Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

Panic flared within Allegra and she balked. “I cant go in there. I cant do this.

“Allegra, this isnt difficult, Stubble said, his voice strained and impatient. “They just want to look at you.

“Dont force us to drag you in, Driver said.

She would die before she let herself be dragged in front of the two most notorious men in Jazid. When Stubble pulled her, she walked forward with her jaw clenched. The man with the sword pulled aside the drape, and they all escorted her into the other room.

It glittered. The wall hangings were metallic gold and white. Blue-glass lamps fashioned into dragons shone with gold plate. Gold and ivory chests gleamed in corners, and metallic dragon patterns curled across the white carpet. Two men sat at a low table across the room, reclining on white cushions. The table was set with china and gold, and they drank from crystal goblets. Allegra felt excruciatingly vulnerable in the unrelenting brightness. She wanted to curl up and hide, or flee this place of cruel, hard beauty.

Stubble guided her forward, his hand on the small of her back. The stares of the buyers could have burned her skin. They both had black hair and eyes, but their resemblance to the nomads ended there. These men were to the TAmbera as jaguars were to stray cats.

It was obvious which was the General. His black uniform glinted with silver on the cuffs, and its severe cut accented his broad shoulders. The heavily corded tendons in his neck slanted into his shoulder muscles and under his collar. Jazids unforgiving sun had weathered his face and prominent nose, turning his skin leathery. He had a cold, steely demeanor. Wrinkles bracketed his mouth and creased the corners of his eyes, but she had no doubt he could easily best warriors half his age.

She looked at the other man.

Markus Onyx. Even reclined on a cushion, he looked violent. Nothing gentle showed in the planes of his face, only a sense of brutality deepened by his intense stare. His sculpted features might have been handsome if he had looked human, but no hint of compassion showed on his face. He wore dark trousers with an elegant cut and a leather belt studded with rubies and onyx. More onyx edged the cuffs of the dark red shirt that pulled over his powerful shoulders. His gaze raked Allegra with an appraising possessiveness.

Stubble and one of the armed men brought Allegra over to the buyers. Someone behind her pushed on her shoulders, and she dropped to both knees on a cushion in front of the glittering table. The nomads knelt on one knee to the prince regent, each with one arm resting across his thigh and his eyes downcast. The General sat relaxed in his chair, watching them with a predators gaze. Markus, however, watched Allegra. She knew because, unlike everyone else, she hadnt averted her eyes. She stared at him as if she were a skylark doe mesmerized by torchlight, and his dark stare seemed to bore through her.

Markus waved his hand. How the nomads knew with their eyes downcast, Allegra had no idea, but they immediately rose to their feet. She started to, as well, but someone caught her shoulder, holding her down. She wanted to cross her arms over her breasts, but it would only draw more attention, and she would feel even more exposed when they forced down her arms. She struggled to breathe as her panic grew.

Inhale slowly, she told herself. Out. Slowly.

Yargazon narrowed his gaze as if she were a poor substitute for whatever he expected. “Her hair is the wrong color.

Stubble spoke with deference. “My apologies, sir. We couldnt find one with the fire-hair.

Fire-hair? He must mean red, like the girl Rose mentioned. Stubble didnt sound perturbed, which made her wonder if he thought Yargazon was just trying to bargain.

The prince waved his hand at the nomads. “You may all wait outside.

Allegra would have never thought she wanted nomads to stay with her, but being alone with these two was even worse. Or not completely alone; eight men in black uniforms stood around the room, at attention, swords on their belts. She shot a frantic look at Stubble. He hesitated as if he hadnt expected the buyers to tell them to leave, either. But he shook his head almost imperceptibly at her. No surprise there. As far as they were concerned, Markus was their sovereign rather than Emperor Cobalt. They wouldnt refuse him.

After Stubble and the other nomads left, Yargazon spoke. “You. Girl. His deep voice rumbled. “Look at me.

Perspiration was gathering on Allegras temples. She turned to the General, then flinched at his hard stare.

“Whats your name? he asked.

“Allegra. She wondered if Markus had told the nomads to leave so they wouldnt figure out what he and Yargazon liked about her. Another bargaining tactic.

“Allegra? Yargazon said. “That makes no sense.

“Its a musical reference, Markus said lazily, sprawled on his cushion. He sounded relaxed, but his posture spoke more of aggressive tension than anything else. “They do that in Aronsdale. Name people after useless concepts.

Allegra stiffened. “I dont consider music useless.

Markus raised an eyebrow as if surprised she knew how to speak. “I imagine you wouldnt. His voice was like a well-oiled weapon. He motioned at the meal before them, steaming silver platters of curry and rice in a saffron sauce. A bowl of oranges stood next to the decanter of blood-red wine, and an enticing aroma wafted up from a loaf of spiced bread.

“Serve us, Markus said.

Allegra gritted her teeth. She hadnt had anything resembling a good meal in days. Now he wanted her to wait on them while she practically swooned with hunger? The hell with them.

“Serve yourself, she told Markus.

He glanced at Yargazon. “Did she just say what I thought?

“I believe she said, Serve yourself, the General answered.

“So she did. Markus considered Allegra. “I wonder what our good general thinks we should do about that.

“I racked the last one, Yargazon said. “Perhaps that would help here.

Allegra jerked around to him. “Thats sick!

Markus spoke in a deceptively quiet voice. “What do you say, Allegra, hmm? Shall I let my general stretch you out?

Sweat gathered on Allegras palms, and it was all she could do to keep from wiping them on her legs. “No.

He indicated the dinner. “Then perhaps you will serve us.

She knew she should just do it and get it over with. But their casual attitude was too much. Her fist clenched on her thigh, and before she had time to think, she said, “Yes, you can torture people without any consequences. That doesnt make you better than anyone else. Putting a woman on a rack isnt powerful. Its weak and its brutal.

A muscle twitched in Markuss cheek. But he only glanced at Yargazon and spoke with a deceptively mild tone. “She talks a lot.

“Indeed. Yargazon beckoned to her. “Come here.

She was having trouble breathing. Their mild tones didnt fool her. They were angry; she saw it in the glint of their eyes. She stayed put, kneeling before the table with one of them on each side.

Yargazon leaned forward. The table was so small, he easily closed his hand around her upper arm. “I said, come here.

Then he yanked.

She cried out as she flew forward and slammed into the corner of the table. The edge gouged her belly, then raked her leg as Yargazon dragged her forward. She sprawled across his lap on her stomach, her hair flying loose from its coil. The General jerked her upright and backhanded her across the face. With a gasp, she flew backward and landed on her side on the pillow where she had been kneeling. She lay gulping in breaths, too stunned to move.

Yargazon spoke in an icy voice. “I believe you were going to serve His Highness.

Allegra lifted her head to look at Markus. She couldnt read anything in his dark eyes, no hint of remorse for what Yargazon had just done in his name. She had read of such tyrants, who would just sit back while their people committed atrocities for them, as if that absolved them of responsibility for the damage.