Swords of the Imperium (Dark Fantasy Novel) (The Polaris Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

always better to cut the man down with words, anyway.
    ”I’ve made precious few mistakes in my life, Shastirch,” Hecaton said, using the name deepest-graven on Chronicler’s heart. “But marrying you was the worst by far.”
    “Have a care for my health, Sirin. Setting my heart aflutter like that is bad for my qi.”
    “Aren’t you a little old to be scrambling on the rooftops like some idiotic basang?”
    “The same could be said for you. That gray hair of yours is far too dignified. A head of shocking pink might fit better.”
    “You looked better wearing it, Shastirch . Now, are you done wasting my time, or have you come for some sort of useful purpose?”
    Chronicler blinked. “Actually, I just wanted to talk you again. In person. Without the inconvenient need to slaughter each other on sight.”
    “I can’t imagine why,” Hecaton said. “Aren’t you sick of my face?”
    “Do you know how many years I searched for you? How many years of humiliation I had to endure for mere fleeting glimpses and missed chances?”
    “You brought that on yourself. I never wanted you to come after me. Our romance was over a long time ago.”
    Chronicler laughed. “It wasn’t out of sentimentality, I assure you. I wanted to take you back to the Ring for judgment. But now, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
    “I had my reasons. And I find it hard to believe the Sarang would allow you to abscond simply to look for me.”
    “Perhaps I wished to escape my service as well.”
    “Then we’re both traitors without any right to return.”
    “So, what do you plan to do from now on, Sirin? Continue being a sellsword?”
    “I’m thinking about carving out a swath of land for my own. You know, crown upon a troubled brow and all that. If you wish, you can be my consort. But no sex. I’m too dried out for that.”
    Chronicler laughed. “The offer sounds tempting, though I know you are merely mocking me.”
    “I really wasn’t. How about you, Shastirch? Will you continue to be the padishah’s dogsbody until senility?”
    “I like to be on the winning side. And I have no intention of staying as a dogsbody.”
    “Hah! Now, that’s the man I once knew. So when are you planning to assassinate your master?”
    Chronicler shrugged. “I wasn’t. I find him fascinating. He’s certainly charismatic, as far as centuries-old demons go. He was actually around during the Fall, you know. Now he feels like it’s his responsibility to lift mankind from the ashes. Through conquest, of course.”
    “Come, Chronicler, you’re not saying you believe in his cause? World domination? How trite .”
    “It’s not trite when he has the power to actually achieve his goal.” Chronicler’s eyes flitted from side to side. “He’s set his sights on the Ring, and I intend to help him take it. Against his armies, even a thousand twice born don’t stand a chance. And again, I want to be on the winning side.”
    Hecaton glowered. “What did he promise you in exchange for betraying our home?”
    Chronicler shook his head. “I want to save it. I will rule in his stead there and make sure that what happened to us never happens to others.”
    “So, a dogsbody to the end.”
    “Call it what you want. I’ll ask you one final time, Sirin. Will you join me and bring order to the Ring?”
    Hecaton turned away. “No. You embark on a fool’s journey. Try not to die on the way.”
    “The same to you, my dear. I advise you not to get in my way.”
    With that, Chronicler leapt off the top of the steeple and was gone.

2
    Nestled in the foothills at the base of the Cloud Temple, the town of Sasori stood between the road up the mountainside and the old Egnatia Odos highway. Dead during the day, it revived at night for the arrival of younger Polaris eager to spend precious liberty exchanging cartridges for whores and liquor. The exarch tolerated the town’s presence because relieving frustration kept the peace in his domain, and the villagers