Veilspeaker (Pharim War Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Before he became Baron of
Korand.”
    A lump formed in Jez’s throat, and he tried not to let
his nervousness show. He shook his head.
    “I didn’t know that.”
    “I would’ve been surprised if you did. Dusan always
was a secretive man, but we did speak of certain things. Tell me, how did he
die?”
    Varin raised an eyebrow, and Jez realized he’d
slouched into his chair. He forced himself to sit up straight and look Varin in
the eye. The small man didn’t even flinch, and Jez resisted the urge to bow his
head.
    “I don’t really know any more than anyone else, my
lord.” Varin smiled and Jez silently cursed himself. By calling Varin ‘my
lord’, Jez had acknowledged Varin as a superior. Jez had had too many slips of
the tongue since he’d arrived at court. He could recover from this one, but it
was still happening far too often.
    “Come now,” Varin said. He reached into his doublet
and pulled out a sheet of paper. Jez forced himself not to gasp. The paper had
several of the runes Jez recognized from Dusan’s summoning chamber. “I don’t
recognize all of them, but I understand enough to recognize this as the kind of
working Dusan was best at. The rumors I’ve heard say he died due to a flawed
working and that his magic backfired. Frankly, Baron,” he said the title so it
almost sounded like a curse. “I don’t believe it. Dusan wouldn’t make that kind
of mistake.”
    “Evil deeds always come back to haunt you,” Jez said.
“Maybe he’d done so much evil that it fell in upon itself.”
    Varin rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re one of
these idealists. When I was at the Academy, they made sure to drum all of that
foolishness out of us.”
    Jez almost snorted. He’d known a few people at the
Academy who thought that way, but almost everyone else thought they were fools.
Instead, he shrugged. “Dusan is dead, isn’t he? How else do you explain it?”
    Varin nodded. “So he is.” He examined Jez for several
seconds before nodding. “Let me put this in a way you can understand. Tell me
about Dusan’s death. Tell me what he was doing, and why he really failed.” He
tapped the images on the nobility chart. “Tell me of any other runes he used.
Tell me if anyone interfered and any other details you can think of. If I judge
it enough, I will go to Haziel and drop all charges. Your friend is being
charged for one crime, attacking six nobles. Only Lina is here, and I can still
legally speak for her. If I declare that we will not pursue this matter, your
friend will be exonerated not only of attacking her, but of assaulting all the
rest.”
    “Why do you want to know?”
    Too late, Jez realized his mistake. Jez stopped
talking, but Varin was already smiling. A hungry look appeared in his eyes,
much like a child eager from a new toy. After a second, Jez let out a long
breath and straightened. “I’m sorry. The mages who found Dusan’s ritual chamber
destroyed it precisely to prevent others from learning what he’d done. I can’t
tell you any more than that.”
    Lord Varin glared. He got up to leave but stopped in
the doorway. “I would advise you to reconsider. You would do well to have me as
an ally.”
    Jez glared at him and remembered when Dusan had tried
to make alliance with him at the end. Jez had been tempted then, but he’d
learned his lesson.
    “I’ve had offers like that before.”
    Varin inclined his head. This time it did bother Jez,
and he was on the verge of saying something when Varin turned his back. As soon
as he’d left the room, Sileon walked in. He stared after Lord Varin.
    “Sileon,” Varin said without turning around. “Have you
made your decision?”
    Sileon looked over his shoulder and nodded, though
Varin didn’t turn to see it. The advisor bowed once to Jez.
    “My lord, I regret to inform you I will be leaving
your employ and taking up service with Lord Varin.”
    “What?”
    “An excellent decision. I will have you knighted
before the end of the