Chapters (53)
- Map of Kingdom of Finfalla and Surrounding Area- Western Half
- Map of Kingdom of Finfalla and Surrounding Area - Eastern Half
- Map of Kingdom of Finfalla and Surrounding Area - Full Map
- Important Trigger Warning
- Prologue
- PART I
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Interlude: The River of Life
- PART II
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Interlude: Fallow Fields
- PART III
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Interlude: Of Man and Monster
- PART IV
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- POSTLUDES
- Postlude 1: Lana Vica
- Postlude 2: Ludo Vica
- Postlude 3: Cainan
- Acknowledgments
- An excerpt from Heartsworn, Volume II in The Forsworn Oath, available for preorder now!
- PART I
His grin fell away quickly as doors began opening, one after another, like the others had somehow coordinated the exact time they’d make their appearance. First was the men’s door, followed quickly by the women’s, and then, a moment later, Lady Brenner’s. Perfidy did her best to avoid all the eyes that were trained on her, especially Lady Brenner’s, but she couldn’t help but meet Jereb’s gaze, which, like the night before, was filled with disappointment. For some reason, that hurt more than even Lady Brenner’s icy glare.
They stopped, Gruff stepping away from her as though she might carry the plague, forming a semicircle around her with Lady Brenner in the center. “Is there any point in asking you again why you did it?” the woman said.
“I already told ye, I—”
“I know what you told me. Fine. Protect who you wish to protect. I can appreciate a bit of loyalty, however misguided.” Her eyes shifted pointedly to Gruff, who withered under her harsh gaze. Then they returned to her.
“Listen, ma’am, I’m really sorry ’bout whut I did. I’ll take whutever punishment ye think is fair on the chin, literally. I’ll hold the stick an’ let it beat me to a tender pulp, if ye want.”
“Thank you for your offer, but I am no proponent of such violence. No, I have a much more suitable task for you to complete. Something useful. To the group, but also to me personally.”
When the woman didn’t elaborate, Perfidy prodded her. “An’ that is…”
“Digging for night ’shrooms.”
She said it so plainly and succinctly that Perfidy thought she might’ve misheard, or at least misunderstood. Amongst the group, there were a few gasps, several groans, and at least one small yelp—from Julio. Gruff, for all his earlier mirth, had gone completely pale. The reactions of the other novices only made her all the more confused. “Wait, all ye want is fer me to dig up sum mushrooms? That’s it?”
“Not just any mushrooms,” Jereb said. “Night ’shrooms.” As if that explained everything. When he noticed her obvious confusion, he continued. “They are a special sort of mushroom—”
“The most valuable mushroom in the world!” Lady Brenner declared, a rare interruption from a woman who seemed to pride herself on having impeccable manners, or at least the appearance of having them.