Ten Crescent Moons (Moonquest) (43 page)

"That
is correct." Adalginza had no emotion in her voice.

"I
should run my sword through you right now."

"If you
do, you take away the only chance these people have of survival."

Adalginza dispassionately
monitored the arguments among the crowd gathered below. Finally, she spoke
again.

"It is
true I wanted to help my people. But you also must believe me when I say I did
what I did to save your life. And that of your family."

"A
paltry excuse. Hundreds of lives have been lost. Because of you."

She still
could not turn to look at Kalos, because she knew what she would see in his
face.

"You
think I don't feel the shame of what I've done? I cannot even look at my own
image in the mirror without wishing for death to release me."

"Then
allow me to accommodate you."

She heard
the metallic "zing" of the Crescent sword drawn from its sheath.
Still, she did not turn around. The captain's action caused silence again, as
all eyes turned away from her and toward him.

It was
Sagawea who sprang forward, struggling up the stairs, to insert herself between
the two of them.

"Wait!"
She turned to Adalginza. "Do you mean this? That you can save us? My baby as
we speak kicks with life inside me. I wish so much to see its face."

Adalginza
nodded, mutely, in agreement.

In turning
to face Sagawea, she now looked beyond her to see the raw hate in the captain's
eyes. It was as though the sword he still clutched in his hand had already had
been thrust through her heart.

Sagawea
turned back to Kalos.

"Don't
do it. Give her a chance to save us."

There was a
murmur of agreement in the crowd, born of desperation.

Adalginza
looked back to the crowd. But she averted her eyes when she saw the look of
hurt in Lady Swiala's eyes.

Polyper was
peering up at the sky, hands raised. He appeared to be praying to the moon gods
for salvation. Others had joined him.

Adalginza
addressed a spot on the far horizon, above their heads, so she would not have
to see the faces of those watching her. But she spoke authoritatively.

"Throw
aside your swords. Present yourself as no threat. And I will see to it that you
are spared. You have my word."

As the rebel
ships drew nearer, swords were thrown to the side to land with the rasp of
metal striking wood.

All eyes
were now on Kalos, for he had not moved. He still held the Crescent sword. And
he still looked at Adalginza with eyes of murder.

She turned
back to him, and held out her hand.

"Give
me the sword, husband."

"I am
no husband of yours."

"Give
me the Crescent sword, Captain Kalos. I will hold it up as a symbol of your
surrender. Otherwise, I will not be able to account for the actions of the savages
once they board the ship and see you still ready to fight."

"Give
it to her!" Polyper shouted unexpectedly. "It is not your right to
sacrifice our lives when she has offered to save us!"

In one
sudden motion, Kalos reversed the sword and thrust it, hilt forward, toward
Adalginza. As she accepted it, the blade was aimed at his chest.

He regarded
her with revulsion.

"A true
savage would now cut off the head of the snake by killing the captain.
Otherwise, the snake still lives to strike another day."

"I will
not kill you, Kalos."

"Then
let it be known, in front of witnesses, that I wish to live only so that I
might hunt you down. I will find you some day. And you will die, Adalginza. At
my hands. In a most vile way. You have
my
word."

His words
stretched something inside her until it snapped, leaving a wound that would
remain raw and bleeding and beyond healing.

 "Do
what you must," she said. "It is always what I have done."

 She then
turned from him to face the sea.

The first of
the rebel ships was now within hailing distance. Adalginza quickly held the
Crescent sword high above her head, and shouted a greeting.

"I am
Adalginza, sister of Benfaaro! I have the indigo eyes of The Prophecy. I am Of
The Blood, and must be obeyed! Hear me now! Those aboard have surrendered! The
ship is ours!"

But inside,
she shuddered as she heard the answering voice on the lead vessel. He moved
into full view, leaning insolently over the railing of the bow.

Talan.

"I
salute you, Adalginza! My future bride has made me proud. I did not expect you
here, but it will be my pleasure to escort you home to your brother, Benfaaro. And
to your people, who will now know of the great sacrifices you have made for us."

A great
chanting grew from the ranks of the savages aboard all the vessels.

"Adalginza!
Adalginza! She with the indigo eyes! She who is One with all the beasts of the
land! She who is Of The Blood! Adalginza!"

So it would
seem that, among her people, she at last was given honor the way she was never
accorded it as a child. Despite Benfaaro's edict against it, her people clearly
had been whispering The Prophecy among themselves.

 She lifted
the Crescent sword again.

"I have
with me Umbrea, another of Benfaaro's loyal followers, who has served him long
as his eyes on the Prime Continent!"

Another
cheer rose from the savages. 

From the
corner of her eye, Adalginza saw Kalos stiffen. Umbrea, who until now had
managed to stay hidden, hesitantly stumbled up the stairway to stand by Adalginza's
side.

"Umbrea!"
It was Swiala's horrified exclamation.

Her servant,
Umbrea, averted her eyes from those of the Crescent Houses who watched from
below.

 "I
greet you, Talan," Adalginza said, as the rebel ship pulled up to the side
of the captain's ship. "But I now demand that you not harm those who are
on board."

"You
demand
?"

At his
questioning and offended look, she answered quickly.

"We
will transport them to the island, and I will explain there."

***

As the
savages boarded the ship and took charge of the prisoners, Adalginza surprised
even herself at how smoothly she assumed the role of leader. She gave orders
calmly, and her followers obeyed without question.

She harshly
addressed one savage who grasped Lady Sagawea's arm too roughly.

"Stop! This
woman is with child. You will treat her with consideration."

Talan,
however, looked increasingly displeased and seemed eager to reassert his authority
among his own warriors.

"Benfaaro
has decreed that Adalginza and I will be wed," Talan reminded all who were
in earshot. "At that time, I will be given the power Of The Blood as her
husband."

"But I
am Of The Blood now," Adalginza contradicted him. "And I am the one with
power."

The menacing
look Talan gave her in answer promised that she would be sorry after they were
wed. When he assumed her power, he very likely would beat her into submission.

But that was
another day.

Adalginza now
moved easily among the savages, who treated her as though she were revered. A
few even took her hand, and kissed it.

"I have
heard of you through Umbrea."

One man
whispered this to her, as he bent over her hand.

"That
the woman of The Prophecy now walks among us has caused great rejoicing. Please
know that we have watched over Calasta, as you instructed."

"You
have my deepest thanks."

Again,
Adalginza was shocked at how widely she was known. And now she realized that it
was Umbrea and probably many others who had been working clandestinely in
support of her.

"Bruna
tried to harm the child." His eyes darted around to make sure Talan was a
good distance away. "She placed poison in her food, even upon the day of Calasta's
arrival. Your supporters want you to know we saved the heir Of The Blood, as
was our sacred duty. We know, also, that Talan is Bruna's lover. Have no doubt
of our loyalty to you here. We serve with willing hearts."

Adalginza
nodded, her confidence growing. Perhaps in some odd way the moon gods intended
what was happening here.

Once they
reached the island, however, Adalginza had to avert her eyes as she stepped
over the ravished bodies of the Crescent knights and civilians who had once
lived in the ruined settlement.

Great, black
swarms of flies had moved in to clean up the gore.

Behind her,
she heard gagging interspersed with sobs from Lady Sagawea. Polyper now
physically supported her as the prisoners were herded into a building that
served as a trading post.

Kalos bore a
look of exaggerated composure as he walked, looking neither to the right nor
the left. In the far distance, warriors led the Golden and other sturmons that had
been removed during scavenging of the Crescent House ship.

Once the
prisoners were inside the building, Adalginza ordered Talan and the eight savages
accompanying her to step back toward the entryway with her, guarding her, while
she gave her final orders.

In her right
hand, she still held the captain's Crescent sword.

"We
will leave the prisoners here. Alive. And unharmed," she announced.
"Then we will make our escape before the fleeing Crescent House ships
reach the frontier post and report what has happened here. We must leave at
once to warn Benfaaro. As you have seen, they have brought weapons that can
destroy us all."

"We
leave no survivors." Talan protested angrily. "Benfaaro has ordered
death for all Crescent House invaders!"

"There
will be no deaths among these people," Adalginza said simply.

"Why?"

She regarded
the group of prisoners, most who looked worn out and defeated. But relieved.

"My
word alone should be enough. But because you have fought hard for this prize, I
will explain."

She regarded
each warrior in turn. "It is because most who stand here are my friends."

"Benfaaro's
orders must be followed," Talan said threateningly. "Otherwise,
everyone here will be cursed."

The savages
stirred uncomfortably, while Adalginza walked over to Lady Swiala and touched the
woman's arm.

"Listen
well. This woman is my grandmother. She is my blood."

Her eyes
rested briefly on Kalos, who simply stared straight ahead.

"And
others here have my heart, my love, and my devotion."

The savages
looked at each other, murmuring in confusion. How could there be a blood tie
between their leader and someone from a hated Crescent House?

Adalginza
held up her hand to silence them.

"Look
upon the older woman with the indigo eyes, and see for yourself if I lie."

The savages
in the room looked from Adalginza to Swiala and back again. They were indisputably
older and younger versions of the same image, as though peering at each other
through a mirror in time.

"She is
my grandmother, as you can plainly see. And a good woman, even if she is from a
Crescent House. If you slay her, you slay one of my blood. This is forbidden
under all our laws. So it is under my authority that we make these exceptions
to Benfaaro's orders. Is that understood?"

If her
tribesmen comprehended nothing else in her words, they at least understood the
blood bond. Most in the room nodded their acquiescence. Talan, however, looked
as though he were about to chew off his bottom lip.

"Benfaaro
will not be pleased when I report this."

"It is
I who make the decision. And it is I who will face my brother's displeasure."

"He
said you were weak," Talan said mockingly. Then he visibly relaxed. "And
this proves it. Very well. Have your way for now. But I am the strong one. And
after hearing of what you have done here today, Benfaaro will gladly take from
you and give to me the power Of The Blood after we are wed."

"Perhaps."

Adalginza
could not muster the courage to look again at the prisoners, so she instead
turned her back and made her way to the door.

"Adalginza.
Before you go..."

His quiet
voice stopped her. But still she could not turn to face Kalos. He spoke her
name as though it were damned.

"Remember
my promise, Adalginza. I know you better than you think. I know your ways. I
know where you will hide. I know where you will sleep. I will find you when you
least expect it. You will always wonder when death will visit you. And be
assured that for you and your people death now wears my face."