The Night Bird

CHAPTER 21 A MAGE OF CONSCIENCE

Allegra sat at the table in the Octagon Room while Cobalt paced. Jarid leaned on the windowsill, his arms crossed. Despite Cobalts demands, the king had refused to leave Allegra alone with the emperor, and she was immensely grateful.

Cobalt finally sat down, several chairs away from her. He stretched his legs out under the table, and they seemed to go on forever. She had never seen a man with such long legs. His height, strength and sheer physical size shrunk the room.

“This marriage of yours, Cobalt said. “Do you want it ended?

Allegra stared down at the table, thinking. What did she want? No easy answers existed. If she was no longer Markuss wife, they would ask her about Aron. He seemed a fine man. The two of them were similar in age, ancestry, culture, possibly even mage ability, if Dawnfield men did actually inherit the gifts bred into their line. It should be an ideal match. But when she tried to think of Aron, she saw Markus. Her match with the prince regent was anything but idealand yet he stirred her heart in a way no man ever had before.

Allegra lifted her head. “No, I dont. She turned to Jarid, feeling like a traitor. “I truly am sorry. She wanted to say so much more, but she couldnt speak of such personal matters in front of Cobalt.

“Why are you telling him youre sorry? Cobalt asked.

“Shes a mage, Jarid said.

Still sprawled in the chair, Cobalt considered him. “And?

“Shes the strongest weve found in her generation of women. Jarids voice cooled. “Except for Mel.

The emperor took a moment to absorb that. Then he raised his eyebrows at Allegra. “You would give up the chance to become an Aronsdale queen so you could remain the wife of an outlaw whose culture diametrically opposes anything you would want or choose?

Allegra stiffened. “I decide what I want and choose.

“Not with a Jazidian prince, Cobalt said.

He had a point. “I cant give you answers I dont have. But Markus and I They what? Allegra hardly knew how to describe the way the two of them struggled with each other. She didnt see how she and Markus could find a life together. She couldnt stay with him in Jazid, especially with Yargazon in their lives. Nor could she imagine Markus living with her in Aronsdale. So where could they live? It was impossible. But she couldnt give up, not yet, for despite all their incompatibilities, Markus reached her as no one else had done. But she couldnt tell all that to Cobalt the Dark. So she said only, “Were trying.

“I suppose thats all any of us can do, Cobalt mused. He spoke thoughtfully. “We have the princess regent of Jazid here in Aronsdale, the Atajazid DAz upstairs and the prince regent in the dungeon. A strange set of affairs.

“What will you do with us? Allegra asked.

“A good question. He tapped his fingers on the table. “By the time we reach Quaaz, your husbands army will probably have been there several days. They may have taken the capital. If that happens, Ill have to fight a war. He glanced at Jarid, then back at Allegra. “Unfortunately Aronsdale and Harsdown may feel compelled to join with Taka Mal against me.

“I havent said that, Jarid said sharply.

Cobalts stare was impassive. “I havent heard otherwise, either.

“Everything seems tangled, Allegra said, going for one of the greater understatements she had ever made.

“The loyalties are confused, Cobalt said. “Aronsdale has a treaty with Taka Mal. They will fight to defend the Topaz Throne. Which would appear to mean, they will fight Jazid. I hold Jazid. So are they fighting against me? But no, this outlaw army isnt mine. The fugitive army wants Taka Mal to increase its strength and defeat my forces. Also because Jazid just damn well wants Taka Mal.

“Jazid is dying, she said. “Its the richest country in the settled lands, and theyre dying. She knew challenging the emperor was dangerous. But Markus had strong reasons for raising his army, reasons connected inextricably with Cobalt. She steeled herself against her fear and regarded him steadily. “Are you helping them?

Cobalt scowled at her. “It is impossible to help people who fight you at every turn. He motioned at Jarid. “Neither Aronsdale nor Harsdown is pleased with my holding Jazid. So maybe they want this outlaw army to conquer Taka Mal and engage my forces. But of course, they cannot stand by while Jazid attacks Taka Mal. So they want to help Taka Mal but fight me. Otherwise, they fear that when the dust settles, I will end up with the Topaz Throne.

Allegra didnt know what to say. It sounded like a mess.

The emperor was watching her closely. “What do you think, Allegra? Should I also hold the Topaz Throne?

She felt as if a band were constricting her chest, cutting off her air. Of course she didnt think he should hold it. If things kept going this way, soon he would rule every country in the settled lands. She could hardly tell him that, though. So instead, she asked, “Could you keep it? To hold so many countries, you need a military you can trust. You can augment your army with those of other countries, but their loyalty wont be as strong, especially in Jazid and Taka Mal. The more places you take, the harder it becomes to keep them all. She took a breath, trying to calm her surging pulse. “Jazid raised an army large enough to threaten Taka Mal. They may take that country. Your forces are spread too thin. If you take Taka Mal, it will just get worse.

“So. He tapped his fingers on the table, and she feared she had gone too far. But he said only, “What do you think of this boy, Ozarson?

“Hes a remarkable young man.

“Brave.

She spoke quietly. “Yes. Very much so.

“And Dusk Yargazon? Cobalts voice hardened.

Allegra didnt want to answer. She had already said too much. But even through her apprehension, she understood the respect Cobalt was giving her, asking for her opinion and listening carefully, especially after the way Markuss people had treated her. She doubted Cobalt would ever sit talking strategy with his advisors while she “slept in the room.

So she steadied herself and gave another understatement. “Yargazon makes me uncomfortable. Hes cruel, hes brutal and hes a sadist. But hes also a brilliant commander. Markus needs him. Her gaze never wavered. “That doesnt mean Markus condones the rest of what he does.

“He cant have it both ways, Cobalt said. “Either he supports Yargazon or he doesnt. He studied her. “Ask yourself this. Who rules? That boy? I hardly think so. Your husband? Hes what, thirty-six? Yargazon is nearly sixty. He has more years of experience with power than Markus has been alive. Yes, Markus needs him. He leaned forward. “The more you rely on what you need, the more you become that which you rely on.

She stared at him. “Theyre nothing alike!

“And if you said that to your husband in front of Yargazon? Would he agree? Or would he seek the Generals approval, even if it meant hurting you in some way, emotionally, even physically?

A chill went through Allegra. “I dont know.

“Cobalt, what do you want her to say? Jarid demanded. “I dont see what grilling her this way accomplishes.

Cobalt pulled his long legs under him and rose to his feet. He went to one of the octagonal windows and stood gazing at the hills of Crofts Vale.

Allegra glanced at Jarid, baffled, and he lifted his hands with puzzlement.

Cobalt turned. “Allegra, I want you to answer my question again, and I want you to think carefully before you do. We can dissolve your marriage to the prince regent of Jazid, if you wish. Do you choose to remain his wife? Before you say yes, be sure that it is what you want and what you choose.

Was she sure? “I cant know what will happen, especially given how unstable everything is now. But Im as certain as I can be.

He smiled slightly. “Does that mean yes?

She nodded, hoping she wasnt making a terrible mistake. “Yes. I want to remain his wife.

He turned back to the window. Leaning his arm against the sill over his head, he watched the village in the hills beyond Suncroft. “Very well. Then I will let him live.

Allegra jumped out of her chair. “What?

Cobalt turned back to her. “I said I will let him live.

She felt as if her heart slammed inside her. “And if I had said no, I didnt want to stay married to him?

“I would have executed him.

She couldnt believe this. “How could you ask me to make a decision like that without telling me what hinged on my answer?

He came to the table and stood on the other side, facing her. “I wanted your answer free and willing.

“Why?

“Ive already told you. The more a king relies on what he needs, the more he becomes that which he relies on. Quietly he said, “Markus Onyx needs you. He has managed, gods only know how, to earn your willingness to, as you said, try with him. I have no doubt, Allegra, that a man such as Yargazon or Ozar Onyx would never have convinced you to say those words.

“No, she said, stunned. “They wouldnt have.

“Then it is done. With that, he nodded to Jarid and strode out of the room. The door swung open with a whoosh under his pull and closed with a loud bang after he left.

Allegra stared after him. Then she turned to Jarid.

The king walked over to her. “He can be overwhelming.

“What if I had said no?

“Would you have grieved for Markus?

“Yes! She felt as if she had been running a race. “Even if I hadnt wanted to stay his consort, Cobalt had no right to make me responsible for his death.

Jarid laid his hand on her shoulder. “Cobalt always intended to execute Markus. The prince regent was the first one whose death he demanded at the summit when we all met after the last war. It was the only way he would let the boy live. If you hadnt agreed to stay with Markus, Cobalt would have gone ahead with those plans. He didnt make you responsible for Markuss death. He made you responsible for his life. He grimaced. “If I were you, I would worry far more about that outcome.

“I just hate thinking of him chained down there. Allegra could still see Markuss bleak look as the guards slammed the cell door. “I wish Cobalt would let me see him, even if only to give him some light.

Jarid lowered his hand. “I never expected to use those cells. Id planned on converting them to storerooms.

“Is it true, what Cobalt said, that you and the Harsdown king would rather fight against him than for him?

“If I wouldnt answer that for him, Jarid said dryly, “I certainly wont tell the wife of the man whose army we would fight. He paced away from her, then turned around. “After you warned us about Markuss army, we sent redwings to the Topaz Palace with a message, and I dispatched a company of men to Taka Mal. The most important thing is to get Vizarana, Drummer and their baby out of there before the Jazid army gets them.

As much as it relieved Allegra that the royal family would have a chance to escape, she also knew that in the view of her husbands people, she had committed treason by warning Jarid, especially now that she had agreed to remain Markuss consort. Yargazon would demand she be sentenced, probably executed. It would have been far easier to say nothingbut she would have had to live for the rest of her life with the deaths that resulted. And she couldnt forget Ozis pensive words: Sometimes you must fight. But sometimesI wish we could find other ways.

“Is your army going to Taka Mal? Allegra asked.

Jarid tiredly rubbed the back of his neck. “My generals have been preparing to march since we sighted Cobalts army. Well take about half my forces, between one and two thousand. Most of Cobalts and my cousins forces will camp here tonight, and well move out in the morning. He stood by a chair and felt for the table with one hand, again with that odd quality, as if he were blind. But he was looking straight at her. “As to what happens when we reach Taka Mal He shrugged. “That depends on what we find when we arrive.

Allegra had no doubt he knew far more about what he wanted to do than he intended to tell her. “Will you fight? Yourself, I mean. She was no military expert, but she was almost certain kings werent supposed to go out on the battlefield.

He seemed surprised by the question. “In a sense.

“Youre a mage, arent you? Ive heard stories. Impossible stories. “Tales about indigo spells and war mages.

His expression shuttered. “You shouldnt listen. People like to weave epic tales about royal houses. Reality is far different.

“Could you She took a breath, needing an answer she had struggled with these past few days. “If you could use your gifts to do harm rather than to heal, would you?

She immediately wished she hadnt asked. He receded from her somehow, drawing within himself. His gaze lost focus. He kept looking at her, but he no longer seemed to see. He reached for the chair, but he hit the back and knocked it over. Even then he tried to find the chair, as if he hadnt heard it fall and couldnt see it on the floor. Then he crouched down and felt around until his hand banged its leg. He picked it up and set it upright, then stood with his hand clenched on its back.

“Your Majesty? Allegra asked, bewildered. “Can I help?

Jarid reached toward her, and she stepped closer. When his hand hit her shoulder, he let out a breath.

“Sire? she asked. “Whats wrong?

No answer. He pulled out the chair and sat down. When he put his hand to his neck, at first she thought he was loosening his collar. Then he pulled out a pendant.

A sphere.

It was a perfectly round ball of iridescent metal. He folded his hand around it and bent his head. Power swirledand a green spell glowed around him. Not all mages created colors, but Jarid filled the room in emerald light. Allegra stared at him, stunned. She had never known anyone who could so easily create such a luminous spell. She felt it spreading throughout the castle.

Hes searching for someone. She sat down, afraid to disturb him. The spell continued to expand. Such power! It was surely absorbing the moods of people throughout the castle, flooding him with emotions. She couldnt imagine how he endured it, unless he knew how to block out everyone but the person he sought.

Allegra wasnt certain how long they sat; moments or an hour. Then the door opened. Queen Iris stood in the archway, bathed in emerald light. As she came forward, Allegra left the table and moved back, out of the way.

Iris sat next to her husband. “Jarid? She rested her hand on his where it lay on the table. “Can you hear me?

He turned toward her and touched her face. He traced the line of her chin and cheek, then felt her hair. With an exhale, he dropped the metal sphere against his chest. As the spell faded, he folded his arms on the table and put his forehead on his arms.

Iris laid her hand on his back. “Can you speak?

No answer.

The queen looked up at Allegra. “What happened?

“I a-asked Allegra took a breath to stop her stammering. “I dont know. We were talking. He went into a trance. I think.

“What were you talking about? Iris said.

“The armies and Taka Mal. She had been nervous about her own conflicts with spells and violence, and the intensity of his reaction frightened her. “I asked if he could use his mage gifts to do harm rather than to heal.

Iriss face paled. “Ai, no wonder. She leaned over Jarid, her hands on his shoulders. “Come back, love.

He lifted his head and felt for her face, then kissed her. His eyes were unfocused.

Standing, Iris drew him to his feet. “Come, sleep. Perhaps it will be gone when you awake.

He gave no sign he heard. He started to walk, feeling his way along the table, and she helped guide him, her hand on his arm.

“Im sorry, Allegra said, dismayed. “What did I do?

Iris looked back at her. “Nothing, child. Its not your fault. Here, come with us.

Allegra joined them. Once they were in the corridor outside, with no chairs or tables, Jarid seemed better. But he kept his hand over Iriss on his arm, and his gaze remained unfocused. Allegra felt certain he could neither see nor hear. He couldnt even talk. Why?

She could hardly believe what he had done, calling forth such a tremendous power from the highest possible shape. If a green spell of that magnitude came so easily to him, what else could he do? Could the impossible be true, that he was an indigo mage? This might be the price he paid for that immense power, the loss of his senses.

Iris took them through back halls, choosing narrow corridors with fewer mosaics. They ended at a side door. Allegra opened it for them, but it wasnt until they were inside that she realized they were in the royal chambers. The understated elegance made the rooms no less breathtaking. Gold and white gleamed, from the gilded walls to the drapes to the chandeliers. Exquisite patterns of interlocking rings bordered the archways, and hexagonal tiles patterned the floor. The goldwood tables were octagons or circles. Roses and violet royal-buds bloomed in white vases set within wall recesses. It stunned Allegra that they allowed her into their private rooms.

Iris guided Jarid to a worn armchair. He visibly relaxed as he let himself down into it, and Allegra wondered if it was his favorite chair.

“Do you want anything? Iris asked him.

He touched her face, his fingers skimming her cheek as if to reassure himself she was there. Then he waved his hand, sending her away.

Iris turned to Allegra. “This is a private matter. We would like it to remain that way.

Allegra stepped toward the door. “Ill go.

“No, I didnt mean that. Iris rubbed her eyes, then dropped her arm. “I would like company. If you dont mind.

“It would be my honor to stay. Then Allegra added, “Ill say nothing about what happened.

“Thank you. Iris lifted her hand to a nearby couch. “I should stay close, in case he needs anything.

Allegra glanced at Jarid. He had leaned back and was staring at the ceiling with an unfocused quality. She thought it must be terrifying for him to lose his sight.

“Im sorry, she said to Iris as they went to the couch. “I dont know what I did.

Iris sat down with her. “Its happened a few times before. Hell come out of it. Her face was drawn. “He will.

Allegra doubted Iris was anywhere near as certain as she tried to sound. “Is it something to do with his being a mage?

“In a sense. Our inabilityour refusal to do harm is a foundation of what it means to be a mage. What we do to others, we do to ourselves.

Allegra smiled wryly. “I almost put myself to sleep when I used the spell on Markus and his men.

Iris nodded. “You can give sleep because you sleep. We feel only emotions we can experience ourselves. I can heal a wound that isnt mortal, for it could eventually heal itself. Even after so many years at Suncroft, she had a tinge of the dialect from the Tallwalk Mountains of her home. “But I canna heal a mortal wound.

“I never thought of it that way, Allegra said. “It makes sense.

“You have studied the different types of spells, yes?

“Some. Allegra wondered how this connected to Jarid. “Red brings warmth and light, orange eases pain, yellow soothes emotions, green senses them, blue heals wounds, indigo heals emotions. Except She hesitated.

“Yes? Iris asked.

“Do indigo mages actually exist? Legends say the House of Dawnfield once had such Allegra trailed off, not wanting to tell the queen she found such stories hard to believe.

“Im not an indigo, if thats what youre asking. Iriss expression shuttered. “Nor is my husband.

Allegra wondered why she had withdrawn. “Blue, then?

“No.

Allegra waited. “Your Majesty?

Iris spoke as if she hurt. “If my husband considers using his abilities in battle, he loses his sight, hearing and speech. I fear that if he ever uses spells in war, it will destroy him. She glanced at Jarid. “His parents were killed by highwaymen when he was six. Jarid blamed himself. What can a child know? He turned his power against himselfand for fourteen years he was deaf, blind and mute. He lived in a hovel with one of the highwaymen able to do nothing but make spells. In a quiet, even voice, the queen of Aronsdale said, “He spent fourteen years purifying the spells of a violet sphere mage.

The blood drained from Allegras face. Violet came after indigo. Such a mage was beyond her ability to comprehend. In a low voice, she said, “The power to save lives.

Iris met her gaze. “Or take them.

“He can kill with his spells, she said numbly.

“Aye. Iris watched her husband. “You asked him a question he has struggled with since we saw Cobalts army. Perhaps this is his way of focusing inward to search for answers.

“I didnt mean

Iris laid her hand on her arm. “He must wrestle with this himself. It isnt up to you or me or anyone else.

A sudden thought hit Allegra. “Is Aron a mage?

“Aye. We dont know his full power yet. Blue, maybe indigo.

“Gods. Allegra felt like an imposter. “Why am I even here? My spells are such silly, puny things.

Iriss expression softened. “Della tells me they are lovely and pure.

“And weak.

“Dont be so hard on yourself. The Dawnfield traits have been forged over millennia. Her gaze looked much older than her face. “My husband can use violet spells anytime. He has the greatest power of any mage alive. But the price he will pay, if he doesI doubt he will survive.

Softly Allegra said, “Perhaps his senses wont come back. He would have to stay here, then.

“He would hate himself for it. Iris let out a breath. “Each of the few times this has happened, I have feared that he wouldnt recover.

Allegra thought of Markus chained in the dark. Jarid lived in a cell of his own making that was as much a dungeon as the one that held her husband. Then she thought of Ozarson. All of thisarmies on the move, mage powers gathering, the survival of royal Houses against Cobalts inexorable powerit had all been put into motion by one boy who had lost so much.