Free The River of Shadows by Robert V S Redick

fully grasped its nature. Your legends describe a thing of demonic ash. Others call it the eyeball of a murth-lord, or a tumor cut from the Tree of Heaven, or even a keyhole in an unseen door, leading to a place no mortal thought can penetrate. Our own leader, the mage Ramachni, tells us it is a splinter of rock from the land of the dead—and death is what it brings to any who touch it with fear in their hearts.”
    “We’ve seen that with our own eyes,” added Pazel.
    Neda turned him a bitter look. “You’ve seen many things,” she said, “but a few you’ve chosen to forget.”
    Pazel looked at her, startled. “What are you talking about?”
    “So many fine friends you’ve made,” she said. “Such worthy pursuits. To return the Shaggat to Gurishal, armed with such a weapon! How could you, Pazel? What have you become?”
    Pazel’s mouth worked fitfully; he was biting back a retort. But Hercól spoke first. “Your brother has become what the world so sorely needs—a man without blind loyalties. Those who would restore the Shaggat to power are no comrades of ours. Pazel knew nothing of the conspiracy or the Nilstone when he was brought aboard the
Chathrand
, but he has taken an oath to fight these men, and Arunis as well, until we find a way to place the Stone beyond the reach of them all. That is our charge. None of us knows how it is to be done, but we would have failed already without your brother. Several times already the fight has turned on his courage.”
    Pazel flushed, more from Hercól’s praise than the
sfvantskor
s’ dubious looks. “We have some damn good allies,” he murmured.
    “Like Thasha Isiq?” asked Neda with contempt.
    “Yes,” said Pazel. “Haven’t you been listening, Neda? Thasha was fooled along with the rest of us.”
    “And her father too, no doubt,” said Jalantri. “Tricked into leading fleets against the Mzithrin, all those years.”
    “No,” Pazel admitted reluctantly.
    But Hercól said, “Yes, tricked. Eberzam Isiq loved Arqual and believed everything its Emperor proclaimed. The very Emperor who sent a woman to his bed, to become his consort and confidante, and to slowly poison him through his tea. She would have killed him as soon as Thasha married your prince. When we left Simja, Eberzam remained, determined to expose Arqual’s plot to the world.”
    “Nonsense!” said Vispek. “We remained in port for five days after you sailed. I myself was often in the court of King Oshiram. There was no sign of Isiq about the castle, nor any mention of a plot.”
    Hercól and Pazel looked at each other in dismay. “They got him,” said Pazel. “Oh Pitfire, Hercól. Someone got Isiq after all. What are we going to tell Thasha?”
    The
sfvantskor
s made sounds of amazement.
Tell her!
thought Neda.
She’s alive, then! They lied about her death on top of everything!
    Hercól looked deeply shaken by Vispek’s words. He steepled his fingers for a moment, then pressed on: “Honored Cayer, you can see that Pazel and I speak in good faith. That we come to you defenseless, when we might simply have waited for rescue from the
Chathrand
, and left you here, marooned as you clearly are. I do not ask for trust—”
    “That is well,” said Cayer Vispek.
    “—but I pray that you will see one thing for yourselves. The world has changed beneath our feet. And none of us will survive unless we also change. Into what? I cannot imagine. But whatever is to come will try us all, and terribly. We need strength, Cayer—strength of mind and heart and hand. The kind of strength your order teaches.”
    Jalantri laughed aloud. “What would you know of our order, stooge?”
    “I know it forbids you to challenge another to a duel,” said Hercól, “unless your master commands it. To do otherwise”—he closed his eyes, remembering—“is to place pride above holy destiny, and anger over service to the Faith.”
    Jalantri stared at him, abashed and furious. Cayer Vispek was surprised as