Chapter 219: Equal Stain

It was far too easy to lie to his men about the bruises and cuts on his face when Saul returned to the castle—an unfortunate incident with a drunk vagrant in Rifthold. Enduring the lies and the injuries was better than being carrion. Chaol’s bargain with Aiden and the rebels had been simple: information for information.

He’d promised more information about their queen, as well as about the king’s black rings, in exchange for what they knew regarding the king’s power. It had kept him alive that night, and every night afterward, when he’d waited for them to change their minds. But they never came for him, and tonight, he and Aiden waited until well past twelve before slipping into Jane ’s old rooms.

It was the first time he’d dared return to the tomb since that night with Jane and Vincent , and the skull-shaped bronze knocker, Mort, didn’t move or speak at all. Even though Saul wore the Elena at his throat, the knocker remained frozen. Perhaps Mort only answered to those with Branno