Haydn of Mars Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jamie?”
    â€œBecause he was your husband.”
    â€œNo.   Because he was Frane’s true love.”
    I watched Jamie’s mouth open in astonishment.   “This explains why Frane allowed you to go home.   She wanted you to see with your own eyes what she had done.”
    â€œYes.   My husband loved me, Jamie, but I did not love him.   I’m sure this was common knowledge.   But how many knew of Frane’s love for him?   She had loved him ever since they were kits.   She loved him to the point that she would slaughter him, when given the chance, rather than let another have him.   What does that tell you about her, Jamie?   About the depths of her ruthlessness?   Do you think there’s a lesson there?”
    â€œThen it’s also true that she let emotion overrule reason.   She should have had you killed in the Hall of Assembly.   Instead, we were able to smuggle you out of Wells.”
    I turned to him in the darkness and let my voice harden.   “Perhaps if I had not been treated as such a kit, a tool, by your secret movement, I might have been of more use to you.   Can you imagine what might have happened if Frane had been allowed to marry Kaylan, instead of me?   We might not be in the position we are now.   Or at least would have been able to buy more time.”   My anger rose to my lips.   “But I was used , instead of consulted, and here we are.  
    â€œBut I will not be used any longer.   From this moment on, Jamie, I am not a figurehead.”
    He had not taken his eyes from the horizon, but then he nodded.   He began to say something, but then stopped.   Finally he said simply, “Be ready to travel at dawn.”
    He walked away, leaving me to the night, and the hard cold stars, and the morass of confused thoughts that filled my head.

Four
    Â 
    The concussion of a bomb woke me from my sleep.
    There had been the brief beginnings of a dream: my father and I in the throne room, and he was lifting me onto the throne which I saw had no bottom as he dropped me onto to it.   And I watched him recede, staring down at me calmly above as I fell and fell into a bottomless hole–
    And then I woke up.
    As I uncurled from sleep, still feeling as thought I was falling, Jamie burst into the tent.
    â€œWe’re being attacked!” he said.   “We must get you away immediately–”
    â€œI’m staying,” I said simply.   “I will fight with the rest.”
    He was looking from me to outside.   In the cut of the tent opening I saw a plume of bright smoke shoot straight up in the near distance followed by a thudding boom .   The ground beneath me shook.
    â€œThis is not what we thought,” he said cryptically.   “Again they move too soon!”
    â€œJamie,” I explained, “I’m not leaving.   I let you spirit me out of Wells, but not this time.   I’m going to be more than just a figurehead.”
    He looked at me and then nodded.   He advanced toward me with his paw out.   I thought he was going to take my arm in friendship but at the last moment I saw the needle he held and then it was too late.
    â€œThis is for your own good, my Queen,” he whispered, and then, amid the sound of thunder and shouting, I went away.
    Â 
    I awoke in the horrid, hollowed out cask with the nauseating smell of red wine in my nostrils.   There were sounds outside, raucous laughter, but the wine cart wasn’t moving.
    I banged on the side of the cask as before, and the laughter immediately ceased.
    There came no answering thwack from Xarr.
    Hands were moving over the outside of the cask.   I realized that whoever was out there hadn’t known I was inside.
    The panel in front of me moved partway open, stuck, and then was yanked inside.
    A strange face outlined by darkness peered in.
    â€œSo?” it said.
    Rough hands reached in and