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Back The Witch Roads Save as PDF
Chapters (73)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. 1 ON ORDINARY LANES AND BEHIND UNPROTECTED WALLS
  4. 2 THE DEPUTY COURIER
  5. 3 A THIRD PRESENCE
  6. 4 THE HOLYSTONE PAVEMENT
  7. 5 THE HAUNT
  8. 6 THE MOON-BRIGHT MIRAGE
  9. 7 THE SOLE FRAGILE DEFENSE
  10. 8 THE SPORE
  11. 9 THREE WELL-SPRUNG CARRIAGES
  12. 10 A SWIRLING RIOT OF ACTIVITY
  13. 11 OF COURSE HE WAS HANDSOME
  14. 12 A GAMBIT TO RUIN HIM
  15. 13 A SLICE OF FESTIVAL CAKE
  16. 14 ORDER CREATES TRANQUILITY
  17. 15 THE THIRD ATONER
  18. 16 A FALSE AND ROTTEN HEART
  19. 17 BAIT
  20. 18 ALL WE HAD TO LOSE WAS OUR LIVES
  21. 19 THE OPENING
  22. 20 THERE IS ANOTHER WAY
  23. 21 AN EFFUSION OF UGLY SATISFACTION
  24. 22 BEST ADMIRED FROM A DISTANCE
  25. 23 SOMETHING HAD CAUGHT IN HIS THROAT
  26. 24 TO THIS DAY
  27. 25 THE THIEF
  28. 26 A PRAGMATIC SUGGESTION
  29. 27 DESTINED TO BE A CHARMING ADVENTURE AND NOT A TEDIOUS SLOG
  30. 28 SHOULD THEY LIVE THAT LONG
  31. 29 A PERILOUS DELIGHT
  32. 30 THAT UNEASY TIME
  33. 31 TEARS ARE A LUXURY
  34. 32 WISHFUL THINKING
  35. 33 EVEN IF THEY DO NOT LOOK IT
  36. 34 A SLOWLY HEAVING MOVEMENT
  37. 35 THE SOBER SEARCH FOR TRUTH
  38. 36 THE CONUNDRUM SHE WRESTLED WITH
  39. 37 FIVE BASKETS FULL!
  40. 38 SOMEWHERE AMONG THE ROCKS
  41. 39 THE MORNING OF THEIR DEATH
  42. 40 THE CLOUDBERRY BREW
  43. 41 THEIR PURSUERS
  44. 42 A SWALTER DELVING
  45. 43 THE ROPE BRIDGE
  46. 44 DON’T LOOK DOWN
  47. 45 THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY
  48. 46 A MORE COMPLICATED STORY
  49. 47 THE AFTERMATH
  50. 48 INTRUSIVE AND RUDE
  51. 49 A DOUSE OF ICY WATER
  52. 50 MORE LIKE A JOKE
  53. 51 AS THE EMPIRE DECREES
  54. 52 IF THAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE
  55. 53 THE VIGIL
  56. 54 NO ANSWER
  57. 55 A WILD AND ALLURING STORY
  58. 56 THE PULSE OF THE EMPIRE
  59. 57 HALF-TOLD LIES AND FRAGMENTS OF TRUTH
  60. 58 THE GREAT LINEAGES
  61. 59 A FUNNEL CLOUD
  62. 60 BATH
  63. 61 A PINCH OF JEALOUSY
  64. 62 TOO MANY BLANK SPOTS
  65. 63 THE LAST VIGIL
  66. 64 THE BEAT OF ITS HEART
  67. 65 THE DISTURBED VIPER
  68. 66 IMAGINE THERE IS A NAMELESS LAND
  69. 67 THE PERFECT WEAPON
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. Also by Kate Elliott
  72. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  73. Newsletter Sign-up

The intendant spoke in a low voice to his valet, who hurried out. After Cariol was out of the chamber, the intendant turned back to Lord Duenn. Except for that one startled glance at the word “murderer,” he had not looked at Elen.

“As I said, Lord Duenn, this is a grave accusation made against one of my most valued couriers. A person who just this morning discovered and rooted out Spore atop the ridge that rises to the east of us. You must understand, we are in a constant battle against the Pall and its Spore.”

“Do you think I do not know that, living in Woodfall Province? Duenn Manor is proud to be foremost among those who supply hallow-wood for the empire.”

“Therefore, you’ll understand why I will need more than your public statement before I am willing to so lightly give up a deputy courier who has proven her worth more than once in our ongoing war against the Pall. I have a duty to the empire and the emperor.”

“That may be, but I have my right and honor as lord of Duenn Manor. If you must delay me, then I lay my case before you, Intendant, in your capacity as justiciar. Whenever it is convenient for you. Now, if you wish. This evening, if you will. Tomorrow, if I must. Next month, if that is what is required of me. I will not stir from this Halt until I am assured justice will be served, according to the oversight of the High Heavens and the law of the empire.”

“I see.” The intendant handed the census papers to Captain Jinyan, who kept glancing at Elen with an unfathomable expression: Pity? Disgust? Anger? Sympathy? “Convey these papers to the imperial archivist for her thorough analysis.”

“I’ll send my captain to witness the archivist’s inspection,” said Duenn, looking offended.

“Do you not trust me?” asked the intendant, with a raised eyebrow.

“I do not trust this thief not to have stolen your trust. That is how she abused her position in Duenn Manor. She stole a sinecure of service to the Manor that could have gone to a more deserving person. People liked her. They confided in her. They gave her chances they’d not have given others, because they trusted her glib chatter and friendly smile. Only when it was too late did they realize that not a word that comes out of her mouth is ever true. Only when it was too late did they realize how her easy smiles conceal a false and rotten heart.”

17 BAIT