The Pagan's Prize Read Free Page B

in the camp heard and saw nothing. The
rain was so heavy, dousing the torches, and with no moonlight—"
    "Did Phineas say anything when you found him? Did
he see his attackers? Holy Mother Mary, I sent him a good while ago to escort
Zora back to her tent after she and I had finished our supper. I thought him long
abed!"
    "When we managed to rouse him, he said only that
he and the bearers were almost to the entrance when he was suddenly struck from
behind on the head. He remembers nothing more. As for the slave, we will have
to wait until he regains his senses . . . if he does."
    "Have Phineas brought to me." Wringing her
hands, Hermione began to circle the divan in distraction. "My women will
care for him here."
    "Very well, my lady. I am ordering a search to
begin at once for your sister—"
    "No!" Hermione hysterically rounded upon him.
"I forbid any guards to leave this camp!"
    "But, my lady, Princess Zora's abductors already
have a good lead upon us. If we don't set out soon—"
    "I said no! We could be attacked again, and if
your elite guards could not prevent this terrible event"—she glared at him
accusingly— "what makes you think half their number will be enough to
protect the camp? This could be some evil plot by Grand Prince Yaroslav . . .
taking hostages to use against my father. Next, they might be planning to come
after me!"
    "Calm yourself, my lady. I will post a double ring
of well-armed guards around your tent—"
    "Yes, at once! But I still forbid any of your men
to leave! You can blame the element of surprise for this unfortunate night's
work, but you will have no excuse for my father if we suffer a second
successful attack!"
    His sweaty face paling, the chief of the guards
reluctantly acquiesced. "As you wish, Princess Hermione, but at first
light I insist upon sending out some of my men. Prince
    Mstislav's wrath will be fierce if we do not search for
your sister."
    Sensing his stubbornness and accepting begrudgingly the
truth of his words, Hermione decided it was wise to humor him. At least no
guards would be sent out until morning, long hours away.
    "Very well, that much I will allow," she said
shakily. "And though Chernigov is almost a week's journey away, we shall
make all haste and alert my father. If your guards fail to rescue my poor
sister, his men surely will." She bowed her head and covered her face with
her hands as if about to weep. "Leave me."
    But no one would find her, Hermione thought smugly,
watching the man through laced fingers as he strode from the tent.
    The slavers who had captured Zora were miles down the
Desna River by now, and would travel all night to put distance between
themselves and the camp. They had been paid well to do so. Their ships would be
past Chernigov and on their way south to Kiev long before word of the abduction
ever reached her father, no matter how swiftly the caravan traveled. And even
if the chief of the guards insisted upon sending messengers ahead with the grim
news, they would still be too late.
    Alone again, Hermione poured herself some wine and
raised the goblet in a silent toast to Phineas. Her loyal chief eunuch had done
his job well. It had taken him weeks to find a slave merchant to suit their
purpose, but two nights ago while visiting a trading town not far from camp, he
had finally succeeded.
    A wily old trader bound for Constantinople with over
one hundred slaves had readily agreed to have his men abduct a woman described
as a concubine fallen into disfavor with her master's wife. Apparently Prince
Mstislav's invading forces had killed both of the merchant's sons, and he was
only too eager to win his own brand of vengeance against the royal upstart from
Tmutorokan. He believed he'd be depriving some arrogant boyar of his pampered
whore. Gold grivna had changed hands and arrangements were made. All Hermione
had to do was find some way to drug Zora, and that had been easy.
    "Gullible little bitch," Hermione muttered,
disgusted by the conciliatory