A warrior pulled Allegra up, and another had Ozarson. They strode to the entrance in ground-devouring steps, pulling her and the atajazid, and she had to run to keep up. A baby cried somewhere, and a woman spoke softly, urgently.
Then they were outside, running through the dark. Stumbling, with rocks stabbing her bare feet, Allegra bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out. People were running past them in the darkness, men in armor.
Suddenly the man on Allegras right spasmed as if someone had struck him. He stopped and stared at her with shock. Then he crumpled to the ground.
She dropped next to him. An arrow had hit his neck, one of the few places on his body with no armor or mail. She laid her hand on the wound, on either side of the shaft, trying to stop the bleeding. She needed a shape! She couldnt heal him, but she could help him survive until the doctors
Then she realized it didnt matter. The man was dead.
“Saints, no, she whispered, taking her hands from his neck. Blood dripped from her fingers, but it no longer pumped out of his wound.
Ozarson spoke dully next to her. “This man is dead, too.
She sagged as people ran by them in the dark. Swords clanged somewhere. She and Ozarson stayed crouched by the fallen bodies of two warriors much larger than either of them, which in the darkness probably made it difficult to tell them apart from the dead.
“Ozi, she said. “Keep low. He was a shadow in the starlight, but she could see his frightened eyes. “Do you recognize the arrows that hit them?
“Jazidian.
“How could Yargazon sneak your forces up here? They would have to get past sentries from four different armies.
“I dont think he did, Ozarson said. “It was probably just a few men, enough to attack one tent.
“Thats suicide!
His voice shook. “Even if every man that he sent died, they had only to kill the people in that tent. Or just one of them. Cobalt.
A chill went up Allegras spine. It probably couldnt have worked, but it wasnt impossible. If it had succeeded, then in one attack, Dusk Yargazon would have killed every sovereign in the settled landsexcept Ozarson. They would have been within reach of putting the boy on the throne of the Dawnstar emperor.
“Ozi, listen, she said. “Never, never tell General Yargazon youre the one who warned Emperor Cobalt. Never.
His eyes widened. “I didntIt didnt occur to me
“I know. She held her breath as more men ran past them.
“Allegra. Ozarson pressed something into her hand.
“What Then she realized what he had given her. The dodecahedron. “I thought I lost it.
“I found it in the travel bags.
“But why did you bring it?
“No one would search a Jazid boy for a mage shape. Softly he added, “Its a Platonic solid. Twelve sides, all regular pentagons. Surely that must be powerful.
“Yes, very, she whispered, hiding it in her pocket. “Thank you. A twelve-sided form like this might burn her abilities to ashes, but if she could control it, she could make incredible spells. It stunned her that he had figured out so much about her spells. But then, Ozi was no normal boy.
“Ho! someone shouted. “Theres children here!
A warrior dropped by Allegra and grabbed her arm. “Not a child. A woman!
Another man crouched by Ozarson. “Your Majesty! Dragons blessings, weve been worried.
As the man holding Allegra turned toward Ozarson, his grip on her arms loosened. She wrenched free and tried to lunge away, but he caught her easily around the waist and yanked her back.
“Give me a cord, he said to the other man. “Its her. The witch who took the atajazid.
“Dont hurt her! Ozarson said.
“We wont, the other man said. He was between Allegra and Ozarson, so she couldnt see the boy anymore. She fought the man holding her, raking her fingernails down his arm, but gauntlets protected his hands and forearms, and he had armor everywhere else. Her silk tunic caught on his mail and ripped.
“Your Majesty, well get you to safety, the other man told Ozarson. “Id lay my life down before I let anyone take you.
“Thank you, Ozarson said in a low voice.
The other man handed something to the one holding her, who then twisted her arms behind her back and bound her wrists together. “Help! she shouted, then choked as he shoved a wad of leather into her mouth. He pulled back two straps attached to it and fastened them together behind her head. Then he leaned over her, pushing her forward with his arms wrapped around her torso so she couldnt struggle. The stench of his sweat nauseated her.
“What did you do? Ozarson said.
“Shes fine, the man assured him. “We need to get you out of here, and if she shouts, shell bring Cobalts men. Grimly he added, “If she sings, the dragon only knows what shell do to us.
“She wont harm you, Ozarson said.
“We can reach the horses from here, the man holding Allegra said. They were crouched in the dark, and the sounds of battle had moved beyond them.
“Where is Prince Markus? the other one asked.
“Cobalt took him, Ozarson said. “Can you find him?
“I wish we could. The man spoke kindly to the boy. “But well be lucky if we can get the two of you out of here.
“Youll have to run with us, Your Majesty, the other man said. “Stay bent over as much as you can, and keep close.
“You have to guard Allegra, too, Ozarson said.
“We will, the man holding her said. “You have our word well get both of you back.
“All right, Ozarson said. “Lets go.
No! Allegra shouted, but it came out as a muffled grunt. Ozarson couldnt see well enough to realize what his men were doing to her. She didnt doubt, either, that he believed going with them was the right thing to do. Why the blazes wouldnt he? They were his army, who answered to her own husband. He didnt understand what would happen if they took her back without Markus to keep Yargazon away from her.
The man holding her stood, still bent over, with one arm clamped around her waist and his other hand gripped on her upper arm. The second warrior grasped her other arm and they took off running, dragging her between them. Rocks and stubby plants stabbed her feet. She fought their hold, to no avail. When she balked, they lifted her off the ground and ran holding her up so her feet dangled. It hurt her arms and shoulders so much that when they put her down again, she kept running.
They half slid and half ran down a rocky slope at the edge of the camp. Sentries should have been patrolling the hill, but either they had died or were fighting elsewhere. Allegra couldnt see or hear Ozarson. It was all happening too fast.
Then they were out of the camp and racing through the dark.
CHAPTER 25
SHADOWS OF NIGHT
“The horses should be over there. The man spoke in a low, urgent voice.
The warriors stopped, and Allegra sagged in their grip, out of breath, barely able to draw in enough air past the gag. Dark bluffs surrounded them.
“I see the horses, Ozarson said. He sounded far away. “Two of them.
“Ill take you on one, the man told him with respect. He turned toward the other soldier. “You can bring her.
“Allegra? Ozarson said from somewhere. “Are you there?
“Shes here, the man said.
Her stifled protest was almost soundless. With her wrists tied behind her back, she couldnt use her arms, so she twisted her shoulders back and forth, trying to free herself. One of the men put his arms around her, his front to her back, holding her still while the other man disappeared into the darkness. A horse snorted, and someone spoke in a low voice. Allegra caught bits and pieces: “leave saddleriding blanketHold the reins, Your Majesty.