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

cells. These keys are made for warded locks, so it's simply a matter of bypassing the wards and releasing the shackle within. We'll just pick them open. It'll go faster than trying keys on every lock until we find the one that fits.” Loryn commented, “Besides, we're splitting up and there's just one ring of keys. How many people are we breaking out?” Rukle grunted, “All of 'em!” Kinsman smiled, “Our people have priority, of course. But if each of these keys goes to a cell, minus a few for the buildings inside, we should find fewer than seventy prisoners, unless they have more than one to a cell. I doubt we'll find more than two hundred, so we should be able to take them all. Just look for our people first. The longer we stay, the higher the risk.” He turned to Rukle, “The guard house is likely one of the buildings in the center courtyard. Take a couple archers with you and find out which building it is, then try to cover or secure all the doors. If you think you'll need more people, come find me. We may need to bring in some Wharfsiders to help out. I really hadn't expected this place to be wide open like this.” Spen gazed around and muttered, “I think it's safe to say that none of us expected this.”

Kinsman addressed the group, “I'll go left.” he pointed roughly northward, “Gaff, Cam, and Lebin will come with me. Naro and Balat, go with Rukle. Loryn, take Spen and the rest with you to the south. We'll meet somewhere at the other side of the prison. Cam, go back and tell Silas and the other captain that they need to put a few of their men at the gate to secure it, and to help shuttle prisoners to the ships. Once you've done that, follow along this wall until you find us.” Without another word Kinsman turned north and went looking for the first cell.

The locks proved to be very basic. 'Something to keep an honest man honest', as Master Darius would've said. The first few prisoners either weren't Guild, or they didn't recognize them. The wild-eyed looks on the prisoners' faces indicated that they either expected some new punishment awaited them or they simply didn't understand what was happening despite Kinsman and Gaff explaining that they were being released. Maybe they just couldn't bring themselves to believe it. They were still releasing the third prisoner when Cam joined them, “Sailors are moving to secure the gate. They're all none too happy about the moorings. They say the ships are getting battered against the rocks and they'll soon start taking on water from below, in addition to what's coming down from above.” Kinsman nodded grimly. He had no desire to remain any longer than necessary either. The sailors would just have to be patient.

The fourth prisoner was Guild. Henric was one of the Adept Assassins called forward when Cooper had announced his intent to contract under the name of Kinsman. Henric hadn't made a naming choice as far as he knew. Kinsman drew closer to the young man and spoke quietly, “Henric, do you know who I am?” Henric looked without raising his head. His eyes registered recognition and the young man tried to pull himself upright and mostly succeeded. His voice came out almost like a bullfrog's croak, “Yes. You're...”, he looked around his cell and seeing Cam and Lebin, he made the safe choice, “Kinsman. Right?” Kinsman felt some relief knowing that he'd found a classmate and that, at least mentally, he was still intact and aware. It made his hopes for a good outcome seem more real, and he hoped to find Kolrem alive and aware, as well.

While they worked to free him from his shackles, Kinsman asked, “Do you know who else might be here? Or at least, who you know won't be here?” Henric considered the question, then answered, “Marna's here. Or at least she was a month ago. I saw them lead her past my cell once,  but I only saw her once. I know you won't find Tongs or Malice here. They died fighting the soldiers when they raided us. Tongs held the door to our bay for almost four minutes all by himself. They punched five or six arrows into him before he fell. Malice died soon after. He went into a rage after Tongs fell. I never saw Limner. He might've escaped, though not many of us did. How'd you get away?” The last of the shackles fell free and Henric sagged. Kinsman and Gaff caught him and Kinsman explained, “I wasn't there when it happened and I got back too late to help.” Henric snorted and almost choked. Once he got his coughing under control he replied, “Help? Nothing you could've done. Could've fought and died, or laid down weapons and accepted...this.” Henric spoke as if he wondered whether he'd made the right choice. He added, “Good to see you though. You have a plan?” Kinsman handed Henric off to Cam and Lebin as he answered, “Yes. A short boat ride, then we have a House in Miller's Flats where most of you will stay for awhile. You just focus on rest and recovery.”  Almost as an afterthought Henric added, “I saw Sid fighting two men outside the bay, as I was being taken away. I don't know what happened to him and I haven't seen him since. I barely knew him and he seldom spoke with anyone. I just remember now because it looked like he'd wounded one of the men and Sid had the other man completely outmatched. He might have escaped.” Kinsman gave him a brief wave as he stepped from the cell. Depending on Loryn's progress, there were still dozens of cells to unlock. Cam assisted Henric toward the docks.

Only three of the next seven cells held Guild members. They'd almost reached the