Chapter 9: Caelan's Price

"Say all of it," I said.

Caelan nodded.

He took his hands out of his pockets and put them on the stone.

"Four months ago, after the truce, a Chancellery clerk rode to Silverlake.

"My pack is in debt.

"We lost two harvests to the Redmoor raids, and the Chancellor held the notes."

"You're telling me you were bought."

"I'm telling you he offered to cancel the debt and give Silverlake the northern passes.

"All I had to do was bond you."

I stared at him.

The wind had stopped.

"He said you were the key to the Ninth Host," Caelan went on.

"He said a man with a good face and a clever tongue could bring you into line.

"Segrave was only the brute he'd keep in reserve."

"And you said yes."

"I took the first payment.

"A quarter of the debt.

"I thought I'd court you honestly, and the passes would come after, and it would all be clean."

"You wrote to me for two years before that."

"The letters were mine, and the money was a mistake.

"Both are true."

He was pale.

"I swear to you on my father's grave, I decided to give the money back on the day I rode through your gate.

"I sent it north with a rider the next morning.

"The Chancellor's letter you saw in your room was his answer."

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