Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

They continued to ride as they ate. The company was soon moving through foothills, penetrating deeper into the desolate badlands.

As the sun rose, the prince regents company cut across the northern foothills of the Jagged Teeth and came out into open land, headed toward the distant peaks of another sharpened range. They had seen no other people since leaving the TAmbera, and nothing lay ahead but splintered mountains.

Markuss bodyguard soon rode up alongside them. When the prince slowed down, the man gave him a bundle of blue silk.

Markus squinted at the silk. “What is this?

“You asked for a robe, Sire, the guard said. “I found this in one of the chests.

“I meant the yellow one.

“My apology. The man hesitated. “The yellow was crumpled. I thought you might like a fresh one for her.

“Ah. Markus grinned at him. “Yes, thats good.

The guard spoke in a carefully neutral voice. “I also rolled up the rug and stored it.

Allegra wondered which rug he meant, given that the tent had so many of them. Then her face burned as she realized what they were talking aboutthe rug with the proof of her virginity.

“Thank you, Izad, Markus said. “Youve done well.

“It is my honor, Sire.

Markus thrust the robe into her hands, then kicked the horse and took off again, racing across the desert. She had a feeling he went fast because he liked it rather than because it served any need. His horse stretched out his powerful legs, and if her added weight tired him, he gave no sign. Markus held her around the waist, and the wind whipped back her hair in the exhilarating ride.

Eventually he slowed to let the horse rest. When they resumed a saner pace, she pulled on the robe and was surprised to inhale its scented fragrance. “Did you buy this from the TAmbera, too?

“I think so, he said. “I didnt look much at the clothes. I concentrated mostly on the weapons.

She blinked. “The TAmbera sell weapons?

“To me, yes.

“Charming people, she said. “Slave traders and arms dealers.

“They brought me you. He nuzzled her hair. “That alone was worth the trip.

“Markus, where are we going?

No answer.

She indicated the distant range. “To those mountains?

“Perhaps.

“Why wont you tell me?

“I dont consult a pleasure girl about my military plans.

“Well, you should.

He gave a startled laugh. “Whatever for?

She didnt really have an answer, so she gave one she knew would outrage him. “I can tell you if they are good plans.

“Is that so?

“Indeed.

“I will say this, Allegra. You are never boring.

“I would like to be boring. So much that you tire of me and let me go home.

His words burst out. “I would never throw away a woman because she wasnt new and perfect, especially not after I got her pregnant three times.

Where had that come from? She spoke carefully. “You must have a lot of children.

“Actually, no. Just one. After a moment, he added, “His mother doesnt acknowledge I am the father. But everyone knows he is mine. He looks just like me when I was fourteen. And he has three joints in his big toe. Who else has that? Only me, my father and my grandfather.

“How can your concubine refuse to say you are the father?

“She wasnt a concubine. He shifted behind her, gripping the reins so hard, his knuckles whitened. “I dont have any women. I havent for years. Except you, now.

Only her? “Then how She stopped, uncertain she wanted to hear the rest.

“She lived in a town I visited with my father and Dusk Yargazon. He spoke in clipped sentences, unlike his usual drawl. “Dusk saw her. He liked her. So he took her. He shared her with me. Thats it.

Allegra had a feeling that wasnt “it at all. “Does she say Yargazon is the father?

“No. She says the boys father is her husband.

“Her husband!

His voice had gone flat. “I didnt know she was married.

“You didnt ask?

“No. I thought Dusk did. I didnt know him as well then.

“Gods, Markus, what did you do to her?

“I made love to her. He sounded defensive. “It isnt a crime.

Like hell. “What about Yargazon?

His voice turned leaden. “I didnt know.

“Know what?

“His tastes areharsher than mine.

“He hurt her, didnt he? Her voice cracked. “The two of you grabbed some girl, raped her, hurt her in saints only know how many ways and left her like a broken doll.

“Stop it! His fist jerked on the reins, and the horse neighed in protest.

“You feel guilty, she said. “All these years, youve hated what you did. Despite what his people allowed, what his title and status gave him, despite everything, he had a conscience.

“We broke no laws. He sounded almost as upset as she felt.

“Of course not. Your family makes the laws. Allegra took a breath to steady herself. “That means you also have the power to fix wrongs. The moral responsibility is yours, too.

“By the Dragon, you talk a lot!

“No, I dont. I just say things you dont want to hear.

“I didnt know. He spoke with unexpected pain. “Usually Dusk shared his girls with my father. I knew they did, but I never thought about it. I hadnt realized my fatherI mean, he never treated my mother that way.

That you knew. “Your mother was his pleasure girl?

“Concubine. He was good to her.

She didnt believe it. “Always?

It was a moment before he answered. “Until he tired of her. I was about five. She was pregnant with my second sister.

Allegra hesitated, unsure if she should ask more. This man had a lot more to him than it had appeared when she met him. She spoke with care. “Do you have a lot of siblings?

“Not as many asbefore the war. He paused for a moment. Then he said, “I dont know what my father was like with the mothers of my other siblings. But maybe it was fortunate he tired of my mother. He hardened as he grew up.

“Grew up? It seemed a strange way for a son to characterize his father.

His arms moved as he shrugged behind her. “He was only twelve when I was born.

Her mouth fell open. “What?

“He wanted a concubine. Markus sounded uncomfortable. “So grandfather gave him one. She was sixteen.

Allegra could think of many responses to that. Choosing tact, she said, “You had an unusual childhood.

“But a good one. After a pause, he added, “I think.

“You think? It didnt sound good to her.

“I lived in a palace with a mother who doted on me, a father who gave me all the riches I could want and servants to cater to my every need. I wasnt the heir to the throne, so I didnt have to learn all those lessons my grandfather drummed into my father, and my father later expected from my half brother. I could do whatever the flaming hell I wanted. Yes, I would say it was a good life.

Then why are you angry? It sounded to her as if he had missed a great deal, like parents with the maturity to raise a child and love him without spoiling him.

“What happened to your son? she asked.

His voice warmed. “Hes done well, actually. I used to visit the family several times a year. He didnt hide his longing. “I liked those visits. And I sent gold coins regularly. I also offered him a commission in the army, when he was old enough. Dryly he added, “That was before Cobalt put a death sentence on my head. Now, what army can he join? I cant commission him in the official one, with Cobalt in charge, and mine is outlawed. His mood lightened again. “Hes very good at engineering, you know. He designed an irrigation system for his village, and it works beautifully. Hes a strong, kind boy.