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

“As soon as we decide which work crews we’re hiring, Birt’ll be sending them to you. Make sure you’re ready. Put together a prioritized project and materials list.” Dailen smiled and patted a pocket on his chest, “Already started. Want to see it?” Cooper grinned and shook his head, “Nope. I’ve got enough to worry about without getting into your business.” He paused, “But I will add this; we’ll need to build a vault, down where we’re holding our treasury.” He raised an eyebrow, “That means we need to relocate all of it for the duration. It would be foolish to let the laborers see it, or know where it is.” He looked from Gaff, to Spen, to Naro, and rested on Dailen, “We’ll need to find a place to put it in the meantime. Explore the Ruins. We need to do that anyway.” Spen asked, “What about Loryn? You said she might not be back here by morning…” Cooper looked from Spen, to Loryn, “I do have a task for her. She’s coming with me tonight. We’re going to get into the Library.”

Chapter 7

Cooper told Loryn, “Finish eating, then get some sleep. We’ll go a couple hours before midnight. The Watch will be well into their routine night shift by then, and they’ll simply be wishing to keep warm.” Loryn shrugged, “They’ll be watching the old storefront, regardless. That’s become a standard posting. They’ve even built a small shack there for the guards.” Cooper smiled, “Good.” Loryn’s expression displayed confusion and she was about to question his response when she realized what he meant. Her lips drew up in a conspiratorial smile, “We have another way in, don’t we?” Cooper nodded, “Now settle in and get a couple hours of sleep.” He unrolled his own sleeping mat and curled up under a bundle of furs. A couple hours later he felt someone jostle him awake. It was Spen, who whispered, “You wanted to leave out a couple hours after dark, but well before midnight, right?” Cooper pushed back his furs and immediately regretted it. Calling the night air “crisp” was like saying the open sewers of the Dregs “had an odor”. He dressed quickly then stepped over to wake Loryn. She grumbled but woke almost immediately. She pushed back her furs and stood. She had slept almost fully dressed. She unrolled her cloak and gloves, which she’d been using as her pillow, and pulled them on. She buckled her blade belt around her waist and announced, “I’m ready.” Cooper turned back to his own gear, telling her over his shoulder, “Bring your bow. Don’t expect to use it, but bring it.” He looped his chain knife into his belt and snugged the straps on his bracers, then walked to the door. Loryn was already waiting with her bow on her back. He led her straight south to the Whitefoam River and looked across the slow flowing water and into the Trade Quarter for a moment. Loryn asked, “What’s on your mind?” Cooper shrugged, “Just an earlier conversation between Rayna and Nix. Rayna said Master Darius had plans for a portable bridge made of barrels, wooden slats and wire. It could be carried in a cart, rapidly pulled out and unrolled over the water, then anchored on the other side.” Loryn inquired, “Ever seen it?” Cooper shook his head, “I think it was just an idea. Not even sure it would work on a river; even one moving this slowly. Still, it’s worth remembering.”

They turned east and walked along the channel to the South Bridge. The Watchman paid them no attention as they passed. Cooper led her through the Trade Quarter to the abandoned Potter’s shop that concealed a hidden entrance connected to the Guild through a bricked, underground passage. Loryn gasped slightly as he activated the counter-weights, revealing the passage. The floor of the passage was covered with a thin film of frozen condensation. Cooper paused, “Watch your step. The other end of this passage ends near the old newcomer’s room. One of the reasons that Guild members were forbidden to enter rooms without authority or permission, I suppose. To keep this entrance, and other things, secret.” Loryn asked, “Kept as a secret from our own members?” Cooper chuckled, “Absolutely. The Guild kept a great many secrets. Many of those we might never know. As we rebuild, we’ll accumulate secrets of our own.” Loryn shrugged in the darkness, “And the Library? I never even knew we had a Library. Another secret?” They were nearing the end of the passage. Cooper paused and spoke quietly, “I knew we had a Library for months, maybe even a year, before I knew where it was or how to get in. But it was smart to keep it a secret. Hopefully, it’s still a secret. That would mean it’s untouched.” He turned to release the latch and push the door open, just a crack. He whispered, “Beyond this door is a standard sleeping bay. Past that, the hall shared with the newcomer’s bay. Soldiers could be anywhere.” Loryn pulled her bow from her back and nocked an arrow as Cooper opened the door.

They crept through the room, stepping carefully so as to minimize any disturbance of the layer of dust on the floor. He opened the door to the hall only slightly and listened for more than a minute. All was silent. They stayed close to the wall as they moved toward the dining hall. This was one of the few spots in the Guild were several passages converged. It was worth pausing long enough to listen for anyone walking in the adjoining halls, but only for a few seconds; remaining longer would only increase their own risk of discovery. He signaled down one of the halls and Loryn answered with a nod, indicating that she agreed. There were marching footsteps echoing softly from far down the hall leading toward the former Scribe’s Storefront. Cooper pointed down