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

the Guild and that entity. Still, how does that explain the presence of the corpse? And what would be the connection between this battle and the burning Guildhouse, still belching smoke? Purportedly, the Guild was involved in a great many things. Perhaps it could be that two Guild-related events could occur, seemingly simultaneous, but still have no connection. Still, it seemed unlikely that two such significant events could follow so closely, and be simply coincidental. Either way, coming here helped her sift through what might have happened, and made her feel more closely attuned to the young man from the Guild. Despite the fact that both participants in the battle were Gifted, she could sense the residual power from each of them, separately and distinctly. She recalled what she’d felt while standing on the balcony in the Palace, looking eastward towards this spot. At the conclusion of the battle, one of those combatants had faded, and the other had almost seemed to grow.

She brought herself out of her reverie and glanced around. Felis had continued walking around the remainder of the cleared area. He appeared to be collecting information about what had happened here and was putting those pieces together. She’d only just met him a few days ago, so she couldn’t explain why she felt so comforted to know he was nearby. Still, he now appeared to be an almost different man. As he searched the surrounding area, he seemed to almost glide across the ground. Not like a scholar at all.

Chapter 2

Cooper didn’t know how long he’d need to wait, but he decided to use the time to do a mental accounting of his situation. In one column he had stacked up all the things he’d lost in the last twenty-four hours. In another column, he assembled a list of long-term goals. Several goals jumped right to the forefront but he kept his mind on track, rather than feeling self-pity tied to the items in the first column or rage tied to a few entries at the top of the second column. Instead, he focused on the nebulous space between the columns. What needed to happen? What did he need to do to make those goals a reality? He felt a pang of loss as his mind drifted back to Master Worthan’s Analysis and Sabotage classes. He hoped the old man had survived, but he had to assume the worst.

At this moment, Cooper was one person, acting alone. The best solutions were those where he might bring about the changes he needed by manipulating circumstances in certain ways; minimizing both his own efforts and his exposure. In order to do that, he’d need an absolutely clear picture of what he needed to manipulate. One person working alone… He couldn’t see how it might be possible.

That was why he needed to get out of the city. He knew Rukle had survived. He’d been outside the Guild when the Army attacked.  He'd spoken to him outside the Guild house afterward, just before Cooper had gone back in to assess the damage and retrieve a few belongings. Rukle had told him that he’d spoken with Dailen, who planned to go to work in a nearby Smithy. Cooper knew that Master Brais and Evan had been outside the Guild with Rukle when the Army struck, but had gone in afterward to see if they might assist any Guild members who’d managed to hide themselves from the soldiers. He didn’t know if they’d succeeded or even survived.

The one place he knew he could go to find a Master from the Guild was the Forest. Utsef was a Master, and better yet, a Master Assassin. Also, Loryn was currently in the Forest taking lessons from Utsef, along with four or five of her classmates. Maybe Utsef would know what to do, maybe not, but either way he’d need to be informed of what had happened to the Guild. They all needed to be informed. Depending on how the students responded to Utsef’s training, and pending Utsef’s approval, Cooper could bring them all back with him when he returned to Paleros. Utsef and the students, along with Rukle, Dailen and any other Guild members hidden in the city, might be able do what was needed to bring those goals to reality.

He knew Treanna should be returning to the city fairly soon, but he didn’t know which merchant caravan she was traveling with, or when exactly they were due to return. He couldn’t risk remaining in the city, inquiring after every caravan on the off chance that he might locate the right one. When she learned what had happened, she’d likely remain with the caravan and simply become a merchant. It might not be exactly what she wanted, but it’d certainly be better than whatever prospects she might have by staying in the city. He only wished he knew a way that he might pass some additional funds along to her, to guarantee her position with the caravan.

After a couple hours, Mardon’s voice could be heard from the hatch, “Ready to go? The boat’s coming in a few minutes.” Cooper stood and picked up his bag, bow and quiver; the sum total of his worldly possessions, and walked to the stairs that led to the deck above.

Cooper let his eyes scan across the city. It looked different when viewed from the water. He turned to Mardon, “Sir, I’ve been wanting to ask since we first introduced ourselves, but I didn’t feel like it was appropriate, and after that I never really had the opportunity, with all that’s been happening…” The First replied, “Sounds serious. What is it?” Cooper grinned, “Who makes your boots?” The First’s expression revealed his surprise and he let out a boisterous laugh, “My boots?!?” He laughed again before he answered, “There’s a cobbler in the Trade Quarter. He married one of my nieces. He makes all my boots. Would you like