LITMIR.BIZ

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around me. I thought I saw you—and Tobin.”

      “It was no dream. We had you moved here. Lynx is still with us, too, and came through without a damn scratch! I think he and I are the only ones who did. And Una, too. Remember her?”

      Nikides brightened at that. “She’s alive?”

      “Yes. She ran off and joined up with my sister Ahra’s riders. She learned her lessons well. She’s a blooded warrior already.”

      “So there are some of us left, after all.”

      “Yes. What happened with you, Nik?”

      Nikides tried to sit up and groaned. “I told them I was never cut out to be a warrior.” With Ki’s help he managed to prop himself against the wall. “I was with Korin. We were trying to get him away—” He closed his eyes against some painful memory. “I didn’t see the archer until it was too late.”

      “You were lucky. The shaft missed your lung.”

      Nikides shifted again and caught sight of the huddled figure in the corner. “Who’s that?”

      “Tanil.”

      “Thank the Four, we thought you were dead! Tanil? Ki, what’s wrong with him?”

      “He was captured.” Ki leaned closer and lowered his voice. “Tortured, and—well, raped, like they do. We found him planked up against a barn north of the city.”

      Nikides’ eyes widened. “Maker’s Mercy!”

      “He’s in bad shape. Tamír wanted him kept close to you.”

      “Tamír?”

      Ki sighed. “Tobin, that is. You saw her back at the palace, remember? You spoke to her.”

      “Ah. I thought I’d dreamed that, too.”

      “No dream. A prophecy fulfilled, or so they say.”

      “Then Skala has a queen again!” Nikides whispered. “If only Grandfather had lived to see it.” He fell silent a moment. “So, how is Tobin? Princess Tamír, I mean.”

      “She’s fine.”

      “She.” Nikides murmured, “It’s going to take some getting used to, isn’t it? Tell me, how did it happen?”

      Ki gave him a quick summary. “It was magic, but not like anything I’d ever heard of before. But I saw her myself, naked as the dawn, and it’s no trick. She’s Tamír now; Tamír Ariani Ghërilain.”

      “A good name.”

      Nikides was taking it very well, Ki thought sourly.

      “Amazing, isn’t it, that the queen the Illiorans have been whispering about all these years was hiding right in plain sight?”

      “Amazing, all right.” The bitterness in his voice left Nikides speechless for a moment.

      “And Ero?” he asked at last.

      “We drove the enemy out, but the city’s pretty near ruined.” Ki clasped his shoulder. “I’m sorry about your grandfather. I’m told he died defending the palace.”

      “Yes. I’ll miss him, but it was an honorable death.”

      “What can you tell me about Korin? Do you know where they went?”

      “They haven’t come back?”

      “No. What happened?”

      “The enemy had broken through our last defenses. They were everywhere, killing and burning. Master Porion and Captain Melnoth organized the retreat, with what soldiers they had left to cover their escape. I was unlucky, that’s all, and got cut off.”

      “And they just left you?”

      “You can’t blame Lutha, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He paused and Ki saw a look of pain in his eyes. “I saw him looking back at me, shouting something. He wanted to go back for me, but of course, he couldn’t. His duty was to Korin.”

      “I would have, Nik. So would Tamír.”

      Nikides shook his head. “I wouldn’t have wanted you to. Duty first, in all things. That’s what Master Porion would tell you, too.”

      Ki kept his arguments to himself for now. Nikides was still too ill to fully appreciate the situation. “Do you know where Korin was headed?”

      “No. Niryn just said to get him out of the city. We were trying for the west gate when I lost them.”

      “The wizard was giving the orders?”

      “Korin wouldn’t listen to anyone else by then, not even Cal.”

      The drysian who’d spoken with Ki earlier came back just then and put her ear to Nikides’ chest. She looked pleased with what she heard. “You’re a lucky fellow, my lord. A few days more and you should be on your feet again, though it will take time to fully heal. I’ll send someone over with broth. See that he eats, won’t you, Lord Kirothieus?”

      “I will.” Ki grinned at his friend. “Not that we ever had any trouble getting you to eat.”

      Nikides made a rude gesture, then looked over at Tanil again. He’d stirred when the drysian came, and appeared to be awake. “Hello, Tanil. I’m glad you’re here. Are you hungry?”

      Tanil shook his head and the blanket fell back from his face.

      “Bilairy’s balls!” Nikides gasped softly.

      The young squire’s face was still badly swollen and discolored from the beating, and his dark hair hung in lank strands around his shoulders. His braids had been cut off, too. Worst of all, though, was his vacant, frightened expression. He hunched in on himself, arms crossed tight across his chest. Livid bruises covered his bare shoulders, and his wrists were wrapped with bloodstained linen. He gave them a confused look, then hid his face against his knees.

      “Poor fellow,” Nikides whispered sadly.

      “And he was one of the lucky ones,” Ki replied softly, leaving it unsaid that his captors had been about to gut him when Tamír and her forces showed up. “The wounds in his wrists aren’t so bad. The healers say he’ll probably have the use of his hands again when they heal.”

      He spoke lightly, but he and Nikides exchanged a knowing look. Wounds to the body were nothing to a warrior, but to be so dishonored and left crippled? It would have been kinder if the bastards had killed him.

      The drysian woman returned with two bowls of strong-smelling broth. Nikides took a sip from his and wrinkled his nose. “Horse meat!”

      “Plenty of that about,” Ki said, moving slowly and carefully to sit by Tanil. He held out the bowl. “It stinks, but it’ll put strength back into you. Come on now, try a little. It’s me, see? Nobody’s going to hurt you. Nik’s here, too.”

      Tanil regarded them with empty eyes, then a hint of recognition seemed to dawn. He let Ki hold the bowl to his lips and managed a few sips before he gagged and turned his face away.

      Nikides gamely downed his portion and put the bowl aside with a grimace of distaste. “You haven’t said what happened to you, since you left Ero.”

      Ki quickly outlined the chaos of the past few days. “Tharin’s reorganized the remains of the old Alestun guard, along with Lynx and some of the warriors from Atyion, into a new guard for Tamír,” Ki said, all the while coaxing Tanil to drink more of the broth. “We’ve got Lord Jorvai, and Kyman of Ilear on our side already, and Illardi, and more who swore fealty after the battle. Not everyone is supporting Tamír, though.”

      “That’s to be expected,” Nikides said, looking thoughtful. “Well, you can count me in as another loyal man, for whatever it’s worth.”

      “Even over your Companion’s oath? She’ll send you

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