Akkra, Nest-kor, and Gareth Dro watched as the two groups met. Warriors and priests milled together while their leaders tried to establish some sort of order. Finally they succeeded, and the combined group set off towards Bridge Town in the east.

"They are going into battle," muttered Akkra, more to himself than to his companions. "See, even the priests have armor under their robes." He pointed towards the north. "We must continue in that direction as soon as they have passed."

They lay in hiding until the last of the warriors and priests had ridden by. Clinging to the shadows, they crossed the Issar Gate Road and continued on around the city. The first light of dawn was lighting up the sky in brilliant pinks and oranges when Akkra spied the copse where he had corraled the horses. He was relieved to find the animals still there.

"If we ride straight through, we will need to find two more horses. Otherwise, we will have to rest the horses," he told Nest-kor. "And it will be safer on the other side of the Otarand."

"How long will it take us to get back to Lodar," asked the princess.

"Two, perhaps three days. Food may be a problem, but I think I can manage that. However, we cannot be unnecessarily burdened down." He glanced at the priest.

Gareth Dro looked up in surprise. "Is that how you intend to repay me for showing you the escape route? You intend to kill me?"

Akkra shook his head. "Of course not, Dro. I only meant that we must send you in a different direction, towards Mazidar." He turned back to Nest-kor. "Your Highness, we must talk about your future. It seems apparent that the Empire is in turmoil. Lodar City was in flames when I escaped. I fear that your life may be in danger if the priests of Att have gained the upper hand."

Nest-kor's lips tightened. She brushed her hair out of her face and stared resolutely at the Prince. "I must return to Lodar and try to rally those forces still loyal to the Empire. I must do so even it it costs me my life."

Akkra smiled at her in admiration, amazed at how much her recent ordeals seemed to have matured her. "Spoken like a true ruler, Your Highness. In that case, we should waste no time, but try to get you back with those loyalists."

The closest river crossing was southeast of them, at Bridge Town. But the Lodaran warriors and priests who had evacuated Sind had gone in that direction. It was possible that they were still there, thus making it impossible for the three of them to make their escape along that route. Akkra had no idea why the Lodarans had left the city or who they intended to battle. Had Balder Khan or Shanti Raj come from Lodar to rescue Nest-kor? If they had, he could return the Princess to them and continue with his original mission. It might even be possible to return to the mountain tribes before they crossed the northern plains.

He explained his conjecture to Nest-kor and Gareth Dro. Both of them agreed that they should risk the dangers of trying to cross at Bridge Town. If they could safely cross, Gareth Dro would continue on, south towards Issar, then on towards Mazidar. Akkra and Nest-kor would continue north, along the eastern banks of the Otarand, until they reached Lodar.

They headed southeast, across the plowed fields that surrounded the city. Shortly, they saw the lights marking the presence of the small town clustered at each end of the long, low bridge that crossed the Otarand. As they approached, they saw that the lights were in fact numerous buildings caught up in flames. They entered the town cautiously. There were telltale signs that a battle had been fought here, within the past hour. Armour, weapons, and shields were scattered on the ground, as though abandoned in haste. There were some pools of blood, though not as much as Akkra would have expected. There was no sign of the townspeople, but they were either hiding in their houses or had fled into the hinterland.

They approached the bridge cautiously. If the Sindi warriors had tried to protect this bridge from the loyalist armies, they could still be there. Akkra did not relish the idea of being recaptured by the priests of Att, but he was equally unsure about the loyalist forces. Were they, in fact, still loyal to the Imperial family, or had events transpired that put Nest-kor's life in danger?

The bridge itself appeared empty, its wide avenue receding into darkness. Broad enough for twenty horsemen to cross abreast and almost a mile long, the brigde was a marvel of Lodaran engineering. Normally, light towers, interspaced along the bridge's length, provided illumination. Now the lamps were out, either casualties of the recent battle or deliberately extinguished to hide the movement of warriors. In any case, the sky was becoming much brighter as the sun's disk rose above the dark ribbon of low lying clouds in the east.

They had just turned onto the bridge when Akkra heard the pounding of horse's hooves coming from the side streets near the bridge. Quickly, he urged their horses across the bridge, hoping to outrun their pursuers. They had gotten about a fourth of the way across when they saw a large number of riders in front of them. Akkra pulled his horse up, calling out to Nest-kor and Gareth Dro to do the same. He looked over the side of the bridge, but they were too high up to risk jumping off. Grimly, he pulled out his sword, determined to make their capture as costly as possible.

Nest-kor searched for any of the emblems and colors that would signify Balder Khan's Outer Army or Shanti Raj's Imperial Guards. These warriors wore black tunics and breeches, but they were not part of the Panther Lakari or the Python Lakari. Who, then, were they?

The group approaching from the eastern side reached them first. "Put down your weapon!" one of the warriors demanded. These warriors were armed with pikes, against which Akkra knew he had no chance of defeating them. However, instead of dropping his sword, Akkra put his weapon back in its sheath. He pulled himself to his full height, adopting his most commanding pose.

"I am Prince Akkra of Mazidar," he announced. "Take me to your commanding officer at once."

The warrior laughed. "Prince Akkra, eh? Well, in that case our commanding officer will be delighted to see you. Come this way."

Akkra and the others were then surrounded by the warriors who led them towards the eastern side of the bridge. As they approached the far side of the bridge, they could see a large encampment on the outskirts of the town. Nest-kor and Gareth Dro eyed each other ominously. Had Akkra sealed all their fates with his ill-timed bravado?

They were escorted to a large tent near the center of the camp. Guards helped them dismount, displaying a courtesy towards them that Nest-kor found confusing. The warrior who had captured them led them into the main tent.

He spoke to four men clustered around a table on which were spread several large maps. "Your Majesty, I have brought three prisoners who demanded to see you."

The men at the table turned. The surprise they felt was evident from their expressions. "Akkra! What in the names of all the gods of Tandaria are you doing here?"

"Hello, Father. It's a long complicated story." Akkra gently grasped Nest-kor's arm and brought her forward. "Let me start by introducing Her Imperial Highness, Princess Nest-kor of Lodar. Your Highness, this is my father, King Taja Dak of Mazidar."

Taja Dak bowed stiffly, and his companions bowed more deeply. Nest-kor was suddenly conscious of her lack of suitable attire. She was still dressed in the flimsy and now soiled sheath she had worn in the Temple. She blushed, and to hide her own embarassment, bowed deeply to the king.

Akkra quickly introduced Gareth Dro and the others in the tent. Tandran Dro, the Minister of War; Sergo Abn, General of the First Corps; and Uban Dak, General of the Second Corps.

The King ordered breakfast for them and gestured towards a seating area. He asked a servant to fetch a robe for Nest-kor. Akkra took the robe from the servant and put it around Nest-kor's shoulders himself.

"Now, Dak, what is your explanation for being in Sind?" asked Taja Dak.

Akkra quickly described the events that had transpired in the past several days. Nest-kor and Gareth Dro filled in details when they could. The King and his advisors listened quietly, asking questions now and then to establish times or clarify details. When the explanations were completed, the Mazidaran King turned to Nest-kor. "Your Highness, my army is at your disposal. How my we be of service to you?"

Nest-kor bit her lip. "I want the body of Rati Bajah found. Akkra claims he is dead, but I want proof. His priests are guilty of treason. The power of Att has gotten too great. And I need to get back to Lodar to ensure that the Empire does not collapse."

"Of course, Your Highness. What else could we do?"

She looked uncertain. "You are willing to help me do this?"

she asked uncertainly.

Akkra interceded. "Perhaps she thought you might have territorial designs on the Empire, Father. I seem to recall the Princess and me having this discussion only a few days ago. We encountered a few traitorous Inner Army warriors who claimed Mazidar had killed Emperor Mith Cor. I have tried to convince Nest-kor that we had nothing to do with this unfortuante deed, but I must say I am also puzzled by your presence here. What are you and the army doing in Lodar?"

The King laughed. Tandran Dro offered the explanation. "A few days ago, the kites Mazidar presented to the Emperor returned to Mazidar. They were trained to return to us in the event they ever got out of their cages. When both showed up, we suspected something had happened in Lodar. Our network of informants quickly apprised us of the revolt."

"But how did you know to come to Sind?" asked Nest-kor.

"Sind and Chag are the centers of the slave trade, with which we have been very concerned for many years. Our spies in Sind sent back reports that there was to be a marriage between Att and the Imperial family." Tandran Dro smiled. "In a manner of speaking, we invited ourselves to the wedding."

Nest-kor nodded, not entirely satisfied with the Mazidaran's explanation. However, she was rescued, and for the first time she felt secure. It bothered her that it was her empire's former enemies that afforded this security, particularly since she was not entirely convinced that Mazidar had not instigated the revolt. She lacked any proof, and until she had some, she had to bide her time. The world of diplomacy was new to her. She was uncertain how to get these men to do her bidding. She knew these men would not respond to her direct orders. She would have to find less direct methods of exerting her will.

"I must return to Lodar, King Dak. How quickly can you escort me back north?" she asked.

"Your Highness's safety is our paramount concern," replied Taja Dak. "We can send you with a suitable escort by tomorrow morning. Though we routed one contingent from Sind this morning, there may be many more warriors in the city itself. We must ensure that no one can attack us from the rear."

"You mean as you return to Mazidar?" asked Nest-kor. Her stare was intense and unwavering.

The King nodded his head slightly. "If that is your wish, Your Highness. But do not discount too quickly the aid my army might provide you in regaining control over the empire. In the meantime, you must be exhausted. While our facilities are not up to what you are accustomed, we can provide you a place to bathe and sleep."

Nest-kor suddenly realized how tired she was. In spite of her fatigue, she did not want to be shunted aside while others controlled her fate. "Find me some other clothing to change into," she demanded. "I want to go with you into Sind."

Tandran Dro started to protest, but King Dak silenced him with a gesture. "That is certainly your perogative, Your Highness. We will move into the city in a couple of hours. We will see if we can bring some of the local village women in to assist you." He indicated to Akkra to take Nest-kor out of the tent.

The Princess stared at the Mazidaran King, then nodded. She took Akkra's arm and, along with Gareth Dro, left the tent.

"Do you think she knows that her father is dead?" asked General Uban Dak.

Taja Dak shook his head. "No, I don't. And unfortunately, we don't know much more." He picked up a map of Lodar's northern domains. "We have no idea who is in power in Lodar, if anyone at all. And worse, we have lost all communication with the tribes.

"Damn it!" He threw the map down onto the table. "As soon as Akkra has that woman in her tent, get him over here. I hope for his sake he hasn't muffed this for us."

Tandran Dro put an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Don't be too harsh on him, Taja. It sounds like he got caught up in events beyond his control."

Taja Dak shook him off, but he voice was steadier. "Not good enough, Tandran. If he is going to be the King of Mazidar, he has to learn to control events, not allow events control him."

"You're wrong, my friend," said Dro. "The boy must learn to take advantage of events. That's all any of us can do. You should have learned that lesson by now."

The King turned to face the man who had been at his side for most of forty years, since the days when they were young hunters in the forests of the Zepores. "Once more, you are right my friend. I just want him to be able to have better control over his fate than I have had over mine. I'll try to go easy on him. In the meantime, generals, we must plan the attack on Sind. Perhaps that priest Akkra brought back could help us."

Akkra led Nest-kor to a tent that had been prepared for her. It contained a simple cot, a collapsable table, a rug to sit upon, few metal bowls and dishes. A partition along the back of the tent provided an area of privacy for bathing. A flap in the back of the tent led to a private privy. Akkra wondered which of the two generals had to give up his tent for the Princess.

Nest-kor looked around in disdain. She glanced back at Akkra and hid her scowl. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. "This will do very nicely," she said.

Akkra looked at her in surprise. "It will?" Was Nest-kor finally starting to exhibit the kind of maturity a leader needed?

The Princess nodded. "It's obviously astere, but what can you expect in a military camp?" She came over and put her arms around his neck. She held him tightly, pressing her body against his. Looking up into his eyes, she smiled her most winsome smile. "I haven't had a proper opportunity to thank you for rescuing me, Akkra. I shall never forget that. Is there any way I can show you my gratitude?"

Akkra was surprised by her sudden display of passion. Nest-kor had struck him as the kind of woman who always maintained a physical separation between her and anyone else, as if the mere touch of another's body would soil her. The warmth of her body and the press of her soft flesh against his began to excite him. he tried to push her away, but she grasped him more tightly. He responded instinctively, putting his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. He bent his head and their lips met, just barely. Then their kiss was long and desperate, an attempt to communicate all the feelings that could not be put into words.

She pulled away from him, ever so slightly. He placed his hand under her legs and lifted her up. He carried her over to the cot and placed her on it. Kneeling by the side of the cot, he stared into her eyes, searching for her true feelings. She smiled at him, her eyes sparking mischieviously. They kissed again, not as passionately, but with more sincerity.

Akkra stared at Nest-kor for several minutes after that kiss. She closed her eyes, a slight smile on her lips.

"I love you, Nest-kor," the Prince whispered. She made no reply. Despite her desire to remain awake, her exhaustion had won out, and she had fallen asleep. Akkra smiled to himself. Perhaps it was better if she had not heard what he had said, he thought.

He left the tent. Several peasant women who had been recruited to care for Nest-kor waited outside the tent. He gave them instructions on what to do. Then he headed back to his father's tent.

As Akkra anticipated, Taja Dak was not pleased with him. But the King did not explode as Akkra expected. Instead, he started discussing plans to return Nest-kor to Lodar.

"You will have to take her back, Akkra," he said. "I cannot spare many many, so the fewest you require, the better. She apparently does not know that Mith Cor is dead, and I do not think we should tell her until the last possible moment."

Akkra looked up in surprise. "The Emperor is dead? Then that means that Nest-kor is the Empress?"

Tandran Dro shook his head. "It is not all that clear. Lodar's line of succession goes through the male side of the family, not the female as in our case. There has never been a female ruler in Lodar, and we do not know if the nobility would accept one now." The War Minister stood up and faced Akkra directly.

"This is where you come in, Akkra," he said.

Akkra looked around at the four faces staring at him. "I? What do you mean I come in?"

"We want you to marry Nest-kor," replied Taja Dak.

Akkra studied the unsmiling faces that surrounded him. "You are not joking, are you, Father?" Akkra shook his head in amazement. His first reaction was intense excitement. He could picture Nest-kor, her eyes looking up at him as she lay craddled in his arm. Then that picture faded, to be replace by images of her in her garden with her maidens -- haughty, disdainful, spoiled. Which Nest-kor would he end up with? He shook his head again. He knew which side of her personality was stronger, and he didn't like the picture that remained imprinted in his mind. "But if I marry her, then I will be Emperor?"

Sergo Abn snorted. "No, boy, it's not that simple. If the Lodaran nobility won't accept an Empress, it is less likely they would accept a foreigner. If we tried to put you on the throne, there would be war for sure."

"Then I don't understand why I should marry her," protested the Prince.

Tandran Dro grasped Akkra by the shoulder. "My young friend, this is one of those things you must do because you are the son of a king. You must marry Nest-kor to keep any one else from marrying her."

Akkra felt his stomach drop. He could not find any words to say, but was only able to stare woodenly at Tandran Dro. Taja Dak took his reticence as consent.

"Good, that's settled," he said. "Now, on to the next two issues: the stability of the Empire and the fate of the mountain tribes. Akkra, we need to have you back with the tribes as quickly as possible. Therefore, after you return the Princess to the capital, you must locate the tribes and finish your mission. We seem to have lost communications with them, though we expected there would be problems as they crossed the northern hinterland of the Empire.

"As regards Lodar, we do not know the status of the revolution. We will have to be cautious in this arena, since any missteps could plunge us in war. The most sensible policy would be for us to return to Mazidar."

Uban Dak protested. "To retreat, Taja, would put us at a disadvantage. If Balder Khan emerges victorious, we might have a chance for a peaceful resolution. If Nar Sidthar is successful, we will surely have war. I would rather have to patch up relations with a Balder Khan than allow a Nar Sidthar to gain control over the throne."

"Yes, you make a strong case, Uban." The King turned to his other general. "But what do you say, Sergo?"

The General of the First Corps pursed his lips. "I agree with Uban, Taja. We must find a way to stabilize Lodar as quickly as possible. I can see just two ways of doing that. The first way is to divide the country up, so that it is too weak to pose a danger. Unfortunately, I don't think we have the resources to accomplish that. The second way, as Uban proposes, is to restore the Imperial power. The problem with that plan is, who do we put into power that would be friendly to Mazidar? We need to find a Lodaran noble who has reason to see us as more than a short-term ally."

"Tathi." Akkra spoke the name quietly, almost to himself. "She can help us," he said.

His father frowned at him. "What of her, Akkra? How can she help us?"

Akkra hurriedly explained how he had located Tathi in Shanti Raj's palace. He left out a few details, such as how he obtained entrance into the Magar's palace, but he did describe Tathi's apparent closeness with Shanti Raj. "I think she would influence Shanti Raj very favorably towards us," he concluded.

Sergo Abn scowled. "It doesn't make sense, Akkra. Why should she show us any favors? And what makes you think that Shanti Raj would listen to a former slave?"

Akkra tried to recall Tathi in his mind. He couldn't help drawing comparisons between her and Nest-kor. Silently angry with himself, he shook his head to chase the thought away. "You never met her, sir. She is truly the daughter of a king. I cannot tell you how I know this, but I am certain that Shanti Raj does listen to her and that she would show us no hostility."

Sergo threw his arms up in disgust. "Bah! I know you have these intuitions, Prince Akkra, but I hardly think we can base military strategy on them."

Tandran Dro put his hands flat on the table and stood up, drawing everyone's attention to him. "I knew Akkra's grandmother and I knew his mother. While the lad does not possess near the talent that his mother possessed, I trust his judgement. I think he is right. Shanti Raj is the best choice for us to support. The question is, does he still live?"

Taja nodded in agreement. "Yes, Akkra. That will be your third task. You must determine whether Shanti Raj lives, and if he does, lay the groundwork for his assension to power."

Akkra shook his head in wonder. "Father, you are askig an awful lot. You expect me to return Nest-kor to Lodar, lead the tribes to Nasilam, and put Shanti Raj on the throne. How can one person do all that?"

Taja Dak smiled. "I don't know, son. But you only have a few days to do it. You had better leave tonight!"

Nest-kor awoke from her sleep with a feeling of impatience. She had not realized how tired she was, and while she needed the rest, she resented having had to sleep. When she discovered that it was late afternoon, she was more furious. She took out her irritation on the peasant women charged with her care.

"Is this all you have for me to wear?" she demanded, holding out a turquise salvar with silver braid trim and a pair of white embroidered kameeze. She threw the dress and pants at one of the women. "Bring me some decent clothes, old lady!"

"My lady," protested the villager. "We have nothing finer in our village. That belongs to the headman's daughter and was her betrothal day dress."

"Then bring Prince Akkra to me!" She glowered at the two women until one of them hurried from the tent. Nest-kor thought that Akkra and his father were going to rectify all the wrongs that had been done to her. But they hadn't even given her decent quarters! The tent was astere, the bathing facilities were primitive, and the servants atrocious! The final humiliation had been that when she asked for some food, the impudent servant had returned with food that wasn't even fit for a peasant!

The tent flap opened and Prince Akkra entered. "Your Highness, you are awake. How excellent," he smiled. "I understand there is some problem about clothing? Didn't they bring something for you to wear?"

Nest-kor wrapped her blanket around her more tightly. "These impudent hags only brought me these rags to wear," she replied. The two women hung back, ashamed that they had been unable to please the highborn lady.

Akkra picked up the salvar-kameeze. "They appear very suitable to me, Your Highness. In fact, they may be too elegant to suit our purposes." He turned to the women. "My lady appreciates your gift, but these are too fine for her needs. Have you anything more suited to daily use?"

The women looked surprise and stared first at Akkra, then at Nest-kor. Finally one nodded and hurried from the tent. Akkra turned to face Nest-kor. "Your Highness, we still have several days of travel ahead of us. We dare not reveal your true identity, at least not until you are safely back in Lodar with your warriors to protect you. During times like this, a young woman with your attractive looks may be considered a worthy prize. If you dress as though you also have money, well, I may not be able to beat off all of the unwelcome suitors."

The peasant woman returned, carrying a plain brown salvar and a pair of baggy kameeze. Akkra thanked the woman for them and handed the clothes to Nest-kor. "Put these on, Your Highness, and we will go see my father."

Nest-kor glanced disdainfully at the clothes. "Those are entirely unsuitable, Akkra," she said.

Akkra shrugged. "Then travel to Lodar in that blanket for all I care."

Nest-kor glared at Akkra for a moment, then angrily snatched the clothes from his hand.

Akkra left the tent, winking at the old women. They hid their smiles behind their hands as they waited respectfully for Nest-kor's orders.

The Princess did not call the women over to aid her, but dressed herself. She had seen him wink at the women and saw their response. She realized that they were laughing at her! It was inconceivable that people born so low in life would even dare to laugh at someone in her position. It dawned on her that they did not know who she was. She took some comfort in that. If they knew they were in the presence of a member of the Imperial family, they would respond better.

But then it was her position that they responded to, not her. She would still be the same person, and their contempt of her would still be there. Only, as a Princess, she would be denied the opportunity to see it, she would never know of its existence.

Her title, her position, her very role in society was merely a screen behind which she hid. While that screen might protect her from others, it had also protected her from herself. For the first time in her life, she began to realize that others might not see her the same way she saw herself. She tried to tell herself that the opinions of peasants did not matter, but that argument began to fall apart. They were victims of their environment as much as she was, and while she could not bring herself to admit that a peasant might be her equal, she did conclude that they could be the equal of the average nobleman.

Was that the message Akkra had been trying to give her back in the Imperial Gardens so long ago?

She finished dressing. The outfit was actually quite comfortable, surprisingly more so than most of the clothes that she wore in court. She would have to find out what type of cloth was used. It was much softer to the touch than she would have expected.

When she left the tent to join Akkra, she actually smiled at the two peasant women. She left them standing open-mouthed in the center of the tent.

Akkra nodded in approval when she came out of the tent. She was surprised to see the sun low in the sky. She hadn't realized she had slept so long. "Did your father capture Sind?" she asked.

Akkra nodded. "Yes, but you could hardly call it capturing the city. There were very few warriors left in the city proper. The Priests put up some resistance, but the local population turned against them. There was actually very little fighting."

"And what of Rati Bajah?"

"I assure you, Nest-kor, Rati Bajah is dead. I saw him impale himself on his sword."

"I still want to see his body," she insisted.

They arrived at the King's tent. Akkra stopped at the entrance, indicating to Nest-kor to proceed. She turned and raised an eyebrow in question. "My father wishes to meet with you alone," he explained.

Nest-kor's reaction was masked. She stared at the Prince for a brief moment, then turned and entered the tent.

King Taja Dak listened to her demands with patience. "I share your concern, Your Highness. I would like to see proof that the High Priest of Att is no longer a threat. Unfortunately, his body is buried beneath the rubble of the temple. When you released the flood waters during your escape, it caused the temple to collapse into the cavity of the underground chambers. All that remains of the Temple of Att is now a large pool of water. We tried to send divers down, but the waters are too murkey to see anything below ten or twenty feet.

"We do not see any more problems with the priests in Sind, Nest-kor. However, we would like to turn the city over to Lodaran administrators as soon as you can appoint them. In the meantime, we are willing to hold the city in your name until Lodaran warriors can be dispatched to relieve us."

Nest-kor nodded. She felt it odd that the former enemies of Lodar were so willing to help. Was the Mazidaran king as altruistic as he tried to appear? Or was there other reasons for his generous concern?

"What does Mazidar get in return for all this assistance, Your Majesty?" she asked.

The Mazidaran king smiled. Akkra had given him the impression that Nest-kor was naive and frivolous. In that case, she was learning the intricacies of statecraft quite rapidly. "We do have objectives, Your Highness, objectives that we hope you will find mutually advantageous.

"Normally, I would hold this discussion with your father. Since the circumstances make that impossible, the decision will fall onto your shoulders. As you review our proposition, I want you to consider its ramifications on a political plane as well as on a personal plane.

"We would like to propose a marriage between yourself and Prince Dak Akkra."

Nest-kor was startled, but suppressed any overt reaction. Her first impulse was to tell the Mazidaran that marriage was out of the question. But while she was not shackled this time, was she any less a prisoner than she had been when Rati Bajah proposed the same fate for her? If she refused the king's request outright, he might conclude that she was of no further use to him. On the other hand, accepting his offer might buy her valuable time in which to gain control over Lodar's armies.

"Your Majesty does me a great honor with your proposition. I can see the merit in joining our two houses. I will accept the offer of marriage to Prince Akkra on the following terms. First, I must be restored to power in Lodar. Second, the Empire must be under the control of loyal Lodaran military leaders. Third, the wedding must take place in Lodar. And fourth, the marriage must take place on the day of the summer solstice."

Taja Dak shook his head. Too many unforeseeable events could transpire in the eight month interval Nest-kor proposed. "The marriage shall take place on the day of the spring planting," he insisted. "That should provide you sufficient time to make all necessary arrangements. However, the rest of your points are entirely satisfactory." Nest-kor, realizing that she would not get any more time, nodded. "Good. Now let us see about getting you back to Lodar." He clapped loudly, summoning a guard. "Send my son in," he commanded. To Nest-kor, he added, "I will have the necessary papers drawn up for you to sign before you leave."

Akkra entered, bowing slightly to his father. "The horses are all ready, Your Highness. We shall have a light meal and set out shortly."

Akkra and Nest-kor had ridden for several hours, well past the setting of the sun before Akkra directed them to stop and make camp. Nest-kor slid off her horse with relief. Akkra had kept the horses going at a fast canter, trying to put as much distance between them and the Mazidaran camp as he could.

She cleaned, fed, and watered the horses while he made a fire and heated up strips of meat. She sat near him, chewing on the hot meat, which she juggled from hand to hand. "Why was it so important to leave tonight?" she asked.

Akkra swallowed his biteful. "We think the city fell too easily, Your Highness. It is possible that the Inner Army warriors who were guarding the city merely made a tactical retreat. If they did attack, we wanted you as far from battle as possible."

"I am pleased that you are so concerned about my safety," the Princess said.

Akkra laughed, his eyes twinking mischieveously. "It wasn't exactly your safety, Your Highness, that we were thinking about. If the Lodaran warriors knew that you were in our camp, they might be inspired to greater efforts to rescue you. We simply wanted to eliminate any potential psychological weapon."

Nest-kor glared at him, uncertain whether he was serious or merely toying with her. She finally decided that he was serious. She turned her back on him and refused to talk with him further that night. Akkra shrugged and went to sleep.

Nest-kor found herself lying awake for much of the night. Whether her insomnia was due to having slept most of the day or to her irritation with Dak Akkra and his father, she could not say. She found herself staring at the Prince's slumbering form, barely visible in the wanning glow of the fire's embers. She knew there was simply no way she could marry him. The agreement between her and Taja Dak was obviously unenforceable.

The gall of those Mazidarans! To think that she would fall for their ruse! As she considered all of the events, she realized how perfidious their plot was. And the crowning jewel in their plan was to offer marriage as the price to save her empire.

She refused to be taken in by their trickery. She resolved that as soon as she was safely back in Lodar, surrounded by her own warriors, she would see that Akkra was arrested and brought to justice. That would be her wedding gift to Mazidar!

The Princess finally fell into a fitful slumber as she dreamt of subduing the young Mazidaran.

It was still dark when Akkra shook the Princess awake. She opened her eyes, saw that it was still dark, and rolled over, pulling the blankets over her head. Akkra kept insisting, however, until she finally pushed him away from her and sat up. He already had a small fire going and had heated up some tea for her to drink. He gave her a piece of hard bread to chew. "You can wash up after you eat," he told her. "Then we must be moving."

They rode hard again all that day, stopping only briefly at a village large enough to contain a tea stall. They ate a hot bowl of lentil soup. The villagers eyed them with suspicion, but kept a respectful distance.

Throughout the day, Nest-kor maintained her silence, despite several attempts by Akkra to talk to her. The Prince apparently knew she was plotting against him, since be became even more vigilent. He never let her out of his sight, not even when nature called. He would find an open area with just enough shrubs to squat behind, but not enough cover for one to make an escape. Not that Nest-kor intended making any attempt to get away. She needed Akkra to get safely back to Lodar, and she had no intention of trying to do so on her own.

Their second evening was a repetition of the first, except that Nest-kor found it easier to fall asleep after riding for more than fifteen hours.

Akkra again had them on the road before dawn. He told her that they should be on the outskirts of Lodar before evening. She was pleased that they had made such good time and the excitement of being back in her palace infused her with renewed energy. Akkra tried to warn her that conditions in Lodar might not be very stable, but Nest-kor refused to listen to him. He was trying to ruin her optimistic mood, and she would have none of it.

They did reach Lodar by late afternoon, coming up the Birba Village Road. The shortest route into the city would have them pass through the area known as Bete Adin, on the east bank of the Lodar. The road, in fact, would take them right past the Tomb. Akkra wanted to avoid this area, in case Nar Sidthar's Hawk Lakari was still there. Despite Nest-kor's protests, he insisted they keep going north, through the city streets, until they came to the Matkot Road. There they would be able to cross the Otarand River on the Upper Bridge.

They entered the outskirts of the city at dusk. Akkra could see the signs of recent battle: burned out buildings, rocks and debris used as weapons, the shafts of arrows still embedded in door jambs or walls. They approached the maidan surrounding the Tomb cautiously. No longer were there the thousands of troops that had been encamped here just days earlier. Had Balder Khan and Shanti Raj been successful in routing the Inner Army?

They had just turned north, away from the Tomb, when Akkra heard Nest-kor call out. At first he thought she was shouting a warning to him, then realized that once again she had betrayed him to Lodaran warriors. Before Akkra could grab hold of Nest-kor's reins and lead her to safety, they were surrounded.

"I am Nest-kor, daughter of Emperor Mith Cor," she announced. "I demand that you take me at once to the Imperial Palace."

One of the Lodaran warriors demanded Akkra's weapons, who reluctantly handed them over. As soon as he did so, another warrrior, positioned behind the Prince, hit Akkra with the hilt of his sword. Akkra slumped down on his saddle. Quickly the Lodarans bound his hands behind him.

The first Lodaran warrior, satisfied that Akkra was secure, nodded towards Nest-kor. "Come, Your Highness. We must get you off the streets. There is still much fighting going on in the city."

"Tell me," insisted Nest-kor. "Who controls the city?"

The warrior looked at her. "We don't know, Your Highness. For now, we do. But that could change at any moment."

Nest-kor started to relax, finally deigning to feel secure. Just then, however, they passed one of the few lamps still working in the city. She saw the insignia on the warrior's uniform, and her heart sank. They had been captured by Nar Sidthar's Hawk Lakari!