Chapters (95)
- Cover
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Map
- Dramatis Personae
- Fifteen Years Ago
- Endas, 25th day of Wellmarch
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Maladas, 26th day of Wellmarch
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Lumendas, 1st day of Radiance
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Astridas, 2nd day of Radiance
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Jeradas, 3rd day of Radiance
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Endas, 4th day of Radiance
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Maladas, 5th day of Radiance
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Tzadas, 6th day of Radiance
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Lunandas, 7th day of Radiance
- Forty-Four
- Jeradas, 10th day of Radiance
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Endas, 11th day of Radiance
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Maladas, 12th day of Radiance
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Tzadas, 13th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Lunandas, 14th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Lumendas, 15th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Tzadas, 20th day of Radiance
- Sixty-Nine
- Acknowledgements
- Discover More
- Extras
- Meet the Author
She rolled her eyes. “Shut up and ride, before I change my mind.”
His face blanked, save for a mischievous gleam about his eyes. “At your order, Lady Orova.”
Kasamor offered a half-bow to Malachi, and a close-fisted salute to Viktor. “Until we meet again. Please do nothing foolish while I’m gone.”
Hauling on his reins, he pushed his way into the crowds. Rosa gave a sharp nod of farewell and followed. Malachi watched until they passed through the thin line of tabarded toll-keepers, then turned aside.
“He gets worse.”
“Everyone does,” rumbled Viktor. “We either die young and foolish, or old and stubborn. It’s the order of things.”
Malachi shook his head. “And which am I?”
“Treasure your family, Malachi. No one is poorer than a man who knows his wealth only when it’s lost.”
He scowled. What did Viktor know of his marital quarrels? “It’s not that simple.”
“Nothing worthwhile ever is.”
The clatter of hooves saved Malachi the trouble of a reply. A young man in a herald’s silver trim reined his steed to a halt. He offered a hasty bow and held out an envelope, sealed with blue wax.
“Lord Reveque.” The herald straightened. His eyes widened as they settled on Viktor. “Lord Akadra. Forgive the interruption, but I bear a summons.”
Malachi took the envelope and slit it open. The spidery signature confirmed what the unbroken seal had already told him. He shot a glance at Viktor.
“Seems you were right, as always.”
Viktor offered a mirthless smile.
“Are you coming?” Malachi asked.
“I might as well,” he replied. “Better to hear first-hand than from my father.”
Malachi pocketed the envelope and flashed a grin. “You should treasure your family, Viktor.”
His only reply was a flat, basilisk stare – Viktor’s customary response to any defeat.
The chamber encapsulated everything Viktor hated about the Republic.
The murky memory of morning sunshine was held at bay by oak-panelled walls and filtered to rich orange and gold by stained glass. Graven likenesses of councillors past gazed down at their successors from dusty escutcheons. Their expressions ranged from grim austerity to stark disappointment. A vast map, rendered in gilded oils by some long dead artist, graced the north wall. The Ancient and Honourable Bounds of the Kingdom of Tressia.