The Shadow Throne (Ascendance 3)

We rested awhile, and then Mott said, “About Imogen —”

My eyes had been closed, thinking again of that last moment with her. “I thought I could save her. And you as well.”

“You did save me. She might have gotten away too, but she wouldn’t leave you behind any more than you’d have left her.”

“She took the arrow intended for me. She gave her life for mine.”

“And you risked yours for us. Why didn’t you send someone else in? We have other warriors capable of that rescue.”

“I knew Avenia was looking for information, and if anyone was captured they’d dredge my plans from them, as they would’ve done with you. But if I became their captive, I knew I could give them the exact information I wanted. Which I did.”

ally the sun rose at our backs. We were heading west at a slower pace than I wanted, but Mott insisted I preserve my strength and recover from the past several days. Patience had never been a virtue that interested me, and certainly one I had never courted. But for now, it was a necessary one. When night fell, I arranged for an inn where we could spend the night with a good sleep. With our black and red uniforms, and my Avenian accent, nobody gave us a second look.

I felt much better the following morning, and even managed a meal of real food, or the closest thing to it in Avenia. Once we were on the road again, Tobias asked, “Shouldn’t we turn farther south to reach Tarblade?”

“We have another stop first,” I said.

Mott groaned. “You remember we’re deep in enemy territory, correct?”

“The people here aren’t my enemy,” I said. “Only their king. I need to send a message.”

“Carried in the hands of an Avenian? Jaron, you might not consider these people your enemy, but they won’t look so kindly upon you. If you had a message to send, it should’ve gone with Harlowe yesterday.”

“A fine idea, if I’d have thought of it yesterday,” I snapped.

We rode for another half hour before we came to the edge of the thieves’ camp, the place where I had first been taken on my way to the pirates. It had always been a bustle of activity, and I’d expected the same liveliness now.

But it was different this time.

I left my sword in place as we rode into camp, but had my hand ready, just in case. The few men still there came to their feet to greet us, but they looked more like scavengers than thieves. A few were armed, but nobody went for their weapons. I recognized a few men but most of them were new faces. I had no friends here.

“You’ve picked us over enough!” a drunken man shouted through blurred words. “None of us here can fight — the last group of soldiers knew that and left us alone.”

With some nervousness, Mott and Tobias looked at each other, and I remembered how we were dressed.

“What happened to the others who were here?” I asked. “Did they volunteer to fight?”

“Volunteered at the point of a blade,” a man said. “They took everyone who might be of use.”

Another man sauntered forward, staring at me. “How old are you, boy? You’re no soldier. Or no leader amongst them, if you are.”

“No leader amongst Avenian soldiers, no.” When I removed my helmet, there was enough of a reaction that it was clear some of them knew me. “My name is Jaron. I am the king of Carthya, king of the Avenian pirates, and a friend of Erick’s, who was in charge here. If you don’t wish to fight for Vargan, then join me now. Ride with me and let’s leave this place.”

“Or we could capture you and earn a lifetime of gold from Vargan,” the man nearest to us said.

I snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. If you had the ability to capture me, you’d have already been recruited.”

They gave up and half turned away from me. “We’re Avenian,” another thief said, sitting back down beside his fire. “We’ll stay here.”

“As you wish. But that’s a thin stew in your pot, and I can help thicken it. If you’re hungry, I’ll pay your fastest rider to deliver a message back to Carthya for me.”

“No,” Tobias hissed. “You can’t trust these men.” But I only ignored him.

The man closest to me lifted his hands to his hips. “I’m the fastest rider here. What’s your message?”

“It goes to my commander in Drylliad.” I eyed him steadily. “Can you deliver it?”

He held my gaze. “On my word of honor as a thief.”