The Crimson Campaign

Demasolin seemed taken aback by that. He strode from the room.

Tamas looked over at the Kez soldier. “He knows where we’re going,” he said.

“Right,” Vlora said. She grabbed the soldier by the back of the neck and forced him outside.

Haliona put a hand to her mouth. “That man…”

A shot rang out on the porch.

“A soldier’s lot in life is to die for his country,” Tamas said.

“He was our prisoner.”

“He’s spent the last couple of weeks terrorizing your city, along with his countrymen. Justice must fall swiftly, or it might not fall at all.”

“Is that what you said about the Adran nobility when you sent them to the guillotine?”

“Yes.”

“You always said you were a soldier,” Hailona said. Her voice was accusing. “Do you accept your own death as inevitable?”

Tamas leaned over to rub his leg. “Death is always inevitable. I gave up on the idea I’d die surrounded by my grandchildren earlier this year.” He couldn’t help but look toward the door Vlora had just left by. His thoughts leapt to Taniel. Was he alive? Had he come out of the coma? So far away. Nothing Tamas could do. “One day,” he said, “I’ll die for my country. I’d rather it be on the battlefield than at the hands of a Kez headsman.”

“You really believe it, don’t you?”

“What?” Tamas asked.

“That you are in the right.”

“Of course.”

“Could there have been a better way than killing all those people?”

“Likely,” Tamas said. “But I didn’t take it.”

Tell her

, something said inside of him. Tell her about Sabon’s death. It has to happen sooner or later. Better she find out from him than from someone else.

“I need your help,” Hailona said.

“I was about to say the same thing.”

Hailona frowned. “My husband — Demasolin’s brother — was taken by the Ad… the Kez. He’s being held in the city’s main prison. Tonight we tried to rescue him and free all the prisoners there. It was one of over twenty attacks all across the city we’ve been planning for over a week. We failed, and if our failure was any indication, so did the other attacks.”

“The prison — are they holding all of their prisoners there?” Tamas asked. “They captured one of my outriders on the edge of the plateau a few days ago. That’s why I came here with just Vlora. To try to rescue him.”

“I don’t know. Demasolin has eyes all around the city. You may ask him.”

But whether he’d answer a question from Tamas was another thing.

Tamas found Demasolin watching out the front door for any sign of the Kez. Tamas could hear the sound of soldiers in the street, beyond the manor walls. They were moving quietly, probably too low for Demasolin to hear.

The Deliv gave Tamas a glance filled with disdain.

Tamas ignored it.

“Four days ago,” Tamas said, “the Kez took one of my outriders as we crossed the plateau coming north. I came to the city to get him back. I understand your brother is a prisoner as well. I think we could help each other.”

Demasolin didn’t so much as look toward him. “I don’t think I want your help,” he said coldly.

Tamas bit back a retort, gritting his teeth. Shortsighted bastard. Typical nobleman.

“My son,” Tamas said quietly, “lies half-dead because he chose to save Adro instead of himself. He is in Adopest, and I don’t know whether he still lives. The man the Kez hold prisoner is my late wife’s brother. He may be the last kin I have left alive.”

Tamas went on. “You think me a beast. You might be right. But the Kez hold your brother, and they hold mine. I think if we work together we can get them both back.”

Demasolin didn’t reply. Tamas waited for a few heartbeats before turning away.

Nothing else he could say would sway the man.

“Wait,” Demasolin said suddenly. “Three days ago they brought in a prisoner by the south gate. A giant of a man, wearing a Mountainwatch Watchmaster’s vest.”

“That was him.”

“My contacts say he’s in the same prison. I’ll help you.”

“Thank you,” Tamas said.

“I’ll help you, but I will not hesitate to kill you if I need to.”

CHAPTER 40

Taniel drew his knife and threw himself forward.

He grasped the Prielight Guard by the chest and pushed both himself and the guard backward through the door. They tumbled down the stairs, a jumble of limbs and grunts and curses. Taniel was able to arrest his own fall by grabbing onto the walls of the spiral staircase.

The Prielight went down a few more steps and landed with his back against the wall, dagger drawn. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Guards!” the Prielight yelled.

The Prielight sprang upward, swinging his knife. Taniel dodged one blow and then another. Despite being at a disadvantage in the tower stairs, the Prielight was incredibly fast, forcing Taniel to dance away from quick jabs at his feet.

Taniel swung down for the Prielight’s head, only to have the guard move out of the way. The counterstrike sparked against the stone steps beside Taniel’s foot.

Taniel stomped on the Prielight’s wrist to trap his hand, and leaned over, stabbing quickly at the neck.