Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“We can defeat him now, Markus said.

“Even if you win here, you still lose.

He frowned at her. “What does that mean?

“Suppose you get what you want, she said. “Taka Mal joins you and helps free your country. Then what? Do you think they will just accept Jazid sovereignty? You have to hold what you win, Markus, and you need only look at Cobalts reign to see how difficult that is. Hes not the most involved sovereign, but hes not hurting Jazid, either, and even then, your people resent him. How will the people here feel about Ozarson taking the throne by force? Vizarana offers you a genuine alliance. It isnt what you want, and I truly am sorry. Believe it or not, I agree Ozi should sit on the Onyx Throne. But ultimately, what the queen offers is better than what you will win even if everything goes as you hope.

“Every campaign has its ill side. He shook his head. “Dusk will never agree to her idea.

“ Youre the prince regent, damn it! She jerked her hands away from him. “Be a man of vision.

His voice hardened. “I see. So its vision only when it agrees with what you want.

“Ah, Markus, maybe I just dont have the ability to show you why I think its better. She shook her head and started to rise.

He caught her hand and tugged her back down. “You arent staying here?

“I cant.

“I dont want you to go.

“Markus

“Stay, Allegra. He pulled her into his arms.

Allegra pushed against his shoulders. “Let me up. She heard the quaver in her voice and hated her rush of fear. But after what had happened with Yargazon, she wasnt ready for physical intimacy. Markus wasnt hurting her, not after Jarids spells had helped her wounds heal. But she ached inside in a way even an indigo spell couldnt soothe, and when Markuss touch turned from simple embraces to more, it was too much.

“Dont do this. Markus sounded bewildered. “First you hate me, then you love me, then you hate me. I cant bear it. He drew back her head and kissed her. “Just love me.

“Markus, stop. She pulled away, panic lurking at the edges of her mind. He didnt understand about Yargazon, but that just made it harder to talk about it with him. And he was holding her with his legs on either side of her body. Two days ago it wouldnt have bothered her. She had liked it. But now it reminded her of how Bladebreak had held her. She hated that he and Yargazon could so deeply injure the fragile affection she and Markus had been building, but she couldnt stop her reaction.

“This is what I am, Markus said. “Either accept me or leave me. Dont torment me this way.

“I cant stay with you. Not like this.

“Why? The words tore out of him. “Always you say this. You cant stay with me. You cant bear my decisions. You despise me. Well, more the fool am I, because no matter how much you push me away, I cant let go. You say I held you against your will. But youve put me in a prison I cant escape. And now you want me to become a hostage for years, possibly for the rest of my life.

“Markus, no, I dont despise you. Its just She wrestled with the words. “This is like last night.

He stared at her in disbelief. “Youre comparing me to Dusk?

“No! I dont know. Markus, let me go. Please.

“No. He bent his head and kissed her again.

Images of Yargazon ripping her tunic, touching her body, kissing her, burst into her mind. She saw his hunger, saw him raising the belt. She jerked back from Markus and hit her fists on his shoulders, though in her mind she was striking Yargazon. “Dont hurt me!

He grasped her hands and held them in front of his body. “Everything I am hurts you. He spoke as if his heart were breaking. “I never claimed to be a good man. But gods, Ive tried. Ive never beaten you, never forced you in bed, never denied your humanity. But you want me to bend so much, Im breaking. He took a breath. “You have to tell me something. Say it, and Ill let you go from this tent, from my life, from everything. I want to hear it before you leave me.

Her pulse lurched at his tone. “Tell you?

His voice was barely audible. “Say, I love you, Markus.

She stared at him. Did he feel the only way he could hear those words from her was to force them? She hated that she was starting to cry, and she wasnt even sure why, if it was for him, for them or because of last night. “What has your life done to you, that you cant separate love from violence?

“You wont even say it now, will you?

“Please. Let me go. A betraying tear ran down her face.

“Hells dragon, dont cry. Markus groaned and released her.

Allegra scrambled to her feet, and he rose more slowly. When she backed to the entrance of the tent, he didnt stop her. She paused with her hand on the flap. He stood watching her, his hair tousled, his clothes rumpled, with the intensity that had always both compelled and frightened her.

“You didnt need to threaten me to hear those words, she said softly, hurting so much. “You needed only to say them yourself.

Then she left.

In the relentless light of dawn, they all reconvened in the Hall of the Dragon-Sun, the lords of the settled lands, the queen of an ancient dynasty and a boy far too old for his age. Allegra thought it truly was a Lost Continent, lost to violence and anger. They would talk and challenge and posture, and when it was done, they would go back to their armies and start fighting again, until one side wiped out the other.

When Vizarana met her gaze, Allegra could only shake her head. She felt everyone watching them. Speculating. She had told only Markus about her discussion with the queen. Drummer knew; she saw it in his tensed posture. With that slight shake of her head, he let out a breath, though whether in relief or disappointment, she didnt know. She doubted he and Vizarana wanted their daughter betrothed to Ozarson. But the alternatives were worse.

When everyone had taken positions by their chairs, Cobalt said, “Let us begin.

Before anyone could sit, Muller Dawnfield spoke in a tired voice. “To what point? Lets be done with this. I have made my decision. I will not join this battle of vengeance.

Allegra drew in a sharp breath, and Jarid jerked as if Muller had unexpectedly struck him in the knees. She didnt know how Markus felt; she couldnt look at him. Everyone stayed on their feet as if the announcement had frozen them in place.

The only person who appeared pleased was Yargazon. He turned to Jarid with satisfaction. “Is that your decision also?

The Aronsdale king glanced at his cousin, and Muller regarded him with what looked like apology. Both men seemed worn-out, and Aron wasnt much better off.

Jarid turned to Vizarana. “Your Majesty. He spoke with impeccable formality. “I will honor the terms of our treaty. My forces will join yours.

Her exhale was almost invisible, just the barest lowering of her shoulders, but that slight gesture spoke volumes about her relief. She inclined her head. “We thank you for your support.

Yargazon didnt react, but Allegra knew he could do the numbers as well as she. Counting the Jazidians who had deserted Cobalts army, he had almost four thousand men. If Jarid and the queen combined forces, they had about three thousand. Cobalt had another three. The numbers didnt tell the whole story; Allegra had no doubt Yargazons men were well trained. They also knew desert fighting better than either Cobalts or Jarids men, whereas the Jazidians who had deserted Cobalts army had been training with soldiers from the Misted Cliffs, learning their methods. No one had enough of a margin to ensure victory.

Cobalt spoke in his rumbling voice. “Do you wish to continue these talks, General Yargazon?

“Wait, Jarid said. “There is more.

Cobalt frowned at him. “More of what?