Beast Trials: The Last True Tamer novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: He Stands

"Aldric is back," Kieran said.

His voice was level.

His eyes went past me to the open vault and the glowing stone, and I saw him understand what he was looking at.

"He rode in early. He has the Warden's writ, forty guards and an order to arrest you for theft of Arena property."

"Have you come to arrest me?" I said.

"No."

"Then why are you here?"

"To get you out before he does."

Cassian stepped between us, as white as chalk.

"He'll be here in a minute. This passage has no other way out."

"Then we hold it," Kieran said.

Boots rang in the passage behind his soldiers, many of them, quick and heavy.

Lord Aldric walked out of the dark in his velvet coat, with forty men in Thornwick blue at his back.

His eyes took in the open vault, the stone, my hand on the bell.

For one moment I saw his whole face, with the mask off.

It was pure, greedy hunger.

Then it was gone, and he smiled sadly.

"Commander Falkirk," he said. "Take the thief."

Nobody moved.

"The writ is under the Warden's seal," Aldric said. "Obey it."

Kieran reached up with both hands and unpinned the badge from his collar.

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