Thinking, Faegan looked down at his hands. “For some unknown reason, it seems that both the Ones and Xanthus share the same desire of us,” he said quietly.
“What desire is that?” Adrian asked.
“The answer is simple,” Faegan said. “They both want us to take the Citadel. But I cannot imagine that their reasons for wanting this could be the same. How curious…”
Wigg looked over at Shailiha. He knew that the decision would be a difficult one, but it was hers to make. “What are your orders, Princess?” he asked.
Shailiha turned to Adrian. “How much longer before your acolytes can fully empower the Black Ships?” she asked.
The First Sister smiled. “Grant us three more days,” she answered. “In return, we’ll give you the fastest vessels the world has ever seen.”
Shailiha nodded. “Very well,” she said. She looked at Wigg. “In the meantime, we are going to visit a certain Eutracian jailor.”
Wigg smiled. “I was hoping you would say that.”
Mallory stepped toward the princess. The look on her face was polite but firm. “With all due respect, I have a request, Your Highness,” she said.
No one needed to tell Shailiha what Mallory wanted. If the roles were reversed, Shailiha knew that she would be asking for the same thing.
“You want to accompany the raiding party to the prison,” Shailiha said. Reaching out, she took Mallory’s chin into one palm. “Are you sure that you want to return to that hideous place?”
Mallory set her jaw; her blue eyes grew flinty. “With all my heart,” she answered.
For a moment her mind returned to the day the lecherous guard had abused her. In her heart she believed that until she dealt with him personally, the terrible experience would forever color her life. She also believed that he was still alive.
“I have a personal score to settle,” she answered softly. “Besides, from what I gather, not one of you has ever been inside the prison. I can show you the way to the dungeons. I’m stronger now, and I won’t let you down. Grant me this wish and I will forever be in your debt.”
For several moments Shailiha looked at Mallory, trying to decide. What if Mallory kills him? the princess wondered. Shailiha wasn’t convinced that the guard deserved to die. Worse, if she allowed Mallory to kill, both she and the young acolyte would carry the scar forever.
Then she remembered something Tristan had once told her, after saving her from the Coven. True courage, he’d said, was continuing to follow your heart, even when others disagreed. It seemed that the young acolyte already understood that. Deciding to trust her, Shailiha looked down into Mallory’s eyes.
“Permission granted,” she said. “And may the Afterlife look after us.”
CHAPTER XXI
SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE, TRAAX GAZED INTO THEsky. Night had fallen, and the three red moons shone brightly across the heavens. What remained of the mountainside’s trees cast macabre shadows that reached like malformed fingers across the sloping terrain. Stirred by the wind, the smell of Minion blood lingered.
Lifting an akulee jug, Traax took another drink. They all needed the rest, for the flight to this place had been exhausting. He was immensely proud of his troops. No other fighting force on earth could have traveled so far so quickly.
After his troops had returned with newly constructed litters, they’d loaded the dead, then flown back to the base camp. Laying the fallen alongside their murdered brothers, the funeral detail lit the traditional pyres. The flames roared for hours.
Satisfied that his base camp troops had hunted down enough food and found a potable water supply, Traax had ordered twenty-five warriors to return with him to the pass. Supplies were loaded onto the empty litters and brought along. Traax had sternly ordered the base camp commander to inform him immediately if intruders were seen.
Traax stretched out on the ground beside the fire. Several warriors were sleeping. Three scouts stood guard downhill, and four more watched the shimmering pass. Traax had given stern orders that no one stray from his post.
Just then he saw his three scouts rush into camp. Sensing trouble, he came to his feet.
Before Traax could speak the lead scout covered his mouth, telling everyone to remain quiet. Then the scout pointed to one ear and one closed eye, indicating that he had heard something, but seen nothing.
One by one the warriors silently woke their brothers. Soon everyone was on his feet. The campfire was extinguished, and magenta moonlight reclaimed the scene.
Drawing his dreggan, Traax listened intently. No night birds sang and no creatures stirred. But that meant nothing, because quietness had blanketed the mountainside from the moment his group had arrived. Then the night wind stilled eerily.
Again looking to his commander, the first scout formed a V with two fingers, then pointed his hands toward the ground and wiggled them, signaling that the sound had come from two horses’ hooves. The warrior standing beside him nodded his agreement, then pointed down the sloping mountainside.
Satisfied that the threat was real, Traax pointed at some fighters and gestured upward. Their beating wings nearly silent, five warriors stealthily took to the sky. Smiling grimly, Traax was suddenly glad that he had picked these troops personally.
Traax pointed his dreggan toward the ground. Recognizing the order, every warrior quickly took up a handful of charred earth, rubbing it onto his blade so that it wouldn’t shine in the moonlight. After a final signal from their commander they fanned out. Expertly becoming one with the charred forest, the warriors waited.
As the anxious moments passed, Traax started to wonder whether his scouts had been wrong. Then the sound of horse hooves rose up the mountainside. Gripping his dreggan tighter, Traax strained his eyes in the moonlight. Still he saw nothing.
Soon an azure cloud formed. As it neared, the horse steps grew louder. The cloud faded to show two glowing eyes hanging menacingly in space. Soon Xanthus and his mount took form.
Sitting astride his stallion, the Darkling held his axe in one hand and his shield in the other. He stopped his horse about twenty paces downhill. His impatient stallion snorted and pawed the charred ground.
Traax could not see the prince. But even with Xanthus’ mount standing still, the Minions soon heard another horse approaching. A second azure cloud formed.
Traax watched spellbound as Tristan appeared from its depths. Riding up alongside Xanthus’ horse, theJin’Sai pulled Shadow to a stop. The misty cloud from which he had emerged quickly vanished. Still crouching in the darkness, the Minions waited tensely.
Xanthus turned his awful gaze toward the prince. “It seems that your Conclave hasn’t given up on you,” he said quietly. “The craft tells me that twenty Minions hide there in the darkness. Another five circle the sky. If you want them to live, call them off. I can kill twenty-five as easily as one.”
Tristan glared at the Darkling. “If I order them to stand down, do you promise not to hurt them?” he asked.
Xanthus returned his gaze back toward the camp. “Yes-provided none try to kill me, or to rescue you. I expect you to honor our bargain. If you refuse, your Minions will die. Either way, I grant you some time alone with them before I approach.”
Tristan spurred Shadow forward. He soon saw the abandoned campsite. Stopping his horse, he looked around.
“Sheathe your weapons and show yourselves!” he shouted into the night. “This is an order from yourJin’Sai!”
Knowing that Tristan’s words superseded all else, the warriors obeyed. Tristan soon heard the familiar sound of dreggans sliding into their scabbards.
Traax showed himself first. Then the five flying warriors landed and the rest came out from hiding. Traax
