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who stood watch on the prince's lodging. One guard saw them and snapped
to 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
spacious 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
anticipation. "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 anticipation 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 cocked 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 matter. 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 flourishing 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, shirt, 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
reassured 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 lustily 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
passionately. 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. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]