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

as two, we’ll want to shuttle a dozen, maybe twenty people from the Dregs’ boardwalk to the Wharf City.” Rukle gestured affirmatively and Cooper took his leave.

It was a little out of his way, but he hadn’t looked in on Faril since he helped recover the bodies of his family; Remali, Chesim and Eva, from the Ruins. He hoped he might be able to observe him without being seen himself. Seeing Cooper would likely be nothing but a painful reminder for the man.

Cooper quietly circled the house and noticed that much of Faril’s fishing equipment wasn’t in its customary locations. As his curiosity increased, he asked a neighbor woman who was outside, scrubbing the caked-on remains of the last meal from a cooking pot, “Ma’am? Excuse my question, but how is Faril? After the loss of his family, I mean?” The old woman squinted at him, deciding whether she should answer. Apparently she decided there was no reason she shouldn’t. Her reply was a terse, “How is ‘e? He’s gone, that’s how’e is. Starting takin’ Apex and in less’n a week we ne’er saw ‘im again. Some’un else lives there now.” He thanked the woman and continued on his way. He wondered whether Apex, in this case, wasn’t just a form of ‘memory suicide’. Apex probably provided the man a way to forget, to avoid his pain. Cooper couldn’t imagine a pain so bad that would cause him to destroy his mind, but he knew how close Faril was to his family. He thought, “I suppose some people are simply pre-disposed to internalize their sorrows.” Yet another occasion when he might understand something but not agree with it. He was so lost in thought that he’d already taken his third step onto the South Bridge before he realized where he was.

He resisted the urge to look around. If he’d been seen then it was already too late but if not, one of the quickest ways to be noticed in a crowd is to make unusual movements. He tucked his chin, allowing his hood to fall further to conceal his features, and attempted to blend in with the crowd. As soon as he’d crossed the bridge, he hustled into the Trade Quarter. He didn’t run, he just increased his pace, as if he had somewhere he needed to be and was relieved to be free from the press of people. He knew the Trade Quarter even better than he knew Batter’s Field, and Batter’s Field had been his home for almost six years. He stepped off the street and through spaces between buildings. If the spaces were wider, they might even be called alleys but as it was it would take a determined individual to pass through with anything larger than a wheelbarrow. These passages were a nearly perfect solution for restricting the movement of anyone that might be following him. After passing through several such gaps and observing no one, he felt confident that he wasn’t being followed. He continued on his way to Miller’s Flats, but not by the most direct route.

Upon arriving at the first House, he met with Miss Camilla. She told him, “There isn’t much left for me to do for most of these people. From this point forward most of them require nothing more than enough exercise to stay limber, rest and a good diet. There are a few, however…” She let her speech trail off. Cooper told her, “I’ve spoken with some of the others; they’ve convinced me that we need to hire a healer for the other House.” She stood a little straighter, “And how have they convinced you that is necessary?” He allowed himself a small smile, “Two reasons, Miss. First, there was a group of unknown people following me. We should assume they are looking for us. If you’re making several trips between Houses on a daily basis, it’s just a matter of time when you’re discovered and perhaps lead them right to us or worse, they attack you.” She considered this and then noted, “You said there were two reasons…?” He nodded, “We’re leaving from here in a couple days. As soon as you feel they’re ready to move, in fact. But only Guild people are moving. The others will stay in the House by the Brickmaker’s. We’ll need a second healer, since you’ll be looking at which structure you want for your own.” She tilted her head slightly, “In the Ruins.” He confirmed, “Yes, miss. Despite what you may believe, or may have heard in the past, the Ruins are safe now. Or at least safer than anywhere else in the city, for us.” Camilla looked doubtful, but she added, “Cooper, you’re a full Adept now, and you seem to be in charge of most of these efforts… I think you can just call me “Camilla”, don’t you?” He shrugged, “Force of habit, I suppose, miss.” He grinned, realizing he’d done it again, then added, “Besides, it feels comfortable.”

As he turned to leave Miss Camilla spoke, “You know, many of those people in the other House can’t return to their former lives. They were sentenced to work camps.” Cooper looked over his shoulder, smiling, “I know. I’ll be speaking with them individually while Naro and Balat go hire a healer. Depending on what they did before they were sentenced, we might be able to offer them employment, if they want it.”

Cooper stepped away from her to speak with Balat, “Come with me to the other House. We can talk on the way.” Balat looked pleased to have a reason to leave the House. He’d been closed in one House or the other since the night they’d raided the quarry. His injured arm was encased in plaster that Miss Camilla had formed around it after making sure his bones had been set correctly. Cooper explained the need for a second healer, and the reasons for it, adding, “After you and Naro come back with