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

walked south, he considered how, as a young child, he certainly noticed the cold but accepted it. Now that he was older, and better off, he was much less willing to accept it. He bundled the furs tighter around him as he walked across the South Bridge and entered the Trade Quarter. The guard on the bridge didn’t even seem to notice him.

Once in the Trade Quarter, he moved through the crowd with a practiced smoothness. Today he wasn’t looking to lift any coin purses, he simply sought to blend in. He stepped to the side when he was close enough to read the sign hanging outside the inn where Birt was working. He supposed he could walk straight in, but it was a prudent habit to observe a place before entering. In the twenty minutes he watched, no one entered or left. Nor did anyone seem to express any interest in the place. This would likely change in an hour or so, as lunch time approached. He crossed the street and tugged his hood further over his head as he entered. He found a seat along the wall, several steps in from the door and he quickly scanned the room. There were a few patrons leaning over their drinks, seated at tables near the bar. Birt was behind the bar, wiping down a row of mugs. Cooper called out, “Innkeep! Can I get a small beer in a clean mug?” To Birt’s credit he didn’t drop the mug in his hands, but he froze for a second before he managed to reply, “Right away, young sir! Anything to eat to go with it?” Cooper called back, “Perhaps a room for the day. If you’ve got one.” Birt had poured the beer and replied loudly as he stepped out from behind the bar, “We have two rooms presently, sir. I can show them to you, if you like? I’ll just need to let the owner know. I can’t leave the bar untended with these louts hovering so near the taps.” This brought a series of good-natured grumbles from the patrons. Birt set the mug on the table in front of Cooper, “That’ll be a copper, unless you want to add it to the cost of the room.” Then in a quiet voice he added, “You’re alive?!? What are you doing here?” Cooper laid a coin on the table and replied in a quiet voice, “Well, hello to you, too…” Then, in a normal voice, “How long will it take you to show me the rooms?” Birt slid the coin into his palm and spoke to the room, “I’ll ask the owner to watch the bar, young sir. Then I’ll be back to show you the rooms.”

Birt walked back behind the bar and leaned through a door and called out, “Might be renting a room. Need you to watch the bar.” A minute later a porcine man with red-rimmed eyes and a chin that nearly merged with his neck stepped through the door and Birt quickly stepped towards the stairs, calling out, “If you’ll follow me, young sir.” Cooper left his untouched beer on the table. He caught up with Birt at the top of the stairs. Birt’s expression was one of exasperation and surprise. His waving arms did nothing to detract from his expression. Cooper kept his voice low, “Who else might hear us?” Birt shook his head, “No one else up here, right now. What the hell are you doing here?” Cooper grinned, “Show me a room and I’ll tell you.” Birt pushed a door open and ushered him through it. He was almost red-faced by the time he closed the door. Cooper started speaking before Birt had a chance to insist again, “I need you to be the temporary Guild Master.” There wasn’t a chair within reach, so Birt just slid down the wall and sat down on the floor, “You need me to what?!”

Cooper chuckled, “Judging from your response, I’m confident you don’t actually need me to repeat myself.” He paused, but Birt appeared to still be coming to grips with the concept. Cooper elaborated, “We’re getting re-established. Rukle, Loryn, a few other Journeymen and I are getting things started. We should have Dailen with us before evening.” Birt was shaking his head, his voice took a sarcastic tone, “And with that formidable force you’re planning on rebuilding? Right under the very noses of the Watch and the Army? Please excuse my doubt, but have you lost your mind?” Cooper shook his head, “We’re not rebuilding in the same place, we’ve-” Birt interrupted, “Well, that much is a relief!” Cooper crossed his arms in front of his chest, “Do you want to hear this? Or are you satisfied with serving beers and swabbing the floors each night after closing?”

Birt’s eyes flashed, “Hey, that’s hardly fair. I mostly run this place.” He held up his hand, thumb and forefinger almost touching, “And I’m this close to becoming a partner.” Cooper replied in a mocking ‘impressed’ tone, “Well, excuse me, mister innkeeper. I’ll be sure to send Rukle over next week to collect your dues.” Cooper stopped and took a breath. The conversation was getting too far off script, “This is happening, with you or without you. I’d very much prefer to have you helping to manage us, instead of an inn.”

It appeared that Birt now had himself under control, “But Guild Master? I know I’m not ready for that.” Cooper smiled inwardly. They were back on script, “A successful endeavor depends on two factors. First, assemble the right people for the job. Second, those people have to believe in what they’re doing. If the right people work cooperatively toward a common goal even Fate must bend a knee.” Birt snorted, “Who are you quoting? Who spouted that drivel?” Cooper smiled, “Guildmaster Worthan.” Birt’s eyes grew wide, “GUILDmaster Worthan?!” Cooper nodded while Birt attempted to work his way through this information. He finally asked,