[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Kratos shook his head.  Not in earshot, I don t think. He nodded at Joscelin.  The Queen put a
great deal of trust in him. There ll be guards on the outer doors, I imagine.
 How s your leg? I asked him.  I m not sure they ll let me pass alone.
 I ll manage. He continued to eye me.  What was it you thought you were doing, anyway? Did
you imagine they d listen?
 I did, I said.  But I think the gods answer prayers sideways. I clapped his shoulder.  I ll
explain later. Let s go.
Eighty-Two
I was right. Without Kratos aid, I d never have gotten past the guards. He strode through the
corridor toward the main doors of the Palace, shouting loudly for the guards to fetch our horses.
The guards looked dubious.  I thought Prince Imriel  one began.
 He is god-touched, man! Kratos roared, grabbing the fellow s doublet.  Not mad! He had a . .
. a seeing! You hit him before he could speak it! Do you people know nothing?
 A seeing? the guard repeated.
 A vision, I said.  I know where the gem is. Blessed Elua has decreed that it must be found
before this war is launched.
They hesitated.
Kratos shook the man he held like a terrier with a rat.  I serve the House of Sarkal. This was
Lord Bodeshmun s last wish and her highness great hope. Go! Now!
The guards exchanged glances. One unbarred the doors to let us pass and the other ran toward
the stables, shouting for an ostler.
Ah, gods! Quickly, quickly, quickly. I waited in an agony of suspense, terrified at the thought that
Joscelin would awaken and come in pursuit of us, terrified that someone would find him, terrified that the
guards would grow suspicious at his absence and forbid us passage. But no; Kratos had rattled them and
they still regarded him as their revered Astegal s sole representative in the City. The ostlers came at a
run, leading the blaze-faced bay I d been riding and the sturdily built chestnut that Sidonie had given
Kratos.
Kratos mounted with a grunt. I could see blood darkening the fabric of his blue breeches and
moved my mount unobtrusively to block the sight, then swung astride.
 Do you need an escort? the guard asked Kratos.
 No, he said curtly.  Just open the gates.
The order was given, the gates were opened.  You d best take the lead, I murmured to Kratos.
 They ll make way for you when we reach the Square.
He nodded and set his heels to the chestnut s flanks.
We burst through the gates and began racing through the City. The streets were as empty as I d
ever seen them. Everyone was gathered at the Square, just as they had been the night of the marvel.
Only this time it was to hear a declaration of war.
How long did we have? I wasn t sure. Kratos thought I d been unconscious a quarter of an hour.
I didn t imagine my head was any harder than Joscelin s. When he woke, he d be in a fury. Once he
denounced us, it would be over.
Kratos didn t ride well and his injury made it worse. He jounced awkwardly in the saddle. His
horse wasn t swift. Again and again, I had to check my own mount, fearful of clipping the chestnut s
hooves, reining in my own impatience.
When Joscelin awoke, he would ride very, very swiftly in pursuit.
We passed empty townhouses, empty stores, empty wineshops. The thunder of our passage
made my aching head swim.
We glimpsed the outer edge of the throng, ordinary citizens clogging the street.  Make way!
Kratos began shouting.  Make way in the name of Astegal of Carthage!
People turned and stared. They knew him, knew his homely face with its squashed nose. They
knew his heavily accented D Angeline. They moved, sluggish, their bunched ranks parting with frustrating
slowness.
Kratos plunged into their midst and I followed.
People stared after us.
If I failed, if I was wrong . . . Kratos was dead. I didn t doubt it. He d aided me and assaulted
Joscelin. The same twisted malevolence that had led the City to hail him as Astegal s trusted right-hand
man would turn on him. They would tear him to pieces for his betrayal.
And likely me too.
The street opened. We had reached the outer edge of Elua s Square. It was packed with
soldiers. They were slower to move, but they did, giving way reluctantly at the name of Astegal of
Carthage. I gazed above a shining sea of helmets.
Elua s Oak.
It rose, vast and majestic, its spring canopy spreading over the Square. I d stood beneath it as a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]