Warden: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

I’ve done some checking around—she’s smart and discreet as well. Which is exactly what we need in this situation.”
    “But you know how important this could be if the Vade is right. It would mean—”
    “Say nothing of that!” Kline snapped.
    Nedol Cedef fell silent, and Tana saw a brief flash of fear in the man’s eyes. As an editor of the Vade… the editor, he wasn’t accustomed to listening to anyone. But when a Warden spoke, everyone listened.
    Major Kline turned to Sri and instructed her to wait outside; she shot Tana a hopeful glance before departing. Then the Warden motioned for Cobin to join her, and stepped aside to let him pass. When the door closed behind them, Cedef and Kline both walked out from behind the counter to stand in front of Tana.
    “If you accomplish a task I have for you,” Kline began, “I will forget all about the theft of my pistols. You will also receive a large payment commiserate with your efforts, and your friend Sri will get a full pardon.”
    “And if I refuse?”
    “Then neither of you will ever taste freedom again.”
    Tana could sense that Kline wasn’t an evil man—he carried himself with the same level of respect and honor that all Wardens did—but he clearly meant every word he said. If Tana didn’t agree to his terms, her life was over, as was Sri’s.
    She shrugged defeat. “What do you want me to do?”
    “Actually,” Cedef replied, “we want you to steal another set of pistols. A very special pair.”
    “What’s so special about them?” Tana asked.
    “They belong to Sergeant Barent,” Kline said.
    Tana’s jaw dropped and she was left completely speechless. Break into the Tomb of the Great Betrayer and steal his personal weapons? It was madness. Not only did the tomb sit right in the middle of the Central District, it was also one of the most heavily protected places in the city. If not the most protected.
    But wait a minute, Tana thought to herself. It was guarded by…
    “Forgetting about why you even want them for a moment,” Tana said, “the Wardens provide security at the tomb. You could just walk in there and take the pistols, and no one could stop you.”
    “That is not entirely accurate,” Kline replied. “The Collective took that responsibility away from us some time ago, and they gave it to the regular military. They’ve been slowly leeching away our duties over the years because they feel we’re too popular with the people, and because we openly oppose many of their policies. The only time the Wardens watch over the Great Betrayer now is during the annual ceremony celebrating his life…today, actually.”
    “So take them today .”
    “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Kline said. “The tomb will be swarming with Collective military as part of the celebration. But we can use all of that activity as a distraction to sneak someone into the compound—then they can hide out until later in the evening when everything is over. Once everyone’s gone, the infiltrator can circumvent the tomb’s security precautions, and then remove Barent’s pistols from the coffin before escaping the complex.”
    Kline looked straight into Tana’s eyes. “That is my plan, Ms. Neng. And I believe that you have a better chance of pulling it off than anyone else in the city.”
    Tana’s shoulders sank. “I always thought the Wardens were above these types of things, Major. When Barent formed your group during the Pardon War it was to ensure that everyone was treated the same: the prisoners, the colonists, and even the original guards that oppressed our ancestors. But now you’re just as bad as the politicians—doing everything you can to disrespect Barent’s memory. And for what? So you can keep his pistols as prizes?”
    “I see that you’ve read the histories.” Kline grinned. “You needn’t worry, Ms. Neng, we are still above common politics. But it’s come to our attention that the Collective plans to remove the pistols from the