Lords of Trillium Read Online Free PDF

further convincing that Silvius was indeed insane. Not even a Trillium rat could reach that age. Furthermore, this rat looked younger than Trilok, and he was in his seventies at the time of his demise—an age considered ancient among Trillium rats. What a pity, he thought, his hopes of finding out more about Hecate dying. “Surely you must be mistaken,” he replied as mildly as possible. “Years like that rarely come to
humans
. They certainly don’t come to the likes of us.”
    â€œOh, pish-posh,” said Silvius, waving a dismissive paw. “I may not know my
exact
year of birth, but I’m most positively over one hundred years of age. Of that I am certain.”
    â€œYou can’t possibly be that old,” Billycan insisted. “Yes, rats of our kind do live long lives, leaps and bounds longer thanordinary rats, but to live a century? Why, it’s not possible—not in the least.”
    Suddenly Silvius lunged forward. He loomed over Billycan, trapping him in his chair, and glared at him snout to snout. “Is that so,
rat
?”
    Ajax jumped to his feet. “It’s all right, Silvius,” he said in a soothing tone. He patted Silvius’s shoulder, gently pulling him back. “Billycan means no harm, none at all. He’s merely stating facts as he knows them.” He grinned sheepishly at the former king. “He’s entitled to his opinion, just as you are.”
    â€œHis
opinion
is far from
fact
,” declared Silvius, grimacing at them both. “It’s pure ignorance!”
    Billycan bolted from his chair. He had been called many things in his lifetime, but ignorant was not one of them. “Then educate me,
King
Silvius,” he said disdainfully. His eyes shifted to a scorching amber, his rage rising inside him. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to claw the old rat’s eyes out. “Explain to me—clearly a stupid rat who’s
never
known any creature, Trillium-born or otherwise, to live even close to one hundred years—tell me how it’s possible!” Silvius growled, glowering indignantly. Billycan poked Silvius in the chest. “I said,
tell
me!”
    â€œGentlemen, please,” said Ajax. “Control your tempers!”
    Snarling, Silvius snatched up his teacup from the mantel and hurled it into the fire. Porcelain shards scattered across Billycan’s feet. Froth formed at the corners of Silvius’s mouth as he spoke. “Very well, I’ll tell you! Blast it all, I’ll
show
you!” He cursed under his breath, motioning with a wide sweep of his arm to the walls and ceiling. “I admit, whatever
she
gave me, it has damaged my mind.” He pulled wildly on his ears. “It eats away at my memories!” He kicked a pile of books across the room. “Why do you think I write it all down, for Saints’ sake, taking up every spare inch of my quarters? To remember!”
    Silvius’s tone took Billycan by surprise. He didn’t sound confused or nonsensical, he sounded desperate and committed to what he was saying—as though he’d stake his life on his claim. Billycan’s anger subsided as he saw the bleak look on Silvius’s face. “You’re lucky she didn’t kill you,” he said. “When I knew her, Hecate rarely made mistakes.” He pointed to the long scar on his torso. “It seems we were both lucky.”
    â€œHecate,” whispered Silvius, taking an unsteady breath. “I thought her name was Elvi. Of course she wouldn’t use her real name.”
    Billycan nodded. “I knew her back in Trillium. There was a time when I respected Hecate, even trusted her with my life.” He remembered how easily she controlled the male ràts she commanded, how afraid of her they’d been. “She’s wicked to her very core.”
    â€œWas she held captive in the lab, too?”
    â€œNo, I’m afraid the humans had