She kept going.
Her world narrowed to the pain in her feet and the relentless sun as it rose in the sky. Quaaz was located on the only large lake in Taka Mal, but she saw no sign here of the rivers that fed that vital body of water. The ground was packed hard by fighting that had already taken place. The armies had claimed their dead and injured, but she passed a crushed helmet here, a torn leather strap there, an empty water bag half buried under a rock.
She kept going.
And when she reached the Taka Mal army sprawled at the far edge of the basin, she limped among the sleeping men. All of them, rank upon rank upon rank. Sleeping.
She saw movement.
A man was walking among the Taka Mal warriors. Allegra stopped, uncertain what to do. She knew when he sighted her, for he called to another man and pointed toward her. She thought of running, but she had no idea where to go. She was on a plain. It had no place to hide. She couldnt run anyway. She could barely walk.
The two figures approached her.
It soaked into her mind that these men wore armor with the Harsdown jaguar on their breastplates. One stopped a short distance away and the other came closer, a burly fellow in his forties, with a wide face that gave him a stoic appearance. A shock of golden-brown hair fell down his neck. His expression was odd. It took a moment before she realized it seemed strange because of his concern. Nothing covetous. No submerged desire to inflict violence. No anger or hatred or lust or cruelty. Just concern.
“Its all right, he said gently. “I wont harm you.
Allegra backed up a step.
The man raised his hands as if to show her he had no weapons. He had a sword strapped across his back, however. Dully, she realized the warriors sleeping around them had curved swords. Curves and shapes
“Im Arkandy, the man said. “Sphere-Colonel Arkandy Ravensford, Harsdown Seventh Regiment.
She had no answer for that.
The other man joined Ravensford. With his dark hair and eyes, he could have been from anywhere: Misted Cliffs, Aronsdale, Shazire, Taka Mal, Jazid. He had the jaguar on his breastplate, though. He spoke to the colonel. “I called over the medical cart.
Medical cart. That stirred Allegras memory. “Yes, she said. “For Drummer.
Both Ravensford and the other man stiffened. Ravensford said, “You know where we can find Drummer Headwind?
“I can show you. She turned and stared across the basin at the distant bluffs where the Jazid army was camped. Had she truly walked all that way? Too farnever make it back
Someone caught her as she fell.
“No. Allegra twisted away from his hands and crumpled to her knees. “Dont touch me.
Ravensford crouched down without touching her. He motioned to his right. “Can you climb in there?
Numbly she looked up. A cart with a canvas roof and open sides waited a few paces away, with two oxen to pull it. Several Harsdown soldiers stood there, including one who wore a uniform instead of armor and mail. A patch on his shoulder showed the candle insignia that symbolized the medical corps.
Allegra tried to get up, but it hurt too much. Her vision blurred. Ravensford was watching her with a strange expression, as if he simultaneously wanted to comfort her and kill someone. He spoke kindly. “I wont touch you without your consent. No one will. I dont know who left those welts and bruises all over you, but believe me, no one here will do anything like that. We can help. If you cant get into the medical cart, I can carry you. But only if its all right with you.
She trusted no one. But she didnt miss the contrast; Colonel Bladebreaks first response upon finding her was to embrace and fondle her, despite her protests and injuries. This colonels first response was to express concern and ask her consent to help.
“Yes, she whispered. “Carry
Ravensford picked her up with one arm under her legs and the other around her back. He rose to his feet and carried her to the cart. As he laid her inside, under the shade of its roof, the doctor said, “Shes the only conscious person weve found in the entire army.
“Maybe the Jazid army wasnt affected, Ravensford said. “I think this is Allegra Onyx. She and the atajazid were taken last night by Yargazons men.
Allegra Onyx? That wasnt her name. She was Allegra Linseed. Or maybe Jazid men renamed their wives for themselves.
The doctor climbed into the cart and sat near Allegra while he opened a battered satchel. One of the soldiers climbed onto a plank seat at the front and prodded the oxen into motion. They didnt go very fast; Ravensford and the other soldier were able to walk alongside the cart.
When Allegra realized they were headed toward the foothills near Quaaz, she said, “Wait. No. She pulled into a sitting position, facing backward in the cart, and pointed toward the Jazid camp. “We have to get Drummer.
Ravensford held up his hand to the driver, and the other man brought the oxen to a halt. The colonel turned to Allegra. “Drummer is in the Jazid camp.
Her mouth felt dry. “We have to get him before they wake up.
The doctor made an incredulous noise. “Theyre asleep, too? Saints almighty, is anyone awake?
“Thats how I escaped. As Allegras numbness was wearing off, she could feel her injuries. “No one was awake. I can show you where to find Drummer. Her voice caught. “If he doesnt see a doctor soon, hell die. She feared it would be her fault, for she had put to sleep anyone who could have helped him.
Ravensford motioned to the driver, who brought the cart around. Soon they were headed across the sun-drenched basin toward the distant crags that sheltered the Jazid army. The doctor took bandages and bottles out of his satchel, but when he leaned toward Allegra, she shook her head. She couldnt bear to have anyone touch her. He started to protest, but whatever look she had on her face stopped him. He exhaled, then settled back and returned his potions to his satchel.
They continued on, but they were going slowly, much too slowly. “Are all the horses asleep? Allegra asked. “We should bring Drummer out as fast as possible. She wanted to get Ozarson, too, but she doubted they could risk going after more than one person.
“Some of our horses are awake, Ravensford said. He thought for a moment. “A medical cart has immunity in many places during combat, but for us to go into the midst of the Jazid camp with you in the cart is too much of a risk. What if they wake up? Then he added, “Or you could be lying, sent by one of your husbands generals to trick us.
“Im not lying. She could see why he was worried, though. “But its true, I dont know when they will wake up.
“How can thousands of people be asleep? the doctor asked. “We cant wake anyone.
Thousands? Allegra finally began to comprehend what she was seeing. Had she and Jarid done this? She slumped back, her head falling against the pole that held up a corner of the canvas roof.
“Allegra? Ravensford asked.
“Yes? she asked.
“Then that is your name. Youre the regents consort.
“Is Markus all right? It hurt to ask about him, given what had happened, for he was the one who allowed Yargazon free rein.
“Hes fine, Ravensford said. “Just asleep.
“Butisnt he with Cobalts army?
The colonel regarded her steadily. “Theyre asleep. Cobalts men, Jarids, everyone. The Harsdown army was the farthest away, so whatever happened didnt affect all of us.
She lifted her head. “King Jarid is probably awake. If she had recovered early, he would, too.
“He wasnt when we left this morning.
“Neither was I. But I am now.
The colonels forehead creased. “Why would that matter?
She bit her lip, staring toward the distant hills. Then she said, “We did it.
“Did what? the doctor asked kindly.
She looked at him. “I sang.
The doctor glanced at Ravensford, and the colonel shook his head, his expression puzzled.