Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“Dont you want to know who bought you? Stubble asked.

“I dont care, she said dully.

“But you should know! Rose said.

Allegra rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. She thought about what he had said. I doubt hell let them put you to death. “Its the General?

“No, not Yargazon. Then Stubble said, “The prince regent.

Rose gave Allegra a yellow silk robe to pull over the skirt and halter, covering her body. Allegra wished it could become a spell of invisibility, hiding her from the brutal man who had paid a fortune to steal her life and freedom.

Her sellers were outside, Stubble, Vardok, Driver, Sot. She heard them talking as they waited for the princes retinue. Stubbles brother had taken his nieces to their cousins tent, to keep them out of anyones notice. Allegra stood inside with Rose, a tear on her face.

“Dont cry, Rose said. “Maybe he wont be so bad.

“Do you really believe that?

Rose shifted her weight. “Tales of royal houses are always exaggerated.

“Tales of what? Allegra asked bitterly. “Torture?

“He is a fugitive king, Rose said. “He escaped the conqueror who sought to kill him, and now he plots Cobalts overthrow. His survival is a great inspiration to our people. It is natural stories would circulate of his power, his courage, his strength.

“That wasnt what I asked, Allegra said.

“Im sorry, Rose said softly.

That was answer enough. Allegra couldnt bear to hear more. Her injuries ached, and the miradella fever sapped her spirit.

Rose laid her hand on Allegras arm. “It will be all right.

Allegras voice caught. “I thank you for your kindness.

A commotion rumbled outside, horses stomping and mens voices. The ground vibrated with the pounding of hooves.

“Farewell, Rose said. “Be well.

Allegra squeezed her hand. “You, too.

Someone swept aside the tent flap, and Allegra stepped back with a start. Stubble stood there with a man in a black uniform. Allegra wasnt certain of the hierarchies here. The man would be Yargazons officer, since he was military, but that meant he served Markus. She wondered uneasily how Markus and his general settled this business of bidding for the same woman. Each had to keep the other happy, Yargazon because he commanded Markuss army, and Markus because he commanded Yargazon. She just hoped whatever agreement they reached didnt involve them hurting her.

As Stubble and the officer entered, Allegra backed away. Stubble caught her arm before she could retreat more than a step.

“It will be all right, he murmured as if to a thoroughbred horse that spooked easily.

“Bring her outside, the officer said. “His Highness wants to leave immediately.

“No, Allegra said. Matters were whirling out of control. She couldnt stop this and she couldnt escape, but she couldnt face the future they thrust onto her. Stubble pulled her forward. Then they were outside, and the evening sun slanted across the desert, gilding the tents, turning yellow into gold, red into ruby, green into emerald. Such a harsh people, yet they created such beauty.

A group of mounted officers waited, horses stepping restlessly, bridles clinking, saddles gleaming. She didnt see Yargazon, but Markus was on the far side, conferring with another mounted man, a colonel it looked like, if she read the silver ribbing on his shoulders correctly. The prince rode a massive horse, which of course was the color of onyx. Black. How depressingly apt.

The officer with Stubble said, “I can take her from here. He nodded with respect to the nomad. “His Highness is pleased.

“It is our honor to serve the prince regent, Stubble said. “May he always be favored by the Shadow Dragon.

Allegra gritted her teeth. Favored indeed. This dragon of theirs ought to reduce them to ashes.

The officer lifted his hand as if he were inviting Allegra to dinner. He never touched her, but with all the warriors here, she felt as coerced as if he had dragged her in chains. In her yellow silk robe, she was the only one not wearing a dark color, and it drew attention like a visual shout.

Markus glanced down as they reached him. “Is she ready?

The officer bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.

“Does she have any things?

“I dont know, Sire.

“You could ask me, Allegra said tartly. “Im standing right here.

Markus regarded her impassively. “Do you?

“Nothing. The nomads stole it all. She squinted up at him, dizzy from the fever. “I thought you were going to execute me.

Incredibly Markus smiled. “I hardly think so, after what I just paid. He glanced at the officer. “Lieutenant Borjan.

Whatever Markus wanted, the man understood. He put his hands around Allegras waist and lifted her. At the same time, Markus reached down and grasped her just above Borjans grip, his thumbs pressing into her breasts. He hoisted her in front of him on the horse, sideways, so her legs hung down one side. Unlike his men, he had a riding blanket instead of a saddle. Taking her leg, he eased it over the horse so she straddled the animal. Her robe hiked up, baring her legs, and the evening breeze whispered across her skin. She still had that unsettling feeling of being oversensitized, and it magnified her awareness of every touch and texture.

Allegra looked downand inhaled sharply. She was up higher than on any horse she had ridden before. It gave her vertigo to see the ground so far below. Markus trailed his finger along her thigh, then put his arms around her waist and settled her against his chest. She hated the way she had to close her eyes and sag against him, wretched with fever. She felt as if she were burning alive. She needed to lie down.

Markus shouted, “Hai! and snapped his quirt, the same whip the General had used on Allegra earlier today. With a snort, the horse pranced forward. The men still on foot swung up onto their mounts, and the company surged into motion. One of the men raised a pennant, red and black triangles with a gold dragon roaring flames. The cloth rippled in the light of the setting sun until the dragon seemed as if it were in flight.

As the company passed through the camp, the nomads stood outside their tents, men, women, even children. The adults went down on one knee as the prince rode by, the women with their bright silk hoods hiding their faces. Apparently children were exempt from the kneeling business, for they all waved and threw desert-orchids into Markuss path.

The horsemen soon reached the outskirts of the camp. More of the princes men joined them there, swelling the company to several hundred. Markus leaned forward, one arm around Allegras waist and the other gripping the reins. He prodded his horse, and it surged into a gallop. Within moments, the company was racing across the desert, deeper into the badlands of Jazid.

Evening folded over the riders as they rode through the stark foothills of the Jagged Teeth. It didnt surprise Allegra that no one lived here, given the inhospitable land. The desert buckled in ridges of black stone, congealed during ages long past from the breath of volcanoes, those dragons who roared below the earth and flooded the land with living, molten rock.

The men were all soldiers. Cavalrymen. They rode hard, leaving the nomad camp far behind. It surprised Allegra to see so many. In choosing to ride with Markus, they also became fugitives.

Eventually they slowed down, and Markus let his horse walk. He was in the center of his company, with men all around, though a pocket of space surrounded him. The alert attitude of the four riders nearest the prince and their constant presence made Allegra suspect they were his bodyguards.

“Youre so hot, Markus said, shifting her in his arms. “Like a Kazlatarian furnace.

“Its a fever. Just saying those few words took too much energy.