The Night Bird

CHAPTER 17 THE GORGE

Lord Brant Firestoke was much older than Jarid. In fact, Allegra had heard that Firestoke had been a close friend to Jarids grandsire, the previous king. Just as Brant had served Jarids grandfather as an advisor, so now he served Jarid. Shoulder-length hair silvered by the decades swept back from his face, accenting his widows peak. He watched Allegra with deeply set gray eyes, and his austere presence left her feeling much too young.

They met in an octagonal room on an upper floor of the castle. As she told Brant about the Jazid army, he paced the room. Jarid was leaning back in a chair at the octagonal table a quarter of the way around from Allegra. It was odd the way he had sat down. He felt for his place as if he couldnt see it. He obviously wasnt blind; his motions seemed unconscious, as if he didnt realize what he was doing.

When Allegra finished, Brant leaned against the sill of a window. “I doubt a dairymaid from southern Aronsdale could have made this up.

“I didnt, Allegra said.

“Where did you hear the name Yargazon? Brant asked. “Few people know it outside Jazid.

“He leads the army, she answered.

“Kazil Yargazon, Brant said.

She shook her head. “His name was Dusk.

Jarid swore under his breath. “Hell and damnation.

“Is Yargazon a problem? Allegra asked.

The king spoke dryly. “Well, given that hes considered the most notorious warlord alive by the emperor and a great war hero by the Jazid people, and that Cobalt has put the greatest price on his head of any war criminal in history, I would say yes, knowing hes raised an army is a problem.

“Are you sure they have the atajazid? Brant asked her. “Cobalt claims he has hidden the child outside of Jazid.

“Im certain Cobalt doesnt have him. Allegra still hadnt figured out how Ozarson had escaped Cobalts men.

“I wonder if this boy even lives, Jarid said. “No one has seen him. His half brothers are dead. Why would he be alive?

Her pulse stuttered. “His brothers died? How do you know?

“You sound surprised, Jarid said. “Do you know different?

“I know almost nothing about the House of Onyx, she said, which was as close as she dared go to the truth. “But I would feel terribly sorry for a child in the situation you describe.

“Dont, Brant said. “He would have grown into a monster just like his father.

“Hes a child, Allegra said. “Children want to be loved. If he is, why would he grow into a monster?

Brant sighed. “That is so painfully naive.

“Is it? Jarid asked. “Maybe if Cobalts grandfather hadnt beaten or whipped him every day of his life until he was able to fight back, Cobalt wouldnt feel driven to conquer the universe to prove to a man whos now dead that he isnt worthless.

Allegra stared at him. She almost asked how he could know all that about the emperor, but then she remembered. Cobalt had married Jarids cousin. She rubbed her eyes, drained. “Yargazons men think the previous atajazid, the man Cobalt killed, is a great hero.

Jarid scowled. “That atajazid started the damn war.

“I thought the emperor started it, Allegra said.

“Its true, Brant said. “Cobalt attacked first.

“With provocation, Jarid said. “Gods, was Ozar mad? What sane man would enrage Cobalt the Dark into a war?

“Im not sure I understand, Allegra said.

“The queen of Taka Mal kidnapped Drummer Headwind, Brant said, scowling. “They do that in Taka Mal and Jazid. Bunch of barbarians. They think its perfectly fine to kidnap people.

“But Drummer married the queen, didnt he? Allegra looked from him to Jarid. “To make a treaty with you.

“Eventually, Jarid said. “But first the Jazid king kidnapped Cobalts wife. He made it look as if Taka Mal did it, and everyone believed the falsified evidence because of what happened with Drummer. Then the atajazid tortured Cobalts wife. While she was pregnant with the emperors heir. The atajazid had a Taka Mal traitor take her blood-soaked clothes to Cobalt and claim the general of the Taka Mal army had tortured her to death.

Allegra was grateful Ozarson wasnt present to hear this about his father. “Youre saying the previous king of Jazid killed the emperors pregnant wife and set it up to look as if Taka Mal did it. So Cobalt attacked Taka Mal in revenge?

“Thats right, Jarid said. “Except she survived. So Cobalt knows the truth. Some people even believe Ozar told him during the battle, while they were negotiating, to goad him into breaking the Alatian Code of War. If Cobalt struck first, Ozar could kill him without violating the Code. Grimly he added, “If thats true, Ozar fatally underestimated Cobalt.

Brant spoke quietly. “Ozar had five sonsfour adults and the boy. Three of his sons died in the Rocklands, including the boys regent.

“Markus Onyx, Jarid said. “We dont know much about him.

“Ozars fourth son survived the war, Brant said. “So Cobalt executed him. Cobalt agreed to let the boy live, but many people think he had the child killed in secret.

“Thats horrible, Allegra said. She hadnt realized Ozarson and Markus had lost their brothers as well as their infamous sire.

“The Jazidians hate their conquerors, Jarid said. “Their king may have precipitated the war, but if that hadnt happened, Cobalt would have eventually gone after Jazid anyway. Its a phenomenally rich country.

“This could explain a lot, Brant muttered. When Allegra gave him a questioning look, he said, “Cobalt has a big army. Eight thousand if you count the Jazidian soldiers. But theyre dispersed among four countries. If he were to march an army on a few days noticesay through Aronsdalehe could only marshal about two thousand.

Allegra wondered what made him think of that now. “His forces in Jazid and Taka Mal are spread too thin, she said. “And his men want to go home.

Brant didnt look surprised. “How do you know that?

“From Yargazons men.

Jarid snorted. “Apparently Cobalt isnt hiding their discontent as well as he thought.

“And you claim this outlaw Jazidian army will invade Taka Mal in three weeks? Brant asked her.

“Or sooner, Allegra said. “They probably think I went to warn Queen Vizarana.

“Why? Jarid asked. “Youre the wife of a tender. Why would they even notice you had left, let alone think you would betray their plans to the queen?

“They have strange ideas. She knew it sounded lame, but she had no better answer that wouldnt put Ozarsonor Markusat risk.

“If this army exists and has the boy, Jarid said, “he could be an incredible rallying figure for his people. The balance of power in Jazid is barely stable as it is. His appearance could explode the political situation.

“Then hope Cobalt did execute him, Brant said grimly. “Saints only know what the child would be like with Yargazon as his regent.

“Thats horrible, to wish death on a little boy, Allegra said. She almost added, Why would the General be his regent? But she caught herself in time. They thought Ozarsons brothers were deadincluding Markuswhich made Yargazon the logical choice as regent.

Jarid spoke as gently as his hoarse voice allowed. “None of us wish a childs death. But the freedom and well-being of several populations may pivot on his actions, even just his existence.

“Youre so convinced hell become a monster, she said, angry at them both. “Maybe he isnt the evil one. Maybe its all the warlords who make him this pivot.

“Ive no doubt it is, Brant said. “But that changes nothing.

“We do need to get out a warning. Jarid rubbed his chin. “I have the redwing carrier birds Queen Vizarana gave me last year. We can send them to her with a message.

“And to Cobalt, Brant said.

Jarid crossed his arms and regarded him implacably. “My responsibility is to my kin. Drummer.

“Drummer is also the empresss uncle, Brant said. “If we dont warn Cobalt, hell be furious.

“Thats Cobalts problem. Jarid scowled at him. “We had nothing to do with his taking the Onyx Throne. Why should we help him keep it? Ive signed no treaties to support these attempts of his to subjugate every damn thing that moves.

A door creaked. Glancing up, Brant smiled at someone behind Allegra. She wanted to turn, but she didnt wish to appear rude to the king.

Oddly enough, Jarid didnt seem to have heard. He pushed back his chair and stood up. “Ill send word to Drummer while we decide what to do about Cobalt.

“What you decide about Cobalt may be moot, a woman said.

Jarid spun around. Turning, Allegra saw a woman standing in the arched doorway. Tall and curvy, with rosy cheeks, she had a mane of chestnut hair exactly like Arons, except hers fell in waves down her back. She glowed with health.

“My greetings, Jarid said, his voice warming. He turned to indicate Allegra. “May I present our new guild mage, Allegra Linseed. To Allegra he said, “My wife. Iris.

Allegra started to kneel, but the queen lifted her hand to stop her. She spoke in a rich voice. “Im pleased to see you.

“Im honored, Your Majesty, Allegra said.

Iris inclined her head. Then she turned to Jarid. “You had better come. Theyre here.

Here? Allegra thought. Who?

The Star Walk ran atop the great wall around the castle. Geometric crenellations sculpted its length: circles, diamonds, hexagons and, most of all, stars. From up here, a person could see for many leagues, gazing over the glades and rolling hills of Crofts Vale. Right now, soldiers in Aronsdale uniforms lined the walkway, including lookouts with spyglasses.

Everyone was staring to the south.

Far in the distance, an army poured into view from behind a cluster of hills. It must have been flooding out all morning, wave after wave of soldiers, tenders and horses. Allegra had never seen so many people together. They covered the land.

“Gods almighty, Brant said. “Even with the warning that they were coming, I didnt expect that many.

“Who is it? Allegra asked.

“Cobalt, Jarid said. “Weve known they were on the march for several days, escorted by my cousin, Muller.

Allegra didnt know the name Muller, but he had only one cousin. “Do you mean the King of Harsdown?

Jarid nodded, his attention on the army. He took a spyglass one of his men offered and studied the army. “Muller has permission to ride through Aronsdale. Cobalt doesnt. Sourly he added, “Not that Cobalt asked. He just came. And hes not saying much. Lowering the glass, he regarded Allegra. “What do you know about this?

She felt as if ice were in her veins. “Nothing.

Jarid glanced out again, then stopped and peered at the hill directly below the castle. “Who is that?

Allegra followed his gazeand her breath caught. Shadow was racing up the hill, ridden by Ozarson, with Thom seated behind him, hanging on to the atajazids belt.

“Thats a warhorse, Brant said. “Maybe its a messenger.

Jarid trained his glass on Shadow. “No, just a couple of boys. He smiled. “Probably theyre coming to warn us that a great army is invading Aronsdale.

Foreboding surged within Allegra. Ozarson knew she had planned to seek an audience with Jarid today, to warn him about the Jazid army. If he had seen Cobalts army, saints only knew what he thoughtor would say. She whirled and ran down the walkway, ducking past the soldiers on duty.

“Allegra! Jarids shout rang behind her.

Even knowing she risked offending the throne by ignoring his call, she kept going. She reached the tower at the end of the walkway and raced down the staircase that spiraled inside it. She heard people running, and someone called her name, but she kept going, desperate to reach Ozarson before anyone else.

The steps let her out into a wide hall. She ran along it until she reached the top of a staircase that swept down to the entrance foyer of the castle. In the great archway that opened from outside into the foyer, Ozarson was struggling with a guardsman. Beyond them, out in the sunlight, Thom stood with Shadow, holding the horses reins and looking confused.

“I have to get by! Ozarson cried. “Let me go!

“Its all right, Allegra called as she started down the stairs. “Hes with me.

The guardsman glanced up, his forehead furrowed, but he let Ozarson go. The boy dashed toward the stairs, started up themand froze, his eyes widening as he looked over her head.

Allegra spun around. Jarid, Iris and Brant Firestoke stood on the stairs above her, with several soldiers behind them. They had stopped, and were watching Ozarson with puzzlement.

“Hes afraid of the army, Allegra told them. “His parents were killed in the war. She was talking too fast, but she couldnt stop. She started down to Ozarson, holding out her hand. “Its all right, she said. “No one will hurt you.

Ozarson raced up the stairs, reaching her when she was halfway down. He threw his arms around her, and she sank onto the step, holding him. She kept murmuring, “Itll be all right, Ozi. Itll be all right.

“It wont! He raised his head, his gaze frantic. “Its the emperors army.

“They dont care about stable boys. She looked at him hard, silently urging him to see past his fear and hear what she was saying. “You go back to the stable with Thom. Youll be fine.

Fear burned in his eyes. “He knows me. What I look like.

“Ozi, she said, warning.

“What does it matter? A tear rolled down his face. “Im going to die anyway.

“Gods, dont say that. Her voice shook, and she was aware of the people above them listening.

“I know that army. His voice trembled. “A company of those soldiers brought my fathers body home afterafter he died. A man led them. General Agate Cragland.

A sharp breath came from above them. Allegra may have never heard the name Cragland, but it obviously meant as much to someone here as to Ozarson.

“You dont have to remember, she told the boy.

He let her go and straightened up, almost as tall as Allegra with the two of them sitting on the stairs. His eyes blazed despite his fear. “They came to the palace with hundreds of men. They said Cobalt claimed the Onyx Throne, and I was to be executed.

She felt ill. “They told a seven-year-old boy they were going to kill him? What kind of monsters would do that?

“They told my mother. They didnt know I was hiding and listening. His voice shook. “That night I snuck into the place where they had laid my fathers body.

“Ozi, no. With horrible certainty, she knew what was coming. She couldnt stop it, couldnt protect the boy from what had already happened.

“His body had been laid on the floor. Tears ran down his face. “I pulled the cloth off his head andand I tried to kiss his cheek. His voice cracked. “His head rolled away from me, across the floor.

Allegra wanted to hold him close, as if that futile gesture could banish the memory. But he kept going. “I tried to scream. It wouldnt come out. II put his head b-back on his body. Then I ran to my room. I put cloths around my neck, and a belt to protect it. I hid in my bedcryingmy Nannashe camemy mother camewe all cried.

“Im so sorry, she whispered. So sorry the world was filled with monsters whose greed and ambition mattered more than a child.

“General Cragland said they had to wait until Cobalt arrived. All the leaders from the war were at a meeting. In Taka Mal. No one knew what they would decide. They couldntcouldnt kill me until they knew. His face had gone deathly pale. “Cobalt arrived three days later. With his army. They came on and on, burying the world like a sandstorm, burying the palace, thousands, like a plague, like locusts that strip the land.

“Ozi. Allegra didnt know what to do, what to say.

He choked on the words. “Cobalt came into the hall where I waited with my mother. He was so big, his shoulders were so big. In armor and mail. The sword on his back was longer than me. Ozarson was shaking in her arms. “My mother cried. She had never knelt before any man but my fatherbut she threw herself on the ground before Cobalt and begged him to spare my life.

Tears ran down Allegras face. No one else around them moved. The silence could have deafened. “What did Cobalt say?

“He told her that he would let me live. Ozarson took a shuddering breath. “But they would take me away, far away, and she would never see me again. He lifted his chin. “I stood in front of him, and I said he was a fool to let me live, because someday I would cut his head from his body and avenge my father.

“Ozi, she whispered. “How did you get away? How did your mother and your nanna die?

His voice was low, and sounded so very, very young. “General Yargazon camehe and his men smuggled me out. Cobalts men thought Markus was dead. He almost was dead. Yargazons men carried him. There was a river, a gorge. It was night He was crying, his words fractured. “Cobalts men found out about our escape. They separated my mother, Nanna and me from the others. Cobalt had his sword uphe was going to k-kill me. Right there. I saw the blade coming down. But he d-didntdidnt do it. He told his men to take me away instead. General Yargazon, everyonethey were down in the gorge, in a boat that could go over the rapids. My mothersheshe His voice caught on a sob.

“Its all right, Allegra murmured. “Its all right.

“No. Its not! She and Nannathey grabbed me away from Cobalts men and wrapped themselves around me. Then he whispered, “And they jumped.

“Saints, no, someone said.

“Into a gorge? Allegra asked.

“Their bodies protected me. Just my leg broke. The words tore out of him. “Nanna d-died when we hit. My motherShe was alivebarely. She could hardly talk. She told me to avenge my father. Then General Yargazon reached us. He promised her, he swore on his soul and his life, that he would put me on the throne and avenge her husband. She wasShe told me she was going to a golden place, that someday I would be there with her and Father and Nanna. And shesh-she died. His voice broke as if he were shattering. “When you and I rode into Crofts Vale, with everything gold and green and all the children playing, I thought we had found that place. But it isnt. There is no place. Cobalt has come for me.

Allegra pulled him close and sat there rocking him while he clung to her, crying. She heard a rustle and looked up to see Jarid coming down the steps.

“Stay away! she said. “All of you! Stay away from him.

Jarid froze. Behind them, a clank of metal came from the foyer. Allegra turned with a jerk and saw an Aronsdale soldier entering the palace. Judged from his windblown hair, he had probably been out riding. Holding his helmet in his hand, he looked around, obviously trying to figure out what was going on with so many people in the entry.

“Sire. Seeing Jarid on the stairs, he dropped to one knee.

“Rise, please, Jarid said. “You have a report?

Allegra wasnt certain why Jarid didnt go down, but she thought it might be for Ozarson. The boy could panic if anyone came closer to him, especially a king he had no reason to trust. He genuinely thought Cobalts army had come to kill him. The worst of it was, he could be right. But they would have to take him from her first, which meant they would have to kill her, too.

“My patrol saw the army and headed back to tell you, the messenger told Jarid. “We took a group of travelers into custody.

Ozarson lifted his head from Allegras arms and wiped his sleeve across his eyes. He watched the man with wide eyes, and Allegra felt him clutching the back of her tunic.

“Five men on horseback, the messenger said. “They refuse to identify themselves.

A mans voice interrupted him, rumbling as he stepped around the soldier. In a deep, drawn-out accent, he said, “I will speak only to Jarid Dawnfield.

He stood in the light from outside, a barbarian warlord transplanted from a place of wildness, a warrior in chain mail and bronzed armor with a huge sword on his back and a black-plumed helmet under his muscled arm. His black hair was blown around his strong-featured face, and black stubble covered his chin. He faced them all, defiant and bold, his dark gaze smoldering.

Markus.