In the Claws of the Tiger Read Online Free Page B

child,” Mathas said. “Ruling part of Galifar like a queen, Sovereigns help us.”
    “There must be a regent or something—someone who does the work of government on her behalf?”
    “I believe so—a council of clergy of some sort. It’s absurd to imagine an eleven-year-old in charge of affairs of state.”
    “Quite. Do you think we’ll be dealing with this council, then? Or someone else?”
    “I have no idea,” Mathas said, then he gave a laugh. “Maybe Dania.”
    “Sovereigns help us,” Janik replied, rolling his eyes dramatically.
    When a waitress approached the table, the two fell silent, not wanting to offend the young woman, who proudly displayed the emblem of the Silver Flame around her neck. She took their order and withdrew, and Janik took the opportunity to change the subject.
    “I neglected to mention—Dania is not the only old friend who has suddenly inserted herself back into my life.”
    Mathas raised his eyebrows. “Who else?”
    “I received a … communication from Krael Kavarat on my way to Aundair. The messenger nearly crashed the airship.”
    “An Emerald Claw assassin?” Mathas looked shocked.
    “A warforged assassin. I don’t know about Emerald Claw. But he admitted Krael sent him. To kill me.”
    “That’s bizarre. Why now?”
    “Exactly. I haven’t heard a word from or about Krael since he walked off with Maija and the Ramethene Sword.And why should I? I’ve been no threat to him these last three years—he’s had plenty of opportunity to send assassins after me in Sharn. But no, he sends his latest killer after me now, after Dania has invited me to Thrane.”
    “Clearly he knows something about our mission. Probably more than we do at this point.”
    “My thought exactly,” Janik said. “It gives me a bad feeling. Whatever the Keeper, or Dania, or whoever has in mind, it’s clear that Krael will be involved.”
    “On the bright side, maybe we’ll have the opportunity to kill him this time.” Mathas smiled grimly.
    “That would be good,” Janik said. “That would be really good.”

    After dinner, Janik and Mathas retired to their cabins. As he often did, Janik dreamed of Maija—her head on his shoulder, her brown hair tickling his nose, her skin pressed against his. When the steward called “Flamekeep!” outside his door in the morning, he awoke confused, unable to figure out where he was or where Maija had gone. He called her name twice before he came back to the present, and the familiar dull ache settled around his heart again. He threw on the clothes he had set out the night before, hoisted his pack, gave the room a quick glance, and stepped out.
    Janik looked up and down the crowded hall, but saw no sign of Mathas. He walked to the elf’s cabin and pounded on the door. “Mathas! Are you awake?”
    “I’m an elf, you idiot. I don’t sleep.” Even so, the voice inside sounded groggy, and Janik heard some frantic sounds of motion. A few moments later, Mathas stumbled out, looking uncharacteristically disheveled. Wordlessly, the twomade their way through the crowd to the mooring tower.
    Flamekeep was far different from Fairhaven. While the capital of Aundair was spread out in ordered streets, Flamekeep sprawled over a small island and the nearby mainland shore. At its heart was the great Cathedral of the Silver Flame, standing like a beacon above the rest of the city, clearly visible from the mooring tower. Even the shops and houses in the city had a soaring architecture that suggested Thrane’s devotion to the Church, lending an elegant beauty to the relative jumble of the city’s streets.
    Janik was so focused on making his way through the crowds in the mooring tower that he didn’t notice the knights converging on him until Mathas nudged him. They were heavily armored—“easily outrun,” in Janik’s mind—and wore the insignia of the Church of the Silver Flame beautifully engraved on their breastplates. They carried longswords at their belts