Vow of Thieves

King Montegue and his soldiers leave Kazi alone for two days. She struggles to accept Jase’s death and devises a plan to free Lydia and Nash.

When she is next summoned by the king, Kazi finds him in full military regalia, stating he has trained in swordsmanship under Banques for years. King Montegue escorts her to the plaza, where Nash and Lydia happily rush to him. Kazi is distressed when she notices the town’s damage and the strong military presence. She notices nearly a dozen hanged corpses behind a platform; Montegue explains they were Ballenger sympathizers.

Kazi reads out a statement prepared by Banques to a crowd gathered at the plaza. It declares that Jase has been executed and King Montegue is the rightful ruler of Hell’s Mouth. The crowd calls Kazi a murderer, and someone hits her with a rock. Soldiers disperse the crowd.

Caemus, Kerry, and the other people of the Vendan settlement help Jase during his convalescence. Jase struggles with the knowledge that Paxton and Truko now control the arena and worries about Kazi.