Sasha

have someone keeping an eye on you all these years? Why do you think you haven't had crowds of the curious and the worshipful come clustering about the ranch or the Steltsyn all days? They needed word on what you were up to. I gave it. Nothing more.'

But it had gained him status, evidently. 'Kessligh knew about this?' she asked tightly.

Teriyan shrugged. 'A little. Never seemed real interested, truthfully. Certainly he appreciated anything keeping the crowds away.' Sasha felt her head spin as several new pieces fell into place. Kessligh's displeasure with her occasional long nights in the Steltsyn. Teriyan, on one occasion, sheltering her from the overly nosy questions of one particular out-of-towner. He'd had his curiosity answered later, it seemed.

'You didn't tell me,' she muttered.

'Sasha…'

'Damn it, I'd have understood! I'm not stupid, I knew that you and the others deflected some attention from me… but you were using me, weren't you? Planning a bloody uprising, just like Koenyg suspected

…'

'Oh aye, and how safe would that have been, to tell you everything?' Teriyan retorted. 'Your brother Koenyg sending his damn spies through the Steltsyn every few weeks… we learned to spot them, you know, even if you never did. Those merchants, traders, wandering minstrels, even some of the damn pilgrimage priests, all fishing for stories about you.'

'They weren't all working for Koenyg,' Sasha said disbelievingly. She felt suddenly uncomfortable. Could they have been? 'Travellers gossip, it's not like every traveller who asks questions is pocketing Koenyg's gold.'

'And that's been the difference between the two of us for the last twelve years,' Teriyan said firmly. 'You could afford to think that, up on your hill with your legendary warrior to watch over you. The rest of us learned to be suspicious. There's a whole stack of rumours and stories about you moving about the towns at any given time, Sasha. You don't think Koenyg wasn't listening to all of them? You don't think that at the first suspicion you were going to be a threat to the lords, by giving the Goeren-yai someone to rally around, he wouldn't have come down on Baerlyn like an avalanche?'

'He'd never have dared,' Sasha retorted, eyeing a shadowy figure moving on the dark road ahead. 'Any move against me or Kessligh would have achieved exactly what he didn't want-angry mobs of Goeren-yai looking for blood.'

'Aye, well maybe you could take that risk. Me, I've got family in Baerlyn, and I'm responsible for all the other families too.' He too watched the dark figure ahead. It vanished down an alley. 'The lords thought you more of a risk than Koenyg did, they were twisting his arm all the time… shit, you saw what Kumaryn tried. They know that if the Goeren-yai ever got worked up, the lords' heads would be the first on the block-most Goerenyai respect the king, but we've got no time for lords.

'So we kept feeding them all this nonsense about Krayliss, and how he was so popular. I did it myself a few times, just made up some pile of manure about the brave deeds of Lord Krayliss to tell some traveller when he was near facedown in his ale. He spreads it to the next town, and people talk, and the next thing you know, Prince Koenyg's hearing talk of great, heroic stories about Lord Krayliss spreading through Valhanan. Better yet, Lord Krayliss hears them too, and like any fool who thinks the stars circle his arse, he believes the people love him. Soon enough, he believes it so much he picks a fight with Hadryn, kills Great Lord Rashyd, and threatens the king with Goeren-yai rebellion. So while all the nobility's got their frilly lace knickers in a twist over Krayliss, they ignore you completely… or almost. Worked a treat, huh?'

Sasha stared at him incredulously. 'They ignore me? You… you make it sound as if… as if I'm some kind of… I don't know…'

'Goeren-yai hero?' Teriyan peered down the dark alley into which the figure had entered. Within, there were only shadows. He shrugged. 'Maybe. All I knew was better you than Krayliss. Some of us saw this day coming, Sasha. A day when we'd need someone the Goeren-yai could look up to. Prince Koenyg never really believed it could be you, not truly… Goeren-yai never had women leaders before, it seemed a stretch. And who knows, he might yet be right. We'll see.'

'I'm not a damn leader!' Sasha hissed at him. 'I'm not some piece on your boardgame to be moved about at your leisure…'

'Kessligh didn't teach you nothing, did he?' Teriyan gave her a contemptuous stare. 'We're all just pieces on some damn boardgame, girl. Either you play, or you get played. You choose. You're my friend, and I'm sorry you feel betrayed. But my first loyalty is to my people. I was hoping that'd be your first loyalty too.'

'M'Lady,' said another man moving up on her side as they rounded a tight bend between stone walls. From a high window, a baby squalled. 'I have some men moving to recover the Udalyn children. The Princess Sofy assisted us in finding them in the palace. Should we bring them?'

Sasha looked up at him-way up, for this man was even taller than Teriyan. Goeren-yai, despite lacking the spirit-mask, like Teriyan. And recently familiar, somehow… her eyes widened, recalling the Royal Guard lieutenant who had let her into the Saint Ambellion Temple with Daryd.

'Is it a good idea to bring children?' she asked warily. 'Surely they'll be safe enough here?'

'There's no telling that,' Teriyan said darkly. They were approaching the Soros Library now, its archways looming on the left above dark, clustered rooftops. 'They're proof of bad things happening in the valley, someone might decide them more conveniently disposed of. Besides, we may have use of someone who knows Udalyn lands from the inside-the boy may not speak Lenay, but he can draw maps. In an assault, that could save lives.'

'They are Udalyn children, M'Lady,' the lieutenant added. 'The hardship shall not trouble them.'

Sasha did not like the idea of taking children on such a ride. This, she realised, was one of those command decisions that she had always wondered if she would have the strength to make for herself. Many more would surely follow. She was no longer poised upon the point of no return. That point was now behind her. The realisation made her dizzy, with fear, excitement and a dozen other things that she had no name for.

'See to the children,' she told the lieutenant. 'Perhaps try to find the pony they arrived on, it shall make the journey easier for them.'

'Aye, M'Lady,' said the lieutenant, and made straight for the side road past the library, vanishing quickly in the night.

'His name's Alyn, Koenyg tossed him from the guard,' Teriyan said in a low voice. 'Koenyg's done that quite a bit lately. Gained us a whole bag of recruits, he has.'

Cut from the Royal Guard for letting someone into the temple to visit the king. The disgrace would lie heavily on the man's shoulders, Sasha knew, whatever the circumstances. A man so desperate to reclaim his honour might do crazy, reckless things. And she wondered how many more people would lose far more than just their honour because of decisions she would make now, or tomorrow, or in the days after that.

The stables were less active than on previous occasions, yet still busy enough for cover. 'Be fast,' Teriyan said in a low voice to the group, 'word will reach Koenyg soon enough, the executions will only distract him for so long.'

Sasha saddled fast and rejoined the group in front of the stables. As they approached the guards at the main gate, Soros Square became visible. Great fires lit the four corners about a large, raised platform, swarmed about by as large a mass of people Sasha could ever recall having seen. Light and shadow flung far and wide across the grand arches and towers of surrounding buildings, and the jagged lines of pikemen's ceremonial staffs made a sharp, teethlike row against the glare of flame.

About the crowd's perimeter there were many soldiers, and even more upon the platform itself. Before the platform, there was raised a large Verenthane star on a tall pole. It loomed over proceedings like a watchful guardian, invoking the name of its gods upon all that occurred within its shadow. The symbolism both chilled her and filled her with exasperated rage. Koenyg had no clue. Perhaps Lord Krayliss did deserve this fate, and perhaps the majority of Goeren-yai would not grieve for him. But to take his head beneath the shadow of a Verenthane star? One could not have conceived a greater provocation if one's intention was to start a rebellion.

'Identify yourselves!' called a guard from the gate, evidently a little bored with his job and far more interested in the spectacle upon the square. The crowd on the platform was clearing now and the drums increased their pace. Of the victims, Sasha's vantage did not provide a good view.

'I know them,' said another guard as the column arrived. 'Let them through.' A Goeren-yai man, Sasha saw as Peg sensed her tension and danced sideways a little.

'Hells no!' demanded the first man with typical Lenay bluntness. 'Identity of all present, then pass!'