Chapters (48)
- Praise
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- About the Author
The Warlord shrugged. “Big male. Pale skin. Short hair. He wasn’t close enough to see anything else.”
Krelis snorted. “We don’t have to worry about that one. The High Priestess already took care of him. I’m surprised he still has brains enough to unbutton his trousers in the first place.” He stood up and stretched. “No, we don’t have to worry about that one. But keep an eye out for my pet. He should be here anytime now.”
Once the Warlord had returned to his position, Krelis slipped his hand into his coat pocket. His fingers curled around the brass button.
He gave the psychic leash another yank.
His pet still needed one or two lessons in obedience.
Teaching him would pass the time—until it was the Shalador Warlord’s turn.
TWENTY-NINE
TWENTY-NINE
Jared studied the people gathered in the tavern’s small back room.
Eryk and Corry stood on either side of little Cathryn. Each of them held one of her hands.
Thayne, looking exhausted and obviously still suffering from the witchfire burns, leaned against the back wall, close to Blaed.
Brock leaned against the opposite wall, near the door, which was casually blocked by Talon. His face had that pained look of a man who badly needs to answer a call of nature but doesn’t want to miss anything.
Pale and sweating heavily, Randolf restlessly paced the width of the small room, staying on the far side of the round table and chairs that were the room’s only furniture.
Thera had said to tell all of them, but they hadn’t been able to find Garth, and Jared decided not to waste time looking for him.
“We’re going to fight,” Jared said.
Brock muffled a groan.
Thayne nodded once.
Randolf swore fiercely. “We’re slaves. Slaves don’t fight.”
Jared watched Randolf closely. “You fought during the ambush.”
“There wasn’t much sense in sitting back when the rest of you were tearing the place apart, was there?”
“There isn’t much sense in sitting back now, either.”
Randolf slapped his hands down on the table hard enough to make it rock. “Yes, there is. Do you know what happens to slaves who fight? What they’ll do to any of the villagers who survive the first strike will be a slap on the wrist compared to what they’ll do to us.”
Jared’s control snapped. “We’re not slaves!” he roared. “We haven’t been slaves since we left Raej.”
Randolf stared at him.
Brock tried to suppress a pained laugh.
“We’re not slaves,” Jared said, struggling to leash his temper. “That’s why the Gray Lady’s so dangerous, even if that bitch Dorothea hasn’t realized it. For the past few years, she’s bought slaves at the auction and set them free. They go home, Randolf. Or they make a new home, a new life for themselves in Dena Nehele.”