
Markus tensed. “Why?
“It isnt just his army cutting across Aronsdale, Jarid said. “My cousin has brought over a thousand men.
A thousand? “But how? Allegra asked. She understood how Cobalt could marshal his men; he had kept forces in Shazire, the country just south of Aronsdale, since he took over that country. But Harsdown was farther west, with the Boxer-Mage Mountains dividing it from Aronsdale. Unless Muller had his army near the southern border of Harsdown, it would take many days to bring it south and join Cobalt.
“My cousin, Muller, has had his men ready for a year, Jarid said. “Since the assassination attempt against Queen Vizarana. Theyve been doing maneuvers in southern Harsdown near the Shazire border in case they had to march unexpectedly. His gaze turned cold as he regarded Markus. “This army you claim doesnt exist invaded Taka Mal five days ago. Theyve already taken a portion of the country. Theyre expected to reach Quaaz soon.
Allegra felt as if she were falling into a whirlpool. No wonder Jarid hadnt asked about their plans. He already knew.
“I have no idea what this supposed army is doing, Markus said. “Ive been looking for my brother and my wife.
Jarid clenched his fist in frustration. “Damn it, Onyx.
Markus said nothing. Ozarson sat between him and Allegra, his posture stiff, his face worried.
“What are you going to do? Allegra asked.
“That depends, Jarid said. “The empress and her son are with Cobalts army. He doesnt intend to take them to Taka Mal. He spoke tiredly. “He had, in fact, planned to leave them here.
Ozarsons face paled. “But were here.
“Let Ozarson go, Markus said, his voice urgent. “Im the one Cobalt wants. I command the army.
“So you admit it exists after all, Brant said.
Markus never took his gaze off Jarid. “Let the boy go.