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

discharge our duty, but the trail ends here!” He vehemently stabbed a finger toward the ground at their feet. The captain retorted, “If that’s the case, then you’ve no real choice but to return to your post and await the official inquiry!” The sergeant began to gain steam again, “There’s no point, sir. There’s no prisoners left there to guard! There’s just us and the masons, and we surely don’t have to guard them. At the moment, they’re not even willing to step outside their bunkhouse!”

At this point, Yoren was close enough to intercede. He held up his Badge of Office, “Excuse my interruption of your scintillating discussion, but please inform me what this is all about.” The captain opened his mouth to speak but Yoren interrupted him, “My apologies, captain. I was actually asking the sergeant.” The sergeant flashed a prideful expression which quickly withered under the captain’s glare. The sergeant cleared his throat and began, “All the prisoners from the quarry escaped. They were broken out, I’m sure of it. But the blackguards also relocked the stockade gate behind them so we didn’t notice until it was time to get everyone up for work this morning.” As the man took a breath, Yoren inquired, “And how can you be certain that they were broken out?” The sergeant replied simply, “Four of our guards had been killed with arrows, or crossbow bolts.” One of the other guards chimed in, “And cuz one-a the masons seen ‘em!” he received a backhanded swat from one of his cohorts, but Yoren followed the information and addressed the man, “And what did the masons say?” The guard now looked uncomfortable to be the subject of attention. He looked to the sergeant for relief. The sergeant growled, “Tell the man. Can’t you see? He’s the Royal Spymaster! If anyone can get to the bottom of this, it’ll be him!” Yoren smiled. Iona knew that was meant to be his ‘comforting’ smile. He didn’t realize it was closer to the smile you might find on a predator as it closed in on its prey. The guard stammered, “One-a the masons said he seen one-a the blackguards. Said he moved faster’n the wind an’ had eyes’a the devil!” The guard was nodding vigorously, as if to add credence to his report. Yoren inquired further, “And why do you call them “blackguards”?” The sergeant came to the man’s rescue and answered for him, “Sir, the mason reported that the person he saw was dressed all in black leather. But in the storm last night, with all the wind and rain, it could’a been brown or blue cloth for all we know. Once clothes get that wet, they get shiny, and then everything looks like leather. An’ that time’a night, all dark colors look black.” The second guard spoke up, there was a slight whine to his voice, “I’m jes’ sayin’ what they tol’ me.” Yoren held his hands out in a calming gesture, “I understand that. And I want to hear everything you have to say.” He turned to the sergeant, “Might I guess that the quarry is generally in that direction?” He pointed northwest. The sergeant affirmed with a gruff, “It is, sir.” Yoren looked back to Iona. She nodded. Yoren then asked, “And what led you here?” The sergeant replied in a matter-of-fact tone, “Wagon tracks.” Yoren raised an eyebrow, “Wagon tracks led you from the quarry to here?” The sergeant gave a definitive nod, “Yes, sir. Deep ruts from there to here, then they disappear entering The Heights.” Yoren looked from guard to guard and they were all nodding in agreement. The Spymaster turned to the Watch Captain, “And were there any reports of wagons, heavily laden with fugitives, being hauled through the city last night?” The Watch Captain drew himself up to his full height and announced, “None, sir!” Yoren nodded his head, “Of course there wasn’t.” Iona noticed that while Yoren was asking questions, Felis had been looking west at the approaching tracks, then east into The Heights. One of the other guards interjected, “But sergeant, like I tol’  ya, them tracks coulda been left by them kids after they dropped off the blankets an’ firewood. We don’t know fer a fact that them tracks come from them blackguards.” Felis was still listening as he walked far enough west to see past the walls and buildings. He looked north toward the reservoir then south along the University walls. The sergeant replied, “That blondish-haired lad said he needed to get home before he got in trouble. They wouldn’t have come this way. They would have taken the southern road and not even approached town. Besides, their wagons were empty. Are you tellin’ me that empty wagons made ruts that deep?!” Felis then looked east again and followed an invisible line back around to the south. He walked a little further south, to the corner of the University wall and examined the ground. Yoren returned to an earlier line of questioning. He asked the sergeant, “You mentioned that four guards had been killed by arrows or crossbow bolts. How is it that you don’t know which?” The sergeant looked flatly at Yoren, “Because all that was still there was the holes in ‘em, and through their armor. Whatever it was that made the holes was gone.” It was apparent that Felis was still listening to the ongoing conversation. When he returned to stand beside Iona, he was smiling, faintly.

 Yoren turned to the officer, “I thank you, captain. We’ll take it from here.” He turned to face the sergeant, “Please lead the way to the quarry.”

*****

As the sky began to brighten in the east, Cooper opened his eyes. It only took a moment to realize where he was. He rose quickly and looked around the room. His movement drew Balat’s attention and the boy waved him over. When Cooper drew nearer, Balat spoke quietly, “A few of them have been moaning