Malice (Faithful & the Fallen 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Pits,’ said the warrior with a shrug.
    ‘The Pits?’
    ‘The fighting pits. There’s one on each of the islands,’ Deinon said, glancing at the scars on his arms. ‘Long time ago,’ he said dismissively.
    Veradis shuddered. When the Vin Thalun raided they took people for plunder as well as food and wealth. Veradis had heard tales that the boys and men taken were forced to fight for the Vin
Thalun’s pleasure, the fiercest being given a chance to earn their way out of the pits, and a spot pulling an oar on a Vin Thalun ship. This man had done well to graduate to warrior.
    ‘And is what Krelis says true? That you were part of a corsair galley, raiding my lands?’
    ‘Aye.’
    ‘I see. But you raided too close to Ripa, and Krelis caught you. And now here you are.’
    ‘Huh,’ grunted the corsair.
    ‘And you know the sentence for what you have done is death? But you have some information that I may wish to hear?’
    ‘Aye,’ the man muttered.
    ‘Well?’
    ‘My information in return for my life. That is what
he
told me.’ The Vin Thalun nodded at Krelis.
    ‘That would depend on the information. And if it is truth.’
    The prisoner dipped his head, licking his lips. ‘Lykos has a meeting planned, here in Tenebral.’
    ‘Lykos,’ Aquilus said, frowning.
    Years ago, when Veradis was a child, the Vin Thalun had been a scourge along the coasts of Tenebral, even raiding deep into the realm, travelling up the rivers that flowed like arteries through
the land, striking at Tenebral’s heartland, stealing, burning. But something had happened. There had been a great raid on Jerolin itself, beaten off with many casualties on both sides. After
that things had gone quiet, the inland raids stopping, even the coastal ones becoming rarer. Around the same time the name of a man amongst the Vin Thalun had begun to be heard: Lykos, a young
warlord. Over the years he had risen high in their ranks, one by one subduing the three islands, Panos, Nerin and Pelset, defeating their warlords, uniting the Vin Thalun for the first time in
their history. The last great sea-battle amongst them had been less than a year ago. Since then the raiding had begun to grow again, although mostly still along the coast.
    ‘Tell me of this Lykos,’ Aquilus said.
    ‘He is our king,’ the corsair shrugged. ‘A great man.’
    ‘And he is the sole leader of the Vin Thalun, now?’ Aquilus pressed.
    ‘Our
king
; he is more than a leader. Much more.’
    Aquilus frowned, mouth a tight line. ‘So, why is he planning to set foot on my land.’
    ‘A meeting with one of your barons. I know not who, but the meeting is south of here, close to Navus.’
    Veradis heard gasps around the room.
    ‘How do you know this?’ Aquilus snapped.
    Deinon shrugged. ‘I hear things. My brother, he’s Lykos’ shieldman. His tongue flaps after a jug of wine.’
    ‘When?’
    ‘Soon. The last night of the Wolf Moon. If I saw a map I could show you where.’
    Aquilus stared long moments at the prisoner. ‘How can I trust you, a corsair who would turn on his own?’
    ‘Loyalty doesn’t seem so important, when you’re faced with that walk across the bridge of swords,’ the corsair muttered.
    ‘Aye, mayhaps,’ Aquilus said quietly. ‘And if you lie, you would only have delayed your journey. Your head would soon be parted from your shoulders.’
    ‘I know it,’ Deinon mumbled.
    ‘We must send a warband, Father,’ a voice said from the shadows behind Aquilus and Fidele; a figure stepping forward. It was a man, young, little older than Veradis. He was tall,
weathered by the sun, a shock of dark curly hair framing a handsome face. Veradis had seen him once before. Nathair, the Prince of Tenebral.
    ‘Aye. I know,’ Aquilus muttered.
    ‘Send me,’ Nathair said.
    ‘No,’ snapped Fidele, taking a step closer to her son. ‘We do not know the risk,’ she said, more softly.
    Nathair scowled, moving away from her. ‘Send me, Father,’ he said