Vizarana inclined her head. “Please do.
CHAPTER 28
THE DEATH OF INNOCENCE
The only light in the Aronsdale tent came from coals in a brazier shaped like a horse. It dimly lit Markuss face as he sat cross-legged on the pallet with Allegra.
“It would never work, he said.
She willed him to consider the compromise. “Ozarson could live here in Quaaz, rather than in hiding.
He held up his hand with his thumb and forefinger almost touching. “Were this close to taking Taka Mal. I dont think the Dawnfield armies will help Cobalt.
“Yes, you might conquer this country, Allegra said. “But at what price? More death and destruction that drives yet someone elses thirst for vengeance?
“Thats the price of war.
“You dont have to fight! She wanted to shake him. “Jarid will never release you to Yargazon. Youre a hostage for the Generals behavior. Dusk Yargazon will raise Ozarson. Is that what you want? Sitting in front of him, grasping his hands, she said, “I dont know if Jarid will give you to Taka Mal, either, but surely hell consider it. He doesnt want to choose sides in this impossible war. And think of this, Markus. No one wants to risk Jarid and me doing more spells. Theyre afraid. It could encourage them to consider this compromise.
“I would still be a hostage, he said.
“You would have both Ozi and me. And your House will someday rule in Taka Mal. She didnt know if having her meant enough to him to give up Taka Mal, but Ozarson was another story. “If you let this war go on, youll have neither.
His voice hardened. “I wont stay a hostage, Allegra, no matter what your kingor his son, Arondo.
“Is that what you want? To break my country, too? It was the only way he could force Jarid to release him.
“We didnt come to fight Aronsdale, he said. “If we must, we will, but that isnt my wish. He closed his hand around her forearm. “I wont be anyones hostage, Allegra.
“You would rather fight? She thought of the threatening blend of sexuality and aggression she had felt from Yargazon and Bladebreak. “Do you enjoy war so much?
“Do you think I would have resigned my commission if I did? I was a good officer. I earned my rank through more than heredity. But I prefer governance. Except that isnt what fate handed me. Bitterness tinged his voice. “What would I like? For Cobalt to return the throne and pull his troops out of Jazid. While were dreaming, lets add a population of ten million with a social and governing structure to support that many. A medical system that provides decent care. Guilds, real cities, a system of roads, wells and irrigation, and hell, if were really dreaming, how about it goddamn rains more than twice a year. He lifted his hand, then dropped it. “That isnt going to happen. And Cobalt isnt going to leave unless we force him out.
Allegra wondered what would have happened if Cobalt had never taken Jazid after Ozars death. Markus would have made a good leader. Cobalt was too removed from the country. His people there were primarily military, and they considered the Misted Cliffs their home. Although Cobalt didnt seem to wish ill for the country, she didnt think he cared about developing it, not in the way Markus dreamed. Cobalt wanted the immense riches Jazid had to offer; beyond that, it seemed fine with him if they went on as always. Markus looked to what his country could become, visions that he, and Ozarson after him, had the ability to make real.
“Work with the Quaazeras instead of trying to crush them, she urged him. “Your two Houses together may someday defeat Cobalt. If the emperor brought all his forces to bear, he would have over eight thousand men, but he would have to pull them out of other countries he held. It was a risk. A big one. “If Jazid and Taka Mal strain his forces to breaking, he might let Jazid go rather than imperil his sway elsewhere.
“We can defeat him now, Markus said.
“Even if you win here, you still lose.
He frowned at her. “What does that mean?
“Suppose you get what you want, she said. “Taka Mal joins you and helps free your country. Then what? Do you think they will just accept Jazid sovereignty? You have to hold what you win, Markus, and you need only look at Cobalts reign to see how difficult that is. Hes not the most involved sovereign, but hes not hurting Jazid, either, and even then, your people resent him. How will the people here feel about Ozarson taking the throne by force? Vizarana offers you a genuine alliance. It isnt what you want, and I truly am sorry. Believe it or not, I agree Ozi should sit on the Onyx Throne. But ultimately, what the queen offers is better than what you will win even if everything goes as you hope.
“Every campaign has its ill side. He shook his head. “Dusk will never agree to her idea.
“ Youre the prince regent, damn it! She jerked her hands away from him. “Be a man of vision.
His voice hardened. “I see. So its vision only when it agrees with what you want.
“Ah, Markus, maybe I just dont have the ability to show you why I think its better. She shook her head and started to rise.
He caught her hand and tugged her back down. “You arent staying here?
“I cant.
“I dont want you to go.
“Markus
“Stay, Allegra. He pulled her into his arms.
Allegra pushed against his shoulders. “Let me up. She heard the quaver in her voice and hated her rush of fear. But after what had happened with Yargazon, she wasnt ready for physical intimacy. Markus wasnt hurting her, not after Jarids spells had helped her wounds heal. But she ached inside in a way even an indigo spell couldnt soothe, and when Markuss touch turned from simple embraces to more, it was too much.
“Dont do this. Markus sounded bewildered. “First you hate me, then you love me, then you hate me. I cant bear it. He drew back her head and kissed her. “Just love me.
“Markus, stop. She pulled away, panic lurking at the edges of her mind. He didnt understand about Yargazon, but that just made it harder to talk about it with him. And he was holding her with his legs on either side of her body. Two days ago it wouldnt have bothered her. She had liked it. But now it reminded her of how Bladebreak had held her. She hated that he and Yargazon could so deeply injure the fragile affection she and Markus had been building, but she couldnt stop her reaction.
“This is what I am, Markus said. “Either accept me or leave me. Dont torment me this way.
“I cant stay with you. Not like this.
“Why? The words tore out of him. “Always you say this. You cant stay with me. You cant bear my decisions. You despise me. Well, more the fool am I, because no matter how much you push me away, I cant let go. You say I held you against your will. But youve put me in a prison I cant escape. And now you want me to become a hostage for years, possibly for the rest of my life.
“Markus, no, I dont despise you. Its just She wrestled with the words. “This is like last night.
He stared at her in disbelief. “Youre comparing me to Dusk?
“No! I dont know. Markus, let me go. Please.
“No. He bent his head and kissed her again.
Images of Yargazon ripping her tunic, touching her body, kissing her, burst into her mind. She saw his hunger, saw him raising the belt. She jerked back from Markus and hit her fists on his shoulders, though in her mind she was striking Yargazon. “Dont hurt me!
He grasped her hands and held them in front of his body. “Everything I am hurts you. He spoke as if his heart were breaking. “I never claimed to be a good man. But gods, Ive tried. Ive never beaten you, never forced you in bed, never denied your humanity. But you want me to bend so much, Im breaking. He took a breath. “You have to tell me something. Say it, and Ill let you go from this tent, from my life, from everything. I want to hear it before you leave me.
Her pulse lurched at his tone. “Tell you?