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
Viktor neither moved, nor spoke. In a flash, Rosa was transported back a decade, a lowly squire called to account for recklessness. She still felt an echo of that fear. But she wasn’t that callow young woman any longer. She’d own her mistakes. Even if that meant losing her spurs, and the brotherhood of Essamere.
“Lord Akadra, I owe you an apology.” Realising her eyes had dropped to the floor, she forced her head back to meet his gaze. “I let grief colour my actions. I allowed myself to be deceived. And I betrayed your trust. If you’ve come to bring me to account for that, I understand. I’ll offer no resistance.”
He stepped out of the shadow and into the dancing lantern light. “Viktor. To you, Rosa, I’ll always be Viktor. We’ve been friends too long. As to the rest? Kasamor wouldn’t wish us to fall out over his mother’s actions.”
Forgiveness gleamed, bright as sunlight and sweet as honey. But she couldn’t accept it. “I let Ebigail use me. I knew what she was, and still I let her use me. I should have known better.”
He gave a lopsided shrug. “All any of us can hope for is to do what seems right at the time, no matter how hard.”
“And if we choose the wrong path?”
“Then we should not make the same mistake again.”
Rosa had the sense that the words were no longer meant for her. “You sound as though you’ve learnt that the hard way yourself.”
“Perhaps. There’s something you can do for me, if you’re willing.”
She clasped her fist to her chest in salute. “Anything.”
“There’s trouble in the Southshires.”
“When isn’t there?”
Viktor attempted a smile but fell short. “This is different. Malachi’s scraping together as much of an army as he can. He wants me to lead it, but I’m asking you to go in my stead. I can’t leave it to Josiri. He’s a good man, but he’s a southwealder and we can’t afford old suspicions. I need you.”
So that was what Izack had meant. Rosa nodded, heart too full almost for words. Now she could accept forgiveness. Now, she’d prove herself worthy of it.
“You have me. Body, soul and sword.” She paused, at last unpicking the detail hidden in his words. “And you? Where will you be?”
“Riding a swifter road.”
Lunandas, 14th day of Radiance
Lunandas, 14th day of Radiance
The Dark is always with us.
from the sermons of Konor Belenzo
Sixty-Five
Sixty-Five