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

to unload them when we get close to the cliffs.” Birt raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure we can get in through the Broken Coast? It seems like a huge gamble on top of the risks we’re already taking.” Rukle muttered, “What do you care? You’ll be safe up on top of the Southern Cliffs, waiting for our signal.” Birt scowled at him, “I care.” He turned to Cooper and waited for an answer. Cooper replied, “It’s a risk, I’ll admit. But we also can’t expect to raid the prison and not be pursued. If we can navigate through the Broken Coast, the ships will be hidden by the towering rock outcroppings and we can leisurely shuttle prisoners to the cliffs to be lifted in the basket.” Rukle scoffed, “I’ll remember you said that.” Cooper grinned as he continued his description, “Birt and Dailen will manage the horses that’ll be raising and lowering the basket.” Naro grumbled, “Dragging chains up and down the cliff face… The rocks of the Broken Coast used to be part of those cliffs, I’d wager. What’s to say that we won’t all be crushed or drowned under falling rocks?” Gaff sniffed, almost a laugh, “Where’d this doom and gloom come from? I thought you were an optimist?” Naro’s smile was thin, “I think we’re asking for more luck than we’re allowed, that’s all.” Cooper waited for the grumbling to die down, then continued, “The prisoners that can’t, or won’t, make the trip up the cliffs can stay on the ships and sail west to Temidan. If they’re Guild, we can bring them back later by caravan, if they choose to return. But the ships run a good chance of being discovered by the Prince’s warships once they’re back out on open water.” Birt commented, “I thought we had some kind of accord now?  The Prince sent his ship out to signal his agreement.” Cooper shook his head, “That accord doesn’t include a “don’t pursue us in case of jailbreak” clause. I thought it unwise to tip our hand by adding that as an addendum.” Rukle snorted and Birt replied, “You recall when Utsef remarked that sarcasm is the lowest form of humor, right?” Cooper smiled and nodded as he turned to Naro, “All right. Describe the plan, from the warehouse raids all the way through to where we ride back to town on the wagons.”

The discussions went far into the night, everyone paying particular attention since they knew that they might be the next to be called upon.

Chapter 24  

The following morning, everyone spent an hour preparing their equipment. Checking bowstrings and fletchings and putting fresh edges on blades. After breakfast everyone, except one person, pitched in with construction efforts. One person stood a four hour shift at the Waterfront, watching for the Sundancer.

It was after lunch when Balat came running into the Ruins. He saw Dailen first, “Where’s Cooper? The Sundancer is sailing into the bay!” Dailen pointed vaguely in the direction of the vault and asked, “If she’s still sailing in, how can you be sure it’s her?” Balat was already running in the direction Dailen had pointed. He turned and ran a few stuttered, sideways steps as he called back, “If you’d ever seen her, you’d know! It’s her!”

Cooper received the news as expected and rushed off to change clothes. A few minutes later he was walking quickly to the Waterfront, not looking to see if anyone was following him or not. By the time the boardwalk was in view, he realized that he was being followed by at least a half dozen Guild members. Cooper turned to them, “I don’t think the crew of the Sundancer are prepared to entertain. Birt, Loryn, come along. The rest of you, please go back to the Ruins. We’ve quite a bit of work ahead of us and we’re nowhere near able to house everyone we hope to recover.” He paused and took a breath, “Please.” He turned back to the boardwalk. Birt and Loryn fell in step. Birt asked, “Why are you bringing the two of us along? Feeling generous?” Cooper chuckled, “Not exactly. You’re coming since this will be a business deal, and I’ll want you to support my claims. You’re the best actor we’ve got, besides Mister Ysel.” Birt asked, “And Loryn?” Cooper let out a full breath of air, “Because Loryn has spoken with them recently… and she wouldn’t go back anyway, even if I’d threatened her.” Loryn snorted, “Not true. I’d have gone back with the others if you’d told me.” He replied, “You say that now.” Loryn merely smiled.

By the time they’d approached the ship, it had been tied off and the harbor master was disembarking. Loryn waved and called out, “Sundancer! Permission to come aboard?” The old first mate had escorted the harbor master to the gang way. He leaned over and squinted at the three of them, recognizing two of them almost immediately and settling on Loryn, “Well, slacken my sails! Did you kill the horses gettin’ here so quick, missy?” Loryn placed her hands on her hips and shifted her weight to her back leg as she called back, “Not at all. If you were a better sailor, you’d have been here ages before me. I could’ve walked here faster than you sailed!” Something about Loryn’s disposition seemed to disarm the old sailor and he slapped the railing as he laughed loudly, “Well, you’d best come aboard, the three of you. You can introduce me to your third man.” He centered his gaze on Cooper, “Because the Captain’s got plenty to discuss with you, no doubt.”

Captain Rigel emerged from the hatch before Cooper had taken more than four steps in from the rail. The scarred man squinted against the sunlight and snarled. At first, Cooper thought he’d judged the Captain wrong, then he realized that what he thought was a snarl was actually a grin. The captain’s