Part 27 (1/2)

Teza tucked his words away with her hopes and set her mind on the task at hand. The moon was rising above the eastern hills and the witch was waiting for her lover.

With the boggan close on her heels, Teza worked her way down the slope of the ridge to the southern edge of the Telflamm camp. Large piles of boxes, bags, and supplies, lines of wagons, and the tents of the servants and camp followers marked the beginning of the impromptu community that had sprung up during the grand prince's visit to Immilmar. Every evening men-at-arms, mercenaries, merchants, thieves, prost.i.tutes, and townsfolk gathered in this part of the camp for pleasure and business. Teza knew from experience that it would be easy to mingle in.

First, however, she had to get past the two Fang guardsmen who stood, hands on sword hilts, beside the path into the camp. If they recognized her, they would certainly try to detain her over that little matter of the iron lord's stolen horse.

It would be best if they didn't see the false prince either. She turned to the boggan and came face to face with a strange man. Her hand flew to her dagger, but before she drew it, the man leered at her. The boggan had already antic.i.p.ated their problem and altered his features.

”Chase me,” she snapped to the boggan. She pulled her bodice down her shoulders until her cleavage gleamed in the moonlight. Then she sprang out onto the trail and ran laughing toward the guardsmen. She did not slow down or hesitate, but darted past the startled warriors, giggling and waving her bag to the man running behind her.

The Rashemen guards saw only the flash of her white blouse and the Telflamm emblem on the n.o.bleman's velvet robes before Teza and her charge were past and moving into the crowded camp. The guardsmen merely shrugged and resumed their watchful stance.

Once among the tents, Teza quickly obtained a flagon of jhuild, Immilmar firewine, and thrust it into the boggan's hands. ”You are drunk and having a wonderful time,” she whispered to him, and he was quick to follow her suggestion.

Soon they were wending a haphazard way among bright paths and merry people, heading toward the center of the camp and the grand prince's tent.

Along the way Teza acquired another flagon of firewine, a big wedge of her favorite Sjorl cheese, and the purse of an Immilmar merchant, which she tucked out of sight in her wide, woven belt.

As soon as they reached the grand prince's inner circle, the boggan stepped into a deep shadow and changed his features back to match Laric's.

Teza took his arm and they walked toward the ring of Telflamm honor guards who stood watch on the prince's lodging. One guard saw them and snappedto attention. ”Your Highness,” he gasped. ”I didn't know you were out.”

”I had a hunger,” the boggan said cheerfully before Teza could speak. He slipped an arm around her waist and gave the soldier a broad wink.

The guard grinned at Teza and bowed, and the false prince hurried them past.

”Over there, the big gold tent with the banners,” Teza hissed. Her heart was drumming as it always did when a big job was nearing its completion.

She felt excitement and nervousness thrill through her in an exhilarating rush.

The tent was dark and still as they approached. They were almost to the entrance when Teza spotted a royal guardsman just outside the doorway. His dark gray surcoat and mail blended into the night shadows. She doubted he could see them very well either, and her suspicion was confirmed when his harsh voice snapped, ”Halt! The prince may not be disturbed.”

”Oh, let's disturb him anyway,” the boggan snarled. His hand whipped around the guard's throat. Without missing a step, the boggan strode into the s.p.a.cious gold tent, carrying the soldier by the neck.

Teza saw the Telflamm's eyes bulge and heard the cracking of bones, then the man went limp. The boggan threw the corpse carelessly into a dark corner. Exasperated, Teza said, ”Now how are you going to explain that?”

The boggan's lips pulled back in a vile expression of pleasure and antic.i.p.ation. ”I won't have to. I'll eat him.”

Teza rolled her eyes in disgust. Just then, a man in long robes walked in from the sleeping quarters in the rear of the tent. ”What is this?Who are you?”

he demanded.

Teza turned and faced the real grand prince of Telflamm. Before he could call for his guards, Teza handed him a small scroll. ”Everything is in there, Your Highness.”

When he unrolled the scroll a silver rune at the top of the parchment began to glow with a soft starry light. ”Ah!” he sighed, and a gleam of antic.i.p.ation lit his face. He read the scroll, then tucked it into the pocket of his robe. ”I shall be ready in a moment,” he said eagerly to Teza and rushed into his quarters.

The woman c.o.c.ked an eyebrow. No hesitation? No questions? No doubts about leaving his retinue and business in the hands of an identical stranger?

What kind of besotted idiot was this prince? He certainly put a great deal of trust in a witch whom Teza wouldn't trust as far as she could throw the huhrong's palace. The woman shook her head. No mat ter. She would deliver the prince, fulfill her duty, and get out with whatever she could take. The prince could handle his own problems.

While the boggan finished his firewine, Teza stepped behind a screen to change her disguise again. The guards had seen the prince go into his tent with a woman. They had to believe both of them were still in there so the prince would be left alone until daylight. That should give her enough time to slip the real prince out of camp and be well on her way to the witch.

Hurriedly she peeled off her skirt, put her undervest and tunic back on, and refastened her hair on top of her head. The dead guard had an embroidered surcoat, a fine pair of boots that just fit, a felt tricornered hat, and several jeweled rings to add to her costume. Last of all, she buckled his short sword to her waist.

”I'm ready, let's-” The prince broke off speaking as he walked in. ”Where is the woman?”Teza made a flouris.h.i.+ng bow. ”Here, Your Highness.”

The prince started, then lifted his lip in distaste. ”Of course. A big woman- blue eyes, dark hair, dresses like a man. You must be that Teza woman. I have heard much about you. There is a reward posted for you, my dear.”

A reward? That was a nasty surprise. But Teza's grin only grew wider. ”So what do you want to do? Collect the reward or visit your lady love?”

He gestured to his clothes: dark pants, s.h.i.+rt, and a hooded cloak fit for traveling. ”I will follow you, horse thief, at my lady's bidding. But don't ever let me catch you in my camp again.”

”Oh, you won't,” the boggan hissed softly.

Teza did not bother to respond to either of them. Turning her back on the boggan, she led the prince to the rear of the tent and slipped out of a smaller back entrance. From there it was easy to amble through the camp, pretending to be deep in conversation with her companion. The Fang guards gave them only a glance when they sauntered by.

As soon as Teza and her companion were out of sight of the guards, she turned south and took the prince by a roundabout path back to the high ridge overlooking the camp. The aughisky was there waiting beside the brown gelding, but Teza noticed immediately he had been up to something. His coat was drenched, and his muzzle dripped with blood.

She stifled a shudder, knowing that her blood might have stained his dark nose. To hide her discomfort, she wiped his nostrils clean with the guard's surcoat and tossed it in the bushes. ”You could have cleaned off when you were finished,” she said, patting his satin cheek. She felt for her bag and was rea.s.sured by the hard lump of the vial and its contents. With a quick grin she hopped on the horse's back.

Teza and the prince rode rapidly through the night back to the high bluffs between the Lake of Tears and the Ashanwoods. Shortly after sunrise they came to the faint trail leading up to the ledge overlooking the lake.

Teza slipped off the aughisky and tied the two horses in the shade of the copse of trees while the prince hurried l.u.s.tily up the trail to find his love. She hesitated to follow. This was an excellent time to disappear before the witch thought of something else for her to do. Then her curiosity got the better of her. Teza could not resist the temptation to witness the witch's meeting with the prince. Maybe she could find out if there was more to this tryst than love.

She walked quietly up the rocky trail, between the stone walls, and out onto the ledge overlooking the lake. The witch, her back to Teza, was standing perilously close to the edge of the dropoff, Prince Laric held tightly in her arms. The prince had his hands on both sides of her face and was kissing her pa.s.sionately. The gray mask dangled in the witch's left hand.

Teza caught a brief glimpse of an exquisitely beautiful face when all at once the witch broke the embrace. She stepped away from Laric, raised her right hand, and pointed a finger directly at his chest Laric's expression of desire faltered. He moved toward the witch, but she laughed a hard, cold sound of ridicule that chilled Teza and stopped the prince in dismay.

An emerald green ball of energy burst from the witch's finger. The power slammed into Laric's stomach and sent him reeling backward.

”No!” Teza shouted before she could stop herself.

The prince teetered on the edge and cried in terror, but it was too late. Hisfeet slipped, and he fell over the cliff. His agonized wail echoed off the stone walls before the cry was suddenly cut off. Teza stared openmouthed at the black-robed figure standing so calmly on the brink of the rock.

The morning was very still-no wind or cry of birds to hear. The heat was already wilting the last cool shadows of dawn, and the sun poured its light onto the cold, dark waters of the lake. The quiet around the cliff ledge intensified until it became almost palpable. A thousand questions tumbled in Teza's mind until she could no longer bear to be still. ”Did you love him at all?”

she demanded angrily.

The witch had already readjusted her mask; when she turned, the beautiful face was hidden behind the featureless gray cloth. ”Yes,” she replied, ”and I will bear his child.”

Teza was stunned. ”Then why?” she yelled. ”Why send me on this ridiculous fool's hunt? Why put a boggan in Laric's place?”

The witch regarded her, still as cold and motionless as the rock around her.

Then she threw back her head and laughed a warm, rich sound of delight.

”Poor Teza. I have played a terrible trick on you. First dragging you here on an aughisky's back, then involving you in kidnapping and murder. I suppose I could give you an explanation.”