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And the two executioners kicked out the stools froave the order It only gave h to keep me suspended in air for a precious second or two I tore ive an called out that I had a knife, but when I swung back, I kicked one executioner into the other and both toppled over the edge of the platforh I had to be fast

I usedconsciousness I grabbed on to his rope and with the knife sliced through the cords Roden fell to the platforround below Harlowe and Tobias rushed forward to help hi portion of Roden’s rope, I sliced through round beside Roden Harlowe had already loosened Roden’s rope and Tobias was feeling for his pulse

"Keep him alive" For Roden’s protection, I pressed the knife into Harlowe’s hands "His lifeto you"

The soldiers who had been slowed by the croere now advancing on allows and back up Farthenwood’s steps I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, "Erick, call your men!"

Erick withdrew a horn from his side and blew on it, and the result was so instantaneous from within Farthenwood that the bulk of the pirates es to wait for the signal Back ere alone in his office, Conner had confirmed that they were there -- the many secrets I had croithin his walls

I’d never been sure exactly how this would come to be the final battle of the war But I had always known this here it must happen, and that it could not succeed without the pirates I was certain it had been no sratitude to Erick was deeper than he could ever understand

When Mott and I had visited the pirates, I had asked Erick to co his men But they were here, and they had clearly found the secret passages, as I had requested, though I couldn’t i they’d had to hide in there, all the while coer for the endless ould be exhausted on Vargan’s armies

At the sound of fighting, the bottoold collapsed -- another use of the false floors designed by Tobias Out poured one of h for most of my soldiers who had been compelled to coht It wasn’t as an had been a fool to believe every soldier I had was gathered in the audience They stampeded from the woods outside Conner’s estate, each heavily armed and ready to battle

That was all wonderful to see, but in the presentSeveral Avenian soldiers chased er, as spending farthreats my way Once I reached the top, I leapt over the bronze railing to the ground My landing on the grass beloasn’t particularly graceful, but I thought my clumsiness here could easily be overlooked based on the art of my escape from the noose

I ran across the back laith the Avenians in pursuit, and, due toa fair lead on them But I stopped when I saw Mendenwal had rounded the far side of the estate and was coo but up

I had not ht I’d climbed the pirates’ Tarblade cliffs, shortly after Roden brokeI’d made many attempts since then, most which nobody else knew about, because it would’ve eeon furious Also because they had all ended in failure