Like two birds in the night they wound their way through the long dark damp halls that took them below the palace. Even here sand laid in the crevasses only here it was turned to mud with the dampness of the river.

Boots scuffled behind them. Desperate to remain hidden they ducked into an empty dark cell. The smell of rot hung in the air. After a bit the boots stopped seemingly just outside the door they had hid behind.

"This is ridiculous the girl wouldn't have come down here. She's probably in her suit brushing her hair or something." A man said.

"None the less we only have till dark to find her and rescue the atajazid. General Yargazon wishes to be back at camp by tomorrow."

"Ach. We could just stay here. We have the queen, the emperor and the traitor Prince regent. Claim the thrown and the boy will come out of hiding."

"Your young or you would know that would never work. Come we have a lot more places to look and not draw attention."

They listened to the foot falls disappear from the way they came. Obviously they didn't know the other exit or didn't wish to run in to Baz and his army.

"Allegra, they said they have the queen and –"

"I heard Ozi. It will be alright. Yargazon won't harm Markus."

"Don't be too sure. They fought over you when Markus and I signed the treaty. Dusk was angry at Markus for doing this he may want to punish him for it."

"Then let's hope we find Baz in a good mood today and hope he doesn't think we had anything to do with this."


Baz was in the yard practicing with is sword with a younger man. Both wore mail and black trousers but Baz stood a head taller and his broad shoulders stood out as his sword came down.

Allegra fumbled with her words. Ginger-sun told her once of she wanted Baz for help to call him something else. The word floated on her tongue then came out as a frantic scream, " Darz!."

He swung around barely ducking the oncoming blow with the not so blunt sword. His eyes wide and alert and already scanning for the trouble. His men followed his gaze all ready to move at the slightest breath of an order.

"Princess Regent, What's wrong?" his voice came out as a calm yet robust sound. Concern filled his voice as well.

"General Yargazon is here. He has the queen." There was no reason for him to believe her. Still she willed it Believe me. Please believe me.

He looked at her for a moment. Had this been a year ago he would have told her she dreamed it. That she was safe here. Probably would have walked her back to her suite and forgot all about this. Today he looked at her knowing something not from sleep had scared her. His gaze fell on Ozi. It fell on those tear filled eyes that spoke too much for the boy of his age. He was scared of what would happen now.

"General Search the palace. Find my sister and Drummer. Take Bell someplace safe until we know its safe." His gaze fell back to Allegra, "Allegra come here. Tell me what you saw."

It wasn't what she saw but how Markus had reacted to both Cobalt and Yargazon. What she heard from the men in the dungeon. The hate and malice in Yargazon's voice when he said "Surrender."

Two scouts hurried to him from opposite directions one from the temple the other from the palace. Both looked pained and worried. Baz turned to the one coming from the temple first. "My wife?"

"I'm sorry sir. The temple is in disarray. The dragon sun will seek vengeance over this I'm sure."

Baz let out a curse then looked at the other scout," Drummer was in the village with the princess. Their being taken to a safe place. Empire Cobalt's Honor guards are dead."

"Saints almighty." Allegra gasped. Ten men strong and loyal probably Cobalt's best fighters ; dead?

"Take these two to where you have Drummer. Send word to the empress and to Aronsdale."

"General?"

"I'm going to find them and I will kill any man who has touched my wife or my sister."