Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“If I hurt others, Markus, I hurt myself.

His voice softened. “I would never wish that.

She took a breath, trying to calm her agitation. Then she turned and resumed the descent. He was a leader of contrasts, compassionate one moment, harsh the next, and she was discovering a compelling man beneath the emotional armor of his exterior. She didnt want to be attracted to him. Too much danger existed on that path. He couldnt force her to use her spells for violence, but now that he knew about them, he would be even more vigilant about keeping watch over her. With every step she took farther into this parched desert, her hope for freedom faded, becoming as pale as the stoneblue sky.

Markuss company camped among the eerie stone formations that marked the first ranks of the new mountain range they had been approaching all day. Jutting columns of rock alternated with stretches of sand, all red and ocher in the daylight, with flecks of other colors: metallic blues, violet and the false gold of feldspar. Stubby plants clung to the rocks, dark green and tenacious. Dust drifted in the air, stirred by the passage of so many horses and men. Night dropped its star-dusted cloak with the speed of a hawk descending for its prey.

After supper, Markus met with his top officers: General Yargazon, General Ardoz and Colonel Bladebreak. They sat in his tent at a low table, drinking wine as they talked. Candles on the table shed gold light across their faces. Allegra lay on a blanket across the tent among a tumble of pillows. Markus had insisted she take off her robe, leaving her in only the red skirt and halter. He claimed it was because the braziers warmed up the tent, but she knew perfectly well he wanted the others to see her. It was some annoying status thing among the men. They all looked at her when they came in with a disquieting hunger, especially Yargazon. She tried to ignore them, but it was difficult when they stared.

Although she pretended to sleep, she kept her eyes open enough to see them. And she listened. Military advisors in Aronsdale would never have discussed their plans in front of someone who hadnt sworn loyalty to their cause, asleep or not. These officers didnt even seem to see beyond the sexy clothes and curves of her body. It was an advantage to their attitude she hadnt realized before; they lowered their guard around her in ways they would never do with a man. They plotted strategy as if she wasnt in the room.

Yargazon was speaking. “I had thought last year, after the queens people discovered the assassination plot, that they killed the assassins. But it appears one may be alive.

Markus lowered his wineglass. “Where is he?

“My agent has infiltrated the palace, Yargazon said. “He thinks our man is in a cell, but he doesnt know the location.

General Ardoz, a large man with a shock of black hair sprinkled with gray, reclined on a cushion. “If theyve had him for a year, hes probably broken by now. The queen may know our plans to put the atajazid on the Topaz Throne.

Allegra stiffened. The Topaz Throne? That was Taka Mal, not Jazid. It sounded as if they had tried to murder the queen of Taka Mal and install the boy atajazid in her place. The plan must have failed.

“They already know, Markus growled. “That damn priestess told them. He scowled at his officers. “I fail to understand how one girl could escape an armed war camp and reach the queen in less than a day.

“She obviously had help, Yargazon said.

“It doesnt add up. That came from Colonel Bladebreak, a heavyset man with bristly gray hair and a stomach tending to fat. “No matter how many times I analyze it, the facts dont fit. Even with an unusually fast horse and help from the Taka Mal army, she needed over a day to get so far. She managed in less than twelve hours.

“When we get her back, Yargazon said coldly, “Ill question her myself.

“Get her back how? Bladebreak demanded. “Shes the consort of the queens damnable cousin.

“I dont care if shes the consort of their Dragon-Sun, the General said. “She was in Jazid when I bought her. Legally shes my property.

“Well, shes in Taka Mal now, Markus said. “If we took her, it would be tantamount to an act of war. Her husband is second in line to the throne.

“An act of war? Bladebreak raised an eyebrow. “Id say we did that last year, when we sent agents to murder the royal family.

“They have no proof those men were ours, Markus said. “The word of one girl, even a priestess, is hearsay.

“Its been a year, Ardoz said. “Surely they would have acted by now if they had evidence we backed a plot against the queen.

Markus glanced at Yargazon. “Could our agent have held out this long against interrogators?

“Had they been trained by myself or your father, no. Yargazon moved his hand in dismissal. “This queen is weak. Afraid of extreme measures. So against her people, yes, its possible.

“Id like to interrogate the queen, Bladebreak said sourly. “Im surprised that cousin of hers hasnt deposed her. What madness possessed her father to leave her the throne?

“Dont underestimate her, Markus said. “If she couldnt hold her own and then some, she wouldnt have survived for ten years as queen. And shes well liked among her people.

Yargazon snorted. “What idiot wants a woman on the throne?

“They think shes the ultimate priestess of the Dragon-Sun, Ardoz said. “They tell themselves the Dragon-Sun is the true ruler of Taka Mal, and it makes a female sovereign more palatable.

Markus smiled wryly at Ardoz, showing more warmth with him than with the others. “If you can figure that out, youd think her own people would see it, as well.

The laugh lines around Ardozs eyes crinkled. “Im sure they do, Mark. Its a justification they let themselves use.

Allegra blinked. Mark? She hadnt known Markus had a nickname. No one else seemed to use it.

“Well, assassination didnt work, Bladebreak said. “And the attempt alone wasnt enough to cause the chaos we needed.

Allegra could see why they needed the confusion that would follow the sudden deaths of the royal family. With only a few hundred men, Markus otherwise had little hope of countering the Taka Mal army, which surely had several thousand.

“The longer we wait in hiding, Yargazon said, “the more it drains our resources.

“I concur, Bladebreak said. “The strain is showing. That fellow who stole the knife isnt the only one worried about his family. We cant keep on like this, with no relief for the men.

“The army needs a focus, Ardoz said. “The men have nothing to do but worry while our supplies diminish.

Markus regarded them intently. “The solution is obvious.

“I agree. Yargazon nodded with satisfaction. “A wise idea.

“Perhaps, Bladebreak said dryly, “you might share this idea with the rest of us?

“Invade now, Markus said. “Weve more men and weapons than last year. Were better prepared.

Allegra was surprised to see the other men nodding. Did they really believe a few hundred men could conquer Taka Mal? Surely not. She recalled Markuss comments about weapons and the TAmbera. Maybe they had found something that would give them an edge.

“This could be a good time for other reasons, too, Yargazon said. “According to my reports, Emperor Cobalts forces are stretched thin and their morale is terrible, especially since he sent one thousand men into Taka Mal and left only a thousand here. Trying both to protect Taka Mal and hold Jazid demands more resources than he can spare.

Markus nodded to Yargazon. “That assassination plan of yours was brilliant, Dusk. Even though it failed, we came out ahead because Cobalt had to reduce his forces in Jazid as a result.