Flight to Savage Empire

Chapter Eight

“So he is also an Adept,” said Zanos when Astra told him what she and Javik had Read. “Of course-

when you told me he was Serafons son, I should have guessed. No wonder he has amassed such power-and no wonder he’s been planning to get out of the empire. He was afraid someone would discover his powers-just as I was.”

“Someone did,” said Astra.

“Who?”

“Portia,” she replied. “It all fits now, Zanos. I saw Vortius outside Portias office the day before you and I met-but it wasn’t the first time he was there. I know I Read him at least once before, but thought nothing of it. Portia thought I knew more, though- such as that Vortius was keeping her alive and healthy with his powers!”

“He’s a destroyer, Astra, not a healer.”

“You use your powers both ways-why shouldn’t he? Portia knew his secret-each had a hold on the other. And-by the gods, they plotted to kill me! Remember how sick I was, when you dared to heal me? Zanos, I’ve never been so ill from a sore throat- but Portia sought to rid herself of me and my wild Reading, because I had accidentally Read too many of her secrets. And Vortius certainly had no scruples about killing someone who might reveal him.”

“Mm-hram,” said Zanos, nodding. “Ard saw you go into Morella’s the day you got sick. He reported it to me, but he must also have reported it to Vortius-he might even have conjured up that rainstorm!”

“Blessed gods-everything fits! When Portia attacked me the day of the games, I fought for my life, and I hurt her badly. She must have sent for Vortius to heal her! I’ve never believed that out of the kindness of his heart he let you have a night to celebrate before he claimed you. He’d have been right there after the games if he hadn’t been called to heal Portia. He probably needed her help to distract some of the Readers so he could make his escape-I’m sure he simply would have let her die if he thought he no longer needed her.”

“Yes,” Zanos agreed. “And now he’s plotting even more deaths. First he will take Lilith’s castle, then he will find a way to get other people into his power- I’ve got to stop him!”

“Revenge?” Astra demanded.

“No! Well, yes, that too-but my wife, surely you can see that Vortius has to be stopped before he gains a strong base of operations such as Lilith’s lands!”

“And at least one Master Reader to aid him,” she said thoughtfully. “From what I saw of Amicus, he’ll go over to Vortius’ side the moment he finds it expedient. It’s a good thing Vortius can’t Read-for if he found that out and added a powerful Reader to his band of minor Adepts, we’d have no chance against him at all.”

“We?” asked Zanos.

“You don’t think I’d let you go without me, do you? After all the lessons in swordsmanship you’ve put me through?”

Trel, Javik, and Kimma also insisted on going along, as did every able-bodied person left alive in the Settlement. To avoid having the watchers report them as mysterious and potentially dangerous strangers, they disguised themselves as traveling entertainers. Most of the villagers could sing and do folk dances well enough to get by, for Zanos and Astra’s music was to be the star attraction.

Kimma demonstrated a wild and sultry dance guaranteed to mesmerize the country lads, while Javik came up with a spectacular juggling act with knives and swords-the rationale for traveling players to carry warriors’ weapons.

When the Dark Moon Reader demonstrated, sending three razor-sharp knives spinning in an arc-adding a fourth-and a fifth-Astra realized that while he concentrated, he became unReadable.

With a flick of his wrist, Javik sent all five knives thunking into the tree stump in a perfect pattern. Then he picked up two swords, tossed one into the air-and caught it on the other, balancing tip to tip!

As he stood balancing the swords, Astra asked, “Aren’t you afraid the audience will guess that you’re using Adept power?”

Without missing a beat, Javik grinned at her. “In these lands, it doesn’t matter. Everybody’s used to minor Adepts. I’m copying a circus act I saw as a boy, inside the empire.” He tossed the swords into the air and caught one in each hand. “When you do it as a performance, everyone assumes it’s faked.”

“Javik,” said Zanos, “why didn’t you tell us you have Adept powers? We’ve heard about people having both-”

“They’re not two different powers,” Javik replied. “It’s what we’re trained to. I was about ten, still in the Academy, when we went to the circus as a special outing. I was so impressed with the juggler that I borrowed some knives out of the kitchen and tried to copy his act… and I could. I was having a great fun till Master Solaris caught me-and he beat me as I had never been punished for any other prank, telling me how terribly dangerous it was, that I could have put out an eye, hurt the other boys-

“And all the time he was punishing me, I could Read the sick fear he felt for me. Believe me, I was impressed! At the time, I believed it was exactly what he said, that I could have hurt myself or one of the other boys.

“It was years later, when I observed people with minor Adept powers, that I realized that Master Solaris had recognized what I was really doing, even though / didn’t know. But because it stopped my experiments, that beating probably saved my life.

“I really cant do much,” he added. “Affecting the path of something in motion is my best trick. I cant start anything moving heavier than a leaf or a feather, can’t control fire, and-much as I’ve prayed for the power-can’t heal. But I’ve deflected enough knives and arrows over the years to be grateful for what powers I’ve got. “

Their packing was soon complete. Ready to move out the next day, they ran through one final rehearsal.

Javik had just done his juggling. Astra and Zanos sat on the tree stump to play for the folk dancing-when suddenly Astra clapped her hands to her head and cried out in pain.

Zanos dropped his flute and took her in his arms, looking to Javik for an explanation. The Dark Moon Reader stared at Astra, and winced. “Tiberium!” he said.

“Earthquake!” Astra gasped. Then she began to shout, “Get out of the forum! Run! The city will fall! All Readers-run for your lives!”

“Astra!” Zanos shook her, trying to break her free of the unseen influence. “Let go, Astra-stop Reading!”

But she moaned, sweat beading her face, her mind caught in some distant horror. Then she gave a despairing cry and went limp in his arms.

As Zanos was trying to rouse her, the earth shook.

In the Settlement it was no more than a vibration, as of a herd of horses galloping by. But in Tiberium-

Astra opened weary eyes, but Zanos was relieved that at least she was now looking at him. Then she looked over at Javik. “You Read?”

He nodded. “Part of it-but I was able to withdraw. “

“What happened?” Zanos demanded.

“They were trying to save Tiberium from the earthquake,” said Astra, “but-oh, Zanos, hundreds of people died!”

“They-the savage alliance?”

“Yes. Lenardo, Aradia, Lilith-all their allies. There is no question about it: their intentions were to save Tiberium-but they could not avert the prophecy.”

“But… the prophecy was about the eclipse, and that’s not till Summer Festival.”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head sadly. “The moon was the Dark Moon; the sun was the symbol of the Emperor and his family-including Portia. The whole royal family perished. Portia and Marina are dead. The senate was in an emergency session concerning corruption in the Academy system-and the whole building collapsed on them! Zanos… I have just witnessed the fall of the Aventine Empire!”

Even Zanos, who had so hated the country that had held him captive, felt a twinge of sadness. And for Astra it had been home, the land of her birth. He held her, and let her tell him of what she had witnessed, purge herself of the terrible details of her homeland’s destruction.

The Emperor had been reviewing his troops in preparation for another assault against the savages.

Lenardo and his cohorts were spread the length of the empire, trying to ease the strain on the underground fault which ran right down its center. To aid them, they had recruited hundreds of Dark Moon Readers-people dissatisfied enough to listen to the strangers, and willing to aid in saving their homeland when they were shown the genuine danger.

Until the actual event.

Lenardo’s astonishing powers had not only pulled Astra into the rapport; they had united all those hundreds of Readers into one group mind. Through the Master Reader’s powers they had Read the proof of betrayal-and taken their revenge, using the mind-blind Adepts they guided not to ease the fault, but to set it off, centering on Tiberium-crumbling the buildings around the forum, destroying the senate, pouring out their hatred for Portia-attacking everyone they blamed for their circumstances-

“And hundreds of innocent people as well,” Astra finished bleakly. “Citizens. Common soldiers.” She shivered, although the day was warm.

“So Tiberium is no more,” said Zanos. “Serafon-”

“No,” Astra said quickly. “No, Zanos-the worst destruction was all there around the forum. I could Read the struggle-but Lenardo and Aradia confined the damage, even if they could not avert it. Most of Tiberium was just shaken up, not destroyed. I will go out of body and Read for Serafon.”

“But you were Reading directly a few minutes ago.”

“Through the power of that gigantic rapport,” she replied. “It’s gone now, dissolved back into its individual parts. Let me Read now-in a few days’ travel we will be too far from Tiberium for me to Read it, even out of body.”

To Zanos’ relief, Astra reported that the Temple of Hesta still stood, that the priestesses were taking in the injured and the homeless… and that Serafon lived, and was quietly applying healing powers along with bandages.

“But who now rules in Tiberium?” asked Trel, who had listened with the rest of the villagers in shocked silence.

“The alliance,” replied Astra. “Or they will soon.

Conquest wasn’t their intent, Trel-but they can’t leave the country leaderless.”

“But they’ve left their own lands unprotected!”

“I know,” said Astra. “They thought all the Lords Adept would go right home after the fault was eased.

Instead-”

“Instead it now looks as if they attacked the empire!” said Trel. “Once the news reaches their neighbors to the north, those Lords Adept will arm themselves, thinking that after the alliance has conquered all the lands to the south, it will start looking in the opposite direction.”

“And they may decide to strike first,” said Javik, “while the alliance has its energies dispersed.”

“And if Vortius takes Lilith’s castle, ‘ added Zanos, “that will be a sure sign that the alliance has spread itself too thin-an invitation to attack!”

“Then let’s move!” said Astra.

Despite the lateness of the day, they did, traveling until well after dark, Astra and Javik Reading for the news to reach this far.

But even by morning it hadn’t. The watchers reported the same innocuous events as always-including now the movements of a troupe of entertainers.

At midmorning they arrived in a village on market day. Despite their desire to forge northward, they had to act their parts-and their performance was such a success that the coins thrown at them were enough to buy another horse!

Most of their group was afoot, the only horses being Javik’s and the ones Zanos and Astra had brought.

The White Crow had stolen the rest. Now, however, they saw the chance to mount everyone and move faster.

So their performance in a small town that evening was even more enthusastic; they netted enough to buy food and two more horses, and their reputation began to precede them. Astra laughingly reported the watchers advising their fellows to trade duty time with those who hadn’t heard yet, and go see the show.

It was difficult to rest nights when they wanted to reach Lilith’s castle before Vortius struck-yet they would be in no condition to fight if they traveled both day and night, stopping only to perform.

At least this way they could move freely on the main road. They were greeted at each new community by children running out to meet them, eager to see the phenomenon they’d heard so much about.

And still no word came out of Tiberium-not even a report of savage victory.

They were now beyond Astra’s ability to Read to Tiberium, even out of body. She could still Read to the Aventine border, where the guards accepted orders from their commanders to let no one in or out-

Until official word arrived that the savage alliance had put down an insurrection of the officers of the army. Now the army, too, was in the hands of the alliance; the border gates were opened, and news began to trickle out.

The traveling entertainers drove their horses all that day, knowing the watchers’ messages would catch up and then pass them. By the next day, they did- and the troupe were able to skirt around communities too busy celebrating their rulers’ latest victory to wonder what had happened to the entertainment they’d been awaiting.

But Lilith’s people were no fools-they knew the dangers of living in a border territory-and when the happy news of victory also brought the information that their Lady Adept and her son were several days’

ride away, they put their citizen-army on alert pending their leaders’ safe return.

Zanos was fascinated. There was only a small standing army, with a disproportionate number of officers.

But when the alert was called, an officer or two went to each nearby community, and all the able-bodied citizens spent part of each day drilling… but had the rest of their time to tend to their normal duties.

Vortius’ army was also on the alert. Astra Read that it had grown a little, and the watchers-now sending scouts beyond the border, since they knew Liliths enemies would be watching for signs of vulnerability-located the massed troops and sent a message speeding southward as fast as the flashes of light could flicker from one lookout to another.

Vortius also had scouts. Before Liliths troops could gather to defend her castle he set out-using Adept power to kill the watchers who would have reported his movements.

Vortius’ army was less than half a day’s ride to the north of the castle, Zanos, Astra, and their friends about an equal distance to the south. Perhaps seventy of Liliths soldiers in all were within distance to reach the castle before Vortius did-but once inside they might be able to hold it until further help came.

Without the watchers’ warnings, though, they didn’t know that the situation had become critical.

For once in her life, Astra blessed the extended range of her Reading talent as she reached out to Amicus. He was Reading, too-and trying to determine which side was stronger before throwing his lot in with them.

“You fool!” Astra projected to him. “Don’t you know that Seriak is really Vortius?”

“Who-? Ah, you are the other Reader I’ve sensed spying-but not out of body any longer.” He Read Astra, Zanos, the others. “Who are you, renegade?”

“Magister Astra, of Portias Academy,” she replied. “But Portia is dead now, and so is the corruption among Readers. Warn the castle that enemies are preparing to attack!”

“Why should I? These people took me hostage. I owe them nothing.”

“Then protect your own life! If Vortius wins, he’ll either kill you or force you to do his will.”

“And what will you do if you win? Vortius has no Readers. He will reward me well for my services.”

To her horror, Astra realized that her intrusion had caused Amicus to choose sides-the wrong side!

She tried again. “Vortius might have bribed Readers in the empire-but out here he doesn’t have to bother with the appearance of a good citizen. Amicus, he’ll-”

The door to Amicus’ room burst open. He turned to face a man in Lilith’s livery, carrying a sword.

“Die, traitor!” the man cried, and, catching the Reader in utter surprise, plunged the sword into his heart.

Amicus’ mind screamed with pain, assaulting Astra and striking down Master Corus’ mental barriers.

“Amicus, what-?” “Guards! Guards! Help-we’re being attacked!” Corus cried as he pounded on the door of his room.

But there was only one guard on duty-and he had just killed one of his charges. Now he turned to the other.

The second Reader fought valiantly, but, weaponless, he was no match for the guardsman’s youth and strength. He was driven into a corner and slaughtered.

Although she could hardly cling to her horse amid the shared pain, Astra forced herself to continue Reading the scene. That guard-he was the same one Vortius had caused to choke on his scouting mission, and then provided “medicine” for! Now he was carrying out the orders Vortius had carefully programmed into him with subsequent doses of “medication,” the last few doled out on secret trips out of the castle and paid for with detailed descriptions of floor plans and security routines.

At the news that reports had ceased from the watchers to the north, this man had first come up here to kill the Readers lest they give the alarm.

Astra realized that Vortius would never trust a Reader he couldn’t control by some means other than a bribe. After all, someone else might offer a bigger reward!

Now the guard went quickly down to the courtyard and up the watchtower, where the man on duty turned anxiously to say, “I can’t get any response from Yakov, sir!”

“I’ll take over here,” replied Vortius’ man. “Go to the arms room and help prepare the weaponry.”

“Aye, sir!”

Alone on the tower, the guard first faced northward, to where the next relay of watchers lay dead, where Vortius waited for his signal. “All is accomplished. Come ahead.”

Then he turned to the south and flashed, “Cancel alert. No trouble here. Yakov’s relief late. Tell Lilith all is well. Drav.”

And remembering Drav’s reaction the day Vortius had come to scout the castle, Astra was sure he was one of Lilith’s most conscientious retainers. She would trust his word… and not hurry home.

Astra relayed what she had Read to her companions. “We have no choice-if we don’t help defend that castle, Vortius will take it by nightfall.”

“And get more people into his power-the most resistant ones with white lotus.” Zanos shuddered, and urged his horse to a faster pace.

Now their problem was twofold: to warn the castle that Vortius was coming, and to persuade those who defended it that they were friends, not enemies.

That problem was still unresolved when they approached a roadblock set up by the army. “Where are you going?” demanded the officer in charge.

“To the Lady Lilith’s castle,” replied Trel. “We’re entertainers, come to help celebrate the great victory over the Aventines.”

“Sir,” spoke up one of the soldiers, “I saw them perform two days ago over at the Crossroads. They put on a fine show.

Astra Read the officer thinking that over. Word had just come from the watchers that the alert was a false alarm-Drav’s counterfeit message.

“Very well,” said the officer. “Pass through. Perhaps we’ll be let off duty tonight and can see your show.”

“Why are you blocking the road?” asked Trel. “Is there some danger ahead?”

“Nay-we thought there might be, but it proved merely a watcher late to his duties. We ought to be moving back toward the castle-if there were any trouble, that’d be the target.” And Astra Read thoughts of Lilith’s treasure rooms-certainly Vortius’ target.

“Or we might be,” Trel improvised quickly.

“Eh?” questioned the officer.

“We had a scare back there-all this activity has the bandit clans restless, you know.”

“Aye-we’ve been having trouble with ‘em south o’ here ever since the Aventine invasion, ‘ agreed the officer. “You see something?”

“Aye. You know, we’ve picked up a nice bit of money our last few performances-generous folks

‘round these parts, ” said Trel. “We’re thinking of staying in this kingdom-my life’s ambition has been to build my own theater, and I understand there is none in this country. But a bunch of bandits tried to ambush us this morning-there wasn’t enough of them, and they quick gave up when they saw we’d fight for what’s ours.”

“But you’re thinking, if you settle in these parts, are you going to have to defend yourselves-or will the Lady of the Land protect you? She will, sir-that I can promise as her loyal follower these twenty years.

And for the rest of your journey-why don’t you ride with us back to the castle? No bandits are going to attack a troop of Lady Lilith’s army!”

It was exactly what Astra had had no idea of how

to accomplish. The officer, whose name was Brodik, was about the same age as Trel, and in half an hour the two men were fast friends. Kimma, and even Seela, flirted gently with some of the men, and they rode at a steady pace which Astra saw would put them near the castle at about the same time Vortius’

troops arrived.

They were still far outnumbered, and she feared that there would not be time to get inside the castle and bar the gate against the invaders-but they had brought twenty armed and well-trained men to join forces with Lilith’s retainers. Of the people in the castle, she could Read none in league with Drav- but he still manned the watchtower, relaying false messages that all was well, supposedly coming from the lookout post where Vortius had killed Yakov. The two guards he had sent for a break had resumed their posts outside Amicus’ and Corns’ rooms, with no idea that their charges now lay dead inside.

Zanos rode steadily, with the tension she recognized as the fighter’s pitch, ready to move at the first threat. He had nothing to say-perhaps because some of the soldiers riding beside their little troupe might hear.

Wishing he could Read, she reached across and put her hand on his. He looked over and gave her an encouraging smile-and she knew he thought she was frightened.

And for the first time, she realized she wasn’t.

No-it wasn’t that she had no fear. Indeed, her stomach knotted when she thought that she might be killed, or Zanos might-and surely not all of their new friends could escape unscathed from the upcoming battle.

But it was a different kind of fear from the anxiety she had known all her life. She had made a choice-

and she had absolutely no fear that it was wrong! Even if Vortius won, she still knew she would have no doubt that she had chosen right. Her self-doubts were gone.

So she squeezed Zanos’ hand. “I’m all right,” she said. “No matter what happens, I’m all right-and I love you.”

“As I love you, ” he replied. “We’re going to win, Astra-we’ll get rid of Vortius, and then you and I are going to have a long and happy life together.”

And she Read that his desire for vengeance, if not gone, was outweighed by his concern and love for her.

She sent out her own thoughts, even if he could not Read them-and the look in his blue eyes told her that he understood enough without Reading-

The moment was shattered by an outcry ahead, and the sound of galloping horses. Astra Read the castle, which was now just up the steep road they were climbing, the watchtower already in view.

The road from the north converged with this one near the castle gates-and someone had seen from a castle window Vortius’ unreported army approaching!

Two men swarmed up to the watchtower, looked out-and one of them grabbed up the horn and blew a mighty blast as the other shook Drav, demanding, “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you sound the alarm?!” Then he flung Drav down the ladder, where he lay stunned for a moment-then drew his knife and started to throw it at his attacker. But the other guard flung a spear from the tower, and Drav was dead.

“Close the gates!” shouted one of the guards-but the other grasped his arm and pointed toward Brodik’s troop approaching from the south, bearing the banners with Lilith’s blue lion.

” Guard the gates!” came the revised order. “Let the troops in, but keep out the attackers!”

Easier said than done. By this time, Brodik was aware that something was happening at the castle-he had heard the horn, and Astra couldn’t be sure, since she had Read them, whether the guards’

instructions were audible from here.

They all spurred their horses-but so did Vortius

and his troops, arriving at almost the same time where the two roads widened into a sort of plaza before the castle gates.

The first of Brodik’s trained soldiers spread themselves in a diagonal from the gate across the northern road, allowing everyone else to ride into the castle behind their barrier-giving their lives blocking the way of the attackers, but taking a sizeable number with them into death.

The troupe from the Settlement and Brodik’s surviving soldiers leaped down from their horses. “Bar those gates!’ Brodik shouted as people swarmed up onto the castle walls and began to rain arrows down on the attackers.

Zanos had not seen Vortius in the attacking army, but of course he would not expose himself in the front ranks. Nor had he come unprepared for barred gates.

The moment Zanos climbed up to the platform from which he could look over the wall, he saw a battering ram being moved up from the rear of Vortius’ entourage. Men in armor heavy enough to deflect arrows slowly hauled the heavy instrument forward, up against the gate, where they shoved blocks under its wheels, then wound the thing back with pulleys to the limit of the straps it hung in. The armored point hit the gates with a splintering thud, but they held. The first time.

Arrows and spears had little effect on the armored men winding the instrument back for a second blow.

Zanos tried to stop the heart of one of the men-but he was moving, the target too hard to concentrate on. Although he staggered, his misstep was not enough to stop the progress of the battering ram.

Then he remembered something Mallen had done against him. He concentrated on the man’s armor, thinking of the metal parts being hot as iron in a forge, burning through the padding beneath-

His victim screamed and dropped out of his place, tearing at his armor-and Zanos looked to the man next to him, trying the same technique.

But it was too slow-and by the time the second man leaped away from his task, the first was back at his despite his smarting burns.

The ram was a log as thick as a man was tall, solid, and freshly cut, heavy with sap. There was no hope of setting it aflame-

And as Zanos was still pondering some way to keep the gates from being battered down, the ram struck a second time-and the center of the gates splintered, knocking the heavy bar halfway across the courtyard.

With a mighty cheer, Vortius’ troops charged around the battering ram and into the yard.

Zanos turned, looking for Astra-but before he could find her he was faced with two men climbing the ladder to the platform, trying to get at him. It was a permanent ladder-he couldn’t kick it over- but it was easy enough to kick the first man in the face, knocking him down on top of his fellow.

They were both up by the time Zanos leaped to the ground, but they were semitrained, hacking and slashing at him and wasting their strength. He slid easily in under one man’s guard for a slash to the thigh that left him lying gasping in pain. The other had a potbelly. His breastplate, obviously stolen from armor designed for a thinner man, rode high-and Zanos skewered him through the middle, jumping back as his guts spewed forth when he pulled out the sword.

Still, he could not see Astra! The courtyard was filled with fighting, the castle’s defenders being driven back by the sheer numbers of attackers. More poured through the gateway every moment.

Slashing right and left, ever alert for attack from behind, Zanos started to work his way to the center of the courtyard, hoping to find his wife.

But it was not Astra he found when a woman’s cry of anguish made him turn-it was Lanna!

Ard was clumsily slashing at one of Brodik’s soldiers-and Lanna saw that he was outmatched. She leaped on his opponent, clawing at his eyes, and with that moment’s advantage Ard managed to run the man through… only to turn and face vengeance incarnate.

“Zanos!” he gasped.

Lanna looked up, and went pale as death.

“You betrayed me, ‘ said Zanos. “You sold me out, just as I was about to free you. If Vortius had drugged you, I would have understood-but you acted of your own free will!”

“Zanos, no!” Ard pleaded. “How could we refuse to do what Vortius wanted? With all his power-?”

“His power can be defeated by people who work together!” Zanos shouted.

“But he’s got a whole army!” Lanna pleaded. “Zanos-he’ll forgive you. Don’t hurt us-come work with us for Vortius-”

Their group was causing an eddy in the fighting. As Zanos lifted his sword to dispatch Ard-who was making no attempt to defend himself-he was hit from the side by several fighters toppled by another group-

And before he could recover and reach him, Ard was clubbed by another fighter, while Lanna, screaming, “Ard!’ was dragged off by three men, and disappeared into the melee.

Zanos stopped only long enough to see that Ard was dead. Then he tried to follow Lanna through the mass of struggling humanity.

He found Kimma holding off two brutes with her short sword, and stepped in to take one of them off her hands. “Thanks!” she snapped-and used the feint she had showed him to rid herself of her opponent, while Zanos easily slashed the throat of the other, who had lost the neckpiece to his helmet.

“Kimma, where did Astra-?” Zanos shouted over the clanging of swords.

But just then, Brodik saw Kimma. “Hey, girl! All women and wounded take shelter in the dungeon-now!”

“I can fight as well as any man!” Kimma protested.

“Go!” said Zanos. “If Vortius’ men break through, the other women will need your protection. Most of them can’t fight!”

Kimma began working her way toward the entry to the castle. Zanos followed, assuming Astra had taken shelter with the other women. If only he could Read for her!

He could also not be sure how the battle was going. By sheer numbers, Vortius’ men would win- but a strategic retreat into the castle might allow the defenders to hold out until help arrived. The watchers, receiving either no messages from the castle or word of the attack, would send out a call for all troops in this area to converge here. If Vortius didn’t have the castle secured and ready to defend by that time, he would be defeated.

But Vortius’ minor Adepts, who had apparently been saving their strength earlier, began to operate. Fires broke out in the castle, sending people fleeing from the smoke. Men dropped heated weapons, or fell dead of heart failure.

Zanos turned from his progress toward the door into the castle, certain that these events presaged the arrival of Vortius himself.

And indeed, through the splintered gates rode Vortius-surrounded by Zanos’ gladiators!

He knew how loyal they were-just as loyal as he had been under the influence of white lotus. They would give their lives in defense of Vortius now.

Torn between finding Astra and facing Vortius, Zanos wavered for a moment-and then decided on a strategic retreat before Vortius knew he was here. He could not defeat six dedicated men whom he had trained himself! His only chance was to bide his time and take Vortius by surprise.

So he fought his way to the door into the castle, which was guarded well-but one of Brovik’s soldiers recognized him, and he was allowed in. “I’m going down to help protect the women and wounded,” he announced.

“Good work,” replied the man. “We’ll hold this door as long as possible-but it don’t look good.”

Zanos wound his way down narrow, torch-lit stairs until he came out in Lilith’s dungeons. Here he found two pregnant women, several children, and all the wounded who had been able to get down those treacherous stairs. Kimma guarded them while the women of the castle dressed wounds, gave medication, and comforted those in pain.

Astra was bent over a man bleeding from a gut wound, the smell warning that he would die of infection without the aid of Adept healing.

Zanos stepped to his side, and put the man to sleep. Then, as Astra looked up at him wordlessly with her beautiful smile, he started healing heat to destroy the infection. At Astra’s directions, he drew together the man’s intestines, then the muscle over them, healing the wound from the inside out to a stage where his body would repair the rest while he lay sleeping.

Astra sat back on her heels with a sigh. “They keep coming. I’m afraid to Read the battle.” But she did, he could tell, as her eyes took on a faraway look. “Help is coming! But they’re far away yet-and Vortius is nearing the door into the castle.’

“He has no reason to come down here,” said Zanos. “You’ll be safe.”

“Oh, but he has good reason,” Astra replied. “Come and look.”

She led him along a narrow passageway cut deep into the bowels of the mountain. Light faded, but flickered up ahead when they turned a corner. It was cold and dank here. Puddles of stagnant water pooled on the stone floor. A single torch lit the way.

At the very end of the passage, a sturdy door stood-locked, of course. “Any Adept can open it,” said Astra, “but no one else. The mechanism is on the inside-lift the lever directly behind here,” she pointed,

“and it will be unlocked.”

Zanos unlocked the door, and Astra pushed it open to reveal-

Chests upon chests, most of them closed, but several open to reveal gold rings, gold and silver coins, precious stones-

“Lilith’s treasure!” Zanos exclaimed. “By Ma-wort-if Vortius can’t hold the castle, he can buy himself an army big enough to take the whole territory if he can carry all this away!”

“And Drav was an officer of Lilith’s guards. Vortius surely made him tell where the treasure is kept. So he will fight his way down here if he possibly can.”

Zanos took a deep breath of anticipation. “Excellent,” he said. “The perfect bait to bring the enemy into my trap!”

Astra stared at Zanos as she pulled shut the door to the treasure room. He was unReadable, automatically set to use Adept power at the thought of wreaking vengeance on Vortius. It sent a chill down her spine- and yet what could she do? He could never rest until he had met his nemesis, face to face.

So she said, “How can we lay a trap that will actually capture him? Besides you and Kimma and me, we have no one down here capable of fighting.”

“Lilith’s soldiers will fight all the way, protecting helpless people as well as the treasure,” Zanos replied.

“But you’re right-we could certainly use a few more good fighters. Can you contact Javik?”

“He’s on his way here now, with someone wounded,” Astra replied. “But I’ll tell him-” Quickly, she relayed the situation to the Dark Moon Reader, and as

he worked his way through the fighting in the castle hallway, he located Trel and told him the plan. The old man, blood-spattered and still fighting strongly, began shouting to what villagers he could spot.

Brodik heard, and directed several soldiers to retreat to the dungeon-and they helped Javik carry the casualty he had found down the treacherous stairs.

It was a woman, severely beaten-and raped. It sickened Astra to Read what had been done to her, but she set that aside as she knelt beside her. “Zanos- her spleen is ruptured-she’s bleeding to death!”

Even so, the woman came to-and the moment she was conscious Astra recognized her despite her distorted features. “Lanna!”

“No! No!” the woman moaned, her head thrashing as Astra Read flashes of memory that told her several of Vortius’ men had wanted the pretty young woman, but she had remained faithful to Ard, creating jealousy that had erupted today-

Lanna’s eyes focused. She looked past Astra to Zanos, and her heart pumped violently in terror.

“No-not you-”

And she passed out as her life’s blood pumped away.

“Zanos!” shouted Astra.

“I’m trying!” he replied. “Astra- where must I stop the bleeding?”

But it was too late. Lanna was dead-and trying to pump her heart back to life would only force broken ribs to pierce her lungs. Astra stared at Zanos. “You let her die! I know she betrayed you, but-”

“No!” he exclaimed. “Astra, I wanted to kill her- not torture her! You can’t think I’d do that to any woman!’

“No,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

More soldiers were coming down to the dungeon, bringing more wounded. Astra worked, Zanos at her side, concentrating on what she was doing right there-until finally there was not another mangled limb to set or wound to close. But soldiers were pouring down the stairs.

Followed by Vortius’ men. They seemed to flow in like a river, three and four against every defender, cutting down villagers and Lilith’s men, trampling over the bodies.

And behind them came Vortius, surrounded by four of Zanos’ gladiators-the other two lay dead, Astra found, in the corridor above.

Three soldiers swarmed over Kimma-but at the same time four more threatened Javik! Zanos tried to take two of them off the Reader while Astra drew her sword to assist Kimma.

More men came, overwhelming them.

Kimma went down.

On her back, she still struck upward with her sword, gutting one of them, who fell screaming-but his fellow ran his sword through her throat and she fell back, dead.

Not knowing even that she did it, Astra picked up Kimma’s sword with her left hand. She now had a short sword in either hand, and, as in improvising a dance, she slashed one way and then the other at her attackers, whirling, leaping-catching one in the throat, another in the belly, pirouetting in spilled blood to slice the laces holding the breastplate of the man attacking her next, then reversing her swing to slash his belly open, spilling guts.

She was wide open to Reading, living every life in that dungeon-and dying every death.

Javik was forced backward over the bodies of fallen soldiers. He fell-Zanos could not disengage from the man he was fighting-Astra whirled and struck Javik’s opponent from behind, her sword clattering off his armor, but making him miss his blow at Javik.

“Thanks!” Javik told her-but it was for naught. The man he had fallen on was still alive. Both Astra and Javik Read him pull a knife-but Javik was still

off-balance. He twisted, but slipped in blood, could not avoid the blow-

And the man stabbed him through the heart.

At the same moment, Astra drove her sword into Javik’s killer’s throat, but it was too late-the Reader’s death agony rang in her mind, heating it to fury.

Now it was Astra and Zanos against Vortius and the four gladiators. The soldiers were all dead or critically wounded. A huge black man charged Zanos. Astra Read that although Zanos had far more skill, the other had the sheer brute strength to endure beyond her husband’s capabilities after expending so much Adept power.

And Vortius had used little or none!

“Stop his heart!” she cried to Zanos.

She meant Vortius-but it was the black man who gagged and dropped like a felled ox.

The other three gladiators charged at once. Astra felt Zanos become Readable-knew that it meant his strength was wavering. Why had she expected him to help her with healing the wounded? They would all die now anyway, because he hadn’t the strength left to combat Vortius!

Zanos and Astra backed away, stumbling over the dead and the living, driven inexorably along the corridor leading to the treasure room. The light grew dim as they left the range of the torches in the infirmary area. One of the gladiators squinted, and Zanos ran him through.

Two on two-reasonable odds except that following behind came Vortius, letting his men tire out his prey, calling, “Give it up, Zanos. You can’t win-but you can stay alive, you and your pretty little wife. It would be a shame to let my men kill her, you know. I won’t even give her to them-at least not very often. I can use the services of a good Reader-I’ve missed that since Portia died.”

The light brightened as they rounded the curve into the narrow hallway near the treasure room-and the flickering torchlight gave Astra an idea. “Take them, Zanos!” she exclaimed-and as he engaged the man attacking her as well as his own, she whirled and with her right-hand sword slashed the burning top off the torch, plunging them all into darkness as it fell to the dank floor and rolled into a puddle.

In the dark, she Read, leaped, struck-one gladiator-the second-

Now Vortius-

Light returned just as she started toward him-he had used his powers to light the stub of the torch left in the holder. It wasn’t as bright as the oil-fed flame, but it was sufficient.

Astra was standing in front of Zanos. He grasped her wrist and pulled her back. “Vortius is mine,” he told her.

“Zanos, you are a fool,” said Vortius. “You have expended your powers-you cant win against me. “

And Astra felt pain clench at Zanos’ heart.

He gasped-but fought it off. The fancy tabard Vortius wore over his armor burst into flame-but he simply stood there laughing, letting it burn away to nothing.

Zanos launched himself at Vortius with his sword- but the man was wearing perfectly fitting armor with no chinks to let a sword through where it could do any good. Only his arms and legs were vulnerable-

and when Zanos slashed at his thigh the sword was easily deflected.

Zanos, you can’t win that way! thought Astra. Her husband was playing Vortius’ game. Make him play your game! But there was no use saying it aloud- she had no idea of how to force Vortius to do so.

But Zanos was too experienced a fighter to continue ineffective tactics. He was panting-gathering air into his blood while he rested for a moment, letting Vortius talk. “Why don’t you just give it up, Zanos?

You know you can’t win. Just give me your sword, and tell your wife to give me hers. Then you can help me carry the treasure back to camp before Lilith’s army gets here.”

The gambler laughed. “Did you think you could stall for time until they got here? Oh, no-I have my watchers, too, my friends. You’ve cost me six fine bodyguards this day, Zanos-so you’re going to have to do their work for them. Don’t worry-I’ll give you white lotus again. Remember how good it feels?

You’ll have no worries, no guilt over this silly little escapade. What did you hope to gain, anyway? All Lady Lilith would have done was force you into her service-so what’s the difference?”

As the gambler stepped forward, Zanos projected, “Astra-get behind him.”

But Vortius was not to be caught that easily. The moment Astra began to edge to the side, he whirled to face her. “Oh, no, my dear-we don’t-”

Zanos struck low, slicing through Vortius’ thigh- but the blood hardly trickled out, and Astra Read the wound close neatly up again as Vortius said angrily, “We’ll have to teach you a lesson, won’t we?” He held out his hand, and Zanos’ diaphragm constricted-he couldn’t breathe, and he couldn’t seem to shake it off!

Astra, though, grasped the chance to strike at Vortius’ outstretched arm-at that moment she would have been glad to cut it off, but that was far beyond her strength. Still, she produced a deep cut, and while Vortius was concentrating on healing himself, Zanos recovered.

“What is this?” demanded Vortius. “Do you think to pester me to death with gnat bites?’

Astra’s dress burst into flame!

She gasped-but had the presence of mind to drop and roll in the water on the floor, bouncing to her feet soggy but unhurt.

“Master-where are you?” came a voice from around the turn in the corridor.

“In here, men!” called Vortius-and Astra Read seven more of Vortius’ troops coming along the corridor.

It was over. They couldn’t possibly hold out against seven more men and Vortius!

Unless-

“Zanos-!” she began-but Vortius’ powers clutched at her throat now, preventing her from getting out

“The torches! Put out all the torches!”

The one by the treasury was still flickering-but now, as if Zanos had somehow deduced her thought, it went out. So did the ones along the corridor. The oncoming soldiers stumbled in the dark-

And Zanos leaped on Vortius as if he could see or Read him, knocking him down, tearing at his armor-

and plunging his knife into the gambler’s throat! The grip on Astra was released, and she coughed as she drew air deep into her lungs.

Vortius fought with all his strength-but they had made him use his powers in healing himself, and now as he tried to close his throat wound Zanos twisted the knife, kneeling on Vortius’ chest, slashing and slashing until all the life went out of the man’s body, and he lay limp, Zanos bending forward on top of him, strength gone.

A flare of light-someone had relit one of the torches. Seven soldiers came around the corridor to see their leader dead, Zanos kneeling over him, Vortius’ blood on his hands-

“Get ‘im!”

Astra tried to meet them, wielding her two swords, but they stopped short. She could take one at a time in the narrow corridor-and she could Read that they knew if she had stayed alive this long, she had to be dangerous.

The configuration shifted-the best swordsman among them moved forward to meet Astra. “Zanos,” she called-but he remained where he was. Did she have to defend him alone?

No-the hilt of the sword in her opponent’s hand

grew too hot to handle-he dropped it, but the next man pushed past him and struck at her, only to drop, clutching his chest. Zanos slumped atop Vortius, almost unconscious.

“Give up!” Astra told the others, hoping to keep them from noticing how exhausted Zanos was. “Give up and we’ll let you live. Vortius is dead-you owe him no further loyalty!”

“Well, we’ll just take a bunch o’ that there treasure and go out on our own!” replied one of the men.

“Lessee here- you ain’t the Adept-it’s him)”

And he raised the spear he carried and flung it with all his strength straight at Zanos-

In that split-instant Astra Read that Zanos had no strength left-he could not even move! She saw the weapon rushing straight at him-Read it through his weary eyes-felt a rush of heat exploding through her chest-

The spear wavered in its course, swerved-and missed Zanos by a hair’s breadth!

And Astra fainted dead away.

Zanos came to in a room he didn’t recognize, but he knew the face peering into his: Trel.

“So you’ve decided to come back to us, lad,” said the old man.

Memory poured back-he might have been left for dead, but… “Astra!”

“She’s all right, Zanos! But she’s still sleeping.”

“What happened?” Zanos asked, taking in his surroundings. He was on a pallet in what must be the great hall of the castle. Around him were many other pallets, where those who had been wounded in the battle slept.

“You and Astra defended the treasury to the last,” Trel told him. “Brodik and I had to fight our way through Vortius’ men to get down there after he thought he’d taken the place-we got there just in time.

You barely deflected that spear, and it was too much for Astra-she just fainted dead away.”

“What? When was this?” The light was wrong for it to be evening.

“Yesterday,’ Trel told him.

“Yesterday! Why is Astra still sleeping? What haven’t you told me? She’s not the kind of woman who faints! Was she wounded? Where is she?”

“We put all the women together in another room,” Trel explained. “Zanos-I don’t know why Astra hasn’t wakened. She doesn’t seem to be hurt. If you’ve got enough strength to walk, you can see her.”

Zanos’ knees felt like jelly, but he managed to walk with Trel ino the room where Astra lay sleeping. She didn’t look injured. Her color was normal, she breathed regularly, and he could feel the pulse in her wrist.

But she did not wake at his touch.

“By the gods, I wish I could Read!” said Zanos. “Trel, isn’t there any other Reader-?”

“Javik is dead,” the old man said sadly.

“Yes-he died bravely,” replied Zanos. “But how am I to find out-?”

It was a hunch, or perhaps just a memory of the way Serafon had touched him to bring him out of healing sleep when he was wounded. Whatever the reason, Zanos gently placed a finger on Astra’s forehead, between her eyes.

Her eyes fluttered open. “Zanos?” “Zanos?” It was like an echo, first the thought, then the word-

“Blessed gods!” he whispered.

“Where are we? Why can’t-?” “Where are we, Zanos? I-Zanos, I can’t Read!”

But he could-he felt her fear thrust through him like a sword wound. “It’s all right!” he told her, gathering her into his arms. “Astra, you’re all right- you just-”

He looked at Trel over Astra’s shoulder. “You said… that I deflected a spear?”

“Yes,” Astra answered, not knowing he was asking

Trel. “It must have taken the very last of your strength. Then-did someone hit me? How? I’m a Reader, but-”

Again he felt her panic. Trel said, “No one hit you, Astra. I came just in time to see what happened.

Zanos deflected the spear, and then you passed out.”

“You were there?” She seemed confused. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t I know you were there?”

“Astra,” said Zanos, “you weren’t Reading just then because I didn’t deflect any spear. I remember now-I had no strength at all. I couldn’t even duck. You deflected that spear, Astra-and you saved my life.”

“But I can’t-” she protested.

“Javik said it was all one power. Obviously he was right.”

“And when he used his Adept power too much,” added Trel, “it would affect his Reading. I remember the day we felled that big tree-the stump that stands in the middle of the Settlement. We wanted it to fall where we hadn’t built any homes yet-in the area we were planning to expand into. We thought we had the cut just right, wedges in place, so when we knocked them out it would fall right where we wanted it-but none of us were experts at that craft, and something made it fall at the wrong angle. It would have hit three homes-but Javik deflected it in midair, so it fell where we wanted it. He couldn’t Read after that for almost two days.” He smiled encouragingly at Astra. “When he had those Reading losses, he was impossible to put up with. I suppose Zanos will have to learn to wait it out if it makes you as bad-tempered as it did Javik.”

“Javik,” whispered Astra, a tear trembling on the edge of her lashes. “Kimma. Oh, Trel-did anyone but you survive?”

“Most of the rest of us. Now, both you young people need something to eat, and then more sleep if I’m any judge.

It seemed to Astra that all she did was eat and sleep for the next several days. She and Zanos were given a room on one of the upper levels-but there was no temptation to do anything but sleep in the big soft bed.

They did go out once, for a funeral ceremony when all the bodies, friend and enemy, were burned on the common pyre. Unable to Read, Astra found it only confusing-except for one moment as, around the circle, people spoke out for those they had loved or respected. Trel spoke for Kimma and Javik, and Astra added, “I knew them only a short time, but I will miss them sorely.”

“So shall I,” said Zanos. “And… I must speak for Vortius. Today is a day to remember, not the wrongs he did, but rather that… the mother who mourns him is a dearly beloved friend.”

Astra squeezed his hand, thinking that Serafon would be glad to know that her sons death did not go unremembered, as did those of Amicus and Corus.

With each day they needed less sleep, but Astra still found herself unable to keep awake after lunch.

Zanos said it was because she refused meat, which would have given her strength back more quickly-

but Astra was determined to give the Reading powers that had once been her bane every chance to return.

One day when she woke to a touch on her forehead, it was not Zanos’ blue eyes she looked into, but bright eyes set into a wrinkled old face she had seen somewhere before-

“It’s all right, child. I’m no more a traitor than you are.”

“Master Clement!” And then she realized, “I can Read again!”

“Yes, your powers should return to normal very soon. You’re suffering a common aftereffect of a Reader’s first use of Adept power. If you’re feeling up to

it, the Lady Lilith would like to meet with you and your husband.”

She instinctively Read for Zanos, and found him in the great hall, now cleared of the injured, talking with two young men: one of them a lanky adolescent dressed in the richly embroidered garments of a young lord, the other the boy who had been with Master Clement in Tiberium that day she had met Zanos-how long ago it seemed, although it was less than a year! Decius-the boy who walked on a wooden leg, the one who had been defending Torio and Lenardo back when she had thought them all traitors-

There was so much to sort out. Oh, Zanos, will we ever find the place where we belong?

“Astra-you’re awake!”

“What? Zanos-you-?”

“Your Reading’s back! Wonderful! Come on, sleepyhead-everything’s happening without you!”

Master Clement left Astra to dress, although she had napped in everything but her outer dress and shoes.

Hastily she put them on, smoothed her hair, and hurried downstairs to join her husband.

“Why didn’t you tell me you could Read?” she demanded. “When did it happen?”

“I’m sure of it since I woke up after the battle. But I think… Astra, do you remember when you told me to put out the torches?”

“Yes… no-I couldn’t say it. Vortius was choking me!”

“But I heard you! I mean, at the time I thought I heard you-and then in the dark, Vortius was helpless, while I–It wasn’t as if I could see him. I could just, uh, sense where he was and what he was doing.”

“I understand,” she replied. “Readers don’t usually visualize-that’s what we call actually seeing a scene when we’re not there, or when it’s too dark. Visualizing is very difficult, unless you’re out of body.” She gave a little laugh. “So we’ve learned each other’s powers. But you’ve been practicing Reading, while I haven’t dared to try using Adept powers again.”

“I’ll teach you,” he said. “I used to use too much power at first, too-Serafon taught me how to control.”

He introduced her to Decius and the other boy, Lilith’s son, Lord Ivorn. Soon Master Clement came to take them to Lady Lilith’s study.

The Lady Adept certainly belied anyone’s notion of “savage. ” Her face was pale, cool, serene, her dark hair simply coiffed and surmounted by a small gold circlet. She wore a dress of blue satin embroidered in silver, and spoke in a straightforward, effective manner.

“Zanos and Astra, you do not even know me, and yet you have done me great service. How comes it that you should fight for my people, preserving my land and my treasures for their good?”

They did their best to explain under her scrutinizing eye, Astra wondering if this woman, too, was endowed with both powers. “And so, ” Zanos finished, “we simply could not allow Vortius, who has harmed so many, to gain a vantage point here in these lands which we have found to be ruled so peacefully and fairly.”

Lilith glanced at Master Clement. “They speak the truth,” he said.

“Zanos,” continued Lilith, “you say you seek your homeland of Madura-yet you admit that it is unlikely to be the pleasant land that you remember. Do you have property or family there?”

“Property, no. Family-all dead, except my brother. When the slavers came, they killed our parents. We ran. I was caught. My brother escaped-I hope. If he still lives in Madura-”

“Of course,” the Lady Adept replied. “You must go and see. But I must reward both of you for your service to me, and since you have powers in your own right, demonstrated by defeating an attacking force, by our traditions you deserve a portion of the lands you saved.”

Astra shared Zanos’ amazement. “You would offer us-? But you don’t even know us!”

“I know you by your actions. And Master Clement agrees with me from what he has Read of you. It is my right to offer you a part of my lands-but if you accept, you must swear loyalty not only to me, but to the savage alliance-or the Savage Empire, as we now call it-and agree to rule in peace, to protect your people, not to exploit them, and to come to the aid of any member of the alliance who calls for your help.”

Astra stared at the floor, and tried not to let her feelings reach out to Zanos. Oh, how she longed to cease from their wanderings, to make a home here, among these people who had accepted them-

“Astra.” Her husband was looking into her eyes. “Astra, this must be our decision,” he said.

“I–I promised that I would go with you to Madura,” she told him.

“And I intend to go,” he replied. “But my wife- from what we have heard, I do not think we will want to stay there. If we find my brother-if it is as much a land of evil as we have been told, we could have a home here to bring him to.

“Besides,” he added softly, “we have good friends here now-and Serafon may be persuaded to come this far north, if not to the northern isles.”

“Oh… Zanos!” she whispered. “Oh, yes, my husband!”

“Then it is agreed,” Lilith told them with a smile. “One more thing-you will have to stay in your lands long enough to allow your people to know and trust you. Will you agree to a year before you set off on your search for your brother?”

“It has been more than twenty years,” said Zanos. “If he lives… surely he will live for one year more.”

When Astra and he were finally alone together in their room-and wide awake-he told her, “We now have the time and the security to consummate our marriage!”

“And recover afterward,” she said with a laugh, “and I to learn how to use Adept powers, and you to Read.” She kissed him-and then added, feeling the tolerant humor of Master Clement as he shut himself off from Reading what Zanos was broadcasting, “Oh, my-you’ll have to learn how not to Read at the wrong time, if we’re to have any privacy when there are other Readers about!”

“That’s easy,” he murmured into her ear, nibbling it-and the ties of her dress began unloosening of their own accord as her husband became blank to Reading.

“I wonder if I can do that-without fainting?” she said, and concentrated on the bow that held his shirt closed, as if she tugged at one of the ends-it moved! Astra laughed. “Zanos-that’s the solution to my lifelong problem! I don’t have to have the whole world intruding on me if I don’t want it!”

“That’s good,” he murmured distractedly against her hair. “Why don’t you tell me all about it-tomorrow?”