Chapter 20 · The Ash Ledger - Chapter 20: The Replacement List

"Replacements," Ilya said.

Rowan's wrist went cold. The mark didn't move, didn't flash, just sat there like it'd been listening the whole time.

"What replacements?" Mara was already stepping between Ilya and the crystal, one hand on her sidearm.

Ilya wiped blood off her mouth. Her coat was scorched on one side and she was limping, but her eyes were sharp. "The Ledger doesn't fail. If you break the protocol, if you kill the bearer, it just picks someone new. I saw the queue three years ago when I was still inside. It's got backups. Volunteers, conscripts, prisoners. People who don't know what they're signing."

"How many?" Rowan's voice came out flat.

"Forty names when I left." Ilya looked at him. "Probably more now."

The door behind them slammed open. Boots. A lot of them.

Rowan turned. Five city guard, full plate, and in the middle of them—Soren Dax. He looked worse than the last time Rowan'd seen him. Bruise spreading under one eye, jaw tight, and his hand was already on his sword hilt.

Soren's eyes went to Rowan first. Then Mara. Then Ilya, and something flickered across his face. Not surprise. Recognition.

"Rowan Vale," Soren said.