The Night Bird lc-5 Read online

  Allegra wrestled with her anger. If she was going to get away, she had to keep her wits. Taking off into an unfamiliar desert without preparation was more likely to earn her death than freedom. But eventually an opportunity had to arise. To take it, she needed to be alert and strong, and she would be neither if they kept her drunk and in need of food and water.

  She wished she could make a spell to soothe her agitation. She pressed her hand between her breasts where her pendant had hung. She felt more naked without it than without her clothes. Every mage had a maximum shape she could use. The greatest form Allegra had ever managed had six sides, in three dimensions. A cube. The disk on her pendant hadnt been as strong a shape, so it didnt create as powerful a spell, but she liked the sweetness its circular form added. The few times she had tried higher-order forms such as octahedrons, she had managed nothing but a headache.

  Floating around, she saw Stubble watching her. She folded her arms over her breasts.

  His voice gentled. “Whats your name?

  “Allegra.

  “Ive never heard a name like that before.

  “Its the feminine form of the musical term allegro.

  “Well, Allegra, listen, he said. “Try to accept whats happened. It will make things easier for you.

  “I wont ever accept it. You broke the law, scuzzermug.

  “Scuzzermug? He gave a startled laugh. “Whats that?

  “You know those yellow slugs that go under rocks?

  “Ah. I see. He rubbed his hand over his unkempt beard. “I dont suppose it would do any good to suggest you speak with more honeyed words.

  She felt about as “honeyed as a cactus. “Why should I?

  “I would not have you brutalized. And you will suffer if you speak this way to whoever buys you.

  “Im not a possession.

  He squinted at her. “Such fire in a woman is strange.

  “Why? she asked, curious. “Dont your women have backbones?

  “Im sure they all have vertebrae. They also have a better sense of what is in their best interest.

  She snorted. “I dont see why they put up with it.

  “Weve so few women. When she started to retort, he held up his hand. “Its because so many miners come here, not because the women leave. Jazid has a lot of precious ores, gems, that sort of thing. The atajazid offered incentives to attract miners.

  “The ata-what?

  “The Atajazid Daz Ozar. The Shadow-Dragon King. He sat on the Onyx Throne before Cobalt the Dark murdered him.

  “Oh. Of course. Cobalt Escar, king of the Misted Cliffs, had conquered Jazid, Shazire and Blueshire, and married the woman who was heir to the Harsdown Throne, which meant his son would rule Harsdown as well. Escar was a king no longer; people called him the Midnight Emperor.

  “Slavery is illegal in the Misted Cliffs, Allegra said. “Ill tell Cobalts soldiers what youve done.

  He shrugged. “You wont see any of them where youre going.

  “I thought one of the buyers was a general.

  “Thats right. He regarded her intently. “You will go to a man of means and influence. Dont throw that away by running off into the desert. You wouldnt last a day before someone caught you, and chances are your situation with him would be a lot worse.

  She noticed more what he didnt say than his actual words. “Why wont you tell me about the auction? she asked.

  He just shook his head, and she wondered if he was protecting himself. Who were these bidders? With a shudder, she turned so she didnt have to face him. She longed for the comfort of a spell. Several holes in the rocks across the pool resembled circles. The pool was only waist deep, but the rippled water helped veil her nakedness. So she swam to the rocks, going underwater to rinse off the soap.

  At the other side, she ran her fingers over the stone ridge. Water poured over it and cascaded into the pool, eroding holes in the rock. Most were irregular, but one was almost round. Laying her hand over the hole, she closed her eyes. The uneven shape might allow a small spell.

  To do what? She had so few options. Spells went according to color, like a rainbow. Red brought warmth and light, orange eased pain, yellow soothed emotions, green read emotions, blue healed physical injuries and indigo healed emotions. As far as she knew violet spells didnt exist. Just as a mage could use shapes up to a maximum number of sides, she could do any spells up to her maximum color. Allegra thought her limit was probably yellow.

  Red and orange mages were most common. Yellow was rarer. The only greens she knew of were the Harsdown queen and the mage mistress of Aronsdale. She wasnt sure about the Aronsdale queen. Blue, maybe? She couldnt imagine an indigo mage; who could survive having that power? Some tales claimed the Aronsdale kings were mages because so many of their ancestors had married the strongest mages they could find. Although she knew of only women, she saw no obvious reason why a man couldnt be a mage.

  The best Allegra could do was soothe pain and comfort people. She liked to, especially because the spells affected her, too. In theory, she could reverse them and cause pain or grief, but she had no more interest in such spells than doctors had in causing injury or illness. Besides, if she tried such spells on anyone else, she would also experience whatever she inflicted. Now, though, she wished she had learned how.

  She laid her head on the stone, her wine-soaked mind filling with sadness. She thought of the songs she had learned for her loved ones, and tears slid down her face. As the oldest of seven children, she had spent a great deal of time helping care for her younger siblings, which included persuading them to sleep. She chose a lullaby from among their favorites:

  Sleep little flower, sleep my wild storm

  Lie in your bowers, so softly and warm

  She went through several verses, crooning to the cherished siblings she might never see again. The spell calmed her, golden in its soothing power. It made her sleepy even as tears ran down her face.

  Eventually she let her voice and the spell fade, and she became aware again of the river swirling around her body. Raising her head, she wiped the tears out of her eyes. Stubble stood by his rock, staring at her, his face flushed. He seemed angry, perhaps because she had taken so long.

  He came to the bank and knelt down. “Come here.

  Biting her lip, Allegra stayed put. She crossed one arm over her breasts and splayed the other hand over her pelvis, covering herself underwater while she pressed against the rock.

  “Im not going to hurt you, he said, his voice softening. He wasnt angry, she realized, just intense. “That was beautiful. Youve an incredible voice.

  Her voice shook. “Could you move back? So I can dress?

  He stayed there, and she feared he would refuse, that he would pull her out of the water if she came to the bank. Then he exhaled and said, “All right. He stood up and stepped back a few paces.

  Allegra swam over, staying low until she reached the bank. She reached for her tunic and pulled it on while she was in the water, soaking the portion from her hips to her thighs. When she climbed out, the cloth clung to her, the top portion damp and the bottom drenched. Water dripped down her legs.

  Stubble watched her as if he were hungry. “Ach, he muttered. He spun away and strode to the rock. Then he whirled around. “All right. Lets go back. He was obviously upset, though Allegra wasnt certain if it was at her or at himself.

  By the time they reached the wagon, the sun had risen high enough to scorch the day. The fourth nomad was sitting on his drivers bench above the oxen. Driver, she thought of him.

  The wagon looked like the pictures in geography scrolls, the way it stood in the desert with oxen and its bright colors. Once, those drawings had seemed exotic and enticing to her, but no more. She struggled with the tears welling in her eyes. Damned if she would let them see her cry.

  They were soon on their way, bumping among the jagged hills.

  Throughout the day, Allegra tried to sleep, to conserve her strength and keep her wits sharp. She managed only an uneasy doze. V
ardok exuded hostility, but Sot seemed more interested in his bottle than in her. Stubble read for a while, then sharpened a knife he wore on his belt. Vardok changed clothes, and Allegra averted her eyes, but not before she saw the scars on his back and legs. She wondered if he had fought in the war against the Misted Cliffs.

  Later Sot drove for a while. Driver settled in the wagon where Sot had been sprawled and took bread, cheeses and dried meat out of a crate. Allegras mouth watered; they had given her only a mug of thin stew today. When she turned to Stubble, he shook his head. She clenched her fists so hard, her nails dented in her palm. Hunger gnawed in her stomach.

  Eventually Driver went to work on some sort of bookkeeping scroll. Allegra wondered if they listed her on those inventories. Angry, she lay down with her back to them and pulled a carpet over her body. The cold night descended like a stone dropping. In the glades of Aronsdale, days were warm and benign, never with the oppressive heat of the desert here, yet the nights were warmer than here. Jazid was a land of extremes and honed edges.

  “Ho!

  Allegra lifted her head. The call came from outside. The wagon lumbered to a stop, and the lack of movement felt strange. Vardok had been dozing, but now he stirred, his gaze bleary.

  “Finally, Stubble said to no one in particular. He stood up creakily and stepped over to Allegra. “Come on. Grasping her upper arm, he pulled her to her feet. “Lets go.

  Apprehension tickled her throat. “Go where?

  “We live here, he said. “My wife will tend to you. Tomorrow well have the auction.

  Panic swelled in her. “No. I cant.

  Vardok scowled at her. “Youve been a lot of trouble. Now youre going to get perfumed or coddled or however else women waste their time. So quit complaining.

  “Would you call it coddling if four men grabbed you? Allegra asked. “Trussed you up, hauled you across the desert, then scrubbed you down and put you up for auction?

  Vardok stared at her with incredulity. Then he turned to Driver. “Why dont you hit her? He waved his hand angrily at Stubble. “He wont let me.

  Driver gave him a wry smile. “Im wary of her punch, Vardi. And her tongue.

  “Is that your intellectually subtle solution to everything? Allegra asked Vardok. “Beat up people?

  “Allegra, Stubble said. “Its time to go. He pulled her to the back of the wagon.

  Sunset greeted them outside. The western horizon had turned a red so deep, the sky seemed on fire.

  “You wanted me out of there before my refusal to act like a mouse got my face bashed, Allegra said after they jumped to the ground. “Cant rough up the goods, after all. Her words were bravado; she was scared. After the auction, no one would stop the buyer from doing whatever he wanted to her.

  “Well, since you asked, Stubble said. “Yes.

  “How can you do it? she asked him. “How can you make your living this way?

  “Its a good living. Im a wealthy man. How do you think I could buy such a lovely wife?

  “You bought your wife? Thats horrible.

  Stubble seemed bewildered. “How else would I get one?

  “Oh, I dont know, Allegra said. “Maybe court her. Woo her. Treat her well. Ask if shell marry you.

  “It doesnt happen that way here.

  “Are you selling me as a wife?

  “No. A pleasure girl.

  “Whats the difference?

  “A woman can be a wife, a concubine or a pleasure girl. A wife has the most status. Then a concubine. A pleasure girl is just for, well He cleared his throat. “Pleasure.

  “Great, Allegra muttered. She spun away from him and stalked around the wagon.

  And stopped.

  An astonishing camp lay before her. Brightly colored tents with peaked roofs clustered together. As the sunset darkened, people were lighting lamps that hung from poles, tinted-glass blossoms with flames flickering within. The nomads wore long robes with hoods, men in black and charcoal, women in gold or red silks. No one she could identify as a woman was alone; guards escorted the few who were out this evening.

  Stubble came up beside Allegra. “Here. He wrapped one of the charcoal robes around her. “You cant go into camp undressed like that. You wouldnt get more than a few steps.

  Right. But it was all right for her to spend four days cooped up in that wagon with their smelly selves. She wanted to pound her fists against him. Instead she drew in a breath, seeking calm. It could have been worse. Regardless of what he may have wanted to do to her, he had held back and kept the others off her. Bitterly she thought that might be why these mysterious buyers had chosen him to set up the auction; they knew the “merchandise would be in good condition.

  Allegra raised the hood of the robe to hide her face. Breezes rippled the cloth around her body, but with night descending so fast, it would probably soon be too dark for anyone to see she wasnt a man.

  “You live here? she asked.

  “When Im not traveling. He rubbed the small of his back. “After the auction, well move to our next camp.

  “Why move all the time?

  He blinked. “Why would we want to stay in one place?

  “Its home. Allegra thought of her familys dairy. “I lived in the same house all my life.

  “Strange, Stubble mused. “I would feel He thought for a moment. “Trapped. Confined.

  Her voice caught. “Then you know how I feel now.

  No answer.

  The other nomads unloaded the wagon and saw to the oxen while Stubble took her into the camp. As they walked among the tents, men nodded to him, and he nodded back. She wasnt certain if they recognized him or were giving a ritualistic greeting. They soon reached a yellow tent larger than many of the others, with red tassels swinging in the wind. Two brawny men sat on stools by the entrance, talking, both armed with swords.

  As Stubble and Allegra approached, the men rose, their hands on the hilts of their weapons. “What do you want? one asked.

  Stubble pushed back his hood. “Light of the evening.

  “Aztire! The man strode forward and clapped Stubbles arm. “Its good to see you, brother. He grinned at Allegra. “Heh, Vardi.

  “Its not Vardok, Stubble said. He motioned to the tent. “Let us go inside.

  Stubbles brother eyed Allegra curiously. He wasnt as tall as Stubble, and his hair was brown rather than black, but they otherwise looked alike.

  The other guard at the tent smiled, his teeth a flash of white in his black beard. “Its good to see you, Azi.

  “Azi? Allegra asked Stubble. “Is that your name? Aztire?

  Both guards froze. Then Stubbles brother said, “By the dragon, what do you have in there?

  “Who, Allegra said. “Not what. She lifted her hands to push back her hood.

  Stubble caught her arm and swore under his breath. Then he pushed her into the tent. His brother followed. The other man stayed outside, but he stood close to the entrance, undoubtedly listening.

  “Dont show yourself in public! Stubble told Allegra. “Its for your own safety.

  “Is it all right in here? she asked, irked.

  “Its fine, he said more calmly.

  She pushed back her hood as she looked around. Blue carpets with bird patterns layered the floor. In the corners, braziers shaped like dragons glowed, with smoke curling up from their nostrils. The tang of smoke filled the air, but a hole in the top of the tent let out most of it. Large, tasseled pillows tumbled everywhere, and the gold dragons on them breathed embroidered plumes of fire, probably depictions of the Jazid dragon god.

  All these dragons looked strange to Allegra. In Aronsdale, the people worshipped saints. Legends claimed the saints were ancestors who had lived so far in the past, no histories remained of them. Others named them as the first mages, who formed the court of the Dawn Star Goddess, namesake of the House of Dawnfield. Taka Mal had a similar mythology, but rather than a goddess, they revered the Dragon-Sun. They believed their dragon fought Jazids Shadow Dragon in an endless, daily battle
for dominion of the skies.

  Saints, hear my prayer, Allegra thought. Help me.

  Someone was asleep on the far side of the tent, deep in the shadows. From the way Stubble looked there, with such warmth, Allegra suspected she was about to meet his family. Or maybe not. For all she knew, “pleasure girls werent allowed such introductions.

  “By the dragon, Azi, Stubbles brother said. “Where did you find her?

  Startled, Allegra turned back. Stubbles brother was staring as if she were an apparition of smoke that might dissipate any moment.

  “He found me in Aronsdale, she said, annoyed he didnt acknowledge her. “Which, by the way, has a treaty with Jazid. Kidnapping Aronsdale women is illegal.

  The brother gaped at her.

  “She talks a lot, Stubble said.

  “Shes gorgeous. His brother lifted a length of Allegras curls. “Ive never seen hair this color before. It looks like sunlight. He moistened his lips. “Is she well formed?

  “Stop talking about me as if Im not here, Allegra said. She barely held back the quaver in her voice. The day was beginning to crash down on her, her disorientation heightened by her lack of sleep and food, and her muzziness from the wine.

  “Azi? A womans sleepy voice came from across the tent. “Is that you?

  Stubble turned, an expression of welcome flooding his face. “Did I wake you? Im sorry.

  “Its all right. Rustles came from the shadows, and a small woman appeared in a yellow robe that glistened even in the dimness. When she saw Allegra, she shot a startled look at her husband.

  Stubble spoke gently. “Shes for an auction tomorrow, thats all. He pulled the woman into his arms, and they embraced, Stubble resting his cheek on her head. When they drew apart, he smiled. “The children?

  “Both asleep. She hesitated. “Shall I wake them?

  “No need. Ill see them tomorrow. He inclined his head to Allegra. “The auction is the one I told you about. Weve sent word to the buyers.

  The woman regarded Allegra with large, dark eyes. She was younger than Stubble, with a heart-shaped face, a small nose and gold hoops in her ears. Her dark hair fell down her back like a black waterfall. “So you found what they were looking for?