BooksBarbecue
Back Legacy of Ash
Chapters (95)
  1. Cover
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. Dramatis Personae
  6. Fifteen Years Ago
  7. Endas, 25th day of Wellmarch
  8. One
  9. Two
  10. Three
  11. Four
  12. Maladas, 26th day of Wellmarch
  13. Five
  14. Six
  15. Seven
  16. Eight
  17. Nine
  18. Ten
  19. Lumendas, 1st day of Radiance
  20. Eleven
  21. Twelve
  22. Thirteen
  23. Fourteen
  24. Astridas, 2nd day of Radiance
  25. Fifteen
  26. Sixteen
  27. Seventeen
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Jeradas, 3rd day of Radiance
  31. Twenty
  32. Twenty-One
  33. Twenty-Two
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Twenty-Five
  37. Endas, 4th day of Radiance
  38. Twenty-Six
  39. Twenty-Seven
  40. Twenty-Eight
  41. Twenty-Nine
  42. Thirty
  43. Thirty-One
  44. Maladas, 5th day of Radiance
  45. Thirty-Two
  46. Thirty-Three
  47. Thirty-Four
  48. Thirty-Five
  49. Tzadas, 6th day of Radiance
  50. Thirty-Six
  51. Thirty-Seven
  52. Thirty-Eight
  53. Thirty-Nine
  54. Forty
  55. Forty-One
  56. Forty-Two
  57. Forty-Three
  58. Lunandas, 7th day of Radiance
  59. Forty-Four
  60. Jeradas, 10th day of Radiance
  61. Forty-Five
  62. Forty-Six
  63. Forty-Seven
  64. Endas, 11th day of Radiance
  65. Forty-Eight
  66. Forty-Nine
  67. Fifty
  68. Fifty-One
  69. Fifty-Two
  70. Fifty-Three
  71. Fifty-Four
  72. Fifty-Five
  73. Maladas, 12th day of Radiance
  74. Fifty-Six
  75. Fifty-Seven
  76. Fifty-Eight
  77. Fifty-Nine
  78. Sixty
  79. Sixty-One
  80. Sixty-Two
  81. Tzadas, 13th day of Radiance
  82. Sixty-Three
  83. Sixty-Four
  84. Lunandas, 14th day of Radiance
  85. Sixty-Five
  86. Sixty-Six
  87. Lumendas, 15th day of Radiance
  88. Sixty-Seven
  89. Sixty-Eight
  90. Tzadas, 20th day of Radiance
  91. Sixty-Nine
  92. Acknowledgements
  93. Discover More
  94. Extras
  95. Meet the Author

“She’s right, Kas.” Rosa aimed a kick at one of the unconscious hearthguards. “If we linger, someone’s going to see something we’d rather they didn’t.”

By Malachi’s reckoning, that was one vote for Aske’s death, one against and . . . whatever Viktor’s opinion was. Did he alone see that killing Aske would only worsen matters? But Kasamor had the casting vote, and the sword, and a measure of wounded pride into the bargain. Appealing to that pride might achieve what reason would not.

“She owes you an apology,” Malachi muttered.

Kasamor’s head dipped. He gave a weary snort. “She does, doesn’t she?”

The low rumble of Viktor’s laughter echoed along the alley. Rosa rolled her eyes. Malachi eased a sigh.

Kasamor’s eyes met Aske’s. “So which is it to be, Lady Tarev? The apology, or the sword?”

She swallowed. “I . . . I apologise . . .”

Kasamor’s sword twitched. A trickle of blood broke Aske’s skin.

“‘I apologise for naming Calenne Trelan a whore’,” he said.

“That’s how this started?” muttered Viktor.

Malachi nodded. “That’s how it started.”

Viktor grunted and withdrew.

“I apologise for naming Calenne Trelan a whore.” Aske’s defiance gave way to a glare of pure venom.

Kasamor warmed to his theme. “‘And I see now that jealousy guided my tongue more than any good sense.’”

“And I see now that jealousy guided my tongue more than any good sense.” Aske ground out the words from behind gritted teeth.

Kasamor leaned closer. “Now, take off your sword belt. Then you can go.”

Hands fumbled at the buckle. Belt and scabbard smacked to the ground. Kasamor grinned and lowered his sword.

“My thanks, Lady Tarev, for a wonderful evening.”

Face once again impassive, her shoulders set beneath a burden of fragile dignity, Aske shoved her way past Kasamor.

Viktor’s hand brought her to a halt. He stooped and whispered into her ear, speaking so softly that Malachi couldn’t make out the words. Then Viktor straightened, and Aske was on her way once more – if a touch more unsteady than before.

“What did you tell her?” Rosa asked.

“The price to be paid for another attempt.” He shrugged. “I believe we reached an understanding.”

Laughing, Kasamor reclaimed Aske’s sword and scabbard and held both out to Malachi. “Here. A trophy well-won. And a reminder that you shouldn’t walk the streets without one.”

Malachi hesitated, then took them. The sword fitted the scabbard to perfection, and the belt sat well enough at his waist. It felt strange, like he’d stepped back into an old life – one he’d been happy to leave.

“So what happens now?”

“Now,” Viktor said, “Kasamor owes me a debt. He can make payment in ale.”

Maladas, 26th day of Wellmarch

Maladas, 26th day of Wellmarch