Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“How would you feel, Allegra asked Rose, “if a good lot of men hauled off your daughter and you never heard from her again?

Rose shot her a terrified look. “Dont say that!

“Then you know how my mother will feel when she finds out Ive vanished.

The woman sat cross-legged and folded her hands in her lap. “You werent well guarded?

“I was my own guard.

“Well, then. Rose spoke as if that answered everything and reflected poorly on Allegra and anyone else involved in her life.

Allegra tried again. “In Aronsdale, what your husband and the other men did would be considered repugnant.

“That doesnt matter here. She spoke with a painful gentleness. “Were I your mother, I would mourn. But that changes nothing. It is the way of life. Men die and women suffer.

“Do you really see life that way?

“Of course. Rose patted the carpet where Allegra was sitting. “You may sleep here tonight. Tomorrow we will prepare you to meet the buyers.

“I dont want to. Allegra meant the words to be firm, but instead she sounded afraid.

“Shh, Rose murmured. “It wont last long. They will look at you, talk to you, touch you some and then it will be over and you will go with a powerful man. You will have nice things and a rich life.

“I dont need nice things, and I already had a life as rich as I wanted. Allegra didnt miss what else Rose had said. A powerful man. “Do you know the bidders?

Rose paused, and Allegra thought she would be as taciturn as her husband. But then she said, “They are fugitives.

“Tell me.

“They are under a death sentence from Cobalt the Dark. If they are found, they will be executed.

Great. Just great. “I thought one of them was a general.

Rose nodded uneasily. “General Dusk Yargazon. He wants a pleasure girl to replace one he lost, a girl with fire hair.

“Another woman from Aronsdale?

“She came from Taka Mal, Rose said. “But they say her grandfather was an Aronsdale man. He married her grandmother and went to Taka Mal with her. She sounded perplexed. “Ive no idea why.

“Thats how its done where I live, Allegra said. “The man moves to his wifes home. And it makes sense if the grandfather came from southern Aronsdale. Its the only place in all the settled lands where yellow or red hair is common.

Rose touched a tendril curling over Allegras shoulder. “Gold. Like the sun. It is an astonishing color.

Allegra had a question about the General. She dreaded the answer, but she had to know. “What happened to the woman?

“The official story is that the Taka Mal military rescued her. In a low voice, Rose said, “Really she escaped his interrogators. No one knows how. But he can never get her back.

“Because its illegal to own people in Taka Mal?

“No. She is the wife of Queen Vizaranas cousin in Taka Mal! Rose seemed pleased to have someone to gossip with. If women were as scarce here as Stubble had implied, she might have few female friends. “She had married Baz Quaazera, Rose continued. “But no one knew. Several nomads captured her and sold her to the General. Her face paled. “That night the General racked her, to see what she knew about the Taka Mal army. He left her to be cleaned up, so he could have her later. And she escaped!

“He did what to her? Allegra was certain she had misheard.

“He put her on the rack and interrogated her.

Good gods. What if this general decided Allegra knew secrets of the Aronsdale military? She was having trouble breathing. She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly. “His name is Yargazon?

“Dusk Yargazon. People call him the General. He commands the outlaw Jazid army that supposedly doesnt exist. She spoke with intensity. “They have the boy king in their protection. One day they will rise against Cobalt the Dark and throw his forces from our country! Emperor Cobalt has put a great price on the Generals head. Even the Dark Emperor fears him.

“You know, Allegra said wanly. “This isnt helping. Maybe you should tell me about the other bidder.

“Well, Im not sure Rose wouldnt look at her.

“Hes that bad?

“You could do no better. She wasnt smiling.

Allegra felt as if butterflies danced in her throat. “Then why do you look as if Im going to the gallows?

Rose finally looked at her. “His name is Markus Onyx. He is the eldest son of the atajazid who died in the war.

That caught Allegra off guard. “A nine-year-old? She gave an uneven laugh, giddy with relief. “This is the dire fate you dont want to tell me? It seemed silly for the boy-kings advisors to encourage him to pick out a pleasure girl, but what the hell.

“Im not talking about His Majesty, Rose said. “The atajazid is not the oldest son.

“Hes not? Her mood plunged. “Then why is he the king?

“He is the only legitimate son. Prince Markus is his older half brother, and the imperial regent for the Onyx Throne. He is thirty and some years. I dont know exactly.

“Oh. Allegras shoulders slumped. So this Markus was illegitimate but not without power. “Who was his mother?

“A concubine of the deposed atajazid. Rose nodded as if verifying the half brothers fitness as regent. “Prince Markus is called the fiercest of all men.

Allegra didnt want to hear about fierce. “Why is Markus a prince, if his mother wasnt the queen?

“His father legitimized him. Apparently the new atajazid has made Markus his heir until the boy is old enough to sire his own. Rose leaned closer. “Markus has no mercy. He kills as easily as you or I can cry. He will defeat Cobalt the Dark and place the despots head on a pole in front of the Onyx Palace. His warriors will destroy the armies of the Dark Emperor and lay waste to the Misted Cliffs.

“Doesnt sound like hell have time for a pleasure girl, Allegra muttered. “What with all that killing.

Rose gave her a dry look. “Men always have time.

“I dont understand why the regent is betting in an auction against his own general. Wont that cause rancor between them?

Rose shook her head. “It is an ancient custom, that two men of power each have the opportunity for a woman of extraordinary beauty. Because there are so few such women. The prince regent has invited Yargazon to show his esteem for the General. Whoever wins, the other will respect and honor his claim.

Right. Extraordinary beauty. She had two heads, too. “Do they? she asked. “Honor the others claim, I mean.

“It is expected, Rose said. “I dont really know. This sort of auction is rare. But nothing could interfere with them working together to destroy the armies of the Misted Cliffs in vengeance for what Cobalt has wrought in Jazid.

Allegra squinted at her. “What exactly has the Misted Cliffs wrought here that is so terrible?

“They are monsters, Rose confided.

“What do they do?

“Make changes.

“Like what?

Rose looked scandalized. “They say that women should have the same rights as men.

Allegra groaned. “And this is terrible how?

“Shh. Rose glanced across the tent, where Stubble and his brother were drinking and laughing. “Dont let them hear.

“I already told them that about women.

“You didnt!

“I did indeed.

“Did they beat you?

“No. Allegra grimaced. “Vardok wanted to, though.

“You must never say such to Prince Markus or the General. They will put you on a rack or some such. She regarded Allegra with sympathy. “I am glad I am not you.

“Well, thats reassuring.

“Ah, Im sorry. Rose took her hand. “Lets talk about other matters and have a good time tonight. Youll feel better. Tomorrow we will make you the most beautiful of women.

“How about we make me the most ugly of women? Allegra said. “Maybe theyll lose interest and leave.