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

are sailing to some far away port.” Loryn nodded toward the door where Felis and Iona had just exited, and grumbled, “As far as almost anyone knows...” Cooper made a noise to quiet her, “Felis vouched for her. I'm not exactly sure what he intends to gain by bringing her here, but that woman is a University mage that's been assisting the Spymaster. She's in a position to do incredible damage to us... but Felis vouched for her, and I trust him.” Rukle shifted his position, as if to move to the door. Cooper stopped him, “She might not be the enemy . She took my message to the Prince... and this meeting has given her a lot to think about.” Spen looked around the room, “That may be true, and even if it is, it's still dangerous. We have to assume that folks nearby witnessed us come in. We need to get everyone moved out from here as soon as they're able. We could even start moving a few of them today.” Cooper nodded, “We'll move a few of them to Birt's project, the Gilded Feather, to recover. Several of them can merge with work crews, coming into the Ruins. It shouldn't take more than a few days to empty this House and start using it as another shelter for kids. We'll need to identify a couple new House Fathers.” He looked at Rukle, “I'll suggest you take that task. Pick men that you can work comfortably with.”

He spoke to Dailen and Birt, “Get those horses and carts out of here, but we might want them back tomorrow or the next day. We can put some of these people on it, along with a load of building supplies going to the Ruins.” He observed Miss Camilla, tending to Kolrem and knew there was little more that he could contribute at the moment. He turned toward the door and spoke to all of them, “You know what must be done. I'll be back in an hour or so. I need to pick up an order from an apothecary.”

Chapter 29

Iona had no expectation of sneaking in undetected. A crowd had gathered outside the Public Hall of the castle. People were waiting for the doors to open so they could present whatever grievances that they felt required the Prince's attention. The Prince was on the other side of those doors, preparing himself for the upcoming flood of citizens. Iona was recognized and ushered through the doors, much to the protest of those waiting. The Lord General was already in a rage, “Multiple attacks through the Waterfront District, with slashed and stabbed bodies at each location except one. At that location, the bodies had been incinerated and the inferno should've set the entire district ablaze, if not for the storm! Three ships attacked and taken from the harbor; then the prison raided and emptied, presumably by using those same ships...  One prison guard unaccounted for, several others wounded but alive, barricaded inside the barracks hall. Oddly enough, reports indicate that the door had been barricaded on the inside as well as the outside.” Lord General Arkady's face was a mottled red, whether from his elevated state, or due to such a long tirade without taking a breath, she couldn't be certain. As soon as the Lord General took a breath, he resumed, “Then we discover that the anchor chains of the flagship and two other warships had been bolted to the pier! Bolted!! While the ships were being tossed by the storm, no one could get close enough to unchain them, not without getting crushed between a ship and the pier. They were forced to wait until morning for the storm to pass and the waters to calm!” The Lord General was angry when Iona first entered, he was quickly working himself into full fury, “My Prince, could there be any doubt that this was all orchestrated by whatever scum remains of the Guild! Three guards from the North Bridge claim to have even spoken with them. The guards reported the criminals claimed they were acting with your blessing. You accepted their accord, and this is how they repay you?! They raid your prison and chain your ships! They’re mocking you, my prince!”

The Prince looked like he just wanted a few peaceful minutes to think about everything that had happened. He centered his attention on the Lord General, “Hennit, the letter from the Guild made some valid observations and then simply asked that we no longer attack them, and in return they’d remove Apex from our city and further promised they wouldn’t accept contracts against royal personages. It even stated that they’d provide information to us.” The Lord General was red-faced but wisely held his tongue while the prince spoke. Prince Lancaster continued, “If the attacks in the Waterfront District and the ships on the pier are related to wiping out the Apex trade, which I am beginning to suspect they might be, then freeing their people from our prison might be considered a reward for service rendered. If we were to look at things from this perspective, then chaining my ships, my ships, might simply be viewed as insuring that I keep my word. Surely, if the ships hadn’t been chained we’d have either caught up to them at the prison, or shortly afterward, and attacked them. This would have been contrary to the terms of our recent agreement.” The color of the Lord General’s face had returned to normal as the Prince spoke. Now his stunned expression ran the full gamut of utter disbelief, back to anger, and then settled on something that resembled disgust. Iona tensed as she felt his power build, but he released it almost immediately. Rather than speak his mind, the Lord General simply bowed and left the room. The prince then spoke into the room, to no one in particular, “However, leaving a scuttled ship displaying the flag of Lukasi