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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

“I mean it,” she said. “I understand your situation. You might return to the imperial city only to be thrown into another cell, awaiting a fate as dire as the forest. If you return with me, and I say that you rescued me, at the very least you will be free. You would also likely receive some sort of more tangible reward. I don’t begrudge you that. I would simply ask that you are honest with me.”

He paused, still searching her face, as if for a trick. Finally he said, “I apologize.”

“Good. Now, I’ll need to explain the situation to the others. That would be best done in morning’s light.”

He bent and wiped his blade on the sand, cleaning it. “While I understand why you don’t wish to frighten them by disappearing, I’m not sure that discussing the matter will help.”

“Disappearing?”

“With me.” He stopped. “You expect me to join them?”

“I will say that you are my chosen guard. Gregor cannot argue with that.”

“It’s not arguing that concerns me. You can’t continue at their pace, Ashyn. The woman and child are slow enough, but the old man? I left Edgewood just ahead of you, and I had to walk back half a day to find you.”

“I’ll not leave them.”

“I know you feel responsible, but I also have respons . . .” He trailed off and resumed checking his sword. “I wish to get back to the city as quickly as possible. I’ve been in the Forest of the Dead for four moons. I’d like a soft sleeping mat and clean clothing, and I’ll not get that out here.”

“I understand, but the matter isn’t open to discussion. My duty is to my village—those few who still live. If you wish to join us, you may. Otherwise . . .” She looked up at him. “I hope to see you again someday.”

He shook his head. “I’ll not join them.”

“Then that is your—”

“I can’t. The guard won’t stand for an exiled convict bearing blades. It would be disruptive for no purpose.” He returned his sword to its sheath—he must have taken one from the bodies in Edgewood. “If you insist on staying with the others, I’ll do what your guard does not—watch out for you. Would that be sufficient?”

He meant would she still vouch for him, to say he “rescued” her. Someday, perhaps, a young man would give her that soulful look and not want anything more than her kind regard. Ronan wasn’t that young man. But he was what she needed right now. So she agreed and returned to camp with Tova.

Twenty-four

Twenty-four