BooksBarbecue
Back Rosemarked Save as PDF
Chapters (58)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Part One
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Part Two: Three Months Later
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-one
  27. Part Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-two
  29. Chapter Twenty-three
  30. Chapter Twenty-four
  31. Chapter Twenty-five
  32. Chapter Twenty-six
  33. Chapter Twenty-seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-one
  38. Chapter Thirty-two
  39. Chapter Thirty-three
  40. Chapter Thirty-four
  41. Chapter Thirty-five
  42. Chapter Thirty-six
  43. Chapter Thirty-seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Chapter Forty-one
  48. Chapter Forty-two
  49. Chapter Forty-three
  50. Chapter Forty-four
  51. Chapter Forty-five
  52. Chapter Forty-six
  53. Chapter Forty-seven
  54. Chapter Forty-eight
  55. Epilogue
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. About the Author
  58. Keep Reading for a Sneak Peek at Umbertouched

He’s been giving me jobs to do all day, but something in his voice tells me this is different. I follow him out the door.

We’ve divided the foot soldiers into three separate cottages for treatment. Now, though, Doron leads me to a fourth, one that I didn’t help set up. Inside is a cot with a single patient. His hair is damp with sweat, his face obscured by fever rash—he looks like any of the others in our care. But finally, I recognize Commander Arxa. It’s clear that the sickness has taken a firm hold on him. He tosses his head from side to side, and he mumbles words I can’t quite make out. Though his eyes are open, he doesn’t see me.

“The Goddess teaches us all lives are equal,” says Doron. “But in the empire’s eyes, this is the life we must most zealously guard. I’ll oversee Arxa’s treatment, but I want you to be with him when I can’t. Check on him every hour. Let me know immediately if anything looks awry.”

The weight of the charge doesn’t escape me. “If he doesn’t make it,” I say. “The emperor can’t possibly blame us for a disease….” I trail off when I see the way Doron is looking at me. He must be at least sixty years old, but this is the first time I’ve seen him look his age.

“Just keep him alive,” Doron says.

Chapter Four

My welcome feast is simple, since any big celebration risks attracting attention. Still, Gatha allots me a double portion of meat. My fellow fighters make obnoxious comments about my umbermarks and shake their heads over how I managed to survive the plague.

“Zenagua had no use for Dineas in her underworld,” says Tus, a veteran fighter with a missing eye. “Even goddesses know he’s trouble.”

I spit a piece of gristle into the fire. “Here’s what really happened. Zenagua took one look at my face and deemed me too great a temptation for the maidens of her realm.”

“Ha! And she marked you up so you’d leave the live ones be as well.”

Pouriya, a warrior one year my senior, comes and clasps my hands. “Looking handsome, Dineas. You might even have a chance with some of the Dara villagers’ goats.”

“His face is still prettier than yours, Pouriya,” calls another voice.