Read The Legend of Asahiel: Book 03 - The Divine Talisman for Free Online

of now, we are all safer behind the city’s walls—the Sword included.”
    Marisha met his gaze, her brilliant blue orbs holding him fast. “Then why insist on doing this?”
    There was a softness to her tone once more, a more natural note of kindness and commiseration. Allion looked to the floor, then back at the bundled corpse behind him. “Because he deserves to go home and receive the proper rites. I owe him that much, at the very least.”
    If she recognized the guilt he was carrying, she did not speak to it. “And if I fail to hide the fact that the body is missing?”
    “Then you’ll tell them where I’ve gone, and why.”
    “Some will spread rumor that he was taken by the enemy.”
    “You will assure them he was not. Nor will it matter to most, provided you still possess the Sword.”
    He raised it once more, urging her silently to take it.
    Her gaze dipped to the pommel. A hand came up, fingers brushing lightly against the flaming heartstones embedded along the grip and crosspiece. Finally, her other hand lifted, taking hold of the scabbard.
    Allion carefully let go.
    Marisha shook her head, as if disgusted by her own compliance. Before Allion could think of an appropriate reassurance, her eyes snapped back to his.
    “He may be an Illychar already,” she stated bluntly.
    This time, Allion had no choice but to address the warning. “Should he revive, I’ll kill him myself before I bury him.”
    “Will you?”
    “You think I would see him become like your father?” She winced. Once again, he wished it were possible to swallow his hasty words. “I’m sorry.”
    But it was too late. The budding tenderness had passed, and the harshness had returned.
    “And what of the Circle?” she asked brusquely. “I have no seat on that council, unless you care to formerly appoint me to yours—which, of course, you cannot do if you wish to carry out this other task in secret.”
    “What of it?” Allion asked slowly, softly.
    “Should it fall to Rogun’s influence, you and I will have precious little ground to stand upon, Sword or no.”
    She was right, of course. The Sword was theirs by royal writ, but they needed the City Elders, as representatives of the people, to support any stand they might take against Rogun. Had Allion himself not raised this same argument when Torin had determined to embark on Darinor’s quest?
    “If I set forth this night, I’ll be gone no more than a day, returning by dawn after tomorrow. The Circle will hold together until then.”
    A baseless guarantee, and Marisha knew it. “Amid this unrest?”
    “Go to Stephan, if you must. Or Nevik, when he arrives.”
    “You trust the baron to take our side, then?”
    “I trust that if anyone can hold things together, it is you.” That much, he believed wholeheartedly, and he stared deep into her eyes to prove it.
    She did not respond, and as the silence became awkward, he wondered ifhe should say something more. He had to do this, if for no other reason than in hopes of laying his own demons to rest. Surely, despite all her protests, she understood—likely better than he. That was her gift: to know people and discern their sufferings better than they could themselves.
    “I should check on Pagus,” he said finally, unable to match her gaze any longer, “to see if all has been made ready. If you’ve anything left to say to him,” he added, nodding toward Torin’s bundled form, “I’ll leave you to say it now.”
    He tried not to sound accusatory, for he certainly didn’t blame her in any way for what had happened—between them, or to Torin. If there was indeed betrayal here, it was his alone. Nevertheless, he might have felt better if she were to show just a little less fortitude, and a little more sorrow.
    With a light touch upon her shoulder, he slipped past and through the inner doorway, out into the sitting chamber beyond. He had nearly reached the latched door that would carry him to the outer hall when her voice stopped