Read Cethe for Free Online Page B

it back.”
    “Ah, don’t say that.” Severyn grinned and Michael felt his foul mood slip a bit. “Wait until you see what some plaster and paint
    can achieve, my friend!” The prince turned back to the view. “I’l wager old Eldering and his spawn avoided these rooms because
    there’s too much sunlight. As everyone knows, vermin avoid bright places.”
    Michael laughed, imagining the old earl scuttling from the occasional ray of sunlight straying past his heavy drapes and
    shutters. “It’s true, he didn’t much care for the curtains to be open.”
    Severyn shuddered. “What was it like, pretending to be their priest? Surely you discovered what was truly going on?”
    “I was only here for three weeks,” Michael reminded him. “Perhaps, because I was new, they were on their best behavior.” He
    hesitated. “What about Eldering? Did you speak to him?”
    Severyn shrugged. “He tried to claim ignorance, then said they were probably executed for witchcraft. Even after I showed him
    the baby’s skul , his response was to remind me Shia was a Church parish and answerable only to the Celestials.”
    Anger rushed through Michael again, as old and familiar as a favorite shirt. He had seen the justice of the Church’s highest
    Council too many times, seen it in the wretched hovels at the edges of human towns, the growing numbers of h’nara who crept
    across the borders into Blackmarsh, looking for safety on Arranz land.
    Michael unclenched his jaw. “They have to be stopped.”
    “They wil be! Without Arami on the throne, the Celestial Council wil no longer have a drug-addicted puppet to approve their
    every whim.” Severyn gestured to their gloomy surroundings. “And as for this place, I’l have it gutted and completely refurbished.
    There won’t be a trace of Eldering left when it’s finished.”
    He looked so earnest and determined, it was impossible for Michael not to smile. “You’re not going to be in charge of
    decorating, I hope?”
    Relief flooded the prince’s handsome face. He grinned. “Of course not. I’ve given Jeremy the job.”
    Michael’s jaw sagged, picturing wal s crammed with sporting lithographs in monstrous, gilded frames, stuffed animal heads
    leering from every wal , over-sized armchairs, and stone fireplaces frantic with carved hunting scenes. “Dear God!” he managed.
    Severyn chortled. “Ha! Got you! Actual y, I’ve asked Auron. I trust you’ve no objection to him?”
    Michael didn’t get a chance to answer. Rapid footsteps approached, fol owed by the appearance of Corliss and several other
    guards. The captain was pale and grim.
    “Oh, hel !” Severyn muttered. “Now what?”
    “He’s bolted,” said Corliss with a brief bow of his head.
    “Bolted? Who’s bolted?” Michael looked from man to man and knew exactly who they meant. He listened in alarm to Severyn’s
    embarrassed explanation. The notion of Eldering being forced to exhume his family’s victims was gratifying, but Stefn Eldering knew

    too damn much to be running loose in the countryside.
    “We’ve looked everywhere around the fortress, sir.” Corliss looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. “He must know some
    rabbit hole we don’t.”
    “Damn it, man! I told you to watch the little rat!”
    “We’re preparing to launch an immediate search of the surrounding fields, Highness!”
    “I’l go with you,” Severyn said. He turned back to Michael. “Wil you come, too?”
    Michael shook his head. “I’m sure you’l manage,” he said lightly.
    Severyn’s jaw tightened, understanding They both knew what this would cost Michael, but the subject was not one to discuss
    in front of the guards. “I’l be back shortly. He won’t have gone far.”
    When they had gone, Michael returned to the windows and looked down onto the lane. Men gathered, some mounted, some
    leading their horses. From the looks of it, Severyn had mustered everyone in the castle. The prince appeared a moment later,