Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“We can reach the horses from here, the man holding Allegra said. They were crouched in the dark, and the sounds of battle had moved beyond them.

“Where is Prince Markus? the other one asked.

“Cobalt took him, Ozarson said. “Can you find him?

“I wish we could. The man spoke kindly to the boy. “But well be lucky if we can get the two of you out of here.

“Youll have to run with us, Your Majesty, the other man said. “Stay bent over as much as you can, and keep close.

“You have to guard Allegra, too, Ozarson said.

“We will, the man holding her said. “You have our word well get both of you back.

“All right, Ozarson said. “Lets go.

No! Allegra shouted, but it came out as a muffled grunt. Ozarson couldnt see well enough to realize what his men were doing to her. She didnt doubt, either, that he believed going with them was the right thing to do. Why the blazes wouldnt he? They were his army, who answered to her own husband. He didnt understand what would happen if they took her back without Markus to keep Yargazon away from her.

The man holding her stood, still bent over, with one arm clamped around her waist and his other hand gripped on her upper arm. The second warrior grasped her other arm and they took off running, dragging her between them. Rocks and stubby plants stabbed her feet. She fought their hold, to no avail. When she balked, they lifted her off the ground and ran holding her up so her feet dangled. It hurt her arms and shoulders so much that when they put her down again, she kept running.

They half slid and half ran down a rocky slope at the edge of the camp. Sentries should have been patrolling the hill, but either they had died or were fighting elsewhere. Allegra couldnt see or hear Ozarson. It was all happening too fast.

Then they were out of the camp and racing through the dark.

“The horses should be over there. The man spoke in a low, urgent voice.

The warriors stopped, and Allegra sagged in their grip, out of breath, barely able to draw in enough air past the gag. Dark bluffs surrounded them.

“I see the horses, Ozarson said. He sounded far away. “Two of them.

“Ill take you on one, the man told him with respect. He turned toward the other soldier. “You can bring her.

“Allegra? Ozarson said from somewhere. “Are you there?

“Shes here, the man said.

Her stifled protest was almost soundless. With her wrists tied behind her back, she couldnt use her arms, so she twisted her shoulders back and forth, trying to free herself. One of the men put his arms around her, his front to her back, holding her still while the other man disappeared into the darkness. A horse snorted, and someone spoke in a low voice. Allegra caught bits and pieces: “leave saddleriding blanketHold the reins, Your Majesty.

The man reappeared out of the shadows, walking a horse without a rider. “Here, Zeik. He handed the reins to the man with Allegra. “You can take her in.

No! Allegra redoubled her efforts to twist free.

The man holding her, Zeik apparently, handed her to the other man. She kicked at him, and her foot hit a boot, then his knee. He swore under his breath and pulled her hard against him so she couldnt kick.

Zeik swung onto the horse. He reached down, and the other man lifted Allegra up to him. She wrenched back and forth, fighting them. The gag muffled her shouts, but in the silence of the night, even her grunts were audible. She twisted hard and began to slide off the horse. Zeik hauled her back up, then dragged her leg across the animal so she sat astride in front of him. He clamped his arms around her torso to hold her in place.

“You got her? the man on the ground asked.

“Fine. Zeik sounded out of breath. “We should split up. It will increase the chance that at least one of us gets through.

“Dragon willing, well both make it. Good luck.

“And you. Then Zeik set off through the night.

Allegra eventually wore herself out struggling and sagged in Zeiks hold with her head hanging down. As exhaustion caught up with her, nightmarish images flickered in her mind. Over and over, she remembered the man next to her collapsing in the dirt, an arrow in his neck as he died.

Her jaws ached. As soon as Zeik had a chance, he readjusted the gag so the leather ball settled firmly in her mouth, filling it and pushing down her tongue. He did something with the straps, locking them behind her head. When he finished, she doubted she could have taken the thing off even if she had her hands free. They had figured out too well how to “disarm what they considered a weaponher ability to do spells.

The pound of hooves sounded nearby, several horses perhaps. Zeik guided his mount behind a large bluff that rose as a darker shadow in the night. He laid the blade of a dagger flat against her neck. “Hold still. No noise.

Allegra barely breathed. After the riders passed, Zeik set off crossways on a steep hill instead of riding down to flatter land. His horse had to step carefully on the precarious slope. At first she hoped the slower pace would make them easier to catch. She soon realized why he had done it, though; no other riders were up here.

After a while, Zeik said, “I know youre evil. A witch. If you could sing, you would curse my soul. He shifted her in his arms. “But hell, I cant help it, you just seem like a frightened girl to me, one whos so pretty, men cant think straight around her. Even powerful men. Then he muttered, “Especially them. Theyre used to getting what they want. But even when they have you, they dont.

She had no idea what he meant by the last statement, but he had it right about one thing: She was frightened. Terrified.

Some time later, he said, “The General is a good commander. Harsh, its true. But a man must be harsh to conquer the barrens of Jazid. He pulled our forces together out of nothing. He gave us hope when we had none. He brought the atajazid and Prince Markus to freedom. Its my honor to follow him. He sounded as if he were arguing with himself. “Nor is he weakened by sentiments that would undercut his strength.

Allegra didnt doubt he felt what he said. But she wondered whom he was trying to convinceher or himself.

They were riding around a jumble of rocks when he brushed back her hair and leaned down so his lips touched her cheek. “Still, if I had a woman like you, I would never hurt her.

Then dont take me to Yargazon, she tried to say. It came out as a faint, scared sound.

“Dont cry. He sounded miserable. Then he gave an angry whistle. “Damn it, stop weakening me! After that, he said no more.

Eventually they reached flatter land. He made an odd noise, like the call of a blackwing hawk. As they continued on, another call drifted on the air. A rider appeared out of the darkness, almost upon them before Allegra realized he was there.

“Zeik, the newcomer said.

“Its me, Zeik said.

The other man, apparently a sentry, exhaled. “The dragon has blessed us twice this night.

“Twice? Zeik asked. “Did the atajazid make it back?

“He did indeed. The sentrys tone lightened as he rode with them. “Weve been quiet, no noises, but the men are rejoicing.

“At least some good came of this night.

“What happened with the raid?

“Everyone else in the tent escaped, Zeik said sourly. “As soon as they started to disperse, we attacked.

“Only two of you have made it back. The sentry sounded subdued. “It looks like all the rest were killed.

“Its a sad business, Zeik said. “But they died for the atajazid, that he could go free.

Tears gathered in Allegras eyes. Yargazons plan had failedalmost. In the greater scheme of these history-making events, she was nothing, just one girl with a bit of mage power. Whether she ended up in Jazid or Aronsdale made little difference in the long view. It mattered only to her, who would suffer the brutal consequences of her capture, one small victory in a failed attempt to murder all the leaders of the settled lands.