The Night Bird lc-5 Read online

  “Come on, he said, sitting next to her. “You were made for a man, eh? Why else would the Shadow Dragon make you so beautiful? The smell of peppers on his breath wafted over her.

  “Go away, Allegra said. For so long, she had wanted a youth to say he found her beautiful, but none ever had. She hardly saw anyone, given the isolated region where she lived. She hated that Vardok had turned the sweet words into something ugly.

  “You dont like us, eh? he said. “You Aronsdale women think you can do what you want. Now you know youre wrong.

  “Vardi, stop it, someone said. “Leave her alone.

  Vardok turned with a frown. Following his gaze, Allegra saw Stubble pulling himself up to sit by the crate. His blocky face was creased along one cheek from sleeping against the box, and his eyebrows had drawn into a black ridge over his deeply set eyes.

  “Why shouldnt I talk to her? Vardok asked.

  “Youre frightening her, Stubble said crossly. “Why do you keep doing that? Cant you tell shes scared?

  “I dont know why you wont let us touch her, Sot muttered. He took another drink from his bottle.

  “She doesnt deserve to be mauled, Stubble said. “Its our good fortune we found her, but this cant be easy for her.

  Vardok looked baffled. “So what?

  Sot smacked a bolt of cloth next to him. “I dont ask if being sold is easy for this silk. He pointed at Allegra with his bottle. “Why would I ask her?

  “Shes a person, idiot, Stubble said. “Not a bolt of cloth.

  “How would you like it, Allegra asked Vardok, “if someone dragged you away from your home and put you up for sale?

  Sot gave a rasping guffaw. “Damn sure no one would buy his ugly carcass.

  “Shes a woman, Vardok told Stubble. “Not a person.

  “For saints sake, Allegra said. “A woman is a person.

  Vardok glanced at her. “Not in Jazid.

  “Like hell, she said.

  “Enough! Vardok raised his hand, and Allegra flinched.

  “I told you to stop it! Stubble said. “If you keep hitting her, shell be black-and-blue by the auction, and we wont get horse manure for her. That mark you left on her face will barely be gone by tomorrow.

  Allegra hadnt realized she had a bruise, but it didnt surprise her. Tears gathered in her eyes. Would her family think she had died? Surely they would search for her. Although her parents ran a dairy, which filled their days with work, two of her four brothers were old enough to travel. She knew her family; they would look for her even if her brothers spent many seasons traveling. But she couldnt imagine how they would find her in Jazid, the largest country in the settled lands. A long time could pass before they even knew she was gone. It took ten days for a letter to go from Crofts Vale to her home, and her parents didnt know when she would arrive at the guild or write to them.

  “We cant show her to either of them if shes not in good shape, Stubble said. “It makes us look sloppy.

  “Either of whom? Allegras voice shook.

  No one replied. At least Vardok slid back to his seat.

  Allegra closed her eyes, hurting too much to think. Hunger sapped her strength, and the wine blurred her concentration. If she had a shape to hold, and if she could sing, she could create a spell of succor for herself. But the only shapes here were distorted triangles. She was too groggy to remember why they were bad. Reasons swam in her head. Oh. Yes. The more sides to a shape, the more power it gave a spell. Three-dimensional forms were stronger than those with two dimensions. Triangles were the weakest; they could barely create anything, and these were probably too distorted to work at all. She needed her pendant.

  “My necklace. She wet her lips. “Do youhave it?

  “We sold it, Vardok said. “With your horse.

  “You sold them? Even knowing what they had intended, it was too much. Those were her last ties to home. It crashed down on her then, that they had ended her life as she knew it. They would sell her to some stranger who could do whatever he wanted to her. She would never again see her home.

  “No no. A sob choked in her throat.

  “Oh, be quiet, Vardok said. “Its just a damn horse.

  “Let her cry, Stubble said quietly.

  She struggled to hold back her tears. “Would you untie me? she asked Stubble. “It hurts.

  “Maybe we should unroll the carpets, too, Sot said with a belch. “Hell, why keep anything tied up?

  I hope you rot into mold, Allegra thought.

  Stubble gave them a disgusted look. “Carpets and cloth dont feel. She does. He stood up, swaying as the wagon bumped along, and stepped over to her. He actually smiled. “You should see the look on your face. Im glad Im not the one buying you. It might be dangerous.

  “Heaven forbid, she muttered.

  “Shell shape up, Vardok said. “Especially if the General ends up with her.

  Allegra thought she must have misheard. A general? The armies of the Misted Cliffs had conquered Jazid two years ago. The Jazid soldiers who survived had sworn allegiance to the conquering emperoror been executed. And the people of the Misted Cliffs abhorred slavery. Surely their army here would protect the treaty with Aronsdale.

  “What general? Allegra asked.

  Stubble crouched down and rolled her onto her stomach.

  “What are you doing? she asked, alarmed.

  “Hold still. He pressed his palm on her spine, keeping her in place. “I cant untie you otherwise.

  “Oh. She closed her eyes with relief as he went to work on her wrists. They fell free at her sides, and she groaned when pinpricks scored her muscles.

  “Better? he asked.

  Her arms felt as if they were on fire. But it would pass, so she said, “Yes. She looked up at him. “My ankles, too?

  “Shell run off, Sot warned him.

  Stubble scooted to Allegras feet. “She can hardly move.

  “You should leave her tied, Vardok said.

  Stubble ignored him. Allegras legs were so numb, she couldnt tell they were free until pinpricks started in them, too. Stubble returned to his seat and took a packet of dried meat out from his pocket. He settled back, eating.

  “Can I have some food? she asked.

  “Maybe later, Stubble said.

  “But Im hungry.

  His voice tightened. “I said, later.

  Apparently his kindness went only so far.

  For a while, she just lay, wincing as the numbness left her limbs, but eventually she sat up. Vardok and Sot watched her with curiosity and something much darker. Disquieted, she pulled her shift farther down over her thighs.

  “Who is the general you were talking about? she asked. The more she knew, the better she could plan her escape.

  “Youll find out soon enough, Sot said. He tried to drink out of his bottle, then squinted inside. With an annoyed grunt, he cast aside the empty container.

  Allegra wondered if she could use his bottle to make a spell that would ease her discomfort, maybe increase her strength. The circular bottom might work as a shape, maybe even the neck. She needed only to touch it and sing. Of course, they could easily stop her. Although every mage needed a geometric shape, their ways of creating spells varied. She had always appreciated her need to sing for the pleasure it gave her; she had never realized before how easy it would be to stop her from making a spell.

  Stubble settled against the crate, one arm on the box. “So many questions, he mused. “Most girls we catch are too scared or crying too much to speak. You Aronsdale girls are tarter, eh?

  “What, youre afraid that will lower my price? Maybe if she made herself disagreeable enough, they would let her go.

  Vardok laughed, but it was an ugly sound. “It will just make breaking you all that much more entertaining for the buyer.

  “Women arent horses, Stubble said.

  “Horses cause less trouble, Sot muttered. He was searching in a crate for another bottle, his body swaying as the wagon bounced.

  “You know, Allegra s
aid, “its amazing what youve done in Jazid.

  “You think so? Sot grinned at the others. “See? Shes learning already.

  Stubble regarded her with a narrowed gaze. “Whats amazing?

  “Your population, Allegra said.

  “Is it now? Vardok said.

  “Well, actually, Allegra said, “whats amazing is that you have any population. Surely your own women grew disgusted with this place long ago and left. Its no wonder you have to kidnap new ones. I cant imagine any woman coming here of her own free will.

  Sots mouth fell open. “I dont believe she said that.

  Vardoks lips curled in a snarl. To Stubble, he said, “Damn it, Azi, let me hit her.

  “Enough! Stubble said. He glared at Allegra. “You talk too much. Youll get into trouble.

  Well, that had certainly hit a nerve. She knew such comments didnt help her, but they were her only shield against her fear that she had lost everything.

  CHAPTER 2

  ROSE OF TAMBERA

  Allegra dozed for most of the day, too drunk to stay awake. For dinner, they gave her citrus fruits. Day faded into night, and she slept sitting up against a crate, afraid of what Vardok might do if she lay down.

  She woke in the dark with a painful thirst. “Water? she asked. Her voice croaked.

  The wagon continued to jolt along.

  “Please, she said, slumped against the chest. Memories of streams, lakes and tumblers of icy relief tormented her.

  Something rustled in the front of the wagon. “Eh?

  “Im thirsty.

  “So m I, someone muttered. A scratching noise came toward her, and Sots sleepy voice. “Azi said to give you wine.

  Allegra groaned. “No, not that. She could smell him now, onions and sweat and whiskey.

  “Here. He raised a bottle to her lips. “S not wine.

  Relieved, she took a swallowand choked as whiskey burned her throat. Spluttering, she spit some of it out, but the rest went down.

  “Dont waste it! Sot said, pulling away the bottle.

  “Wait. She managed to catch the bottle in the dark and fold her hand around its circular base. Power stirred within her. Dents in the glass deformed the shape, but it might still work.

  “Would you like me to sing to you? she asked.

  “No! If Azi wakes, hell get mad at me for touching you. Sot clumsily stroked her hair. “Youll be all right.

  She pulled away. “Stop that.

  “Come on, pretty, pretty. His lips smeared her cheek. “Kiss me.

  Allegra whacked him on the head. “Behave yourself.

  “Not so loud, he muttered. Grumbling, he moved away, taking his smell and his bottle with him.

  Allegra shuddered and folded her arms on the crate, resting her head on them. This misery had to end. She wasnt safe enough to sleep, had to stay alert

  Allegra awoke into daylight, still slumped against the crate with her head on her arms. Her body ached from sleeping that way, but the pain in her limbs had eased. Either that, or she was too woozy to feel it. Before this mess, she had barely tasted alcohol; now she had been inebriated for nearly four days. She doubted she could run even if she had the chance. Hell, walking would be a challenge.

  Sot lay sprawled on his rugs, snoring loudly, his face slack. Vardok had fallen asleep on a pile of rugs across from her, but he had a tensed, alert quality. She realized then he was the one she had called Fist. Stubble was studying a map he had unrolled on his crate.

  “Did we ride all night? Allegra asked. Her voice slurred.

  “Thats right. Stubble didnt glance up.

  “Doesnt the driver have to sleep? she asked.

  “He did. Vardok drove for a while.

  “Oh. She had other concerns right now. Before, when she had needed to relieve herself, Stubble had given her a pot and held a rug in front of her. She wanted more privacy, and also a bath. Water. Blissful, clear water.

  Allegra spoke awkwardly. “What do you do to, uh, clean up? She hoped he knew what she meant, because she was too embarrassed to say more.

  Stubble didnt answer, and she wasnt sure he heard. Then he climbed to his feet, looming over her. Startled, she pressed back. But he just went to the front of the wagon. Leaning over Sot, he pulled apart two flaps of cloth.

  “We need to stop, he told someone outside.

  Another man, the driver apparently, answered, words Allegra couldnt hear. Stubble let the flaps fall into place, then came over and crouched in front of her. “Were going to rest the oxen. Ill take you out then. But if you give me trouble, we come back in. Understand?

  As she nodded, the wagon rumbled to a stop. Vardok rolled onto his back and grunted. Sot kept snoring.

  “Come on. Stubble stood up.

  Allegra tried to rise, but her legs buckled. “Cant, she muttered.

  Stubble helped her up. “Just stand until your head clears.

  She swayed for balance. When her stomach settled, she looked up at him. His whiskers had thickened into a beard, and he didnt smell so great.

  He smiled slightly. “Ready?

  “Hungry, she said.

  “Later. He guided her forward, holding her up by the arm.

  At the back of the wagon, Stubble drew aside the flaps, and she squinted as morning sunlight poured across them. It was a relief to breathe in the crisp air after the stale wagon.

  Then she saw the land.

  Saints almighty. Gone were Aronsdales pretty meadows. To the east, a huge mountain range loomed out of a desert like teeth in the jaws of a gigantic skeleton with its mouth open. Their peaks stabbed the washed-out blue sky, and the rising sun just crested their tips. Closer by, stretches of red and ocher desert alternated with serrated rock formations that stood at the height of a tall man or higher. The land had an eerie quality, as if they had reached a place ruled by the mythical Shadow Dragon, where humans traveled only on sufferance of that Jazidian god.

  Stubble indicated the peaks. “Those are the Jagged Teeth.

  “Never expected tsee em. She tried again. “To see them.

  He jumped to the ground. Before she could react, he had lifted her out of the wagon and set her next to him.

  “Can walk on my own, she mumbled.

  He laughed softly. “Are you sure?

  “Yes. She wanted to sock him for that smirk.

  “All right, he said. “But if you run, Ill catch you.

  Right. She was tipsy, not stupid. Given how little she knew about survival in the desert, she wouldnt take off even if she were sober. She had no supplies, map or horse. She would bide her time until she had a better opportunity.

  “Weve been following the Stoneblue River, Stubble said. “You can clean up there.

  Water! She set off in the direction he indicated and did her best to walk a straight line. When he rested his hand on her shoulder, offering support, she glared at him and pulled away.

  The air smelled strange, so parched and dusty. Its dryness added to her thirst, until she could think of nothing but stoneblue water. She wasnt sure how long it took to reach the river, as her mind kept drifting, but they were soon above it. The water coursed fiercely, as wild as the land, roaring over steep drops, with rapids and small waterfalls. Spray jumped around needled rock formations that jutted out of the froth.

  Stubble found a barrier of rocks that created a pool where the river flowed more slowly. He stood on the bank behind Allegra, holding her in place with his hands on her shoulders.

  “I dont want you to drown, he said uncertainly.

  She shrugged off his hands. “I cswim fine.

  “Sober, maybe.

  She ignored him and sat on the bank, her legs dangling in the pool. With a sigh, she eased into the water. She lifted handfuls of the precious liquid and drank and drank and drank, slaking the thirst that had plagued her.

  Stubble sat on a boulder a few paces back from the pool. “Dont go anywhere.

  Self-conscious with him watching, she crouched behind the riverbank so he could see on
ly her head. Then she pulled off her wet shift and tossed it up on the ground. It wouldnt be dry when she finished her bath, but she had wanted the water so much, she hadnt cared.

  “I need to wash my hair, she said. It would give her an excuse to disappear underwater, maybe swim away. More likely she would drown, and she had nowhere to go, but the water had returned a little of her strength, encouraging her to think about escape.

  Stubble took something out of his pocket and tossed it to her. Startled, she grabbed it out of the air. It was a rough bar of soap, gritty and orange.

  “Stay where I can see you, he warned. “Or Ill come in after you.

  “Dont do that, she said hurriedly. He had so far kept the others from mauling her, but no one would stop him if he changed his mind about the rules he had set up.

  Watching her face, he sighed. “Look, Ive a wife at home. Two children. I love them. I dont dishonor my wife by taking other women, and I dont force girls I find in the forest. More quietly, he added, “But Ive a living to make, and youre going to bring us a lot of wealth. So if you try to get away, Ill come after you, whatever it takes.

  “Well, good for you, not wanting to dishonor your wife, she said sourly as she soaped her arms. “You just sell the girls you find in the forest to someone else to rape. How the hell can you justify that if you think its wrong?

  “Dont talk to me like that. His fist clenched on the rock. “Youre in Jazid now. A horse has more rights than you do here.

  “Thats appalling.

  He started to say more, then stopped and stared at his fist as if he hadnt realized he had clenched it. Taking a breath, he relaxed his fingers.

  “Does Vardok have a wife? Allegra asked. Then she added, “Maybe he likes horses better. Ill bet they dont talk back.

  Stubble glowered at her. “He has neither wife nor horse. And before you say no one wants him, he does have several children.

  “Do they neigh? Allegra asked sweetly.

  “By the Shadow Dragon, Stubble muttered. “Woman, you do have a tongue.

  She turned her back to him and lathered her hair. Despite his claim otherwise, he obviously had qualms about his work. Maybe he loved his family, maybe he had a conscience, but that just made it worse, because he went ahead with this anyway, out of his desire for wealth, with no apparent remorse.