“Stop looking like that, he said in a low voice. “Your spells wont work on me. He hesitated, then pulled her tunic down, over her thighs. The cloth was too torn to cover much, especially with her arms pulled over her head, but his gesture of kindness made another tear roll down her cheek.
Zeiks face contorted as if he were in pain. “Im sorry, he muttered. When he reached up to her hands, for one incredible moment, she thought he would free her. But he was only checking the knots around her wrists. He pulled one, securing it perhaps. Then he stood up and turned toward Yargazon.
The General glanced up. “Thank you, Lieutenant. He inclined his head. “Im pleased. You will be rewarded.
“Thank you, sir.
Regret showed on Yargazons face. “We will hold a memorial for those who lost their lives tonight. Their sacrifice in rescuing the atajazid will be remembered. If you would like to speak for them?
“Sir, yes, I would, Zeik said. “Thank you.
“Very well, Lieutenant. You may go rest. The hint of a smile touched his expression. “Its well deserved, young man, and weve a few hours before we fight at dawn.
Zeik saluted and left the tent, accompanied by the sentry. Allegra felt as if her last hope of mercy had vanished. Not that she had really believed he would help her. But at least he had shown remorse. Watching the officers conferring with Yargazon, she wondered if they even cared what the General would do to her. She had thought Ardoz might, but neither he nor Bladebreak even acknowledged her presence. Perhaps they truly did think her evil.
Although she was too far away to hear all of their war council, she caught some. Their forces had occupied the palace in Quaaz, but the Taka Mal army continued to fight. Carrier birds had taken news of the invasion to Cobalts forces in Jazid, and many Jazidian soldiers had deserted that army to join Yargazons fugitives. Tonight Jazid and Taka Mal had called a temporary truce. They were waiting to see what would happen with Aronsdale and Harsdown, and for the arrival of the extra men from Jazid.
They also talked about the suicide raid. They had known it had little chance of success and that it violated accepted codes of war. They had been willing to try anyway, for if it had succeeded, the sun would have risen on a very different world. Ozi could have been close to becoming ruler of all the settled lands.
Yargazon finally set down the map he was holding and rubbed his eyes. “Its been a long night.
“So it has, Bladebreak said. “But when the men realize His Majesty has returned, it will improve morale.
“There is that. Yargazon rose to his feet with the others.
They spoke for a bit about inconsequential matters, and then Ardoz and Bladebreak bid him good-night. Ardoz glanced at Allegra as he and the colonel were leaving the tent, and a frown creased his face. He turned back to Yargazon. “Be careful with her, Dusk. Markus doesnt want her interrogated.
“Dont worry, Yargazon said. “Shell be fine.
Liar! Allegra thought. When Ardoz nodded and left the tent, she cried, Come back! but even she barely heard her muffled call.
Yargazon stretched his arms and rubbed the small of his back. He turned almost lazily toward Allegra. “So, he said. “The witch comes home.
Dont, she thought. She was having trouble breathing.
He came over and sat next to her with one leg stretched out and the other bent at the knee. Leaning his weight on one hand, he traced his finger up the inside of her elbow. With her wrists pulled over her head, her sleeves had fallen down to her shoulders, leaving her arms bare.
“Youre quiet tonight. Good. He touched her neckline. “This rag, however, offends me.
Dont hurt me, she thought, knowing it was futile.
He dropped his hand to his belt and pulled a dagger out of its gold sheath. As she stared at the knife, blood drained from her face. With methodical, relentless motions, he slit the neckline of her tunic, then ripped the cloth down her front. He cut off the sleeves and pulled away the scraps until none remained. Then he sat, his gaze traveling over her body.
“Ive wanted to do that since I first saw you, he said.
Her face flamed. She instinctively tried to pull her arms down to cover herself, but she could do nothing. He dropped the remaining rags of her tunic in a pile, and she saw the pocket that hid the dodecahedron. Unreachable.
Yargazon pointed his dagger at a structure half-hidden in shadow across the tent. “Do you see whats up there?
She squinted into the dark, but she could make out no more than a framework with a row of shapes along its top, cups or bottles perhaps.
“Theyre hourglasses, he said. “One hour each. Do you know how many are there?
She shook her head, and a curl fell into her eyes.
“Sixteen, he said. “One for each hour you left me chained. He picked up her curl and twirled it in his fingers, then deliberately let it fall back into her eyes. “You will pay for that. Folding his hand around her breast, he pinched her nipple. Then he leaned forward and kissed her cheek, his lips brushing the strap of her gag. “Sixteen hours for sixteen hours, he murmured.
No! Clenching her teeth, she wished she did have the power to curse him. May you lose everything youve ever cared about. Everything you love. The war. Markus. Ozarson. Everything.
Yargazon sheathed the dagger. Then he rose to his feet and walked to the row of hourglasses. He took one and turned around, holding it up so she could see. “The first hour, he said. He flipped it over and set it on a table where she could see it better. Sand began to pour from the upper into the lower half.
As the General walked back to her, Allegra flattened herself against the pole and wished she could shrink into it where he couldnt follow.
He stopped in front of her and looked down as he unbuckled his leather belt. “You may belong to him, he said, his voice low and angry, “but Im the one who controls you. He pulled the sheathed dagger off his belt and dropped it on the ground. “I will own you, Allegra, despite what those marriage documents say, because after tonight, you will know Im the one who has claimed your spirit.
Then he swung the belt.
The sand poured, and Allegra cried. She tried to distance herself from Yargazon and his swings, tried to think of Aronsdale, rolling green hills, her friends, Prince Aron, kindnesses she had known or of Markuss gentler side, instead of the violent warlord who wanted to conquer her in the same way he sought to conquer the brutal land that had forged him in the crucible of its merciless sun.
At one point, after Yargazons blows had become especially violent, he took a long breath and stepped back. Sitting on a crate, he leaned against a pole behind it, the belt hanging loose in his hand while the clenched set of his features eased. He closed his eyes, and his body relaxed for the first time that night.
Allegra breathed in ragged gasps, fighting for air, her face wet with tears. When she realized he had fallen asleep, relief surged through her. She didnt know what he would do to her for sixteen hours, but surely if he kept this up, she wouldnt survive.
Yargazon eventually lifted his head and rubbed his eyes. The intensity came back into his gaze as he watched her shuddering by the pole. Then he went to the shelf with the hourglasses. The first one had run out, so he took the second and lifted it so she could see. Then he flipped it over and set it on the table with the sand running. He returned to the pole
And swung his belt.
Her existence narrowed to each moment, one after another. She withdrew deep within herself, seeking a place where nothing could reach her, none of the cruelty that stamped this world.
A call came from outside the tent. “Sir?
Yargazon lowered his arm, the belt hanging from his hand. He wiped his other arm across his forehead, blotting the sweat from his exertions. Allegra shook with silent thanks for the reprieve.