Chapter 31 · Ash Ledger - Chapter 31: The Ash Ledger

"You'll sign it now," Ilan said, "or I'll bury everyone on that list under the east wall."

Rowan looked at the parchment on the table. The stone vault hummed under his boots, that low frequency that made his teeth ache. The ledger sat open beside Ilan's hand, and the page was writing itself, black ink crawling across vellum like something alive.

Victory through sacrifice. Seal the eastern breach with named dead. Claim their oaths as fuel.

"That's not a victory," Rowan said. "That's murder."

"That's command." Ilan tapped the page. "The stone gave you this ledger. It's showing you what it costs to hold a fort when the empire wants it back. You've been spending oaths like coin all month. Don't pretend you're clean now."

Mara stood behind Rowan, close enough that he could feel her breathing. Her knife was still in her belt, but her hand wasn't far from it. Bram was at the vault door, blocking it, his crossbow loaded and pointed at the floor.

"I've been spending mine," Rowan said. "Not theirs."

"They swore to you. That makes them yours." Ilan leaned forward, his voice dropping. "You want to save them? Then do it. Sign the order.