Book 3 - A Path to Coldness of Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

he was deceived by the Pracchia.”
“That’s so hard to believe.” Nepanthe had loathed Haroun forever.
    His ambitions had had a brutal impact on her life. Haroun had pulled her first husband into one cruel saga after another. Again, “He went there to rescue Mocker?”
    “Yes. Haroun bin Yousif is unique, darling. He abandoned his own dreams to save Bragi, too, because of a debt of honor.” Nepanthe knew nothing about the horrors Varthlokkur had discovered. She would not learn. He would keep that to himself forever.
    He did fear that Old Meddler might know and would not hesitate to spread the news if that would stir the pot of action and hatred.
The Empire Destroyer spent a lot of time pondering how best to misdirect or tame that ancient wickedness.
“But…”
“Dear heart, this shouldn’t surprise you. These men have all done mad things on behalf of those they value. Michael Trebilcock and Aral Dantice twice trekked all the way to Argon to effect your rescue. Ragnarson risked an army to get you back. That nobility of purpose is who they are.” But they could be mislead.
“All right. But… Varth, I don’t remember things so good anymore.”
True. Her twitchy memory left him impatient when she asked the same question over again. More frustrating was the fact that the problem was intermittent and unpredictable.
“You’re helping him get back, aren’t you?”
“Yes. Haroun may be the last hope of the west.”
“What?”
“The Dread Empire is approaching the end of its terrible trials. The threat from the east has been eliminated. The talismanic focus of defiance in the west, Bragi Ragnarson, has been swept from the game board. The war with Matayanga is winding down. Matayanga has exhausted its resources and will. And, as always, Shinsan remains willing to fight for as long as it takes. Stability exists at the Imperial level. Mist has eliminated everyone willing to challenge her.”
Nepanthe wondered about her sister-in-law’s personal life. What did Mist intend for the children Valther had fathered?
Varthlokkur said, “If bin Yousif gets home in time, and reclaims his place, there’ll be a strongman who can resist the next onslaught.”
“Will you be involved if that happens?” Nepanthe’s gaze was hard. She was unhappy with Varthlokkur these days, though she did not always remember why.
He had made choices, on her behalf, without consulting her. Neither those choices nor their results pleased her, when she did remember.
“I will play a part.”
That offered a chance to carp. She let it go.
She wanted desperately to stop fighting about things that could not be changed. She wanted to make him do the right thing from now on.
    ...
    The Lady Yasmid stood atop the wall of a fortress her father had built as a boy, on deciding to establish himself here at the place called Path of the Cross. War had not troubled Sebil el Selib after El Murid moved on to Al Rhemish. But time had seen him disestablished there. War was back.
War’s aftermath was back.
The survivors of the conflict with Throyes and Shinsan had assembled below. The fighting had been unkind to them but they considered themselves the victors. The invaders had gone away.
    Yasmid knew the truth. The enemy had gone because of a shift of political wind inside the Dread Empire. Bragi of Kavelin had penetrated the Roë Basin, forcing the enemy to realign his assets. Shinsan’s Lord Hsung had been replaced by Tervola interested in concluding the wars Shinsan already had elsewhere.
    But let the warriors believe. Let them be proud. Another enemy was coming. Her son, Megelin, was coming. That stupid boy, with Magden Norath skulking through the shadows, behind monsters sent to spread terror and destruction. Magden Norath, who was the maddest and possibly most powerful sorcerer in the west.
    Megelin. Her son. The King of Hammad al Nakir.
    What insane whim had driven Haroun to pass power to the boy? He had known that Megelin was unfit.
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