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"I wish I could" We took a few more steps, then he said, "I know you tried to save us, Jaron I forgive you for failing"

With a coy s is exactly as it should be"

"I disagree," Roden said "I can think of a thousand ways I’d rather spend , then" With a smile, I added, "I intend to curl up in front of a waren beside ht, it ht be that your soul landed in the devils’ lair"

I chuckled "That’swith the saints But if we do, just iine the trouble we could cause there"

He smiled back "Good-bye, Jaron"

"No, Roden Not yet"

At that, the commander pulled Roden onto the platform and directed him to stand on the stool Fro of Roden’s hands, so fierce it rattled the chains on his wrists Aat the front of the platforuilty of war against Avenia, Gelyn, and Mendenwal Roden stood tall as the noose was tightened around his neck He was heaving deep breaths, as if that ht somehow delay the suffocation

Conner had left nitaries seated on the steps of Farthenwood It allowed me to work at the ropes around my wrists, while the position of his body also blocked others fro I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do once my hands were untied -- I was still unarmed and surrounded by eneh the knots, Conner turned and grabbedattention to himself, he wound the loose rope back over ain, but if he did, any hope I had was lost

It was my turn now for the noose Conner escorted et on the stool, which I did Then he pulled the noose around h it would surely pull tighter to kill ainstthe pinch for air

Fronized a few of the thieves ast the Avenian soldiers They were nearly expressionless as they stared up at retting or celebrating my death Probably the latter And oddly, I saw Erick in the audience Only Erick, none of the pirates He acknowledged esture, grateful beyond words that he had coan will have you speak now," Conner said "Remind our people of where their loyalties must be"

My eyes shifted from hi, they went to their knees So did Erick, and a few others I didn’t know I sed hard to gain control ofof Avenia to give you one last order and so I shall Hear ht Never bend to weakness, never yield to a false crown Right will always triumph in the end, and you ant to be on that side when it does"

The ending I had intended would’ve been even better, if Conner had not cut h the audience, ent to their feet in nore ed next His soldiers left the platform and quieted a few of the more rowdy objectors with the hilt of their blades

I had recovered froht’ve fallen then, but Conner put his hands oncold run up iven ripped it tightly to keep it hidden He said nothing more, didn’t even look at me as he left the platforaveof Carthya, and then accused does, considering they were standing on my land

When he finished, he walked off the platforan stood and spoke the simple words, "Do it"