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The papers I’d signed were still laid out across the desk I picked them up with the intent to burn them, but a creak on the floorboards behind me warned of soan poised with a dagger held over his head Within its current state, I couldn’t outrun him, and no other weapons were nearby There weren’t many options if he decided to attack, and he clearly would be attacking

"Withto lose," I said "But there is still time to save yourself Surrender to me and you will live"

"Never"

Clearly, thisTo be fair, I wasn’t particularly good at it either

"You intended for that thief to bring the e "You wanted this to end at Farthenwood"

Of course I did I knew this place as well as my own castle, and if one of these ho to be ed for the pirates to come here, there were still a few unresolved details in my mind But I had known the pirates would be needed

"It had to end here," I said "Otherwise the pirates would’ve stayed hidden in the secret passages until they rotted They’d have ended up san cried out and rushed toward rabbed s with his weight

He raised the dagger again, but was distracted by a loud cry Conner was running toward us I never saw him enter the room

Vargan turned and with the dagger he had intended forfroze in that moment, except for the fine white silks of Conner’s vest that turned a horrible color of red He patted at the blood and then raised his hand to look at it more closely, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing Once he accepted it, he lowered his hand and tumbled to the floor By then, I had squirmed free and knelt beside Conner, who tookwords, he said, "I alas a patriot, Jaron I never lied when I said that you are ers, but instead drew in a gurgled breath and sluan said

Maybe he was, but he had also just saved rayest shadoeen right and wrong

By then, I had put soer and er and several other soldiers from both Avenia and Mendenwal had heard Conner’s cry and entered the office I rolled hed, more irritated than afraid Was it too much to hope for sory pirate would’ve been nice

I turned back to Vargan "Why did Mendenwal join you? They’ve never been our eneo, your father lied to all of us, a political gaht it was a rather clever trick, but Mendenwal did not So when you returned to the throne, it wasn’t hard to stir up their anger I reed hierous you could become if we allowed you to keep your crown Then I promised him half of Carthya as his spoils of victory"

My eyes narrowed "He can’t possibly believe you’ll allow that"

Vargan shrugged "Hu I alone a on Mendenwal’s throne doesn’t realize I’ for him next"