Iraj looked deep into Safar's shocked eyes.
'Give me Lady Fatinah, he said. I want her for myself.'
'How can you ask that? Safar said, dumbfounded. You know she is to be my wife.'
Iraj shrugged. You can have her back when I'm done with her, he said. And still marry her if you like. There's no shame in following a king in his pleasure.
'You liked Leiria well enough. Now that I think of it, that's two women I've given you. Two, Safar!
'I ask only one in return.'
'This is foolish, Iraj! Safar cried. Even if I would consider such a thingwhich I wouldn'tshe's not mine to give. She belongs to herself.'
'I imagine Astarias and Leiria felt the same way, Iraj said. But that didn't stop you.'
Struck to the quick, Safar struggled for an answer. Before he could, Iraj drew an object from his pocket.
'Here, he said, I'll even sweeten the bargain, although why this should be a bargain is beyond me. Our oath was to give freely, no questions asked.'
Iraj dropped the object into Safar's open hand. He glanced down and saw a small golden amulet. A wondrously formed horse dangling from a glittering chain.
'Coralean gave me that a long ago, Iraj said. It was my reward for saving his caravan. You remember, don't you? You received a magical dagger at the same time.'
Safar remembered very well. That same dagger, whose image was Nerisa's crest, was tucked in his belt.
'Coralean said someday I would see the perfect horse. A warrior's dream of a horse. And all I had to do was give this amulet to its owner and he would not be able to refuse me.
'Well, I never found that horse, Safar. But never mind, I'm sure it's there.'
He clasped Safar's numb hand around the amulet.
'This is yours now, my friend. I give it to you for the woman. Why, it isn't even an equal exchange.
'For what mere woman could ever match such a wondrous steed?'
Silence followed. A silence where murder crept out of the shadows. Safar had anger enough to call it closer. He had the opportunitythey were alone in the royal chamber. And he had the weapons, the dagger in his belt, the blasting magic at his fingertips. He fought down the violence, nearly gagged on it. If he did act, terrible reprisals would certainly follow.
And at this moment Nerisa and Palimak would be making their way to the village at the crossroads, and safety. If Safar slew Protarus they'd never reach it. He had to play for time. It was the only way.
Before he could stumble out some sort of answer, Iraj said, I'm afraid you've waited too long to reply, Safar.
'You failed the test.'
Protarus abruptly turned away and strolled toward a small private door leading out of the chamber.
He paused at the door. But I'm not so hard a man that I won't give you another chance, he said.
'Send Lady Fatinah to me tonight. And all will be forgiven.'
Then he was gone.
As soon as he'd cleared the palace grounds Safar ducked into an alley and shed his cloak of office. The rich costume, emblazoned with the symbols of Esmir's Grand Wazier, was kicked into a dung heap. Beneath the cloak he'd worn the plain rough tunic and breeches of a common soldier. Then he hurried off, head low, trying not to move so fast he'd draw stares. Even so, he soon came to the vast demon quarters that sprawled all the way to Zanzair's rear gates. Demon females peered up from their washing to watch him go by. Demon kits shouted insults, or crowded close to beg. And big demon males loomed out of taverns to issue drunken challenges at this human worm who dared walk their streets alone.
Safar paid them no mind, averting the eyes of the females, shaking off the young beggars and sidestepping the challengers.
His goal was a small shabby stable near the rear gates. He'd risen before dawn that morning, made a few hasty additions to the plan he and Nerisa had discussed the previous night, then gone home to pack some necessities before his servants arose. Afterwards he'd taken his best horse to the stable by the gates. He'd left it with the sleepy-eyed stablemaster, along with enough coins to ensure the animal's care, but not so many as to arouse suspicion.
The whole time he'd prayed luck would be with him and the preparations would be unnecessary. He'd thought the first sign of that luck was Leiria's absence either at the mansion or his home. He'd assumed she was attending one of her training sessions'the transparent ruse Protarus and Kalasariz had used so their spy could report to them and receive her instructions.
As he approached the stable he thought at least that one bit of luck had held. If it hadn't he would've been forced to incapacitate Leiria in that same alley where he'd shed his cloak. Or, worse, be required to slay her. Safar had strong doubts he'd be able to do such a thing, no matter what the cost. Spy or not, Leiria had crept into his heart long ago and held a small piece of it.
There was no one about when he entered the ramshackle building. He called for the stablemaster, but no one answered. So he fished out a few coins, laid them on a work bench within easy sight and picked his way to the back where his horse and gear waited.
He froze in front of the stall. His horse was already saddled, bags strapped to the back, sheathed sword hanging by its belt from the pommel. On either side of his mount were two othersboth saddled and ready. But ready for whom? He moved closer and suffered another jolt. Both horses were his!
Straw rustled and he whirled, dragging out the only weapon he had, the small silver dagger.
Leiria stood there, mailed and fully armed. He nearly lurched at her with the dagger, but pulled back in time. Just as he'd feared he lacked the necessary hate.
'What are you doing here? he demanded.
Leiria held out her hands to show they were empty. He looked down and saw her sword was still in its sheath.
'I'm here to help you, Safar, she said.
Safar barked laughter. So I see, he said with heavy sarcasm. But to where? My grave?'
'I don't blame you for thinking that, she said. But you've got to believe me when I say I've never done or said anything to harm you. I told you once long ago I'd never betray you, Safar Timura. And I never have.'
'What do you call spying?'
Leiria's eyes were pleading. If I didn't give the king and Kalasariz what they wanted, she said, they would have replaced me with someone else. Someone who didn't love you, Safar. And you know that I do. Even now, when your heart is with another woman.'
Safar thought he saw truth, but he was desperately afraid he was seeing what he wanted, not what really existed.
'Besides, Leiria said, you never did anything wrong. You've never been a traitor. Never conspired. What did it hurt to tell them about your innocent excursions, friendly meetings, or all the long nights you spent studying books of magic? There's one thing I didn't tell them, however. I said nothing about the child. About Palimak.'
'What are you saying? Safar said. They know he exists. It's no secret.'
'They don't know he's part demon, she said. You kept it from me but I saw, Safar. I saw his eyes. What do you think Iraj would've imagined if he'd known that? His Grand Wazier in the arms of a woman with a monster for a child? Palimak's no monster, but that's not what Iraj would've thought. Especially after Kalasariz and Luka and Fari got to him. Whispering all kinds of disgusting things.'
'I thank you for that, at least, Safar said. But it doesn't matter anymore. If I were you I'd get away from me just as fast as you can. Iraj and I are finished!'
'I know that, Safar, she said. You were finished before you met this morning. It'd all been decided. Iraj never had any doubt you'd refuse him. He just needed an excuse to bring you down. To declare Safar Timura a criminal. To blacken your name. He's afraid of you, Safar. He thinks you are his rival for his kingdom and the love of his subjects.
'But most of all, my dear, dear Safar, he's afraid and jealous of your magic.'
