Traitors' Gate Read Online Free PDF Page A

truth, can I?”
    â€œYou seem like the kind of person who can get out of anything,” said Eliar, his voice as hoarse as if he’d been running. “Even if it means abandoning others to do so.”
    â€œAt least I know what you truly think of me. You think I’ve got no cursed honor, don’t you?”
    Eliar shook his head stubbornly. “If I die, Kesh, don’t let them sell my sister into marriage with the Haf Ke Pir house in Nessumara. Promise me.”
    From the road, the voices continued. The Qin soldiers had melted away to their horse lines.
    â€œDon’t you think it’s too late? By the time we get back, won’t they already have delivered her to Nessumara?”
    â€œHow could they? The roads aren’t safe.”
    â€œReeves could fly her there! Or did that never occur to you?”
    Eliar groaned. “Aui! But no. Reeves aren’t carters.”
    â€œIs there one single thing in this world that isn’t for sale if enough coin is offered? And if you get back safely and she’s still at your home? Will you escort her yourself to Nessumara, to her new husband? The one she doesn’t want to go to? It’ll be all right then, knowing you’ve had your adventure?” Kesh knew how the words must sound, greasy with sarcasm, but cursed if Eliar was too caught up in his own writhing discontent to notice.
    â€œIf I die, I’ll have cast her into misery for nothing. She in her cage, I to be burned. What have I done—”
    What charged the air Kesh did not know, but before Eliar could draw another breath everything changed, as if lightning had struck. A trio of Qin soldiers, swords drawn, trotted out of the darkness masking the horse lines. Screams and shouts broke from the road. A flame—one of the lamps—arced high into the night sky as if flung heavenward, and then an arrow shattered it. The horn stuttered, answered by a call from down the road, a triple
blat blat blat
, and cursing and shouting and swords clattering like hooves in their staccato rhythm.
    Kesh grabbed Eliar’s wrist. “Let’s go!” He tugged, and yet Eliar would stand there like a dumbstruck lackwit gazing on the dance of festival lights.
    Suddenly, that trio of Qin soldiers trotted up beside them with the unsmiling but not precisely unfriendly expressions of men come to do their duty. One hooked a thumb to indicate they should move away from the altercation. Kesh yanked harder until Eliar stumbled after him, gaze turned toward the skirmish whose color and sound made the camp seem as bright as day and twice as fearsome. Kesh’s heart was galloping, like distant horses. Orders rang in a voice remarkably like Captain Jushahosh’s, lilting high as with fright. A rumble spilled an undercurrent through the clash of arms. A woman’s scream cut through the tumult.
    As Kesh sucked in a startled breath, the world fell silent. For one breath there were neither questions nor answers, only the shock of hearing a female voice where none belonged.
    The fighting broke out anew, redoubled in intensity. The Qin soldiers pressed them toward their tent. Eliar was so pale Kesh wondered if he would faint, while meanwhile he was himself looking in every direction, trying to figure out how and where he could run, how far he could get, and if it was worth trying to get the Silver to move with him lest he have otherwise to explain to Eliar’s beautiful sister how Eliar had gotten abandoned with their enemies. And yet, how thoroughly impossible it was to hope for escape through a countryside where he would be known for a foreigner at first glance.
    A swirl of Qin soldiers appeared out of the darkness, carrying on a running commentary with their fellows, words like the scraping of saws, all burrs and edges. They ran with choppy strides and corraled Kesh and Eliar. Movement roiled through the camp, a second wave of black-clad Qin soldiers driving the enemy before them