"We have them, my lady. The boy and a beggar man," someone called out.
More torches bobbed into view, and the men parted for Lady Kassarie. Wrapped in a dark cloak, hair in a loose braid over one shoulder, she advanced to inspect the interlopers. Alec recognized the old manservant, Illester, at her side.
"Beggar man? Oh, hardly that." She frowned.
"Lord Seregil i Korit. And-Sir Alec something, isn't it? Had I known of your interest in my affairs, gentlemen, I would have extended you a proper invitation."
Seregil threw back his tattered cloak and made her a small, mocking bow. "My Lady Kassarie a Moirian. Your recent interest in my affairs was invitation enough, I assure you."
Kassarie gave him an appraising look. "Your reputation fails to do you justice. Your little jaunt up to Cirna exhibited far more initiative than you're given credit for, and now this! Who would have suspected such enterprise? But then, that was foolish of me. The dandified wastrel you're made out to be could never have inveigled himself so skillfully into the chambers of power."
"You flatter me, lady."
"You're too modest, my lord. After all, you've captured the ear of wizards and princesses."
Kassarie's mouth twisted with a bitter sneer. "But then, you're one of them, aren't you? Some kin to our mongrel royalty? I trust you enjoyed your reunion with Lord Corruth."
Seregil's jaw tightened. "For that abomination, my lady, you have my family's curse."
"I shall do my best to be worthy of it. Now tell me, on whose behalf have you invaded my home?"
"We're agents of Idrilain the Second, the true and rightful queen of Skala," Seregil replied.
"Bravely spoken!" laughed Kassarie. "And how unfortunate for me if that were so. Yet I have my own agents, you see, very skillful and reliable ones. If you were working for the Queen I would know. No, I think your Aurлnfaie ties go a bit deeper than is generally supposed. Your people would be only too happy, I'm certain, to discredit Skalans loyal to the true line!"
A strange, hectic light came into her eyes as she spoke these last words. Gripping his sword more tightly, Seregil thought with disquieting certainty, She's going to kill us.
"It's of small importance, I suppose," she went on darkly. "Your disappearance may cause a certain stir, but few, I think, will mourn you."
"Others will come," Seregil retorted. "Others like us, when you least expect them."
"And find me flown. That fool Teukros did more harm than you could. But you know about Teukros, don't you? This boy came asking for him." Her gaze shifted to Alec. "And repaid my hospitality by seducing my scullery maid."
"She didn't know anything," Alec told her, suddenly fearful for the girl. "I tricked her into letting me in."
"Ah, the gallant suitor speaks." Kassarie gave him a mocking smile. "A position in the great city, promises of passion to come-How pathetically common, but so effective. But she proved a poor choice for your dupe. Her aunt caught her sneaking out with a traveling bundle a short while ago."
"We soon beat the truth out of her," Illester cackled. "The girl never was very reliable."
"Please, don't hurt her," Alec said weakly.
"Of course, I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the poor, homely thing," Kassarie continued. "She was heartbroken to learn of your perfidy. But you'll have a little time to reflect on that. Gentlemen, throw down your swords!"
Seregil felt Alec tense behind him, awaiting his lead. Studying Kassarie's imperious face in the torchlight, he weighed the chances of coming down off this roof alive. It seemed doubtful.
"I've little faith in your hospitality," he replied, stalling for time.
Think, man, think! Find a thin spot in the mob!
How far to the stairs, the tower door?
"You've given me quite enough trouble for one night,"
Kassarie snapped, losing patience. "Look around! You can't fight your way out. Look behind you. A thousand feet down. Teukros screamed all the way to the bottom when they threw him off. Will you?"
Beside him, Seregil heard Alec's tiny, choked groan. If surrender offered even the sliver of a chance—
Leap, dear boys!
NySander's shout jolted them both like a war cry, though it was obvious that no one else had heard.
"My lady commands your surrender," Illester barked.
"Did you hear?" hissed Seregil.
"I can't!" Alec whispered back. He was white with fear, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Enough of this," snarled Kassarie, eyeing them with growing suspicion.
"You must!" Seregil pleaded, his own belly lurching at the idea.
"No—"
Seregil, Alec, leap! It must be now!
"Seize them!" cried Kassarie. "Take them alive!"
"Alec, go!"
"I can't—"
Now, Seregil, for the love of Illior!
"Now!" yelled Seregil. Flinging his sword aside, he seized Alec around the waist and heaved him over the parapet. Trying not to hear the scream that fell away into the blackness, he vaulted after him and launched himself into the abyss. Kassarie's sardonic laugh lashed out after him.
For a horrifying instant Seregil simply fell, eyes squeezed shut, the insubstantial wind beating up into his face.
Then the magic struck.
A swift, wrenching sensation shot through him, as if his soul were being pulled from his body. This was followed a splendid lightness, though he was still falling, dragged down by some entangling thing. Opening his eyes to, a wondrous blaze of stars, he struggled free of his tunic and flung out his…
Wings.
Lovely, powerful, striped wings that sliced into the air and found purchase there. Leveling out into a glide, he looked down with his new eyes and saw another bird floundering awkwardly up toward him, hooting wildly all the way. He wouldn't have thought it possible for an owl to look flabbergasted, but
Alec did. Their empty clothes tumbled into the darkness as they winged up and over the keep.
Kassarie had moved to the parapet overlooking the road and was gesturing at a body of riders thundering up the road toward her gates. Torches streaked and veered in the courtyard below as her people scattered to meet the attack.
The wind sang deliciously through their feathers as Seregil and Alec spiraled down to meet the riders. Alec let out another excited hoot as his sharp eyes made out the insignia of the Queen's Horse Guard. Klia rode at the head of the party, flanked by Myrhini and Micum.
Diving in low, Seregil flew in front of Micum.
"Seregil, is that you?"
Seregil swooped down again and landed on Micum's outstretched arm, feeling the roughness of chainmail grating under his talons.
"Is it him?" Klia asked as the large horned owl flapped for balance.
Seregil bobbed his head and winked one great yellow eye.
"It's him!" cried Micum. "Is Alec with you?"
Seregil bobbed again as Alec winged by.
"Go to Nysander," said Micum. "He's back down the road with Thero and Beka. Wait, what's this you've got?"
Micum lifted the ring that hung against the owl's buff breast. The loop of string had held, though Seregil had not noticed the slight weight of it as he flew.
Micum pocketed it for him and Seregil spread his broad wings and flapped off to join Alec.
Following the road, Alec soon spotted a small fire below. Nysander and Thero sat cross-legged beside it, watched over by several uniformed riders.
Landing was a far trickier business than flight, it turned out. After several unsuccessful attempts to copy Seregil's smooth descent, he finally ended up in an ungainly heap at a soldier's feet.
"Alec?" asked a familiar voice.
Beka knelt and set him upright, then smoothed his feathers gently. Spreading his toes out for balance, Alec blinked up at her and gave a soft hoot.