Part 22 (1/2)
”A Solamnic patrol came out of nowhere, Madam,” said Gerard evenly. He looked straight into the amber eyes. ”I think they hoped to seize our supply wagon. We drove them away.”
”His Majesty fought them, too?” asked Mina, with a half smile.
”When they saw he was an elf, they sought to rescue him. Madam.”
”I didn't want to be rescued,” Silvanoshei added. didn't want to be rescued,” Silvanoshei added.
Gerard's lips tightened. That statement was true enough.
Mina cast the young elf a cool glance, then turned her attention back to Gerard.
”I saw no bodies.”
”You know Solamnics, Madam,” he replied evenly. ”You know what cowards they are. We rattled our swords at them, and they ran away.”
”I do do know Solamnics,” Mina replied, ”and contrary to what you believe, Sir Gerard, I have a great respect for them.” know Solamnics,” Mina replied, ”and contrary to what you believe, Sir Gerard, I have a great respect for them.”
Mina's amber gaze swept over the line of Knights, unerringly picked out the four who had been involved. Her gaze fixed longest on Clorant, who tried to defy it, but ended up squirming and cringing. Finally, she turned her amber eyes back to Silvanoshei, another insect caught in the warm resin.
”Sir Gerard,” said Mina, ”do you know where to find the City Guard Headquarters?”
”No, Madam,” said Gerard. ”I have never been in Sanction. But I have no doubt I can locate it.”
”There you will find secure prison cells. You will escort His Majesty to these cells and make certain that he is locked in one of them. See to his comfort. This is for your own protection, Your Majesty,” Mina added. ”Someone might try to 'rescue' you again, and the next time you might not have such a valiant defender.”
Gerard glanced at Silvanoshei, then looked away. The sight was too painful. Her words might have been a dagger thrust in the elf's gut. His face drained of life. Even the lips lost their color. In the young man's livid face, the burning eyes were the only life.
”Mina,” he said quietly, desperately. ”I have to know one thing. Did you ever love me? Or have you just been using me?”
”Sir Gerard,” said Mina, turning away. ”You have your orders.”
”Yes, Madam,” he said. Taking the reins from the elf's hand, he started to lead his horse away.
”Mina,” pleaded Silvanoshei. ”I deserve at least that much. To know the truth.”
Mina glanced back at him, over her shoulder.
”My love, my life is the One G.o.d.”
Gerard led the elf's horse away.
The City Guard Headquarters turned out to be south of the West Gate by a few blocks. The two rode in silence through the streets that had been deserted when the army marched in, but were now filling rapidly with the soldiers of the army of the One G.o.d. Gerard had to watch where they were going to avoid riding down anyone, and their progress was slow. He glanced back in concern for Silvanoshei, saw his face set, his jaw clenched, his eyes staring down at the hands that gripped the pommel so tightly the knuckles were chalk white.
”Women.” Gerard grunted. ”It happens to all of us.”
Silvanoshei smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Well, he's right, Gerard admitted. None of the rest of us had a G.o.d involved in our love-making.
They rode past the West Gate. Gerard had been harboring a vague notion that he and the elf might be able to escape during the confusion, but he discarded that idea immediately. The road was clogged with Mina's troops, and more remained on the field outside the city. Every man they pa.s.sed cast Silvanoshei a dark, frowning glance. More than one muttered threats.
Mina is right, Gerard decided. Prison is probably the safest place for the young man. If any place is safe for Silvanoshei in Sanction.
The city guards had either fled the guardhouse or been killed. Mina had placed one of her Knights in charge. The Knight glanced without interest at Silvanoshei, listened with impatience to Gerard's insistence that the young man be placed under special guard. The Knight jerked a thumb in the direction of the cell block. A brief search turned up the keys.
Gerard escorted his prisoner to a cell in darkest corner of the block, hoping he would escape notice.
”I'm sorry about this, Your Majesty,” said Gerard.
Silvanoshei shrugged, sat down on the stone block that pa.s.sed for a bed. Gerard shut the cell door, locked it.
At the sound of key turning, Silvanoshei raised his head. ”I should thank you for saving my life.”
”I'll bet now you wished I'd let them kill you,” said Gerard, sympathetic.
”Their swords would have been less painful,” Silvanoshei agreed with a pale flicker of a smile. swords would have been less painful,” Silvanoshei agreed with a pale flicker of a smile.
Gerard glanced around. They were the only two in the cell-blocks. ”Your Majesty,” he said quietly. ”I can help you escape. Not now-there's something else I have to do first. But soon.”
”Thank you, sir. But you'd be putting yourself in danger for nothing. I can't escape.”
”Your Majesty,” said Gerard, his voice hardening, ”you saw her, you heard her. You have no chance with her! She doesn't love you. She's all wrapped up in this . . . this G.o.d of hers.”
”Not only hers. My G.o.d, too,” he said, speaking with an eerie calm. ”The One G.o.d promised me that Mina and I would be together.”
”Do you still believe that?”
”No,” Silvanoshei said, after a moment. The word seemed wrenched from him. ”No, I don't.”
”Then be ready. I'll come back for you.”
Silvansoshei shook his head.
”Your Majesty,” said Gerard, exasperated, ”do you know the reason Mina lured you here away from your kingdom? Because she knows that your people will not follow anyone but you. The Silvanesti are sitting around waiting for you to return to them. Go back and be their king, the king she fears!”
”Go back to be their king.” Silvanoshei's mouth twisted. ”Go back to my mother, you mean. Go back to ignominy and shame, tears and rebukes. I would sit in this prison cell the rest of my life-and we elves live a long, long time-rather than face that,”
”Look, d.a.m.n it, if it was just you, I'd let you rot here,” Gerard said grimly. ”But you're their king, like it or not. You have to think about your people,”
”I am,” said Silvanoshei. ”I will.”
Rising to his feet, he walked over to Gerard, tugging on a ring as he came. ”You're a Solamnic Knight, as Mina said, aren't you? Why are you here? To spy on Mina?”
Gerard glowered, shrugged, didn't answer.