The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

we figure out where the bastard Thieves’ Guild is hiding and how they’re organizing. Instead of trying to catch them or drive them out of the city, we have to change our approach. We are going to take his majesty’s advice and attempt to work with the Thieves’ Guild from now on.”

“You can’t be serious,” Reuben complained.

“Keep your mouth shut so I can explain.”

“Maybe it’s best if I do it?” Jennava asked.

Leon’s strong jaw snapped shut, and he gave a nod.

“I was against the idea at first as well,” Jennava said. “I still have my reservations. I believe the people of Koluk will rise up against the thieves if we give them any power.”

“Power?” Reuben interrupted. “Why would we give them power?”

“Reuben…” Leon warned.

He had a sullen look as he folded his arms. “I’m listening.”

“It’s the only way they will cooperate with us,” Jennava explained. “We have a common enemy. We believe the thieves can be recruited as soldiers. They hate the dark mages as much as we do.”

“How can you know that?” Reuben asked somewhat politely compared to his usual tone.

“Because I have dealt with them over the years when I was pretending to be allegiant to Cason. They know the city better than any of us, and they know much of Curdith Forest nearby. They have archers and trap makers. Some of them might even have skill with sorcery. We just can’t deal with them any longer. It’s not working.”

“We failed,” Leon said bluntly. “Do you want to keep wasting time chasing ghosts, or do you want to try to use these ghosts to our advantage?”

I asked, “How are we supposed to recruit them if we can’t find them?”

“That’s why we were hoping some of you might find a way to make contact with them last night, but none of you came back with anything,” Leon said. “Now we have no choice but to spread the word and let them come to us.”

“And if they don’t?” I asked.

“Then we send word back to the king and wait for orders. I presume he will tell us to remain in the city until reinforcements arrive. They are on the way here. Then we can surround our enemies in the forest and wait until we have a better idea what they’re planning. Eventually, we will strike.”

“I still don’t understand the benefit,” Reuben said. “A bunch of murderers and rapists aren’t welcome fighting alongside us. Who knows what they will try to do as soon as we win the battle.”

“They have more honor than you give them credit for,” Jennava said. “They have never been known to rape or murder.”

“I don’t care what you and Aliana say,” Reuben argued. “One of them tried to kill us.”

“One of them,” Jennava emphasized. “Only when he was going to be captured. I don’t believe he received any orders to use lethal force.”

“He was a goddamn idiot,” Leon added. “You remember, Reuben. You were there. You saw how he handled the situation. Only an idiot would throw his life away like that by openly attacking us once we had him surrounded.”

“I suppose he was, but still—”

“The biggest concern,” Jennava interrupted, “is what we can give them in return for their cooperation.” She glanced at Leon.

“Even the king knows we can’t just leave them alone in the city. Their thieving causes damage. But they know how the city works better than anyone. They know how to catch criminals…better than anyone.” There sounded to be some reluctance to his voice. “We’re not going to like it, but we have to put them in charge of stopping crime.”

“No way!” Reuben stood up. “The king would never allow this. It’ll give them all the power in the world to commit as much thievery as they want!”

Leon bolted out of his chair. “The king is the one who suggested it!”

So this was what was in the sealed envelope, which Hadley had referred to. I looked at her, wondering how she had figured it out. I was a little surprised to see she already had her gaze on me, though she away looked before our eyes met.

Suddenly, there was a shattering sound, wood splintering as the front door to the tavern burst open.

All of us were quick to rise.

“Leon?” asked Jennava.

“I have no idea,” he said in a near whisper, fear in his voice.

The door was maybe ten yards from our table. We had been alone in the large room, but an older gentleman rushed out from the nearby kitchens. “What was that?”

“Shut up,” Leon said. “Everyone quiet.”

The hairs on my neck stood up. I casted Identify in the direction of the broken door. My mana didn’t alert me of anything, but I knew someone was there. I could feel it in my bones. And it wasn’t Eslenda.

None of us had weapons here. All were in the basement.

I was closest to the door. There was one open route through the tables. I shot dvinia down that route and waited for the inevitable body to stop my spell.

It didn’t come. My spell struck the wall near the door.

“Don’t, Jon,” Leon said. “I feel them.” He had his palm up and searching, his eyes following in the same direction. “No one move.”

He made a little twirl, and a fireball appeared in front of him. The heat and wind shook the empty bowls on the table below it. Everyone cleared a path.

Leon grunted as he casted the fireball at the ceiling just past our table. It exploded against the top of the dining room and rained down fire. One particularly large glob landed on one of the other tables. The tavern owner shrieked. Kataleya darted over.

“Nobody move!” Leon screamed at the top of his lungs. “Shut up!”

Kataleya froze, staring at the small glob of fire getting bigger on the table.

I felt the air move as something whisked around us.

Leon casted another fireball, this one parallel to the floor. It soared across the large room and struck a wall.

“Damn you, Leon!” yelled the owner as another