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

stepped outside Cooper faced Rukle, bowed at the waist and moved his arm in a sweeping gesture, “Lead the way.”

Fifteen minutes later, Rukle was pointing at a house that looked like any other, and in Batter’s Field that meant it was only slightly more livable than their base camp in the Ruins, but at least this House had a working door. They made a circle around the building, not expecting to find anything out of the ordinary, and walked right up to the door and went inside, leaving Loryn to wait outside. The sky was just turning gray.

A few of the kids inside looked up in alarm as they entered. Rukle pushed back his hood and smiled, “Remember me? I was here yesterday and your House Father made in necessary for us to come back for a second visit.” He looked at Cooper, “We shouldn’t be long, right?” Cooper pushed back his hood, “I’d say that’s up to him.” He nodded his head towards where he knew the House Father’s room had to be. He looked around the room, “You all stay seated, no matter what you might hear. Your House Father probably won’t like what I’m here to say to him.” They stepped across the room and opened the door to the adjoining room. None of the kids made any move to stand as they passed.

The House Father was seated at a small table. He had several short stacks of coins in front of him and he was jotting some notes on a sheet of paper. His head jerked up in response to his door being opened, “Just who in the he-”, his gaze shifted to Rukle and his eyes revealed his recognition, “You?! I thought I was pretty clear what would happen if I ever saw you again!” He drew a wicked looking blade and slid his chair backward a couple inches as he prepared to stand. Cooper tapped into his Talent and surged forward. He upended the table and flipped it back into the House Father and pushed it forward, knocking the unbalanced man backward into the wall behind him. Cooper continued moving forward, drawing his blades and kicking the table to one side. The House Father had regained his composure enough to use his Talent as well but Cooper was already upon him. The House Father swung almost blindly in an attempt to keep Cooper at a distance. Cooper quickly lashed his left hand forward, dragging the edge of his blade against the man’s wrist, severing the tendons and causing him to drop the knife. Cooper’s right arm extended swiftly and slashed the man’s throat. He swiftly stepped to one side to avoid the blood spray and pushed the man’s shoulder to assist him in falling to the floor.

Cooper turned to see Rukle in the doorway, watching the common room they’d just left. Several small pairs of eyes were attempting to peer past him into this room. The hurried whispers that Cooper could overhear announced that at least some of them had seen what had happened. He walked back to where Rukle was standing and spoke to him in a hushed tone, “Take a recognizable souvenir. We’re going to the next House in a minute.” Rukle looked a little alarmed as he looked around the room, then to Cooper and back to the room, “It might take a little more than a minute.” Cooper shrugged, “It shouldn't. I’ll speak to the kids.” As Cooper stepped through the doorway several of the occupants scuttled back against the walls. As Cooper scanned the room he saw that Loryn had stepped just inside the door and had leaned against it, waiting patiently. He spoke in a calm, even voice, “Your House Father had decided to break away from the Guild. My colleague spoke with him yesterday, to warn him. He rejected our terms and refused to acknowledge Guild ownership of this House.” He turned and gestured to the room behind him, “Look well. See what it means to deny our claims.” He paused, giving them a few moments to glance past him before he continued, “Right now, you’re without a House Father. Go about your normal day. You won’t be charged dues until a replacement can be found. A colleague of mine will visit each day to look in on you, to make sure you have food and to see if you have any information worth passing on.” He could hear Rukle behind him, rummaging around the room. It must be almost time to go. He pulled his hood back up over his head, “Think whatever you like about the Guild. At some point when you’re older, each of you will either advance, if you have potential and desire, or you’ll be sent out to make your own way. Until then, take care of each other.” Rukle stepped up behind him and Cooper turned, “Ready?” Rukle nodded, “Ready.” Before they walked out of the House, Cooper had one last thing to say. He turned to the oldest boy, “Dispose of the body. I recommend the Whitefoam River. Take him at night. Don’t weigh him down. Just dump him and let him float away.” The oldest boy ducked his head as he swallowed, but he remained silent. As they stepped outside the House, Loryn’s eyes held a mischievous glint, “How’d it go? It sounded kind of rough.” Cooper shook his head, “You know quite well that we now have two vacant House Father positions in Batter’s Field, and no suitable candidates.”

It only took them a few minutes to reach the second House. Batter’s Field was waking up. Several vendors were already loading their carts. It would still be an hour, maybe a little less, before the House kids would try to make their way across the river to the Trade Quarter. There’d be no one to beg or steal from if they got there before merchants and customers arrived.

They walked right in through the