The Stealers' War Read Free Page A

secret. Perhaps this Kani Yargul would be the first war leader of the hordes to do what had never been done before. Conquer Rodal and push into the rich nations of the south. So, Vandia is now involved in Weyland’s civil war? The Imperium had come at last to punish the slave revolt in Vandia. Her people were across the mountains in force. Ridiculously close, given the scale of distances the Vandians must have flown to reach Weyland. Is my mother there? Paetro, Duncan, others from my house? Almost certainly. Cassandra knew her mother. Nothing in Pellas would stop Princess Helrena Skar from seeking out her kidnapped daughter, punishing the escaped slaves who had humiliated her by snatching the daughter of her house as a hostage. Lady Cassandra had to stop herself from laughing at the irony. All this way and did her grandfather’s legions but know it, it was only the indignity of the slave revolt they had left to punish. With me, there is nothing left to save . Only to avenge. Better she stayed here among the savage nomads. Lost to her house. Let Helrena Skar think her daughter dead. For I am. If I only didn’t have Alexamir’s affections to remind me that I’m alive .
    Alexamir lifted Cassandra on to a horse so she could pass through the camp with more dignity than being carried like a sack of meal.
    ‘You should have let me end my life,’ declared Cassandra.
    ‘Then you would have ended two.’ It was clear Alexamir would brook no interference with his plans for Cassandra, no matter what her wishes.
    There were thousands of similarly sized and shaped tents in the busy encampment, although there was no chance of the nomads getting lost. Each tent’s exterior had been dyed or embroidered with unique runes and symbols, prayers for success against rivals and protection against evil spirits. Children played outside while adults cooked on low stone ovens, cleaning weapons and brushing horses, picking stones from their steeds’ hooves. She reached a tent, or rather, three connected circular tents formed into a triangular formation. It had been staked on the top of a low hill. Down on the other side was a stream where nomads squatted by the side of the frothing water, beating clothes clean against rocks.
    ‘I return from the raid, Aunt,’ said Alexamir, pushing aside a woollen flap acting as a door to the tent.
    ‘Yes. Yes. I heard the cheers from the palace,’ said Nonna. ‘I shall cook their applause at once to make a fine feast from the great words of such heroes.’
    The nomad woman standing inside sniffed, irritated, watching Alexamir bear Cassandra in and laying her down on a simple bed of sheep skins in the corner. Nonna had the same blue tint to her skin as all the nomads. The same twisted blood that allowed Alexamir to walk around Rodal’s frozen heights bare-chested. Alexamir’s aunt must have been close to her sixtieth year, but she was still a handsome woman, with the muscled tone of a woman a third her age, dark leather riding clothes belted with twin daggers swinging on wide hips. To Cassandra’s eyes, Nonna appeared a gladiator born to battle, not a housekeeper. Perhaps that is the way with all the Nijumeti .
    ‘And what else have you carried back from your raid? Sheep with no pelts and a stallion that only gallops backwards? A sword hilt with no blade attached, perhaps?’
    ‘This is the Lady Cassandra of Vandia, granddaughter of a rich and powerful emperor,’ said Alexamir, a touch too haughtily. ‘She has been given my guest oath.’
    Nonna bowed ironically in Cassandra’s direction. ‘Then I live to serve. As always .’
    ‘She will be no burden on you. Not for long. Temmell will heal her. I know it.’
    ‘That one? That foreign degg ? That golden-skinned spell-sucker? Promise him your soul for a saddle-wife if you must. He shall not have mine.’
    ‘My golden fox is to be no thrall or saddle-wife,’ said Alexamir, setting matters out clearly. ‘She has my protection and we will honour