endanger the life of the crown princess in defiance of the royal magician?”
“It was my decision.” Tanalasta interposed herself between Alusair and the ranger. “I was the one-“
Alusair shoved Tanalasta aside, then continued to berate Rowen. “Are you just stupid, or are you conniving with Xanthon?”
Rowen’s face grew stormy, but he merely clenched his jaw.
“You have no right to talk to Rowen that way!” Tanalasta shoved Alusair away, then stepped forward to stand toe to toe with her sister. “Vangerdahast was the one who was out of line. He has no right to teleport me anywhere against my wishes.”
Alusair studied her sister for a moment, then raised a brow and looked to Rowen. “Don’t tell me you two-“
“Oh no!” Rowen said. “Nothing like that.”
“Not that it’s fitting for you to ask,” Tanalasta said. “Anymore than it is for Vangerdahast to pop me about the realm like some sort of pet blink dog.”
Alusair studied Rowen a moment longer, then looked back to Tanalasta. “So when did you desert poor Vangerdahast?”
“Seven days ago,” said Tanalasta. “In the canyons below Boldovar’s tomb.”
“The sycamore,” Rowen clarified.
Alusair frowned. “You’ve been on foot. He should have teleported back and caught up to you by now.”
“Unless…” Tanalasta could not bring herself to say it.
“Unless what?” demanded Alusair.
“Unless he followed our horse,” said Rowen. “There were two ghazneths hunting for us. We had to set up a decoy, and Vangerdahast may have followed it instead.”
Alusair closed her eyes. “Which way?”
“South through the Mule Ears,” said Rowen. “I believe that would bring him out somewhere just west of Redspring.”
Alusair could only shake her head in disbelief. “What were you two trying to do-elope?” She glanced in Tanalasta’s direction, then added, “That’s not a suggestion.”
“I wouldn’t need one,” said Tanalasta.
‘That’s what I’m afraid of,” said Alusair. She thought for a moment, then turned to Rowen. “The Mule Ears must be two days out of our way.”
Rowen nodded grimly. “I understand.”
“What?” Tanalasta demanded, sensing something had just happened she did not comprehend. “What do you understand?”
The ranger took her by the arms. “It’s all right. I’ll split off tomorrow morning, then meet you at Goblin Mountain in a tenday or so.” He cast a weak smile in Alusair’s direction, then added, “The way your sister dawdles about, I’m sure I’ll be waiting there when you arrive-if Vangerdahast doesn’t leave me strung up by my thumbs someplace.”
Tanalasta shook her head. “No. I won’t let you go.”
“That’s not your choice,” said Alusair.
“It is. You said yourself I’m still the crown princess.”
“But this is my company.” Alusair responded with surprising gentleness. “And I give the orders here.”
16
From the depths of a third floor arrow loop gleamed a pair of darting crimson eyes, framed by a face of inky darkness and a halo of wildly tangled hair. The broad band of a tarnished crown sat low on the figure’s brow and seemed in danger of slipping down over the eyes, and that was all Azoun could see of the creature from his hiding place across the road. He waited until the thing’s red eyes shifted away, then pulled away from the curtain and closed the gap through which he had been peering.
“That is the ghazneth, most certainly.” He shook his head in wonderment, then turned to Merelda Marliir. “My thanks for your sharp eye, Lady Marliir-and for allowing us the use of your home to spy upon it.”
Merelda, adorned at midday in jewels and a chiffon ball gown, curtsied deeply. “You are most welcome, Sire. After hearing Dauneth’s description of the fiend, I could scarcely believe my own eyes when I saw it landing atop the White Tower.”
“And you are certain the queen was with it, Mother?” asked Dauneth. Like Azoun and the rest of the company crowded into Lady Marliir’s spacious dressing chamber, the High Warden was dressed for battle.
Merelda scowled at her son. “I know the queen when I see her-even if she was not quite as radiant as usual.” She gave Azoun a concerned look, then said, “Of all the places in Arabel, I can’t imagine why it would be stupid enough to take her there. I have heard that is the armory of the war wizards.”
“It would certainly seem foolish for the ghazneth to show itself anywhere within the citadel,” said Azoun, dodging Merelda’s half-asked question. Given her kindness in volunteering her own dressing chamber as a staging area for an entire company of Purple Dragons, he had no wish to insult the woman by lying to her-but neither did he wish to confirm the armory’s confidential location to one of the biggest gossips in the realm. “But it would be a mistake to think of our foe as stupid. He has, after all, been eluding us for nearly a tenday now.”
Azoun caught Dauneth’s eye, then glanced from Lady Marliir to the door.
Taking the king’s hint, the High Warden turned to his mother. “I hate to ask this of you, Mother, but I’m sure you will understand.”
Lady Marliir’s expression grew wary. “What is it?”
“It’s a small matter, really. We’ve been discussing strategy all day and our throats are dry. I wonder if you would fetch us something to drink?” Without waiting for an answer, the High Warden took his mother by the arm and started toward the door. “I’d send for the servants, of course, but we’ll be making plans and can’t have anyone of less than the utmost trustworthiness near the room.”
“I should have thought of that myself.” Lady Marliir beamed at her son’s flattery. “I’ll have the entire wing emptied.”
“Yes, we thank you for your prudence,” called Azoun. He could barely force himself to wait until the woman had left the room before turning to Merula the Marvelous. “How many can you carry into the armory?”
“At once?” Merula glanced around the room, studying the heavy armor in which his companions were adorned, then closed his eyes to do some quick addition. “No more than four and myself, but I could summon-“
“No!” said Azoun. “That would take magic or time, and either could cost us the queen.”
The king turned to the men at his back. Though he had not asked for volunteers, he saw in every man’s eye the fervent hope of being picked to enter the tower with Merula. Azoun clasped Dauneth’s shoulder, then waved forward two Purple Dragons he knew to be excellent swordsmen-and even better marks with a crossbow.
Azoun turned to Merula. “How do these men strike you?”
“As well as any others,” said the wizard. “But what of the fourth?”
“You are looking at him, of course.”
Merula’s eyes grew as round as coins. “But Sire, there is every risk-“
“She is my queen,” said Azoun. “More than that, she is my wife.”
“Yes, but you pointed out yourself that the ghazneth is very cunning,” he said. “This may be a trap.”
“Merula, I am not asking your opinion.”
The wizard was unfazed by Azoun’s stern tone. “And even if it is not, there is the afterdaze. For a moment, we will be almost helpless.”
“Merula!” Azoun barked.
The wizard fell silent, but looked less than contrite.
Mungan Kane, one of Owden Foley’s Chauntean monks, stepped forward to speak. “Sire, if I may, there is much to what Merula says.”
Merula narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and Azoun glared.
“Is everyone in this chamber determined to defy me?”
