"You see, after I realized you would never join me, I decided the most poetic thing to do would be to make your death the announcement of the public phase of my plan," Tristan snarled, wiping spit from the side of his mouth. "Of course your treacherous McAver's attempts to thwart me were a nuisance-but they soon became an opportunity."

Keep talking, old man, Pit thought. It was clear Tristan was unhinged and hobbled. His walking stick lay well out of reach. If Pit could keep ...