Vengeance
Page 55
“My lord—”
“They can’t be working on their own,” Kadar continued, paying Tolen no attention as his mind raced. “No. They must be working for someone, paid by someone. But who?”
“My lord, we’ve investigated them. They are the last of many generations of undertakers in their family, Guild members. They couldn’t—”
“Of course they could!” Kadar shouted, eyes alight with purpose akin to madness. “This is too complicated to be the plotting of some disgruntled tradesmen. Someone wanted to wipe the slate clean, and that’s what they’ve done.” He clasped his hands behind his back and paced quickly back and forth as he worked out the details.
“This is big. Devious. Who could be behind it?” He wheeled on Tolen. “I want to know who among the nobility might fancy themselves a rival to King Rellan. And who in Sarolinia might be supporting Neven, if he’s got a hand in this.”
He nodded as the pieces fell into place. “That’s our saving grace,” he said with a feral smile. “Identify the traitor and the outside threat. Prove myself helpful. I’ll bring proof of the plot and the names of the traitors to Aliyev and the king, and they’ll be so grateful, they’ll forgive the smuggling. They’ll have to, because I’ll be the one who saves them, who reveals the plot.”
Tolen stared at him, speechless.
“Don’t just stand there!” Kadar roared. “I want your best spies on this matter; I want names and evidence. By Oj and Ren, protect our warehouses and those barrels! I want the rest of your men out in the farmland, protecting the remaining vineyards and putting down the rebellion. And I want your assassins to hunt and kill those bloody Valmondes. I will not let some outlaw undertakers destroy me!”
Tolen nodded, though he had gone pale and his eyes widened with something akin to fear. “As you wish, my lord.” He bowed, then hurried from the room.
Alone, Kadar continued to pace in front of the window. This has to work. I’ve come too far to lose now. We’ll turn this around. We have to be able to fix this—and come out on top. I’ll show Aliyev and the king how valuable I can be with the rebuilding. They’ll be grateful for my help—especially when I deliver the heads of those traitorous undertakers. It’s not over. I won’t admit defeat, not unless or until all of Ravenwood goes down in flames with me.
Kadar heard the thud of a crossbow firing an instant before the quarrel pierced his chest. Blood fountained over his hands as he grasped at the bolt and its sharp tip. He fell to his knees, unable to breathe, as his heart slowed. Without a doubt, the assassin’s shot had been calculated to let him live just long enough to understand what had happened, to know that Aliyev had contracted his murder.
With the last of his strength, Kadar swept the lamp from a nearby stand and watched as it dashed against the curtains. Flames jumped from the draperies to the woodwork and tapestries. Kadar fell forward, as his heart stuttered and his vision dimmed.
Now we all burn together.
END
Other books by Gail Z. Martin
* * *
Darkhurst
Scourge
Vengeance
* * *
Ascendant Kingdoms
Ice Forged
Reign of Ash
War of Shadows
Shadow and Flame
* * *
Chronicles of the Necromancer / Fallen Kings Cycle
The Summoner
The Blood King
Dark Haven
Dark Lady’s Chosen
The Sworn
The Dread
The Shadowed Path
The Dark Road
* * *
Deadly Curiosities
Deadly Curiosities
Vendetta
Tangled Web
Trifles and Folly
Trifles and Folly 2
* * *
Other books by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin
* * *
Jake Desmet Adventures
Iron & Blood
Storm & Fury
* * *
Spells, Salt, & Steel: New Templars
Spells, Salt, & Steel
Open Season
Deep Trouble
Afterword
It takes a village to produce a book. Many thanks to my wonderful husband and partner, Larry N. Martin, for all the editing, formatting, uploading, and proofreading that goes on behind the scenes. Thanks also to Jean Rabe, our editor, for an excellent, professional read as always, and to my agent, Ethan Ellenberg for his staunch support.
Thank you to our Shadow Alliance street team, who are a constant source of friendship, solidarity, and encouragement. Many thanks to our beta readers, Chris L., Nancy N., Trevor C., Andrea L., Sharon M., and Julie M. for helping make the book its best. Thanks also to Mindy Mymudes for being a fantastic coordinator!
People do judge a book by its cover, so thanks to artist Sam Gretton for the front cover and to designer Melissa Gilbert for the print wrap.
Deep appreciation to the convention organizers and volunteers, bloggers, reviewers, and bookstore staff who help spread the word. Eternal gratitude to the crew of authors who make the conventions, events and road trips fun. We couldn’t do this without you.
Most importantly, thanks to our readers for believing in us, looking for new releases, telling their friends, and letting us know when you’ve enjoyed a book. Because you read, we write.
* * *
Thank you for supporting independent authors!
* * *
This book was written and published by an independent author. Independent authors work outside the large, traditional publishing industry, which means we can be more responsive to our fans and readers, bringing you more of the kinds of stories you want to read.
When you support independent authors, you’re helping them make a living, providing an income for their families, and helping to guarantee that they can continue writing the books you enjoy reading.
By helping spread the word about the books and authors you enjoy, either in reviews on book sites and Goodreads or by personal recommendation, you help others discover these books for themselves, and you help make it possible for the writers you enjoy to keep on writing. This is especially important for independent authors, because we don’t have a big name publisher promoting our books or the benefit of being shelved in bookstores.
If you’ve enjoyed this book, or other books by independent authors, the biggest way to show your thanks is by reviewing online and spreading the word. And please, never download “free” books off of pirate sites. Doing so harms the author by robbing him or her of the sale, and makes it harder for authors to stay in business, writing the books you love.
About the Author
Gail Z. Martin is the author of Vengeance, the sequel to Scourge in her Darkhurst epic fantasy series, and Assassin’s Honor in the new Assassins of Landria series. Tangled Web is the newest novel in the series that includes both Deadly Curiosities and Vendetta and two collections, Trifles and Folly and Trifles and Folly 2, the latest in her urban fantasy series set in Charleston, SC. Shadow and Flame is the fourth book in the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga and The Shadowed Path and The Dark Road are in the Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures series. Co-authored with Larry N. Martin are Iron and Blood, the first novel in the Jake Desmet Adventures series and the Storm and Fury collection; and the Spells, Salt, & Steel: New Templars series (Mark Wojcik, monster hunter). Under her urban fantasy M/M paranormal romance pen name of Morgan Brice, Witchbane and Badlands are the newest releases.
She is also the author of Ice Forged, Reign of Ash, and War of Shadows in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven, Dark Lady’s Chosen) and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn, The Dread).
Gail’s work has appeared in over 35 US/UK anthologies. Newest anthologies include: The Big Bad 2, Athena’s Daughters, Heroes, Space, Contact Light, With Great Power, The Weird Wild West, The Side of Good/The Side of Evil, Alien Artifa
cts, Cinched: Imagination Unbound, Realms of Imagination, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, Gaslight and Grimm, Baker Street Irregulars, Journeys, Hath no Fury, and Afterpunk: Steampunk Tales of the Afterlife.
Find out more at www.GailZMartin.com, at DisquietingVisions.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, and on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin.