The Way of the Blade Read Online Free PDF Page B

accomplished that already. I’m trying to salvage things.”
    Canto looked to Shual who had not moved from his rage-filled stance. The longer they took to speak, the worse for Javery. He had played fast with his mouth in hopes that they wouldn’t look to closely at the nonsense he had spoken. Shual exhaled with a long hiss and moved closer to Javery. “You said before that we were missing an opportunity. I still don’t see what you refer to.”
    Javery managed to keep his face calm. He knew Father so well. He had won. “Because we have little choice, let us treat these gods well. Let me spend the next day with them. I’ll make them feel welcome, help them see who we really are.”
    “What use is that?” Canto said.
    Javery raised his eyebrows like a teacher making the final, simplistic point of a complex lecture. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful, instead of getting rid of this threat, to turn them into an asset — to have three gods on our side?”
    “That’s crazy. She won’t do it.”
    “I can get her to agree,” Javery said, but he saw the distaste in Shual’s eyes. “At least, I can try my best. If I fail, we are no worse off. And if I succeed, we may have another way to end this war.”
    “Another?” Canto said, pacing the back of the room. “Oh, of course. Your Waypoint project. Do you know what they call it down in the center of town?”
    “I hardly care.”
    “The Way-pointless project.”
    Shual raised a hand to quiet the room. He lowered his hand until he pointed at Javery. “I don’t like your plan, and I abhor your methods. You have manipulated this situation so that you could take full advantage of it. I tell you this, so that you know I am not fooled.” Javery tried to protest, but Shual raised his hand again. “I also recognize that your view of the situation is accurate — even if it’s a situation of your own creation. Therefore, I will allow you to attempt recruiting these gods for our cause.”
    As Canto growled his disbelief, Javery nodded stoically. Deep inside, however, where even Druzane could not see, Javery’s mouth rose wide, flashing his teeth as he tasted blood.
     
     
     

Chapter 5
    Malja
     
    Things had taken a strange turn. When the wiry fellow, she heard him called Javery, stepped back into the hall, his attitude had reversed. Despite the scowl on Shual’s face, despite Canto’s imposing physical stature, Malja, Fawbry, and Tommy were released. Javery apologized on behalf of the entire town, offered to show them around, and invited them to drink.
    “A drink sounds wonderful,” Fawbry said, picking bits of gag-cloth out of his mouth. “Much better way to treat guests.”
    Javery led the way. Malja wanted to stop whatever angle these people had taken and simply find out about Harskill, but experience had taught her that the weapon of words often failed under such a direct approach. She would have to be quiet, listen, and wait for her opportunity.
    As they climbed aboard a large version of the dish Malja had flown up on — this one had room for twelve and a private pilot — Malja smacked Fawbry and Tommy on the backs of their heads. “Stealing? You could’ve been killed.”
    “It was a misunderstanding,” Fawbry said. “And you could’ve done us far more harm. I saw the look in your eyes when you came in. You were ready to use Viper. Think where we’d be then. Not about to be treated to a drink, by Kryssta.”
    Tommy said nothing. He never did. Not since the day Malja rescued him from slavery. Before that, she could only guess.
    “Whenever you’re ready,” Javery said to the pilot. The young man nodded and handled the controls with ease and care. Javery chuckled. “This autofly is his little baby.”
    While the dish gently descended, Javery served four glasses with a pink liquid. Fawbry knocked his drink back and smacked his lips. “Delicious.”
    Javery refilled Fawbry’s glass. “The fruit of the wratcher vine is extremely potent. I don’t