The man reappeared out of the shadows, walking a horse without a rider. “Here, Zeik. He handed the reins to the man with Allegra. “You can take her in.
No! Allegra redoubled her efforts to twist free.
The man holding her, Zeik apparently, handed her to the other man. She kicked at him, and her foot hit a boot, then his knee. He swore under his breath and pulled her hard against him so she couldnt kick.
Zeik swung onto the horse. He reached down, and the other man lifted Allegra up to him. She wrenched back and forth, fighting them. The gag muffled her shouts, but in the silence of the night, even her grunts were audible. She twisted hard and began to slide off the horse. Zeik hauled her back up, then dragged her leg across the animal so she sat astride in front of him. He clamped his arms around her torso to hold her in place.
“You got her? the man on the ground asked.
“Fine. Zeik sounded out of breath. “We should split up. It will increase the chance that at least one of us gets through.
“Dragon willing, well both make it. Good luck.
“And you. Then Zeik set off through the night.
Allegra eventually wore herself out struggling and sagged in Zeiks hold with her head hanging down. As exhaustion caught up with her, nightmarish images flickered in her mind. Over and over, she remembered the man next to her collapsing in the dirt, an arrow in his neck as he died.
Her jaws ached. As soon as Zeik had a chance, he readjusted the gag so the leather ball settled firmly in her mouth, filling it and pushing down her tongue. He did something with the straps, locking them behind her head. When he finished, she doubted she could have taken the thing off even if she had her hands free. They had figured out too well how to “disarm what they considered a weaponher ability to do spells.
The pound of hooves sounded nearby, several horses perhaps. Zeik guided his mount behind a large bluff that rose as a darker shadow in the night. He laid the blade of a dagger flat against her neck. “Hold still. No noise.
Allegra barely breathed. After the riders passed, Zeik set off crossways on a steep hill instead of riding down to flatter land. His horse had to step carefully on the precarious slope. At first she hoped the slower pace would make them easier to catch. She soon realized why he had done it, though; no other riders were up here.
After a while, Zeik said, “I know youre evil. A witch. If you could sing, you would curse my soul. He shifted her in his arms. “But hell, I cant help it, you just seem like a frightened girl to me, one whos so pretty, men cant think straight around her. Even powerful men. Then he muttered, “Especially them. Theyre used to getting what they want. But even when they have you, they dont.
She had no idea what he meant by the last statement, but he had it right about one thing: She was frightened. Terrified.
Some time later, he said, “The General is a good commander. Harsh, its true. But a man must be harsh to conquer the barrens of Jazid. He pulled our forces together out of nothing. He gave us hope when we had none. He brought the atajazid and Prince Markus to freedom. Its my honor to follow him. He sounded as if he were arguing with himself. “Nor is he weakened by sentiments that would undercut his strength.
Allegra didnt doubt he felt what he said. But she wondered whom he was trying to convinceher or himself.
They were riding around a jumble of rocks when he brushed back her hair and leaned down so his lips touched her cheek. “Still, if I had a woman like you, I would never hurt her.
Then dont take me to Yargazon, she tried to say. It came out as a faint, scared sound.
“Dont cry. He sounded miserable. Then he gave an angry whistle. “Damn it, stop weakening me! After that, he said no more.
Eventually they reached flatter land. He made an odd noise, like the call of a blackwing hawk. As they continued on, another call drifted on the air. A rider appeared out of the darkness, almost upon them before Allegra realized he was there.
“Zeik, the newcomer said.
“Its me, Zeik said.
The other man, apparently a sentry, exhaled. “The dragon has blessed us twice this night.
“Twice? Zeik asked. “Did the atajazid make it back?
“He did indeed. The sentrys tone lightened as he rode with them. “Weve been quiet, no noises, but the men are rejoicing.
“At least some good came of this night.
“What happened with the raid?
“Everyone else in the tent escaped, Zeik said sourly. “As soon as they started to disperse, we attacked.
“Only two of you have made it back. The sentry sounded subdued. “It looks like all the rest were killed.
“Its a sad business, Zeik said. “But they died for the atajazid, that he could go free.
Tears gathered in Allegras eyes. Yargazons plan had failedalmost. In the greater scheme of these history-making events, she was nothing, just one girl with a bit of mage power. Whether she ended up in Jazid or Aronsdale made little difference in the long view. It mattered only to her, who would suffer the brutal consequences of her capture, one small victory in a failed attempt to murder all the leaders of the settled lands.
They reached the Jazid camp and rode among shadowed tents. Sentries passed them, patrolling in the dark, and the one escorting them quietly sent another soldier out to keep his watch. He took Zeik deeper into the camp, past other guards. Ahead, a dim light grew larger. They were approaching a tent whose sides glowed from the inside. As Zeik reined in his horse, a stable boy ran to them.
Zeik dismounted, then reached up and pulled Allegra off the horse. The dodecahedron in her pocket jabbed her thigh as the tunic hiked over her leg. Zeik put her on her feet, and for a moment he kept holding her, even though she was neither falling nor fighting.
The sentry jumped down and handed his reins to the stable boy. As the youth led away the horses, Zeik took her arm. “Come. The General is waiting.
No! She balked, refusing to move. Zeik jerked her, and she stumbled a few steps. When she held back again, he and the guard took her by the arms and dragged her forward until she managed to pull her feet beneath her. They stopped in front of the tent, and the sentry went on inside, leaving Zeik and Allegra waiting.
Please. She tried to say it, but even she couldnt decipher the noise she made. She looked up at Zeik and willed him to relent, to show mercy, to take her away from here.
“Your eyes are as big as moons, he said, his voice strained. He cupped his hand around her cheek.
A tear ran out of her eye. Please dont do this.
“Ach, he muttered. “Dont look at me that way.
The sentry opened the tent. “You can bring her in. He lifted the flap and stepped aside.
Zeiks expression hardened, and he pushed Allegra through the entrance as if he were angry at her for his own compassion. The light wasnt bright inside, but after so long in the dark, she had to squint. The reek of scorched hemp saturated the air. Three men sat around a low table, studying maps and other parchments. A torch burned in a stand behind them, lighting their area but leaving the rest of the tent in shadow. She recognized all three: Generals Yargazon and Ardoz and Colonel Bladebreak. As Yargazon looked up, Zeik saluted, his fist turned up to the sky.
“Well done, Lieutenant, Yargazon said. “Excellent work. He indicated a pole that held up the roof to Zeiks left. “Put her there. Then he returned to his meeting.
Zeik took her to the pole and shoved her down on her knees. Crouching behind her, he worked on the thongs binding her wrists. When he freed them, she tried to bring her arms in front of her body, but he pulled her hands over her head. By the time she realized what he intended, he had stretched her arms tight and bound her wrists to a metal loop jutting out from the pole above her.
Dont, she tried to say. It hurts.
He avoided looking at her as he pulled her calves so she was sitting with her legs bent to the side. He tied her ankles to a metal loop jammed into the ground. She felt ill when she saw the blood that stained the rugnear her big toe.