The emperor regarded him from high on his mount, and Allegra could have sworn he almost smiled. He inclined his head to Ozarson as if they were both of an age. He indicated the other horse, which another of his men had brought forward. “You may ride that one.
Allegra stiffened, and Markus tensed, as well. Yes, Ozarson was comfortable with horses, but riding a giant warhorse on his own was another story. Could a child even control a horse that size? She didnt miss the thrill that flashed on Ozarsons face, though. Cobalt had chosen to treat him as a man rather than a child. She just hoped Cobalts treatment didnt extend to the sentences men meted out to their enemies.
“Hes too young for that horse, Markus said.
Cobalt looked down at Markus. “Then he can ride with me.
“I can go on my own, Ozarson said quickly.
A soldier brought over a three-legged stool and let Ozarson use it to climb onto the horse. The animal stepped restlessly as Ozarson slid into the saddle, and the boy grabbed the reins with a jerk. One of Cobalts officers rode forward, leaning over to help. By the time he reached the boy, though, Ozarson had his animal under control.
The guards helped Markus onto his mount. They looped and tied the reins, letting them lie where he could have grabbed them had his hands been free. Markuss gaze flicked to the ground far below. He had nothing to keep him in the saddle except stirrups and the pressure of his legs on a horse he had never ridden. His horse, though spirited, responded well to the directions he gave with his knees and legs. Allegra didnt doubt that with his experience, he could manage, but for an entire day? She wished Cobalt would let him ride Shadow, an animal he knew. Then again, that was probably why the emperor separated them; Shadow would be more than willing to abet any escape Markus tried.
Thom watched Ozarson with his mouth open. His father stayed at his side, his hand clamped on his sons shoulder. Taking a breath, Allegra handed Shadows reins to one of her guards and walked over to Thom. Two of the other guards came with her, including the hard-faced captain. She felt his impatience, but she kept going, determined to speak with Thom and his father.
Thoms father tensed as she approached and he drew his son closer to his side, though she thought it was more to keep him away from the guards than from her.
Allegra stopped in front of them. “I wanted to thank you. Her voice caught. “For giving him a day.
“A day? Thoms father asked. “Who do you mean?
She tilted her head toward Ozarson, who was riding behind Cobalts men. “Ozi.
The father paled. “Who is he? He called that man his regent.
Allegra spoke quietly. “The boy is the Atajazid DAz Ozarson of the House of Onyx. The man is the prince regent of Jazid, Markus Onyx.
“Saint Citrine! Thom looked suitably impressed. “And I just thought he was the smartest stable boy I ever met.
Although she wasnt certain Thom understood the significance of Ozarsons title, the father was a different story. His face went ashen. “That boy slept in the stable with my son.
“And for one day, Allegra said softly, “he got to be just a boy with his friend. It means more than youll ever know. It will probably never happen again.
The guard captain spoke to her. “We must go. Despite his respect, his words brooked no refusal. If she delayed any longer, they would probably put her on Shadow whether she agreed or not.
“Goodbye, she murmured. Thoms father nodded, and she thought he understood.
When Allegra returned to Shadow, the guards helped her mount. Up that high, she had a better view of the ocean of soldiers. The armies went as far as she could see to the south, east and north, and Crofts Vale lay to the west. Far ahead, a Chamberlight officer was riding alongside Markus. She followed them, headed downhill.
Another man came galloping up to Cobalt and reined in to speak with the emperor. Cobalt listened, then stepped his animal around to face Castle Suncroft. Others glanced back, as well, and soon everyone, on the ground and on horseback, was stopping to look.
Puzzled, Allegra brought Shadow around. A woman had come out of the castle with six guards and was striding down the slope. A mane of yellow curls blew back from her body in the wind. As she drew nearer, Allegra saw she had the face of an angel. She dressed like a warrior, but the clothes looked far different on her. The leather trousers fit tightly to her long, long legs. They were too wide for her waist, so they rode low on her curved hips. She had on a black leather vest a man might wear, but without chain mail or other garments. It left a strip of skin visible above the waist of her pants and did nothing to hide her womanly form. She carried a baby in one arm, a big, strapping toddler who alertly watched everything going on around him.
The woman passed Allegra without a glance for her or anyone else. She was looking ahead. Allegra brought Shadow around in time to see Cobalt jump down from his horse. When the woman reached him, he embraced her, one arm around her waist and the other on her arm where she held the boy. Then he kissed her, towering over even her tall form, his big hand splayed against her back while her yellow hair blew around them.
Saint Verdant, that was the Dawnstar empress? No wonder tales proliferated of how men walked into doors or stumbled over their feet when she went by. Allegra couldnt imagine why Della had ever compared her to the empress. Mel Dawnfield was so far out of her league, Allegra felt like an insubstantial nobody.
Cobalt drew back and spoke to his wife. She said something, and he laughed. In one moment, he went from being the dark, threatening conqueror to a handsome man. He lifted the child out of her arms and held him up high, grinning as the boy cooed. Cobalt the Dark, smiling at his heir. That child would someday inherit an empireperhaps one that included Taka Mal.
Soon Mel headed back to the castle with the boy, surrounded by her guards, and Cobalt swung back up on his horse.
So they set out, headed for the deserts of Taka Mal.
Allegras guards wouldnt let her ride with Markus or Ozarson, who were well ahead of her. Ozarson managed his horse well, and Allegra soon realized the animal was more docile than its size and military finery implied. For a while, Cobalt rode with Markus, no doubt questioning his prisoner about the Jazid army, though she doubted he had much luck. Eventually he went on ahead, leaving two Chamberlight guards with Markus.
The end of the Chamberlight army overlapped the front edges of the Aronsdale forces. Harsdown came last, led by Muller Dawnfield, the empresss father. Allegra saw mostly Chamberlight men. About an hour after they started out, though, a group of men with horses draped in Dawnfield colors came riding along the Chamberlight army. With a start, she recognized the man in their center. King Jarid.
He came up beside her. “Good morning, Allegra.
“Your Majesty! She almost added, You can see! but stopped herself, aware of the people around them. “How are you this morning?
“Im well. Much better. He tilted his head toward the south. “Iris sends her greetings.
Looking back, she saw Iris riding with Aron. Even knowing mage queens had always gone to war, Allegra tensed. What if Iris was hurt? Then it hit her; if she had married Aron, she could have ended up riding to battle, as well.
Mage queens supported the army with spells to spy, heal and improve morale. By seeking their enemies with emotion spells, a mage could pick up hints of their plans and affect the morale of the opposing forces. Aronsdale soldiers fought in shape formations, mostly polygons, because the queen could then use spells to focus them into a stronger unit. Although Aronsdale was a small country and had never boasted a large army, their mages had always given them an edge. But a great deal of danger existed for the queen, not only because of her proximity to the battles, but also from the backlash of her spells, should any cause harm.