darkened blade_ A fallen blade novel - Kelly McCullough Page 0,20

of the order. That being the case, I think it is only right and proper that it fall to the Blade who preceded me in that role, and I, for one, intend to act accordingly.”

Before I had time to really make sense of what she had just said, Siri knelt before me. With a lightning-quick movement, she whipped the single sword that she still carried from its place on her back and laid it on the ground at my feet.

“First Blade Aral, I am yours to command.”

Kyrissa moved up alongside Siri and bowed her head. “As am I.”

Oh. Shit.

Faran was only a half second behind, wrenching her swords from the wooden floor and laying them at my feet. “I am no Blade, and, with Namara gone, may never be such. But you have my allegiance, First Blade . . . for what it is worth.” Ssithra joined her.

I didn’t want this, not any of it—I wasn’t strong enough for the role. I had proved that in my collapse after the fall of the temple, in my surrender to drink and darkness.

I felt utterly paralyzed, until Triss spoke into my mind. Say something, idiot! She just handed you her soul with both hands. Be worthy of it.

I nodded jerkily and reached out to put my hand on Faran’s forehead. “Your loyalty is worth the world, my apprentice, and I accept it. Likewise, yours, Siri.” I placed my other hand on her forehead. Whatever I might think about the way she’d trapped me as neat as neat could be, I owed her the same sort of consideration I owed Faran. “And you,” I nodded to their Shades, “I accept and honor this trust you give me.”

Triss moved around in front of me then and bowed his head. “First Blade Aral.”

Stinker, I’ll get you for this. I bowed back and gave him the almost-never-used honorific of a chief Shade, “Resshath-ra Triss.” If I was stuck, so was he.

Kelos leaned forward then. “First Blade Aral, I know how you feel about my past, and I would not expect you to accept my service or my oath. I am no longer worthy to give you either, and I won’t put you in the awkward position of formally denying me by laying my swords at your feet. Nonetheless, they and my life are yours to spend as you see fit from this day forward.”

Malthiss bowed to me and then to Triss. “And mine as well. First Blade, Resshath-ra.”

I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to punch Kelos in the face, or weep, or what. I hadn’t seen any of this coming and it was going to take me a while to deal with all the implications.

“The goddess is dead, and I think that you’re all crazy to offer yourselves up to a dried out wreck like me, but I thank you for your confidence and I will attempt to live up to the honor.” I lifted my hands away from the women’s heads. “Now, both of you, take your swords back and let’s figure out what happens next.”

“That’s entirely up to you,” replied Siri, and I saw a hint of her wickedest grin as she spoke, “oh, First Blade. I merely serve and obey.”

“As I recall,” I growled, “the First Blade has a council to rely on for good advice, Siri. And if you think you’re getting out of that particularly joyous duty, you are so very wrong. One of the traditional seats on that council belonged to the order’s most skilled mage. I believe that chair now belongs to you, Magus Siri.”

“A hit.” Siri mimed taking a blow to the heart and winked at me. “Well struck, sir, well struck.”

I turned an eye on Faran. “As for you—” But she shook her head.

“No. I am no Blade, Aral, nor likely to be named one with the goddess dead . . . however much I may wish it. Your council has no place for me.” There was a deadness there in her tone that worried me.

It also decided me. “I don’t think that I agree with you there, and I believe I know a way to prove you wrong.”

“What do you mean?” asked Faran.

In the same moment, Triss sent, What are you up to?

You’ll find out soon enough.

I put my hands behind my back and stood up very straight. “We’ve been heading for the mountains above Tavan and the Goat’s Pass at Uln, so that we could cross into Dalridia and go on from there to the