Read Online The Iron Ring by Auston Habershaw - Free Book Online

innocent, and undeserving of the fate you put upon him. I saved you, Tyvian Reldamar of Saldor—­known smuggler, thief, and blackhearted killer—­because I have seen in you the potential to be much, much more.”
    Tyvian rolled his eyes and lay back on the pallet. “I seem to be lectured as often as I am captured. I take it you work for the Defenders, or perhaps my mother? Is that how you know who I am?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYou lie.”
    â€œI do not.”
    â€œClever retort, but I am strangely unconvinced.”
    Eddereon sighed. “Have you asked yourself how it was that the Defenders got wind of your operation to defraud Marquis du Rameaux?”
    Tyvian sat up again, eyes flashing. “ You tipped Alafarr off?”
    Eddereon nodded. “Not Alafarr, but her superior, Tarlyth, with whom I have dealt with in the past. I have been watching you for almost two years, ever since I heard of your exploits at the Blue Party in Eretheria. It took me that long to obtain enough information to set you up.”
    â€œI suppose you told Zazlar Hendrieux, too? Is he getting a cut of the reward money, then?”
    â€œHow Hendrieux received word, I do not know. He might have warned you, I suppose, but chose to betray you of his own accord.”
    Tyvian sprung from the floor and lunged at the knife. He drew it, but his legs, weak from inaction, caused him to stumble back to the ground. Still, he cocked his arm back, aiming to throw the knife through Eddereon’s eye. Tyvian had the big man dead to rights, and Eddereon knew it, but he did not stir from his stool.
    â€œBefore I kill you,” Tyvian sneered, “I want to thank you for saving my life. You seem a decent sort for a backstabbing, stinking vagabond.”
    Tyvian tried to throw, but a sudden, searing agony shot through his right hand like liquid fire running through his veins. His arm didn’t—­couldn’t—­move. He dropped the knife to cradle his pain-­wracked hand to his chest. It was then that he saw the plain, dark iron band he wore on his ring finger. It was from there that the terrible pain erupted. Roaring, Tyvian attempted to pull it off, but he could not. The pain the ring was causing faded quickly, but no matter how he twisted, yanked, or scraped, the innocuous iron ring did not budge in the slightest—­it was as though it was fused to the bone. “What the—­” Tyvian gasped.
    Eddereon stood up, his face again as solemn as a priest’s. “It is the instrument of your salvation, Tyvian.”
    Tyvian picked up the knife in his left hand and dragged himself to his feet. “Get it off me.”
    Eddereon raised his hands. “It is beyond my power to do so. Once put on, only the bearer may remove the Iron Ring.”
    Tyvian staggered at Eddereon, knife pointed at the man’s throat. “ Get it off , or I will kill you where you stand!”
    â€œYou have no call to kill me, Tyvian.” Eddereon said calmly, hands at his sides. “I am unarmed. I have done you no harm. I am not your enemy.”
    Tyvian lunged at him, but fiery lances of pain from his right hand shot through his arm and across his shoulders, causing him to stumble, yelping in agony.
    Eddereon stood over him. “You cannot kill me.”
    Tyvian dropped the knife as the burning pain continued. As soon as it left his hand, the pain quickly faded. “What . . . what enchantment have you put on me?”
    â€œI am not the maker of the ring. I am only its bearer, and its keeper.” Eddereon held up his right hand, and Tyvian immediately spotted a plain iron band identical to his own nestled there between wide pink bands of scarred flesh.
    â€œKroth, what madness do you peddle, man?”
    The door swung open and Artus, clad in furs, came in with an armload of firewood. He saw the half-­naked, panting Tyvian on the ground and looked at Eddereon. “Is