Steel and Sorrow Read Online Free PDF

turned. The Ghal strode behind them, in front of her personal guard. His gaze darted about them.
    “Why is Crusher following us?” she whispered.
    Kaz shrugged. “After last night, he appointed himself my personal bodyguard. He won’t take no for an answer and I’m in no mood to argue.”
    Elyse shook her head, not understanding the connection the two men shared. “Gauge said there were over a hundred bodies found in the black cloth. The assassin guild was crippled, practically wiped out.”
    “Not enough of them died as far as I’m concerned. The Hell Patrol lost eighteen men,” said Kaz solemnly. Elyse noted how well his accent had improved over the last year.
    “It could have been worse. Gauge believes the man you threw from your window was the master of the guild, the Shadow of Cadonia. Without leadership in their ranks, it will be years before they’re a serious threat again.”
    “So your enemies must find another way to kill us then.”
    She shuddered and changed the subject. “When do you plan to move out?”
    “Another few weeks. It will all depend on Krytien’s success on Estul Island. As much as I hate to admit it, our lack of mages has hurt us in battle. We’ve lost too many good men simply because we can’t counter the sorcery Tomalt brings to the field.” He scowled. “But even so, we nearly had him.”
    He still resents my decision. “I needed you to release Jeldor when Bronn entered his borders. In order to keep Jeldor’s alliance we can’t discount his concerns.”
    “I didn’t need him to defeat Tomalt. I could have won without him,” he said.
    “At what cost?” she asked. “I saw the reports. I know you’re a good strategist, but Tomalt had you greatly outnumbered. Even a victory would have decimated the army. Then what? Conroy would be free to finally make his move and we’d lack the men to face him.”
    He grinned at her.
    “What?”
    “You’re growing into your role more each day. Jonrell would be proud.”
    Elyse blushed. Her hand wiped the tear streaking down her cheek.
    “I didn’t mean. . . .”
    Elyse forced a smile. “It was only the wind in my eyes. Only the wind,” she whispered.
    * * *
    “Oh my! I can’t believe I almost forgot.”
    Elyse had just sat at her desk for a night of work when Lobella called out. The woman spun away from the door and glided toward her.
    “What is it?” Elyse asked.
    Though they were alone in Elyse’s room, Lobella leaned in and whispered. “I learned the story of the woman and the boy you mentioned earlier today.”
    Elyse blinked. “You did? I didn’t expect anything so soon.”
    “It was pure coincidence. My mother heard about it from one of her friends.” She shook her head. “It’s such a sad story.”
    “Tell me.”
    “The woman’s husband, Sarex, had recently placed membership with the Hell Patrol a few days ago as an aide to Kaz.”
    “Yes, I know him. He didn’t really look like much of a soldier to me.”
    “That’s just it. He was never a soldier, but a scholar. With the war going on, people in Cadonia had cast aside such things and Sarex struggled to care for his family. He went to Kaz and offered to help him with research, cartography, histories, translations—that sort of thing. Kaz had thought it was a good idea to bring him on in that capacity.”
    “And?”
    “He was one of the eighteen men killed by the Assassin’s Guild. He was also the only one with a family. I don’t know all the details of the exchange, but apparently the sword had been specially made by Cisod and Kaz had yet to present it to Sarex. He gave it to the boy in memory of his father. The pouch came from Kaz’s own personal funds. The amount was enough to feed the woman and child for over a year. Kaz told them there would be more when that ran out.” A tear streaked down Lobella’s face. “Elyse, that is both one of the sweetest and saddest things I’ve ever heard. I never realized Kaz had that side to him.”
    Elyse’s