Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

life I’d chosen slipping away in my natural voice, “a military man would know when a battle’s
not worth fighting, but apparently you think that because you’ve seen war and maybe
commanded a few men that shepherding is an all-or-nothing job. Well, guess what, Toren? It’s
not! Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, too, and if you can’t remember that, then you’re
doomed in any job you take. If we’re going to bring this flock through the winter, we’re going to
need help. More to the point, you’re going to need help. I know you’re worried about your
secrecy—”
“My secrecy? My secrecy? Says the shepherd who turns out to be a magus! It's a fine
wizard's tower you've got here, though perhaps I'd be better served by calling it a burrow!”
I retorted, “Perhaps it's because the people you hide from would crush me just as readily!
Have you ever considered that you're not the only person who has enemies would see them
dead?”
He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “Oh, and now we get to it. What's your allegiance?
Do you pledge fealty to any of the High Houses, or the Lesser?”
“Don't be ridiculous,” I snapped. “My allegiance is to those poor farmers out there, the
shepherds and the merchants. I saw what the Houses do when Amchester exploded. I see it every
day when Farthington's men come and press another soul or two into service. I saw it in the
service of the old Archmagus, and in that of her disciple, and on the battlefields from which they
took their corpses for research. Don't talk to me about the Houses.” If he was an Imperial agent, I
reflected, I was dead anyway. Might as well get my real feelings out. I spat for good measure, and
it was if the intervening years had vanished—my mind was with me, and I was the equal of any
man in this province.
His eyes pinned mine, like he wanted to search my soul with them. I held his gaze steady.
I'd held far worse. Obviously, he was deciding how far he could trust me.
“Don't be a fool,” I said. “Do you really think your enemies put me out here in the off
chance that you might happen by? Do you really think that my burrow is a spy's hideout? If I
were in the employ of Terona, you can bet that I'd be living a damn sight more comfortably than
this. And I'd have a farspeaker here, too. But I see that you've searched the place and haven't
found anything, so...” I trailed off, losing my fire, “...so there's that.”
“Fine,” he said. “Fine.” A formal tone crept into his voice. “First, I must express my
gratitude for your hospitality, and then I must apologize for telling you the truth now. When they
come after me, you must answer them as honestly as possible so that they do not put you too
harshly to the question. I am Tomas Glasyin, formerly commander of the Imperial armed forces,
Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale
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