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Back Four Roads Cross Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. Acknowledgments
  73. Also by Max Gladstone
  74. About the Author
  75. Newsletter Sign-up

“The people have faith, though it’s a stretch to get them supporting Seril. Bede’s confident Wakefield can defend Kos. The question is, what will happen when Ramp turns to Seril. We can’t help Her without exposing ourselves. So we’ll see.” He lit another cigarette, offered her one.

“Not my poison.”

“I’m headed to Mom and Dad’s before I go back,” he said. “Come with me. They’d be happy to see you.”

“I have work,” she said.

“Tara will get back in time.”

“I’m not worried.”

“You’ve heard nothing from her.”

“A nightmare came through last night, but it wasn’t clear.”

“Give me an old-fashioned letter any day.”

“I know the feeling,” he said. “Now, Cat, will you please tell me why you’re here?”

She grew interested in the sidewalk between her boots. He waited. She’d learned to wait when she became a Blacksuit, but she hadn’t expected Abelard to have the knack as well. All that kneeling must add up. “I have a plan to help Seril. You said it yourself—there’s only so much the church can do.”

“Cat—”

“Kos listens to you. If you ask Him to keep me safe, I think He will. And in a fight, everything you want to do that isn’t win is a weakness. If He tries to shield me, He’ll be helping Seril, which won’t do us any favors.”

“You think He’d look after you just because I asked?”

“Yes,” she said, and stepped in front of him, turned so they could see each other. “I think you’ve asked Him already.”

He looked away.

“Let me do my job, Abelard.”

“It will be a hell up there,” he said. “The things these people do. You know how scary Tara gets, and she’s friendly by their standards.”

“You want me scared?” Something behind her eyes felt hot. “Okay, I’m scared. But I can help, and if I can help I have to, and I’m asking you not to stop me.”

They reached his family’s door: black wood in a red brick building three stories high. A candle quivered in the third-floor window. A long time ago she’d drawn chalk heroes on the sidewalk where they stood, saviors in pastel.

“Okay,” he said. “Just.”

“What?”

“Come up for tea. The folks would like to see you. So would I.”

“Okay,” she said, and they climbed the steps together.

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