Dragonfly by Julia Golding Page A

Spearthrower's empire had made its way to his table. Ramil did not recognize some of the dishes but had no desire to display his ignorance so ate everything without question.
    "But back to the subject of your future," Fergox said, pouring some more wine. "I am in your debt, Prince. It was a lucky turn of fortune when your father and the old witches negotiated your match to little Tashi. You cannot imagine how much easier it made
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    my plans, for it brought the Blue Crescent Princess so close to my snares. I was going to have to lure her from her island somehow but you did it for me."
    Fergox reached out to a globe by his side and gave it a languid spin. "And it has all turned out far better than I could have hoped. As you may guess, the Blue Crescent is none too pleased that you let the Princess be taken." He gave a rough laugh at Ramil's scandalized expression. "And some, thanks to the whispers circulated by my men, think you are to blame. Rumor has it that, rather than wed her, you killed her in the forest and ran for the border."
    Ramil put down his knife and fork, his appetite fled.
    "There will be war between your two countries come spring. Your father will be only too relieved to receive my offer of alliance. It will appear to him most . . . timely."
    "You are trapping him so you can take Gerfal without a fight?"
    "Of course. I do not want to squander my men on your little kingdom when I have my sights set on the much bigger prize to the west. He'll need my armies to defeat the Blue Crescent forces. The price will be acknowledging me as overlord."
    "Why not crush Gerfal, like you did Brigard?" Ramil tossed back his wine angrily.
    Fergox gave him a cold smile. "What would be the point? I have a large empire to control. If I can achieve my aims without wasting resources on unnecessary battles, then I will do so."
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    "And what about me?"
    The warlord refilled Ramil's glass. "I will tell your father that you came here to seek my aid against those Westerners. I received you as a cousin with open arms, welcomed you into my household, took your unwelcome bride off your hands and even offered you one of my blood as your wife instead to cement the al iance."
    "He'll never believe it," Ramil said defiantly, hoping his father would not think him capable of such treachery. This story made him out as a traitor to Gerfal, bringing war upon them by ill-treating a princess.
    "Perhaps not, but that won't matter. This is the public story; what he knows in private is neither here nor there. By spring he will have no choice but to accept it or end up fighting on two fronts." Fergox smiled at Ramil's expression. "Don't look so sad, Prince Ramil. You will still have your throne.
    It could be much worse."
    "A throne, but no power." Ramil drained his glass, trying to rid himself of the foul taste in his mouth.
    "Some power," corrected Fergox. "And, if you please me, my favor."
    Ramil resisted the temptation to tell the Spearthrower what he could do with his "favor."
    "And what of the Princess Taoshira, my unwanted bride as you called her?"
    Fergox cocked his head quizzically, his eyes calculating. "Do you care what becomes of her, Prince Ramil?"
    "She was under my protection, my guest--"
    Fergox nodded, as if this explained everything. "Ah yes, Gerfalian chivalry, I had forgotten. I have no plans
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    to harm her, if that is what worries you. Quite the opposite: I intend to give her an important role in shaping the future of her country."
    "And that is . . . ?"
    Fergox picked up the book he had discarded and brandished it at Ramil.
    "Did you know that the Blue Crescent Islanders do not believe in God?"
    "They believe in a Goddess."
    Inspired by his subject, the warlord's eyes lit up with religious fervor.
    "Exactly. They are in thrall to a demon, an abomination. They let women rule them, their sons do not inherit, they live in the darkness of ignorance.
    Princess Taoshira is going to bring them to the light."
    Ramil shifted uneasily in