Exploitable Weaknesses by Brian Keller (red queen free ebook txt) 📗

There was nothing left to be gained by remaining on the Waterfront. He made his way back to the Ruins, taking a few extra turns to avoid a couple of addicts. He wondered why he never saw or heard of any occasion with two addicts accosting each other. Perhaps they somehow managed to recognize the futility, at least subconsciously, and left each other alone?

Chapter 22

Reaching the Ruins, outside the main hall he saw a pair of horses tied up where they could reach a tub filled with water. They were both attempting to crowd the other out, head-butting and nipping in order to gain control of the water. Their saddles lay in the dust beside them and their bodies glistened with sweat. “One of the Journeymen teams have returned”, he thought. He quickened his pace and entered the main house. Gaff and Naro were seated, surrounded by a crowd. The boys tried to answer questions in between chewing and gulping the food and drink set before them by the cooks. Everyone became silent as they saw Cooper approach. He knew the silence wouldn’t last, so he asked quickly, “Well?” Gaff swallowed and replied first, “No one’s seen them in over five months, and no one’s expecting them any time soon. We did like you told us. We stayed a few days, hoping, but there weren’t any new reports or rumors in that time, so we hurried back.” Naro had swallowed the food he’d been chewing as Gaff spoke, but he simply nodded, having nothing to add. Cooper’s mouth tightened. He’d hoped that they’d at least have heard something, but if it had been five months, then that increased the likelihood of Loryn and Balat being successful.

He asked the Journeymen, “Have you slept?” They both paused their chewing, apprehensive. Gaff spoke past a mouthful of food, “Not much in the last couple of days. We’ve ridden the horses pretty hard. Why?” Cooper shrugged, “After you’ve eaten, brush down the horses. If they’re spent, then we’ll need to exchange them for fresh ones. Heavier ones. We can discuss it in the morning if you like.” Naro swallowed hard then replied, “If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather hear it now.” Gaff nodded his agreement. Cooper sat across from them and explained why they’d need at least two strong horses and a wagon. When he’d finished, Naro said, “We’re gonna need more than just the three of us.” Cooper agreed, “I’ll be speaking with a few of the stronger men that we rescued from the quarry. Through the combined efforts of the cooks and Miss Camilla most of them have recovered almost completely during the last month. They might not yet be as strong as they were before they were chained up but they’ve been underfoot, looking for things to do for the last week… or so Dailen tells me.”

*****

Iona woke the following morning earlier than normal. She still wasn’t entirely certain what was in store for her now that Yoren was dead, but after she'd read the message to the Prince, he had told her to return to her room while he considered recent events. She’d started to ask whether she’d be permitted to stay in the Palace, and if so, what her duties might be. He dismissed her inquiries with a wave of his hand and had told her, “While that’s one of the things I’ll be considering, it is not among the most imperative.” He saw her discomfort and added, “You’ll not be summarily thrown out of the Palace and onto the street. You may rest easy in that regard. I’ll think more clearly without a young woman nearby to distract me. Please return to your own chambers, or I’ll simply have to return to mine.”

She didn’t know whether it would be appropriate to seek out the Prince, or merely wait to be summoned. Since her immediate future rested entirely on his decisions, she’d begun to weigh her options. Her skills were limited to her Talent. She’d never been trained in a trade or learned a skill that she might depend on to feed and clothe herself. She began to feel frustrated and afraid, “When Yoren first ‘employed’ me, I only wanted to be free of the University and free to live my own life. Now I wonder what I had in mind. Who would employ me? Doing what?” This line of reasoning led her to another conclusion, “The Prince might decide to allow me to stay, but why would he?” It took only a few minutes to decide that her most likely option would be to go back to the University but she couldn’t face returning to the same circumstances. She needed to form a plan. She gathered several sheets of parchment, a quill and ink, and began describing her abilities and her own observations about how Talent worked. There was a group of mages that determined what was to be researched and assigned professors to the tasks. She thought, “If I can adequately explain what I know, I might sway them to assign me to a more able researcher. One that might allow me to more actively participate in how Talent is studied.”

It was difficult to find the right words since much of what she'd learned through her Talent was intuitive. She needed to distill her own Talent into a description she could put on paper. It was nearly lunchtime and she had already discarded two sheets of parchment and was on the second sheet of her third attempt when she was surprised by a series of resounding knocks on her door. She hopped up and answered it immediately. The guard was raising his fist to strike the door again as she pulled it open, “I have been sent to bring you to the Council chamber.” She started to close the door as she replied, “I’ll just take a few minutes to-”. The guard put his hand on