Free The Crown of the Usurper by Gav Thorpe

"We Askhans learn from our mistakes as well as our successes. Something you Salphors are not so good at."
      "You are referring to the unfortunate loss of my city?" Anglhan spoke lightly of the massacre of thousands of Magilnadans, as if he had played no part in its downfall. "As you see, I have returned and I am better placed than ever."
      "I don't see why the Brotherhood would tolerate you at all, Periusis, much less make you the king's prime agent in Ersua."
      The two men wondered down the hall, their voices growing fainter, but Gelthius could still hear what was being said. Muuril shook his head, obviously displeased by what he was hearing.
      "Stay calm," whispered Gelthius.
      "Fat goatfucker should be dead," growled Muuril. Gelthius could see the sergeant's knuckles turning white from the tight grip on his spear.
      "Not now," said Gelthius. "Ssh, listen!"
      Muuril said nothing though he glared at Anglhan's broad back as the conversation between the traitor and the governor drifted down the hall, carried by a slight echo.
      "I can confirm that he hasn't been seen coldwards of Thedraan or dawnwards of Caprion," Anglhan was saying.
      "So he is definitely not coming to Marradan? You are sure of that fact?"
      "He has not come any closer, so he has to have headed hotwards, or turned back into Salphoria ," Anglhan assured the governor. Gelthius decided that the two men had to be talking about King Ullsaard. Either news travelled far more swiftly than the king had anticipated, or Asuhas and Anglhan had been keeping an eye or ear out for the return of the king. "It makes no sense for him to go back into Salphoria, so it has to be hotwards. I can't think that he'd return to near-Mekha, so what else is down that way?"
      "He has an old villa, at Menesun on Lake Temerin," said Asuhas. "Why he would go there, I don't know; nothing but hills and goats and peasants."
      "Exactly," said Anglhan, slapping a hand to a wobbling thigh. "If you wanted to lie low, where would be better?"
      "So, are we going to tell Leraates? That he's in Menesun, I mean. It's your responsibility really, not mine."
      "I don't think Leraates needs to know just yet, does he?" said Anglhan. He chuckled as he clasped his hands to his belly. "Certainly from my position I have no desire to make myself dispensable. If I were you, I would think long and hard before saying anything."
      "I see what you mean." The two had reached the furthest extent of the hall and turned back towards Gelthius and Muuril. The governor raised his voice. "You two, leave us."
      "Aye, governor," said Gelthius, lifting his spear in salute. Muuril followed suit and the two of them tramped from the hall.
      "We could go back in there and gut both of those traitorous cunts," snarled Muuril, stopping at the top of the stairway. "We'd be doing the king a favour and no mistake. Those treacherous sons of a pig's arse!"
      "Not now, not yet," said Gelthius, ushering Muuril down the first few steps. "First priority is to tell the king what we heard. We'll let him decide."
      Gongs and bells sounded the third hour of High Watch as the two men of the Thirteenth descended to the ground floor. They reached the main corridor where they had entered and almost walked straight into a group of ten blackcrests turning towards the stairwell.
      "Where have you two been?" barked the sergeant. "Haven't you heard? We've got intruders."
      Gelthius met the man's stare with eyes wide with surprise. The sergeant's eyes narrowed.
      "Hold on," said the sergeant, reaching out with his shield to stop Gelthius as he tried to step past. "Do I know you?"
      Muuril answered for Gelthius, ramming his black enamelled shield into the side of the sergeant's helmet. Gelthius was already sprinting into the corridor when the sergeant's unconscious body hit the ground with a clatter. He tossed aside his shield and spear and pumped his arms, darting a look back to see Muuril