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

The first day was spent walking east. Their chances of meeting with a caravan were far greater along the road that spanned between Paleros and Kalistos City. They camped near the road and built a large fire from the wood they’d collected as they left the Forest. They hoped that a group traveling along the road would see the fire, approach them and ask to share the warmth. No one did. Before unrolling their sleeping mats, Cooper and Gaff talked their way through how they were planning to enter the city. Depending on how quickly they could move along the roadway, they might need to camp one more time. They still had plenty of venison to eat, some fresh and some dried, but they’d need to take a little time tomorrow to hunt. Cooper’s group would make a wide circle and enter Paleros from the south, carrying skinned rabbits, apparently with intent to sell. Gaff and the other three would arrive from the west , bringing whatever remained of the firewood. Surely the Wharfsiders would appreciate the bundles for their cooking fires.

The following morning, a couple of them stepped out into the grass on opposite sides of the road to hunt, and then jog to catch up after ten minutes or so, whether they’d killed a rabbit or not. As soon as those two caught up, two others would step out to hunt. In this manner, they moved steadily southward. By early evening, The Stand was plainly visible to the south and they’d decided to continue on. Cooper gathered up all the rabbits and divvied them up amongst the other two in his group. Gaff did the same with the bundles of firewood. Once done, Cooper led his group, Loryn and Naro, to the southwest to circle around the city. Spen had taken a few extra seconds to check the cords that secured his bundles, then had given Cooper a nod before he hefted the firewood up onto his shoulders and turned to join Gaff.

During warmer months the roadway that skirted along the southern wall of the University was usually filled with ruts. Now that the temperatures had dropped, the path had firmed up and many of the ruts had filled in. As a result, walking was easy and progress was fast.

With the furs on their backs and rabbits in their hands, they gave the impression of being either farmer or woodsmen kids. It was an impression they encouraged. They entered Miller’s Flats without being challenged and once they crossed into the Trade Quarter, they continued north while looking for a vendor who was selling fresh meat. As it was late in the day, the first vendor they approached wasn’t interested in buying any of the skinned rabbits but the second man bought six of them, leaving them with eight. Loryn suggested they simply turn those over to Mardon’s family for cooking. Each of the three Guild kids had been keeping watchful eyes on the people around them. Everything appeared normal, but a few of the guards had spent a few more seconds than necessary while observing them, letting their eyes linger over the bow and arrows they had strapped to each of their packs. While Cooper didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary in the Trade Quarter, neither did he want it to appear that they were in a hurry to get away. He gathered up a few of the coppers he’d been paid for the rabbits and he stepped over to another vendor and bought a jar of sliced apples in syrup. He waved the other two in close and they dropped their backpacks to pull out bowls and utensils. He divided the apple slices amongst them and encouraged the other two to devour their apples eagerly, as if they were a rare treat and they’d get in trouble if mom and dad were to find out. He returned the empty jar to the vendor and glanced around. The guards had lost interest in them. He gave a quick hand signal, indicating they should hurry and they packed their bowls as soon as they’d been emptied, without even wiping them down.

They quickly covered the distance to the North Bridge and tugged their fur hoods up to block out the chill wind coming off the water. They crossed the bridge without incident and took in the sight of the ship’s masts reaching skyward and the flags, banners and pennants flapping as they scanned the skyline to the northeast. As expected, none of the flags were from Lukasi.

Months ago, Cooper had entered the Wharf City for the first time. Now he was returning here, and this was one of the only safe places they could go. His first priority was to change that. There was so much to do. Depending on what they found, they might need the Wharf City as a temporary base to work from, but needed to minimize Mardon’s involvement whenever possible. He didn’t blame the man for endlessly seeking profit, but not at the Guild’s expense. Especially now that the Guild was all but non-existent and would need to retain all possible coin simply to have any chance at all for growth and survival.

Cooper led his group onto one of the longer piers. He pushed his hood back onto his shoulders and looked for any familiar faces as they walked. They’d passed three ships when they heard a shout, “Ahoy, Kinsman!” All three of them crouched as they spun to face the speaker. Cooper’s hands were already behind him, under his fur cape grasping the hilts of his blades, but he kept them sheathed as he recognized the voice. He let his hands drop to his sides and he allowed himself a faint smile as he stood erect, “Hello, Silas. How have you been?” The large blond man stepped over and extended his hand.