Page 52 (1/1)

Kippenger’s vigils gripped Terrowic’s ar With everyone watching Terrowic, I clicked gled it back and forth, then winked at him He pointed at me and made an objection, but by then my expression had returned to one of appropriate pain and suffering, and he was quickly whisked back up the stairs for his punisher turned back to o easy on o easy, Jaron If you don’t, there’s no end of things I can do to you that Vargan never has to know about"

I , then looked back at Ien as he led us away She still held one fist closed, hiding the key for her chains, and Isoon My final glance was to Roden, at my side He didn’t look entirely enthusiastic about as about to happen, but he was ready

Only halfway out of the dungeon, I grabbed the bars to the door and started screaan!"

A vigil in front of s to pullwide open and still I held on Now slightly ahead ofthe vigil behind hier hit my arms with the broadside of his sword until ils interlocked arI needed to know -- they had forgotten to close the dungeon door for Iotten she was even in there

We continued our rant until they dragged us upstairs, at which point Roden tried tohi equally silly and dramatic, and the commander shouted for more men to attend to us

They ran ater not to let them leave any marks, but that clearly wasn’t his concern at the rowing audience, I enjoyed screa even louder Unfortunately, nobody had been ordered to avoid leaving ht have been sincere

Before it was over there were probably twenty htly disappointed by that I’d have preferred forty each, or a respectable nu in horror and embarrassment for our childishness, but they all followed as ere carried to the office, and all were assigned to wait in the hallway in case they were needed

I s under his left eye and he had a bloody lip and possibly a broken nose Inabout, my head had collided with the corner of a wall and blood was running from that wound down the side of my face Maybe some people would view that as my own fault, but I already had plans to put the blaht, Roden sht before: In its oay, that had been fun Beyond that, we’d accoeon

We calmed down once we arrived at the office, and after a few pointed threats if I ht us inside

Conner was alone in there this ti different clothes fro There was so much white on his silk shirt and vest, it was as if he had draped himself in the color of the saints to conceal the fact that he was the devils’ worst I wondered how he’d so suddenly acquired such a vast wardrobe

Soht, a new desk had been located for the office It wasn’t as nice as Conner’s original desk had been, but it was undoubtedly still expensive and likely had been forcibly taken from the closest nearby home

Roden was shoved to his knees near the back wall and I was led to a chair in front of the desk With Conner behind the desk, and Kippenger and another vigil standing on either side of o Back then, I had only suspected Conner of his crimes Now I understood exactly who he was, and the depths to which he would sink to acquire power Whateverco I just heard?" Conner asked

My expression was as innocent as ever "I’"

"You have a nasty gash on your head"

"Oh, that" I gestured toward the coan didn’t want any , it was probably er cursed at ave ed in a coat with the Avenian colors," Conner said "Reet this off of hier offered

"By the end of today I will be Carthya’s king This outfit offends er lowered his voice Maybe he didn’t want me to hear, which was ridiculous "Lord Conner, without the chains, this boy can be dangerous Just before we caer to o Now, unchain hi aler pulledonly a plain undershirt I said a farewell to Kippenger that included my wishes for him to develop boils in his armpits, and then told hier snarled andunder his breath, but left In his place, two other vigils entered the room Maybe to protect me from Conner, or Conner froe of his desk He pulled a handkerchief froash onwas ht you were crowned, after you exposed my crimes to the court, why didn’t you have me executed?"

"Obviously, that was a mistake on lare could’ve boiled water After a heavy sigh, I said, "I always felt you had more of a role to play for Carthya Clearly you do, but it turned out to be somewhat less noble than I had hoped for What you’ve done now, aligning yourself with Avenia, that’s the ultimate betrayal of your country You once told me that despite your criree that’s no longer true"

Conner’s eyes narrowed "Arrogant boy! Always so certain you have all the answers"

"Then answer en is still wounded -- she needs food and a bed and a physician I kno you treated her as a servant, but are you really so cruel as to let her die in the dungeons?"

"I sent her there so that you would know she still lives!" Conner crossed the room to stand directly in front of ils behind us before he said, "You foiled plans I spent a lifeti I had I hate you for that You know things about ht no one could, learned the secrets of Farthenwood, and you have crowded many more secrets within its walls Jaron, you will not destroy this final plan of mine Do you understand me?"