“Hes fortunate to have someone like you to see him that way. He rubbed the small of his back tiredly. “I have a great deal more work to do this night.
“Of course, Sire. Allegra bowed, struggling to contain her disappointment. “Please accept my apologies for disturbing you.
Then her guards took her back to her suite.
That night, she held Ozarson while he cried, for he believed he would never again see Markus. After he fell asleep, exhausted, she tucked him into bed and went to her room. She created a spell, singing of comfort as she reached out to the man under the castle. But she had too little strength to find him, and in the end she collapsed into a fitful sleep.
Allegra awoke sprawled across the bed, fully dressed. She stared at the canopy overhead until her mind caught up with her waking. So much had happened in so few days.
From the soft light coming through the window and the trill of birds, she thought it was dawn. She pulled herself from the bed, tired but unable to rest. She should check on Ozarson, who hadnt slept enough since they had left Jazid.
Allegra bathed and changed into a blue tunic and leggings. When she walked into the main parlor, she found a circle-maid setting out a gold tray bearing china dishes heaped with sweet rolls, honey, jams, hard-boiled eggs and slices of meat. The aroma of chocolate wafted on the air.
The maid bowed. “My greetings of the morning, maam.
“Thank you, Allegra said. It felt strange having people wait on her. At home, everyone pitched in with chores.
Ozarson wandered into the room, rubbing his eyes. In his borrowed sleep trousers and shirt, with his curls mussed up, he looked even younger than nine.
“My greet Allegra broke off as doors banged open at the front of the suite. Boots thudded in the entrance foyer.
Ozarson turned to her with a jerk. “What is it?
Allegra moved to stand with him. “I dont know.
A knot of warriors strode into the room, all in armor and mail, their breastplates emblazoned with the Chamberlight sphere. The circle-maid slipped around them and ran out the door. A grizzled captain and another soldier at the front were gripping the arms of a prisoner with his hands manacled in front of his body and connected by one chain linka man with curly black hair and dark circles under his eyes.
When the captain shoved Markus forward, the prince staggered and fell to his knees a few paces from Allegra and Ozarson. She started toward himthen froze as another man strode forward.
Cobalt.
The emperor wore full armor and heavy boots. He held a black helmet shaped like the head of a jaguar under one arm. The sword strapped across his back was longer than any Allegra had ever seen, and its gigantic hilt stuck up over his shoulder. He filled the room with his power, like a conqueror who could shred the entire building simply by the force of his will.
He spoke to Allegra. “You have half an hour. Then we leave for Taka Mal. He threw a key to her, and she barely caught it. “That unlocks his manacles. You can clean him up, whatever you want. Hell come with us as a hostage. But if hes not ready to leave in thirty minutes, he stays here in the dungeon.
With that, he spun around and left the room, accompanied by his men, their boots resounding on the floor.
Stunned, Allegra dropped next to Markus. As he lifted his head, Ozarson fell to his knees and threw his arms around his brother. “Youre here!
Markus managed a smile. “It seems so. He tried to reach out to Ozarson, but he couldnt manage it with his hands manacled.
Allegra wrestled with his shackles until the key clicked in their locks. When they fell open, Markus grunted with relief. They clattered on the floor, black and ugly, freeing his lacerated wrists. He grabbed his left shoulder, his arm shaking, and clenched the spot where his muscles had gnarled yesterday.
“Here. She moved behind him and massaged his shoulder. It felt terrible, knotted and spasmed in many places.
“Ah, gods, he groaned. “Yes, do that. As the knots eased, he said, “I was afraid Id lose the use of my arm.
“Why did Cobalt let you out? Allegra asked.
“I have no idea.
“Allegra talked to him last night, Ozarson said.
She winced. “I didnt think I helped at all.
“Whatever you did, Markus said, “Im eternally grateful.
“You have to get ready! Ozarson said. “We cant let them put you back down there.
Markus tried to climb to his feet. His legs buckled, and with a grunt, he collapsed to the floor.
“Here. Allegra put one arm around his waist, and Ozarson did the same on his other side. Together, they helped him stand.
“The water in the bathing pool is warm, Allegra said. “You can soak there. It will relax your muscles.
“Yes. His gaze raked over her, and she was beginning to understand him, at least enough to know that what he needed had nothing to do with water.
Allegra spoke to Ozarson as they helped Markus limp to the bedroom. “Can you get our things ready?
“Ill get everything I can, the boy said. “But we dont have travel packs.
“Theyll give us what we need. She wasnt sure of that, but she had no intention of wasting time searching for anything.
At the bedroom entrance, Markus grasped the lintel of the archway. “I can walk now, he told Ozarson. “You go get ready.
The boy glanced uncertainly at Allegra.
“Its all right, she said.
“She helped you, Ozarson told Markus, his expression worried.
Markus smiled and tousled his hair. “I know that.
Mollified, Ozarson headed back to his room. Allegra helped Markus into the bedroom and closed the door.
“I hate this place, Markus muttered. “All doors and walls. Its suffocating.
“Come to the bathing room, she said. “Its more open.
The small pool was steaming with heated water. Water mosaics tiled the walls, and a high window let in early morning light. It had no furniture, which might remind him of home.
“Gods, he murmured, staring at the bath. “So much water.
Allegra blinked. She had always taken water for granted. Maybe in Jazid it was worth more even than the gems they mined.
“Do you want help? she asked, suddenly shy.
He touched her cheek. “Are you all right?
“Well, yes, she said, puzzled. She wasnt the one who had spent a day locked in a pitch-black, suffocating cell.
“Then, yes, he said. “Stay. He didnt ask what she had meant by help; he just grasped her tunic and pulled it up. As she helped him take it off, his palm scraped her breast. He rubbed his hand over her nipple and let out a breath as if an emotional spasm were easing within him much as his shoulder had loosened. When he dropped her tunic by the pool, she instinctively folded her arms over her breasts.
“Dont do that, night bird, he said softly. “Youre beautiful.
Self-conscious, but aware of their limited time, she tugged down her leggings. He put his arm around her waist and lifted her against him, her front against his side, and slid her clothes off faster. She closed her eyes, trying to relax as she put her arms around his neck. Kneeling by the pool, he set her in the shallow end where the side sloped back so a bather could lie down. The water came to her shoulders and rippled against her skin. He undressed quickly, leaving his grimy clothes by the pool. As he slid into the water, he pulled Allegra into his arms so they were lying on their sides on the sloped surface, most of their bodies in the water. He didnt speak, he just held her with his head against her hair.
“Its all right, she murmured. “Its over.
“For now. His hands moved over her, touching. She slid her hand shyly across the muscled ridges of his abdomen.