“Shes a lucky woman.
“Im glad someone thinks so. He grimaced. “So many of her people cant see beyond my having been her exotic Aronsdale prize. But I do love her.
Allegra didnt know how she felt about Markus. Thinking about him hurt too much. “Why do they hunt us? Its like were prey.
A voice spoke behind them. “I would also like an answer to that question.
She looked around with a start. Jarid was walking over to them. Rather than armor, tonight he wore dark trousers and a blue shirt. He sat on the floor with them, with his elbow resting on his bent knee. He could have pulled over a stool, but he didnt seem inclined. Allegra would have never expected the king of her country to sit so casually on the ground.
“I didnt mean to eavesdrop, he said. “I heard you as I came in.
Drummer pushed up on his elbows, then winced and lay down. Allegra nodded to the king, unsure if she should bow when she was sitting in a medical tent. Jarid didnt look as if he cared. The strain on his face had aged him years in one night.
“Is everyone still asleep? Drummer asked him.
“The armies are waking, Jarid said. “So far, no tragedies. The injuries are mostly dehydration and burns from the sun.
“The spell seemed so innocuous, Allegra said. Putting so many people to sleep for so long suddenly didnt look harmless. “Did you wake them? she asked Jarid.
“I helped. They started coming to on their own about an hour ago. He tilted his head as he considered her. “Ive never made a sleep spell before. How did you do it?
“Im not sure. It embarrassed her to explain her inadequate attempts to the greatest mage alive. “My husband suffers from insomnia. The first time, I was trying to help him. Its like offering comfort, but so much that the person falls asleep.
He gave a wry laugh. “Its certainly the most innovative way Ive ever heard of stopping a battle.
Drummer pushed himself up, persisting this time until he was sitting on the pallet. He took a blue sleep shirt that was crumpled by his pillow and slipped it on, wincing as he pulled his arms through the sleeves. His legs were under the sheet with his bandaged left foot sticking out the end.
“Youre moving better, Jarid said.
Drummer answered wryly. “Moving at all is an improvement.
Jarid glanced at Allegra. “How do you feel?
“Tired. But better. Thank you for helping. She hesitated, then asked, “What happened with Yargazon?
“Nothing that I know of, Jarid said. “We didnt risk trying to reach anyone else. A few people were already waking up.
“I would have gone after Yargazon anyway, Drummer said flatly. “And killed him.
Allegra understood his reaction, and he had endured far worse than she at Yargazons hand. She didnt want the General dead; she wanted him to suffer. Endlessly. But not at Ozis expense. “Is the atajazid all right? she asked.
“I assume so, Jarid said. “Hes still in the Jazid camp. He considered them both. “When the two of you are ready, we need to meet with the other army commanders.
“Theyre going to talk? Allegra had been afraid to hope.
“A truce has been called. For now. Wryly he added, “You frightened a lot of people, Allegra. No one knows what youre going to do or who youre going to do it for.
“But I cant do any
He held up his hand. “Let them worry that you might. Its valuable for negotiations. And it will protect you. He tilted his head toward Drummer. “Both of you.
“Protect us? Drummer asked uneasily. “Why?
“Im afraid its true, what Allegra said, Jarid answered. “Aronsdale mages are no longer safe. Its my responsibility to see to your protection. Then he added, “Our protection.
Allegra couldnt imagine Jarid needing protection. A violet mage. Had he not refused to use his abilities in violence, he could have become a tyrant far crueler than Yargazon or Cobalt. He didnt need to put people to sleephe could kill them.
“The days are gone when mages can go unnoticed, Jarid said. “Were no longer fables told to children at night. It started twenty years ago, during the war between Cobalts father and myself. I brought down part of Castle Suncroft in the last battle. You cant hide that. Two years ago, Mel shattered the Rocklands with lightning. Then Baz Quaazera married the fire opal mage. Drummer, you try to hide what you do, but rumors are always swirling about you. He glanced at Allegra. “Your husband told me the specifics he and Yargazon gave the nomads for the woman they wanted. It was an exact description of a mage girl from southwestern Aronsdale. They may not have realized what they were seeking, but they knew your people existed and were valuable.
“Wait, slow down, Drummer said. “Her husband and Yargazon? He stared at Allegra. “Who the blazes is your husband, that he associates with Jazids most brutal war criminal?
Allegra forced herself to meet his gaze. “Markus Onyx.
“Gods almighty. Drummer stared at her. “No wonder youre upset about the marriage.
Allegra flushed, unable to answer.
“Hes asking to see you, Jarid told her.
“I cant, she said. “Not yet.
Jarid spoke quietly. “For what its worth, Allegra, when he learned how we found you, he was ready to kill General Yargazon.
“He wont, she said. “Yargazon is the closest he has to a father now that his own is dead.
“Do you love him? Jarid asked.
She wasnt certain why the king of Aronsdale cared, but after all he had done for her, she felt she should answer him. “I think so. But I cant live the way he does. If we were in Aronsdale, it would be different. I would have the support of the culture. But I cant imagine living in Jazid.
Drummer spoke. “Jarid, its hard even for me, and I live in Taka Mal, which is less rigid than Jazid. Anger edged his voice. “Many people there dont see me as a man, because of the way I look. They think Im not quite human, but some exotic colt their queen caught. They dont say it aloud, maybe they dont even admit it to themselves, but Ive stopped making green spells when Im with the royal court, because their reaction is so intense. And Im not under the kind of pressure she would be in Jazid. It would be asking a lot of her.
Allegra stiffened as she looked at Jarid. “You want me to go with Markus?
“Not unless you wish it. But it will come up in the summit. Jarid tilted his head toward Drummer. “His marriage established a treaty between Aronsdale and Taka Mal. Youre in my custody, under my protection, a citizen of my country, and you married Jazids prince regent. This morning you and I stopped a battle. Everyone will want to know if Im considering a treaty with your husband.
“But if you have a truce, she said, “doesnt it mean neither you nor the Harsdown king has to decide whether or not to fight?
“Only if the truce holds, Jarid said. “Unless we come to terms in this summit, the fighting will start again.
Drummer crossed his arms. “Taka Mal will never recognize the atajazids claim to the Topaz Throne.
“And Cobalt wont relinquish the Onyx Throne, Jarid said tiredly. “I see no solutions, especially if General Yargazon is able to secure Quaaz.
Drummers fist clenched in the blanket. “Hes a war criminal. He should be executed.
“Hes a war criminal because Cobalt declared him one, Jarid said. “Unfortunately, the only crime we can prove is that he cut off your toe. And even that isnt certain.
“You have my testimony, Drummer said. “Saints, man, you have my damn toe.
“The evidence isnt the problem, Jarid said. “Its whether or not he broke laws.
Allegra couldnt believe it. “How can you say that after all hes done?
“Because everything hes done is legal in Jazid. The king sounded as if he felt heavy. Weighed down. “His army has taken every Taka Mal town on their route to Quaaz. Theyve taken Quaaz. They claim to have taken the throne. If the atajazid can hold it, then Jazid rules here, which means the laws of Jazid hold.