“I was a political hostage, Drummer said tightly. “You dont maim and torture such prisoners.
“Youre right, according to unwritten rules of war, we dont. But thats the key word unwritten. He broke no actual laws. Jarid rubbed the heel of his hand over his eyes, then dropped his arm. “Ive talked to Markus. He says the custom of returning a hostage in pieces hasnt been done for centuries, but hes certain its still part of Jazids legal code.
“Thats appalling, Allegra said.
“Jazid doesnt rule here, Drummer said. “Yargazon may have forced my family to seek protection, but Baz Quaazera commands our army, and they havent stopped fighting. Wryly he added, “Sleepy or not.
“Nothing about this situation is clear cut, Jarid said. “But some facts are painfully clear. Aronsdale is surrounded at every border, and our mages are becoming prey. Especially those like you and Drummer, from the southwestern regions.
“Why us? Drummer asked. “Mages live in other places, too.
Jarid smiled slightly. “Dont either of you own a mirror?
“Well, actually, no, Allegra said. Jasmine had thought it absurd she had no interest in looking in a mirror.
“Why would I want a mirror? Drummer said. He was leaning on his hand, and Allegra could tell he was tiring. So was she.
“People covet you, Jarid said. “Youre mages, youre sensual and you look helpless. He flicked his hand through his black hair as if showing it to them. “Almost everyone in the settled lands has darker coloring and more height than you. People associate those traits with strength, not only in Jazid, but everywhere. Gold hair, blue eyes, even violetyou find them only in southwestern Aronsdale. Your slender builds, gentleness, softness, the beauty of the women, and forgive me, Drummer, but the prettiness of the menit makes you seem defenseless. People dont think of you as normal, and yes, maybe not fully human. It never caused problems during the generations of peace because no one noticed southern Aronsdale. You were insulated. But as our mages have become known, so has the desire of others to own you. His voice tightened. “Ill be damned if I let conquerors violate my country to take the most vulnerable of my people.
Allegra gaped at him, and Drummer turned red.
After a moment, Jarid spoke awkwardly. “Maybe I said too much.
“No. No, you didnt. Allegra found her voice. “I just cant see myself that way.
Drummer snorted. “Im just a minstrel, Jarid.
The king spoke quietly. “And Im just a blind, deaf, mute boy who grew up in a hut. But whatever we are, tomorrow we must be more for this summit of sovereigns.
Allegra stepped outside the medical tent into a cool night beneath a canopy of stars veiled by translucent clouds. Two guards flanked the entrance, though whether to protect or imprison her, she didnt know. Both were tall and broad, and wore armor with the crossed swords of Aronsdale on their breastplates. Their plumed helmets covered their upper faces, leaving only their chins visible. It unsettled her; she had never realized how much she relied on expressions to help her understand people. When she couldnt see their faces, they became more intimidating.
“Princess Allegra? one of the men asked. “Can we help you?
“I would like to see my husband. She had tried to sleep, unable to face him, but her tangle of emotions had only grown worse, until it drove her out here.
The guards exchanged glances, and the other man nodded. The one who had spoken said, “Im Major Lachlan. Ill take you.
“Thank you, Allegra said softly. She didnt miss the difference between the kindness of these Aronsdale guards and the severity of Cobalts grizzled captain from the Misted Cliffs.
She walked with Lachlan through the night, her feet protected by soft slippers. Lights showed here and there from torches or cooking fires, but the camp was mostly dark. Sounds drifted: the murmur of soldiers discussing a game of color-stones, the clank of a cook stowing a cauldron, the sizzle of water on a fire. Some people glanced her way, but most ignored her. As far as anyone knew, she was just another tender on an errand.
When they reached a blue tent with a peaked roof, Lachlan stopped. Two soldiers stood by its entrance, as imposing as the two outside the medical tent. Lachlan spoke with them in low tones, but she caught, “Onyx consort and “visitation rights.
Lachlan turned to Allegra. “Theyll take you in. If you wish to return to medical, one of them will take you back.
Allegra nodded her thanks. She didnt know the protocols for royal consorts yet, but her response seemed to satisfy him. A guard lifted the tent flap for her, and she went inside. The tent was similar to the one where she and Markus had slept before, with a table, two stools, a pallet and braziers in two corners. Markus was seated at the table with his dinner set out on pewter plates. He had a mug halfway to his lips, but when she entered, he slowly set it down.
She stopped in the center of the tent. “Markus
He stood carefully, as if she were a skylark doe that would bolt at the slightest provocation. Dark rings showed under his eyes, and his hair was a mess, as if he had raked it with his hands many times. He started to come around the table, then hesitated, watching her uncertainly. She also started toward him, but stopped almost immediately. Finally he let out a breath and walked over to her.
“Im glad you came, he said.
Allegra laid her hand against his chest, the cloth of his shirt soft under her palm. She wished she could feel his heartbeat.
Markus put his hand over hers. “Gods, Allegra, if I could take into myself the pain of what he did to you, if I could free you from that anguish, I would do it a hundred times over.
“I didnt Her voice broke as she reached for him. He drew her into his arms, and they stood embracing, his touch so very, very careful with her injuries. She closed her eyes while her body shook with the silent tears she had pent up all day.
He kept whispering “Im sorry over and over.
When her tears spent themselves, she pushed back, her palms on his chest. “Markus, Ill never be able to be around him. If you go back She couldnt say any more.
“Ill protect you, I swear.
“You cant always! And I shouldnt have to live needing that protection. Her hands clenched, and the rich material of his shirt crumpled in her fists. “You cant abhor the cruelty in Dusk Yargazon and yet let him vanquish countries in your name.
He caught her hands. “The world isnt drawn in such easy shades of light and dark.
A tear slid down her cheek. “As long as he remains your right hand, I cannot live with you as your wife. She wanted to hold him, touch his strong body, inhale his scent. Instead she released his shirt and dropped her arms by her sides. “Each day you allow him to continue as the power behind your reign, you become more of him and less of what is best within you. In a ragged voice, she said, “You could be a great leader, Markus. I wont be the excuse a demon like Yargazon uses, in his craving for power, to destroy a good man.
“You want me to deny what I am. He lifted her hand to his cheek. “Im a prince of the desert, not of your lush, rolling Aronsdale. Make no mistake, AllegraYargazon will pay for what he did to you. But I need him. Look at what he accomplished, starting from nothing, with the emperor set against him. Softly he said, “I would conquer a world for you, night bird, but I cannot stop being what defines me.
“Youre more than you know. Her voice caught. “But youll never find out as long as he darkens your life.
His gaze never wavered. “The darkness is already in me.
“It shadows you, maybe even adds to your strength. But it doesnt define you. She willed him to hear, really hear her. “If you continue with him anywhere, I cant go with you.
“Allegra, dont say that.
“Yargazon told me things last night. Her voice cracked. “Hell never rest until he takes me from you. Until he owns all of me, my body, my spirit, my will, my soul. He wants me broken and on my knees. I will not live in fear of the man you turn to as your greatest strength.