'Oh, Lenardo!'
She sat up and threw her arms about him, open to Reading-and just as had happened the first time, a whole flood of regretted incidents tumbled into her consciousness. This time, though, there were things he understood, and foremost was the hope she had fostered the past few days that she was carrying his child.
She wanted it very much, he saw, even though she feared what pregnancy might do to her powers. He let his own delight flow to her even as he Read that her flux had begun today, spoiling her hopes.
Before he could attempt to reassure her that they would try again, his pleasure was destroyed by a further flood of guilty memories: she had set out to seduce him as much as he had her! When he had made Julia his daughter, Aradia had feared that the girl would become his heir. But she was certain that he would prefer a child of his own flesh over Julia: Aradia's child, raised and trained in her ways. And the child might inherit both their powers. Educated by Aradia, he would have the unquestionable right, by law of nature, to unite the world under his rule.
For one moment, Lenardo found incredibly funny-and therefore forgivable-the idea that each had set out to seduce the other for ulterior motives. He knew that he had not realized he loved Aradia until after that fateful afternoon, so how could he blame her for reacting the same way? As long as she loved him now, wanted his child out of love, for he could Read Aradia's sincere wish that she had conceived the second time they made love, and not in that first betrayalBetrayal? He pursued the idea.
Aradia had thought him impervious to seduction. So, intending to invite him to her pavilion, she had procured the spicy wine and a drugLenardo thrust her away in horror. 'You drugged me?'
'You can break a command implanted in your mind. It was the only way I could be certain-'
'By the gods! Ever since, I have hated myself for what I did that day. But it was not my lust at all, it was your manipulation. I trusted you. It never occurred to me to Read the wine.'
Reading his revulsion, she bristled. 'You were manipulating me, weren't you?'
'Not by destroying your will.'
'Only my powers,' she said grimly.
He saw himself through her eyes and cringed. 'Yes, I meant to blunt your powers. Manipulation. Deceit. I've learned your savage ways, Aradia, but I will not live by them. I cannot stand what I have become, and I will not have my daughter grow up to be like you. I'm going home.'
'Lenardo, this is your home. You may throw me out-'
'No, Aradia, this is your home. You and Wulfston and Lilith can fight out among yourselves how you divide the lands that were mine. I'm taking Julia to Tiberium.'
'You can't. They'll kill you.'
'Perhaps. But Julia will be placed in an Academy, where she will learn a Reader's disciplines. I don't know if her savage heritage can be controlled, but we must try.'
He didn't know whether Aradia was trying to Read him; he had closed his mind to her. But she was clever enough to guess.
'You think Julia will get you through the gates, despite the brand on your arm. Delivering a young Reader from the savages is a fine heroic act.'
'Aradia, I am expected to return. You know that. I told you I was sent to stop Galen. The brand is just a ruse.'
'One that almost killed you,' she said. 'That's how much your empire cares about Master Readers. But go back. Tell them of your land left rulerless, theirs for the taking. Maybe it will buy you a few more weeks of life. But it will buy death for hundreds of your people when the empire attacks.'
'No, Aradia, you will not use me again. I will neither endanger the people who have come to trust me nor send empire troops into the trap you and your allies would prepare for them. I am through with both deceit and power struggles. If you want to stop me, you will have to kill me… and even if you destroy my body, you will have a difficult time gaining the loyalty of my people if I mysteriously disappear.'
Just then Julia burst in, tugging Wulfston by the hand. 'Father, what's wrong?'
'We are leaving, Julia. Go and pack. Take anything truly precious to you, for we will not return.'
'But-'
'Go! I will explain on the road.'
Wulfston looked from Lenardo to Aradia, his dark skin graying as he recognized the finality of their confrontation. 'What has happened here? Julia said you were fighting.'
'It's over, Wulfston,' said Lenardo. 'I got a good look at myself as a savage lord. I cannot live this way.'
'Then change it.'
Because the young black Adept was completely sincere, Lenardo said, 'Perhaps you will change it, Wulfston, or perhaps as you come into the full strength of your powers, you will succumb to the same temptations Aradia has- and I have. Undisciplined power is too dangerous. It may be too late for me, but I can try to see that Julia is not corrupted.'
'Where will you go?'
'Tiberium. I could be executed, though I doubt it. They'll find some harmless job for me, but Julia will be safe in an Academy. Wulfston, will you try to make the transition as painless as possible for the people of this land?'
Wulfston went to Aradia, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed, and sat down beside her, putting his arm around her. 'We will hold your land as your regents until you return.'
'I won't return.'
Aradia, who had sat silently since Wulfston's entrance, now leaned into the protection of her brother's arms and said, 'Father was right.' Her voice was tense with controlled emotion. 'Wulfston, do you remember? 'You would steal my daughter's powers,' he said. He called Lenardo 'the foul beast who would ravish my daughter.' ''
'Ravish?' Wulfston stiffened, all conciliation gone. 'He tried to-'
'He succeeded. But he could not steal my powers. I stole his.'
But Wulfston paid no heed to Aradia's satisfied tone. He rose, stalking Lenardo like the wolf that was his emblem. 'You deliberately-you dared to-'
Lenardo could not answer-he could not move: Wulfston held him under Adept control.
'I should kill you,' Wulfston said. 'If ever I see you again, I will. But for Julia's sake, go.'
Aradia asked warily, 'Will you keep the child, Wulfston?'
'A Reader? How could I ever trust her? She is a child now, but she would grow up to be like her father. No, Lenardo. Take her back to your empire and let things return to their natural order. We are born enemies, and we must never again forget that fact.'
Wulfston took Aradia's arm and led her out past Lenardo, who still could not move. He wanted to explain, but Wulfston would never believe in his sister's treachery. Even if Aradia had betrayed Lenardo, it was not without his full cooperation.
The spell lifted suddenly, and Lenardo collapsed to his knees. He wished he could just lie down and forget everything, but he couldn't. He must get Julia away before either Adept decided that she might be worth keeping after all. He changed quickly into traveling clothes and called for horses and food for a journey. His own packing was simple: the barest necessities. He was a Reader again; he needed no crown, 'ho seal of office, no treasure. Even the robes of the Master Reader that he had worn at the festival he left in the chest. He had forfeited the right to wear them.
The wolf-stone pendant he left lying on top of the chest, for he no longer had any loyalty to Aradia. How neatly she had manipulated Wulfston today. Would she finally win her brother to her plan? And Lilith? It was no longer his problem. To the Aventine Empire, Aradia's plans could mean a chance to rebuild and recoup losses if she set the savages fighting among themselves. With his newfound powers, he could Read what was happening here, keep the Emperor informedIf he was once granted the opportunity to display what he could now do, he need not fear execution.
He was just leaving the room, when Helmuth entered. 'My lord, where are you going? Why was I not told of your travel plans? You must have a retinue-'
'No, Helmuth. Julia and I are leaving. No one else.'
'But it is not seemly, my lord. And messengers must be sent ahead, accommodations prepared.'
'No, Helmuth.'
The old man studied him sadly. 'Something is very wrong, my lord.'
