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Chapters (61)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. Ashyn: One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Moria: Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Ashyn: Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Moria: Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Ashyn: Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Moria: Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Ashyn: Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Moria: Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Fifty-two
  55. Fifty-three
  56. Fifty-four
  57. Fifty-five
  58. About the Author
  59. Back Ad
  60. Credits
  61. About the Publisher

He shrugged and leaned back, getting comfortable again. “I’m hardly an expert in such matters. I was told that his first two wives could not bear children, so he wed my mother. I’m his only son. Only child, as well.” A sidelong glance her way. “Which may suggest you’re correct about my father being the problem, but I did not ever say such a thing.”

“I still apologize.”

He dipped his head. “Thank you.”

“You were his only child, then. I can see why your mother would want to protect you.” She paused. “And why your uncles would wish you trained in their ways. You must have been close to your father. I suppose I hadn’t realized that. An only son is much different from a late-born child to a third wife. You must—” She stopped. “Now I am being too curious. I’m sure your father is not a subject you like to discuss.”

“I . . .” He stopped and stretched out on the rock. Daigo grunted as Gavril rested his bare feet against him. “I do not often discuss it. In court it is a subject best avoided. To most citizens, I am the son of a traitor. My father still has supporters in the army, though. Warriors who swear he did not flee that battlefield. To them I am the son of a martyr. Neither position is . . . comfortable.”

“No, it would not be.” She went quiet for a moment, then she said, carefully, “I know my father believed the empire had not done right by your father.”

“He was betrayed.” He spat the words, laced with bitterness. Quiet rage, too. “Accused of a crime he did not commit. Betrayed by men he thought he could trust, including the one he trusted more than any other, his closest friend, the emp—”

He clipped the word short. “I speak rashly. I apologize.”

“You needn’t apologize to me. I have no reverence for a man I’ve never met.”

“You should, Keeper.” His voice was firm. “Or, at least, have care enough to feign it. You cannot be careless in court. Ever.”

“I would prefer not to go to court. Ever.”

“I know. And I agree. But I fear, after this, neither of us will have a choice in the matter.”

“As long as it’s a short visit.”

He paused, then murmured, “Yes, let’s hope it’s a short visit,” and they lapsed into peaceful silence again.

Thirty-seven

Thirty-seven

They had been on the road for five days now. Gavril believed they were approaching Fairview. Moria hoped so. She still worried about Daigo’s wounds.

As for Gavril, he’d been a better companion since the thunder-hawk fight. That sense of calm had, for the most part, stayed. He still confused debate with conversation, but if Moria was being honest, that was her preference as well. She had little patience for idle chatter, and a lively discussion kept her entertained on the mind-numbing walk.