“You and I know that. But others . . .” The gleaner shook his head.
“Do you remember Kearney’s investiture? You tried to tell me that I had to learn to live without the acceptance of the other nobles, that it was enough for me to believe in my own innocence, regardless of what they thought.”
“I remember.”
“This isn’t that different. You haven’t betrayed anyone. The Weaver claims to fight for all Qirsi, yet he hurt your sister when she defied him, and he threatened to kill her if she failed to do as he commanded. He tortured Cresenne, and would have killed her if you hadn’t stopped him. That’s treachery, the worst kind. Even if no one else sees it that way, you know it to be true. That’s why you fight him, and that’s why you have to prevail.” The young lord turned his head, gazing northward, as if he could see the army of Braedon massing on the Moorlands. “You’re as honorable and as wise a man as I’ve ever known, Grinsa. For the last year you’ve been telling me that nothing matters more than defeating the conspiracy. And I’ve believed you, at first because I didn’t know any better, but more recently because I’ve seen the evil of this Weaver. I’ve seen how he treats those who serve him, and I’ve seen the lengths to which he’ll go to feed his ambition.” Tavis faced him again. “But I shouldn’t have to tell you any of this. You healed my wounds in Kentigern, and you healed Cresenne’s in Audun’s Castle. You shouldn’t need me to tell you that you’re fighting a worthy battle.”
Grinsa looked at the young noble for several moments, saying nothing, trying to discern in the man he saw before him some sign of the spoiled boy he met in the gleaning tent in Curgh city just over a year ago. “Thank you, Tavis,” he said at last. “I needed to hear that.”
The young lord’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Really? I expected you to be angry with me.”
The gleaner smiled and shook his head. “No. If you haven’t earned the right to speak to me so, I don’t know who has.” He glanced to the
west. The sun stood balanced on the horizon, bathing the highlands in its golden glow. “We should ride. We haven’t much light left.”
They started northward once more, their shadows stretching across the grasses. His doubts lingered still, but perhaps that was as it should be. Only a fool rode to war without misgivings. He knew, though, that he was meant to fight this war, to stand against the Weaver, regardless of how history might remember him. And for better or worse, it was Tavis’s fate to fight beside him.
TOR BOOKS BY DAVID B. COE
THE LONTOBYN CHRONICLE
Children of Amarid
The Outlanders
Eagle-Sage
WINDS OF THE FORELANDS
Rules of Ascension
Seeds of Betrayal
Bonds of Vengeance
Shapers of Darkness
*
Weavers of War
*
Denotes a forthcoming book
NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
BONDS OF VENGEANCE: BOOK THREE OF WINDS OF THE FORELAND
Copyright © 2005 by David B. Coe
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Edited by James Frenkel
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
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Tor
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is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN 0-812-59018-X
EAN 978-0-812-59018-0
First edition: February 2005
First mass market edition: July 2006
Printed in the United States of America
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