A Little Fate by Nora Roberts Page B

quick about it.”
    As Owen strode out of the stables, Thane grinned and wiped the blood from his mouth.
    â€œThe mount’s wasted on him.” Thane turned and sawKern leading the already saddled horse from its stall. “A lame one-eyed donkey would be wasted on him.”
    Thane ran a hand over the gleaming neck of Owen’s stallion. “If the gods are with me, and I live, I will have this horse as my own. Thank you for saddling him.”
    â€œA simple matter, in a complicated time.”
    â€œYou knew who she was. Who she is.”
    â€œThe True One shines.”
    â€œShe does.” Thane rested his brow on the stallion’s neck. “I have such love for her. Fierce and frightening love. I’ll do what needs to be done, Kern, but I ask you, whatever you’ve given me over the years, to give it now to my family. I can go into any battle, take any risk, if I know they’re protected.”
    â€œYou’ve stood as their shield long enough. I’ll stand for you when the time comes.”
    â€œThen I’ll be ready.” He led the horse out, and stood meekly at its head while Owen berated him.
    â€œI’ll be ready,” he repeated and watched Owen spur the mount and ride off.
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    T HE sky stayed dim, but no rain fell. Aurora watched the dark clouds and prayed that the storm brewing would hold while her men marched toward the city. She used her time there to study the fortifications, to watch the changing of the guard under the guise of wandering among the shops.
    The wares were rich, and the people starving.
    â€œThere is talk,” Rohan told her as she stood by as if to supervise the loading of her goods into the carriage, “of portents. The dragon flew in the sky last night, and the stars bled.”
    â€œAnd what do the people make of these portents?”
    â€œSome fear it’s the end of the world, some hope it’s the beginning.”
    â€œThey’re both right.”
    â€œBut those who dare speak of hope do so in whispers. More were dragged from their homes in the night and charged with treason. There are murmurs, Aurora, thatLorcan will use the masque for some dark purpose, that he plans some sorcery.”
    â€œHe has no such powers.”
    â€œIt’s said he has sought them.” Rohan glanced left, right, to be certain they weren’t overheard. “That he has courted the dark. Sacrifices. Human sacrifices to draw power from blood.”
    â€œSuperstitious mutterings. But we won’t ignore them.” She climbed into the carriage and rode back to the castle with her mind circling a hundred thoughts.
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    T HERE was a time for warriors, and a time for witches. When the hour was late, Aurora stirred her power. She called the hawk, and ten of his fellows. Then twenty, then a hundred. And more, until the sky teemed with them. Standing in her window, she raised the wind and, lifting her arms, threw her power into it.
    Hawks screamed, circled, dove. Guards and courtiers rushed to the courtyard and the gardens, to the city, to the walls. There were cries of fear, shouts of wonder.
    The great birds flew into the castle, through window and door, and sent servants scurrying under chair and bed. The beat of wings, the call of hawk, filled the air as in a golden mass they streaked into the treasury, plucking coins in their talons, streaming out again to drop them like rich rain on the city.
    With cries of wonder and delight, men, women, and children rushed out of their homes and hovels to gather the bounty. When the call to arms came, many of the soldiers were as busy as the townspeople stuffing coins into pocket and purse. Before order could be restored, the cry of hawks was an echo, the beat of wings a memory.
    The streets of the city glittered with coins.
    An early payment, Aurora thought, watching the chaos below her window. The rest would come, very soon.
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    T HERE was talk of little else the next day. Some blamed