The Night Bird

CHAPTER 14 THE SAINT VERDANT

They rode all day along the river, even in the river, to hide their trail. Every now and then, they encouraged the horse to roll in the mud, until they were all covered with caked dirt. They blended with all the other dusty travelers following the river, which offered the only viable route through a vast desert.

That evening, as the sun slanted across the land, they cleaned Shadow near a secluded waterfall. While the horse grazed, they climbed above the falls and sat eating their dinner as the sun sunk to the horizon. Allegra scanned the desert with her spyglass

And sighted soldiers galloping across the sands.

“Damn! She offered Ozarson the glass. “Its them.

The boy looked where she indicated. “Oh. Yes. He sounded disappointed. “Theyll probably ride through the night until they reach the river.

“Were at least a days ride west of where theyll hit it.

“They have more horses, supplies and scouts, though. He considered her. “Maybe theyll assume youre taking me to Quaaz.

“It would be a reasonable choice. Yargazon might think Im going to tell Queen Vizarana about the invasion.

“He must be embarrassed you knocked him out.

She suspected embarrassed hardly began to describe it. The General probably wanted to flay her. “We should leave.

Ozarson spoke firmly. “I wont let them hurt you. They must do as I say.

Allegra knew he couldnt stop Markus and Yargazon, but his intentions touched her. She said only, “Thank you.

They set off again, and kept going long after the sun left the sky in a wash of crimson fire.

Yargazon slammed her against the freezing wall. “You drove him to go, looking for you, when he should have stayed with the army. You endangered our plans and put him in danger.

She fought his hold. “Let me go!

He swore at her and raised his arm.

“No! Allegra woke with a gasp, shaking so hard, she almost slid off Shadow. And she was on the horse, leaning over his neck.

“Youll be fine, Ozarson murmured soothingly. “Its just a bad dream. I get them all the time.

As her mind cleared, she realized she was in front of him, and he was holding her as they rode. She barely recalled when he had told her they should switch places, acting more like an atajazid in charge than a hostage.

“Are you better? Ozarson asked.

“Yes. Youre right, it was just a bad dream. She feared it could become reality, but she didnt want to tell him.

“We should stop, he said. “Shadow wants to sleep, too.

“All right. She wished nothing more than to stretch out flat and sleep.

Ozarson reined in the horse, and they slid down. As he lifted off the travel bags, Allegra lay on the ground and closed her eyes.

Ozarson knelt next to her. “Dont sleep there.

“Shadow needs to rest, she mumbled.

“A little while. But if we dont stop long, we can reach the place where this river flows into the Saint Verdant by dawn.

She was drifting off. “It can wait an hour.

“Allegra, listen. He shook her shoulder. “I studied these places with Major Gaizz. The Saint Verdant is huge, the biggest river in the settled lands. Ships go up and down it, and that includes a scow schooner thats really fast. It can carry a horse. A barge carries horses, too, but its so slow, you could ride to Aronsdale, quickly. The majors reports were over a year old, but if the schedule is the same now, the scow only leaves once every few days. Its scheduled for this morning, at dawn.

She opened her eyes. “As in, we could catch it, but Markus would have to wait days for the next one?

Ozarson nodded, his face lit by starlight and a gibbous moon. “Thats right. Unless he left the horses behind.

“They might do that. Buy more in Aronsdale.

He folded his arms against the cold. “If Markus goes to Aronsdale and they catch him, they might not let him go.

However confused she might feel about Markus, Allegra didnt want to see him hurt. And she realized now that she couldnt use Ozi the way she had intended. “Ill leave you at the dock at the Saint Verdant. You can go back with Markus. Ill return Shadow once Im safe in Aronsdale.

He shook his head. “Markus wont stop looking for you. Hell make sure Im safe and then hell go after you even in Aronsdale.

She stood up, folding her arms against the cold. “Why? Because I took his horse? She scowled. “After all, its worth more than me.

“Dont say that.

Her anger simmered. “Its your law, not mine.

He gave a childlike snort. “They dont really believe that. All they think about is women. Women and war. They all want a woman, and almost none of them have one, so theyre angry and they want to fight. So they say that thing about the horse.

She blinked at him. Sometimes children had far more wisdom than their guardians. “Even so.

“Legally youre his wife, Ozarson added.

“I hardly know him.

“But I do. Hes never wanted to marry anyone before, even when my father pressured him to take a bride. Hell come after you. His voice was just audible above the flow of the nearby river. “And, Allegra, I want to go to Aronsdale. To see the king without him knowing who I am. To see what hes like. Will he help my people? How can I know? I could never go as the atajazid. Only this way, by pretending Im no one.

“Its dangerous. Not just to you, but to Markus, too.

He spoke quietly. “If he invades Taka Mal, he could die more easily than if he comes looking for me.

He didnt say what they both knew, that Ozarson could also die that easily. “All right, she said. “Well just sleep a little, then go on.

“You sleep now. Ill take care of Shadow.

She nodded and hoped their plan wasnt in vain, that tomorrow they wouldnt arrive at the ship to find Markus waiting.

Allegra had never seen docks as big as those where the Kings Courseway poured into the Saint Verdant River. It was as if the entire world converged on this spot. The water stretched out to a distant shore she could barely see. Ships and boats of all sizes sailed the rivers, and men stood in them, calling out, raising sails, leaning into the wind. Fishermen thronged the docks, and the oily smell of their catch tickled her nose. Dogs ran everywhere and yapped at the red-terns that squawked in the cloudless sky.

“Its amazing, Ozarson said. “I never knew so much water existed!

“Ive heard the ocean at the edge of the Misted Cliffs goes on forever, Allegra said. “All the way to the horizon.

“Ill never know. His fist clenched at his side. “Ill never go to the Misted Cliffs.

His vehemence didnt surprise her, given what he thought of that countrys sovereign. She indicated one of the bigger docks. A ship was tied up there, a schooner she thought, but she didnt know ships well enough to be sure. Criers were calling out port destinations, and many people were queued up to board, including someone with a horse.

“Do you think thats the scow? she asked.

“It looks like it, doesnt it? Excitement flared in his eyes. “Lets see!

As they neared the ship, a man in a sailors cap shouted at them. “The horse is two silver hexacoins. If you cant afford it, dont bring him.

Allegra raised her hand in acknowledgment, reluctant to call out an answer in what might sound like a girls voice. Ozarson was looking everywhere, drinking in the sights as if he were a dry sponge. As they joined the line of people boarding, Allegra said, “Have you ever met Markuss mother?

“A few times, he said absently as he craned his head to look at nearby piers. “She lives on Lake Baraza with her husband.

Her husband? “I thought she was a concubine.

“That was before. Allegra, look at all the sea creatures. He pointed to the pier next to theirs as a man heaved in a net of squirming, silver fish. A cork floater in the water bumped the dock, and river-weed trailed from his net onto the planks.

She smiled at his astonishment. “Theyre fish. They live in rivers, too, not just the sea.

“I know that, he said with offended dignity. His eyes were lit with pleasure, though. “They just look so strange. We never see water animals with the army.

“Ozi, who married Markuss mother?

“What? He pulled his attention away from the fisherman. “The soldier who guarded her. He spoke awkwardly. “My father hadnt visited her in so long, I think he had forgotten about her. So he let her get married.

No wonder Markus understood why she wanted a guarantee he wouldnt do the same. He could have gone the other way and ended up like his father. Perhaps he and Ozarson were more fortunate than they realized in having their father ignore them, for neither seemed to have taken on his worst traits.

“Whats his mother like? she asked.

“Shes pretty. Ozarson was inspecting the wood under their feet. He knelt down and peered through gaps between the planks. The river below sloshed against mussel-encrusted pylons. “ Look at all that water.

Smiling, she took his arm and drew him up so they could move forward with the line. “Its a lot. But you have to watch where youre going, or someone will trip over you.

Mischief glinted in his eyes. “Markuss mother always scolded him like that. Even in front of his men.

She gave a startled laugh. “Really?

“Once when I was five, he and his men came back from an army training exercise. They had been out for days. When he hugged his mother, she kissed his cheek. Then she wrinkled up her nose and said he smelled like a goat. In front of everyone.

Allegra smirked. “Ill bet he loved that.

“He made a joke. Everyone laughed. His eyes danced. “But when it was just him, her and me, he was so mad! He told her never to talk that way in front of his men. She said if he would take a bath, she wouldnt have to. I thought it was funny, but he didnt. He was furious.

Hah! Allegra wished she could have seen it. “Did he bathe?

“For dinner. He changed his clothes, too.

Allegra smiled. Markus must have taken it to heart, given the care he took with personal hygiene even when he was on the run with his army. “Thats a good story.

“It was funny to see his mother talk to him just like mine did with His smile faded and his voice trailed away.

“Ah, honey, she murmured. “Im sorry to remind you.

“Honey? He seemed bewildered.

“Its a term of affection.

“Ive never heard that.

“You dont have honey?

“On bread, if we can get it. I dont know from where.

“Bees make it.

“Bees! He regarded her skeptically. “You made that up.

“Its true. What a strange life he had. He could tell her every detail of the military and political machinations among the royal families of the settled lands, but he didnt know where honey came from.

As they moved forward, she took several coins out of their bags, discreetly, so no one would know she had money. As two scruffy boys, they were hardly likely targets for thieves, but anyone who saw Shadow might wonder.

Then they were at the front of the line. A man in a striped blue and white shirt and frayed trousers stood there, a cap at a crooked angle on his head. He was chewing, and Allegra smelled sour tobacco.

“How far you two going? he asked.

“To Aronsdale. Allegras pulse quickened. What if Markus had people on the docks seeking Aronsdale passengers? What if the ship didnt go that far or he said they were too young to go alone or he noticed she was a girl?

“A silver for each, he said. “Two for the horse. We provide water, but you pay extra if you need more feed. You can pay with hexas from Taka Mal, Jazid or Aronsdale. Animals stay on the lower deck. And listen here, boy. Take proper care of that horse or well put you all off at the next stop.

“Well look after him, she promised, giving him the coins.

“Why two for the horse and only one for me? Ozarson asked.

Allegra almost groaned. In his world view, a horse cost more than a woman, but not more than the atajazid. She needed to have a talk with him, and soon, or he would give himself away.

The man chuckled. “Because hes a big horse. Youre just a turnip shoot.

Ozarson frowned. “Im

“Here. Allegra grabbed Ozarsons arm and led him and Shadow onto the ship.

“What did he mean, a turnip shoot? Ozarson grumbled. “Im not a plant.

She lowered her voice. “Youre not the atajazid, either, remember? She glowered. “And if youre worth more than two silvers, so am I.

“Oh. Ozarson mulled that over as they walked Shadow down a ramp to the lower deck. The other horse was already in the cargo area, plus a goat, cow, various chickens and a goose.

Ozarson scrunched up his nose. “It smells in here.

Allegra laughed good-naturedly. “So it does.

Shadow whinnied as if to protest the indignity of a royal horse being quartered in such a manner. He had a lot in common with Ozarson, she decided. But they would survive. Although rough, the area was clean and spacious, with plenty of water.

“Here. She lifted the packs off Shadow and handed them to Ozarson. “After we get him settled, we can go on the upper deck.

Excitement filled his voice. “I want to watch the water! I cant believe theres so much. You could jump in and be covered.

“Can you swim?

He shook his head. “I used to paddle around the bathing pool, when I was little. But Nanna held me so my head didnt go under.

“Nanna?

He averted his eyes, suddenly intent on rubbing down Shadow. “She was my nurse.

Was. Past tense. She knew so little of what had happened to him, only that he had been with his mother when Cobalts men brought his fathers body and a dying Markus to the Onyx Palace. The men from the Misted Cliffs had taken control of the palace, including the royal family. So how had Ozarson ended up in hiding with a fugitive army led by a very healthy Markus and the general of his fathers vanquished forces?

She spoke carefully, easing up to her questions. “Did Nanna care for you?

“Until I was seven. He scratched the horses nose. “Were going up top, Shadow. Well come back down later. He made a face. “If we can stand the smell.

The deck jolted under them, and Allegra grabbed a nearby beam.

“Were moving! Ozarson whirled around. “Lets go watch!

The boy was off before she could answer. He took the rickety stairs two at a time and disappeared. Following him, she came up into a brisk wind just as the craft swooped away from the dock. Grabbing her cap, she worked the pins in her hair so they held the hat secure on her head. Cap or no, people might begin to suspect she was a woman, but they were closer to Aronsdale now, in an area of blended cultures, which would make her traveling on her own less unusual.

Before today, the only “ships she had seen were boats that darted across the lake near her home. This was such a sight! Sailors were up in the rigging, and sails unfurled like billowing clouds. The schooner surged away from the banksand away from any horseman who might gallop in to catch it at the last minute.

Allegra hung on to the stair railing and tilted her head into the wind, filled with elation. This ship could reach Aronsdale in no time. The Saint Verdant turned south at the border and cut back into Taka Mal, which meant the nomads must have crossed it when they took her from Aronsdale to Jazid. She had been so drugged, she didnt even remember. If she and Ozarson disembarked at the point where the river turned south, they could probably ride to Crofts Vale in less than two days.

Ozarson was at a rail of the deck, the wind tossing his curls as he leaned over to peer at the river. She went to him, surprised she could keep her balance on the swaying ship. Other travelers gathered along the rail, many waving to people on the receding dock.

The boy straightened as she came up next to him. “I love it! He stretched his arms out as if to encompass the entire river. “Have you ever seen anything like this? Its magic!

She smiled at his exuberance. “We might make Aronsdale in two days, if this wind stays strong.

“This is a good adventure. He indicated the rippling wake of the boat. “I could make an equation to describe those waves.

The idea intrigued Allegra. “How?

“Some periodic function. Maybe sines and cosines.

“You know trigonometry?

“Not very well, he said as if admitting a shortcoming, when he was describing a level of mathematics most adult scholars in their lands didnt know. “But Im trying to learn.

“You like math.

“I love it. He leaned on the rail. “Three times thirty-seven equals one hundred and eleven. Thats the prime factorization. You know one hundred and eleven cant be prime because its digits add up to three. So its divisible by three.

She laughed, delighted. “Ill teach that to my students.

Ozarson scowled, looking for all the world like Markus. “You shouldnt make things up.

“Im not. And stop scowling at me, turnip sprout. Women can do math just as well as men.

“Thats not true! He squinted at her. “Is it?

“It most certainly is.

“Not in Jazid.

She regarded him innocently. “Are you saying people in Jazid arent as smart as in other places?

“I am not! He glared at her. “All right, Allegra. If you tell me the answer to this, Ill believe you. I have a dart board. Its perfectly round. The distance from the center to the edge is five times as long as my little finger. He held up the pertinent digit and wiggled it portentously at her.

She could already guess the type of problem. Something with the area or circumference of a circle. “All right.

“A smaller circle is inside the bigger one, he said. “It has the same center, but the distance to its edge is only three of my little finger. Whats the probability that if I throw a dart, it will hit the smaller circle?

“Thats easy. Nine over twenty-five. Thirty-six percent.

He gaped at her. “Even Major Gaizz didnt do it that fast!

“I told you, she said, relieved he had given her a problem she could do. “I help out at a school. All you have to do is take the ratio of the smaller area to the larger.

“Major Gaizz said it was easy when I explained, he allowed. “But he didnt know how to do it right away.

“How old were you when you made up the problem?

“A couple of years ago.

At age seven? Even at fourteen or fifteen, the age when most children quit school, she knew of very few who could have done that problem. “You must learn fast.

“After Markus and I went into hiding, I was scared, Ozarson said. “Doing number games helped me calm down. His mood brightened. “I helped General Yargazon last year.

She couldnt imagine the ice-hearted general letting a child help him. Then again, he genuinely seemed to like the boy. Maybe it was just women Yargazon hated.

“What did you do? she asked.

His voice warmed as he talked about what was obviously his favorite subject. “The math was easy. He was working out this war-games scenario. In one part, he needed to divide up the men so he had the same number in each group, but he had to plan for three different outcomes. He couldnt figure out the smallest number of soldiers he needed to have was eight per group in the first scenario, twelve in the second and fourteen in the third. He told Markus it would take over thirteen hundred! Thats wrong. He just needed the least common multiple of eight, twelve and fourteen. One-hundred and sixty-eight.

“Did you tell him?

“Of course. His mouth quirked up. “He thanked me and went on with his work. He thought I had no idea what I was talking about. Then Markus told him to see if it worked. When it did, the General laughed. He said I would make a great commander.

She would have liked to be a fly in that tent when it happened. “You should become a mathematician. You would be great at it.

His voice quieted. “I cant. He turned to stare out at the river. “I have duties.

I cant. Such simple words for so much pain. He couldnt pursue this great gift of his because he had to invade countries, wage war and conquer people, all to ensure his country survived.

Ozarson gazed over the water with his chin lifted in a regal posture she doubted he even realized. The wind blew his hair back from the same profile etched on Jazid coins. Watching him, a chill went up her spine. Greatness lived in this boy. Someday he would be a king like no other, his name remembered for ages. Whether it would be for great deeds or terrible, she didnt know, but he would become a legend.

If he lived.