The Traitor (The Covenant of Steel #3)

by Anthony Ryan

“I like cats,” Leannor said, recapturing my attention. She lifted the kitten from her lap, holding it close to her face, smiling as its small paws batted her chin. “They’re straightforward creatures, you see. Despite a reputation for cunning, they are in fact completely trustworthy and affectionate. All you need do is feed them, play with them, scratch them in the right places…” she paused to tickle the kitten’s belly, provoking an appreciative purr “… and they love you. Until you die, that is. Then they’ll probably eat your corpse before going off to find someone else to provide food and scratches. Cats, I find, are both loyal and uncomplicated.”

“Rest assured, Master Minstrel, if your horse stumbles and you end up breaking your neck, I shall mourn for you. Perhaps for as much as an hour. Maybe two.”

A singular lesson I’ve learned is that, if there is one thing that unites humanity, it’s catastrophe.”