Chapter 25 · Ash Ledger - Chapter 25: The Debt Comes Due

"Sign it."

Bram's voice cut through the noise in my skull. The ledger sat open on the quartermaster's desk, the last page glowing faint red in the lamplight. My name. And underneath, in script that looked like it'd been burned into the parchment: *Take the command, or they start paying.*

"Sign what?" My hands were still shaking from catching Mara on that ladder. From the way she'd looked at me when I told her not to make me choose.

"The contract." Bram tapped the page with one thick finger. "You've been acting commander since you cracked that vault. Ledger wants it official."

I stared at the words. The ink—if it was ink—seemed to pulse.

"What happens if I don't?"

Bram's face went flat. "You really want to find out?"

Outside, men were shouting. The fire Mara set was still burning on the north wall, and we'd pulled back just enough to hold the inner yard. Ilan Voss was nowhere. Probably in his quarters, waiting to see who'd still be alive at dawn so he'd know whose loyalty to buy.

I reached for the quill.

"Don't." Mara's voice, low and sharp, from the doorway.

I turned.