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

do.” Birt shook his head, smiling, “Now why didn’t I think of that?” Dailen edged Cooper away from the others and leaned in to speak quietly, “I saw how you rushed the workman's house in the quarry. Talent or not, I've only seen someone move that fast one other time... and that was you as well; in Mister Skran's training room, when you were asked to demonstrate against the dummy.” Cooper tried to assure him, “Everyone's Talent is a little different. You know that.” Dailen shook his head as he replied, “Yeah, but in Mister Skran's class, you hadn't Manifested yet.” The way Dailen was looking at him, Cooper knew he had to say something. He answered, “I've always been fast. If you're expecting some kind of explanation, I don't know what to tell you.” Dailen's tight-lipped expression displayed his dissatisfaction, but he didn't press further. They walked the rest of the way back in silence.

They returned to the House where the Guild prisoners were recovering and entered quietly. Rukle and Loryn were waiting for him. They rose quickly and stepped to meet him. Loryn whispered, “Most of them have just now gone to sleep. A few of them barely stayed awake long enough to eat. Several of them will need a healer, someone better than us, that’s for certain.” Her face bore an expression of concern as she looked around the great room. She brightened as she added, “Oh! Mister Ysel was insistent that he speak with you… but once he’d filled his belly, sleep overtook him.” Cooper didn’t even consider waking the man, “Let him sleep. We can only imagine the dread and hopelessness these people have lived through these last months.” He turned to face Loryn and Rukle, “And there’s still much more that we’ll be asking from them. Mister Ysel especially.” He took a few steps into the room and scanned the occupants. He turned and spoke over his shoulder to the two of them, “Recognize anyone else? Any other instructors or Masters?” Rukle replied, pointing “One of those ladies worked in the kitchen.” Rukle then pointed at one of the men who was laying, curled up, on his side, “He was one of the porters. One of those ‘almost invisible’ Guild workers; a student who became a laborer after failing at his classwork.” Cooper looked more closely at the man, but didn’t recognize him. The man’s breath seemed to catch in his throat from time to time and when it did pass more easily, there was a noted wheeze. The muscles in the man’s face would often twitch, as if to reflect the pain he felt throughout the day. It appeared that his body was too fatigued for those twitches to be transferred to his limbs. “He doesn’t look good. It looks like the guards beat down anyone who looked like they were physically strong, or might have the will to resist.” Loryn agreed, “He’s one that might not last the night. If he wakes he has a chance, I suppose.”

Balat had propped himself up near the fireplace. He shifted to sit upright, his arm cradled in the sling Cooper had fashioned. He used a poker to flatten the coals, then tossed a few small logs onto the glowing bed, “I’ll keep the fire hot. The construction teams have done a good job on the roof. I haven’t noticed any water dripping through anywhere.” Cooper jingled the coin he’d received from selling the horses and wagons, then handed it to Balat, “For more food or wood. Whatever is needed.” He turned to Rukle, “Have a couple of Dreg’s boys drop by a few times each day. They can run errands and fetch supplies.” Rukle nodded, “What about the clothes for them? And the food?” Cooper turned to Birt who handed him an emerald half the size of his thumbnail. Cooper handed it to Rukle, “I don’t have to tell you that the ‘clothes for everyone’ should simply be sandals and a better class of rags, rather than a doublet, breeches and boots, right?” Rukle grinned as he accepted the gem, “No feathered tricorne hats with matching calfskin gloves? How shall I manage their disappointment?” Cooper faked a tone of great seriousness, “I’ll trust you to muddle through as best you can.” His voice reverted to normal as he continued, “And I’ll expect that whatever errands they’re sent out on, they’ll skim a little off the top. That’s fine, as long as they satisfy the task they were sent to complete. Make that clear to them.” Rukle nodded and replied, “And I haven’t forgotten our interests in that mysterious house in the Dregs, and I know you haven’t either. They’re keeping eyes on it at all hours until I tell them otherwise.” Cooper nodded, “Tell them to keep at it. Maybe another week, but probably not two. It depends on how things shake out, considering tonight’s events.” Rukle and Loryn left to collect Spen on their way back to the Ruins. Cooper stepped closer to the fire to warm himself, then knelt beside Balat and pulled the sling back to expose his injured arm. Balat mused, “The quarry break went smooth. Any chance that the next-” Cooper silenced him with a glare, “Discipline. Self-Discipline. That’s one of the hardest lessons for me, too. But it’s essential for an Assassin.” He glanced around the room, “Everyone here is Guild, but not everyone will be involved in what’s to come. Only discuss plans when you can be certain of the audience.” Balat nodded, it looked like he wanted to reply, but kept his thoughts to himself. Cooper inspected the boy’s arm, feeling gently to see if either of the bones had been broken completely. The spot where he’d absorbed the kick had swollen rapidly and was already turning a few colorful, angry shades of red and purple. Balat took the conversation onto a different, personal track, “Any thoughts of a healer?” Cooper pulled the sling back