fighter to his saddle, and said, before sending him away, “Not now, my love. Not
yet. Your partner Janni, your beloved Sacred Band brother, is the thrall of the
necromant Ischade-he lies in unpeaceful earth, is rousted out to do her foul
bidding and wear her awful collar at night. You must free him from this
unnatural servitude, beloved, and then we will be together. Do you understand
me, Niko?”
Niko’s ashen head raised and he opened his eyes-eyes still asleep, yet
registering all they saw. Roxane’s heart leaped; she loved the touch of his
gaze, the feel of his breath, the smell of his suffering.
Her fingers spelled his fate: He would remember this moment as a true dream-a
dream that, his maat would understand, bore all he needed to know.
She stepped forward and kissed him, and a moan escaped his lips. It was hardly
more than a sigh, but enough of a sign to Roxane, who could read his heart, that
Niko had come to her at last-of his own free will, to the extent that free will
was possessed by mere men.
“Go to Ischade. Free Janni’s spirit. Then get you both here to me, and I shall
succor you.”
She touched his forehead and he sat up straight. His free hands reined the horse
around and he rode away- ensorceled, knowing and yet unknowing, back to his
hostel where he could sleep undisturbed.
And tomorrow, he would do evil unto evil for her sake, and then, as he had never
truly been, Nikodemos would be hers.
In the meantime, Roxane had preparations to make. She quit the Foalside, went
inside, and looked in upon the Hazard Randal. Her prisoner was playing cards