Safar paid them no mind, averting the eyes of the females, shaking off the young beggars and sidestepping the challengers.
His goal was a small shabby stable near the rear gates. He'd risen before dawn that morning, made a few hasty additions to the plan he and Nerisa had discussed the previous night, then gone home to pack some necessities before his servants arose. Afterwards he'd taken his best horse to the stable by the gates. He'd left it with the sleepy-eyed stablemaster, along with enough coins to ensure the animal's care, but not so many as to arouse suspicion.
The whole time he'd prayed luck would be with him and the preparations would be unnecessary. He'd thought the first sign of that luck was Leiria's absence either at the mansion or his home. He'd assumed she was attending one of her training sessions"the transparent ruse Protarus and Kalasariz had used so their spy could report to them and receive her instructions.
As he approached the stable he thought at least that one bit of luck had held. If it hadn't he would've been forced to incapacitate Leiria in that same alley where he'd shed his cloak. Or, worse, be required to slay her. Safar had strong doubts he'd be able to do such a thing, no matter what the cost. Spy or not, Leiria had crept into his heart long ago and held a small piece of it.
There was no one about when he entered the ramshackle building. He called for the stablemaster, but no one answered. So he fished out a few coins, laid them on a work bench within easy sight and picked his way to the back where his horse and gear waited.
He froze in front of the stall. His horse was already saddled, bags strapped to the back, sheathed sword hanging by its belt from the pommel. On either side of his mount were two othersboth saddled and ready. But ready for whom? He moved closer and suffered another jolt. Both horses were his!
Straw rustled and he whirled, dragging out the only weapon he had, the small silver dagger.
Leiria stood there, mailed and fully armed. He nearly lurched at her with the dagger, but pulled back in time. Just as he'd feared he lacked the necessary hate.
"What are you doing here? he demanded.
Leiria held out her hands to show they were empty. He looked down and saw her sword was still in its sheath.
"I'm here to help you, Safar, she said.
Safar barked laughter. So I see, he said with heavy sarcasm. But to where? My grave?"
"I don't blame you for thinking that, she said. But you've got to believe me when I say I've never done or said anything to harm you. I told you once long ago I'd never betray you, Safar Timura. And I never have."
"What do you call spying?"
Leiria's eyes were pleading. If I didn't give the king and Kalasariz what they wanted, she said, they would have replaced me with someone else. Someone who didn't love you, Safar. And you know that I do. Even now, when your heart is with another woman."
Safar thought he saw truth, but he was desperately afraid he was seeing what he wanted, not what really existed.
"Besides, Leiria said, you never did anything wrong. You've never been a traitor. Never conspired. What did it hurt to tell them about your innocent excursions, friendly meetings, or all the long nights you spent studying books of magic? There's one thing I didn't tell them, however. I said nothing about the child. About Palimak."
"What are you saying? Safar said. They know he exists. It's no secret."
"They don't know he's part demon, she said. You kept it from me but I saw, Safar. I saw his eyes. What do you think Iraj would've imagined if he'd known that? His Grand Wazier in the arms of a woman with a monster for a child? Palimak's no monster, but that's not what Iraj would've thought. Especially after Kalasariz and Luka and Fari got to him. Whispering all kinds of disgusting things."
"I thank you for that, at least, Safar said. But it doesn't matter anymore. If I were you I'd get away from me just as fast as you can. Iraj and I are finished!"
"I know that, Safar, she said. You were finished before you met this morning. It'd all been decided. Iraj never had any doubt you'd refuse him. He just needed an excuse to bring you down. To declare Safar Timura a criminal. To blacken your name. He's afraid of you, Safar. He thinks you are his rival for his kingdom and the love of his subjects.
"But most of all, my dear, dear Safar, he's afraid and jealous of your magic."
She paused a moment. Saw the suspicion vanish from his eyes. Saw those eyes turn from icy blue to the color of the lake in far Kyrania.
He said, I'm sorry about Nerisa. He shrugged. I never meant it to happen."
"I know that, Leiria said.
"I thought she was dead."
"I know that too."
"I'm ashamed to admit that I've treated you badly."
"Never mind, Leiria said. There's no time for apologies or remorse now, my love."
She took a deep breath, then said, Hold on tight as you can while I tell you what's happened. I would have said it first, but I knew you'd think it was a trick. A trap.
"Nerisa and Palimak never left. They are still in Zanzair."
"What? Safar's voice came like a cry.
"She was betrayed by Abubensu, Leiria said. The carriage never arrived. He delayed her with lies until it was too late to find another. Now there are guards outside her home. Not many, but she knows they're there so she doesn't dare leave."
"How much time do we have? Safar asked.
"I don't know, Leiria said. A few hours at most. They would've moved sooner but it's you they want most of all. Besides, they have to gather their nerve and their forces to oppose you. You can be sure when they come it'll not be just with soldiers, but with Fari's best wizards and witch sniffers.
"That's how much they fear you."
Leiria indicated the horses. Everything's ready. We have only to ride."
And ride they did. A mad clatter of iron hooves, shouted curses and cries of alarm as they dashed through the streets. They burst through the busy market place, scattering shoppers and knocking over stalls. They tore through parks, leaping hedges and showering mud. But when they came to the hill leading up to Nerisa's mansion they hauled the horses in, dismounted as quietly as they could, and hid them among some trees.
Then they crept up the hill in full daylight, using every rock and stump and bit of brush for cover. A young nurse with two young charges in tow saw them and hurried away. A gardener came on them while they were lying in a hedge and Leiria took him captive as gently as she could and bound him with leather laces from her harness.
There were four guards patrolling the grounds. Three demons and a hulking brute of a human.
They killed all four, quietly and efficiently.
Then they were at the door.
"I'll get the horses, Leiria said and she turned and ran back down the hill.
The door came open and Nerisa rushed into Safar's arms.
"I was afraid you'd never come, she said. And I was more afraid you would. It's you they want, not me."
"I wish that were true, Safar said. But when the king condemned me he condemned you as well.
"Now, quick! Get Palimak. We have to flee!"
Then they were out on the broad lawn and Leiria was thundering up, leading two horses behind her.
Safar took Palimak while Nerisa mounted. The child was silent, trembling. Eyes flashing from yellow to hazel and back again.
Then Nerisa was fully mounted and she reached down to take the child.
Safar was handing him up when Gundara suddenly shouted, They're coming, Master! They're coming!"
He whirled, clumsy with the child still in his hands. Down the hill he saw helmed demons and humans kicking their mounts up the road. Then he heard the bay of the witch sniffers and saw the devil hounds bounding in front of the troops. He felt a blast of magic and reeled back, stumbling against Nerisa's horse, which shrilled and shied away. He heard her shout to him to hand up the child.