Exploitable Weaknesses by Brian Keller (best interesting books to read txt) 📕

watching individuals of the group. As they walked, most of them glanced from shadow to shadow as if expecting some nightmarish creature to come bounding out at them. Even Mister Ysel seemed to have lost his jovial demeanor. Only Miss Camilla seemed calm and content. Cooper commented to her, “Everyone else seems worried, Miss. Why not you?” Miss Camilla smiled, “You said there is nothing left to fear in the Ruins. I’ve known you to jump to conclusions and sometimes act without thinking things through, even willfully break Guild rules, but I’ve never known you to lie. If you say the area is safe, I believe you.” He nodded, accepting her explanation, criticism and compliment all at the same time, then Camilla added, “And if you think you’ll somehow avoid me examining that fresh wound of yours, then you’ve mistaken me for some other healer.” He’d assumed that would be the case and had already resigned himself to it adding, “Probably for the best, miss. Did you see those blades they were using? It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that they’d been deliberately covered in filth.”

Mister Ysel overheard their conversation and had questions of his own, “Excuse me, am I the only person here that knows anything about the history of this place?” Cooper shook his head, “No, sir. But you might know more than I do. Except for the important recent events, that is. The recent events that make me certain that we’re safe here… or at least until the City Officials realize that we’re here and come to levy taxes.” He winked at Camilla but Mister Ysel was not so easily put off, “I’m glad you’re comfortable enough to joke, but for almost a century no one has entered the Ruins, and for good reason. People have died here by the hundreds. It’s the whole reason for building the Palisade Wall, in fact.” Cooper smiled, “And now the Palisade Wall protects us from the patrols that go through the Palace District. You don’t have to believe me now, sir, but you’ll come to realize for yourself that our only threats will come from outside the Ruins. We have a great deal of work to do before we’ll be ready to keep those threats at bay.”

Cooper glanced around and loudly announced, “We are almost home… be it ever so humble.” He heard a series of responses ranging from one person calling out, “Here?!?” to a muttered, “Is he joking?” Birt picked that moment to step from the shadows and answer the last person to speak, “No, he is not joking. In fact, despite the rough outward appearance, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Follow me.” Birt’s sudden appearance and reply was met with a collective sharp intake of breath and Cooper overheard additional responses as Birt reached to shake his hand. Most of those responses pertained to various bodily functions associated with a person getting scared out of their wits while already in a terrified state.

They approached the side of a building and Birt pulled a door open and reached inside to open the shields on a lantern. Light streamed out to illuminate a foyer with a mosaic tiled floor. The image depicted was that of the sun rising over a tower, or some type of monolithic obelisk. Birt waved everyone inside, “Dailen’s inside cooking, or trying to… hopefully Loryn has already relieved him of that task. Go on through, I’ll close up behind us.”

Even Cooper was surprised by the restoration. The space was snug and the roof had been completely replaced. Birt and Dailen must’ve spent most of the day sweeping and cleaning. Some of the floor, like the newly-discovered mosaic entryway floor, had even been mopped. Almost two dozen bunks had been roughly nailed together and pallets of straw and cloth bundled to form makeshift mattresses lay on top of each of them. The former prisoners looked around the room in awe; some of them even looked a little misty. Birt apologized, “We had to make some allowances. We’ve ordered some proper mattresses, but it seemed unwise to have thirty of them brought here all at once.” One of the Guild members replied, “Lad, I’ve been in some fine inns in my life, but right now I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more welcome sight.” One of the ladies seemed to second that notion, “This is amazing”, and she stepped toward one of the bunks. Miss Camilla called out in a clear voice, “No one lays down until they’ve eaten.” Birt had stepped off to one side and had sat on a crate. He spoke over the rest of them while tapping the crate with one hand, “Mister Ysel may dispute that red wine is an inappropriate accompaniment to beef stew, but anyone who feels strongly enough about it can just drink water.” Mister Ysel took a few halting steps in Birt’s direction, “You…have…wine?” Birt stood, flipped the top from the crate and hefted a bottle for Mister Ysel’s inspection. The man reached for the bottle and smiled widely, “Perish at the thought that I’d ever claim red wine should not be consumed with beef.” He leaned forward slightly as he tilted the bottle to cast more light on the label, “In fact, this one might even be one of my first choices.” He paused and stood erect, addressing Birt, “You know this…” He let his voice trail off as Birt smiled and replied, “Never let it be said that I wasn’t an attentive Etiquette student. Welcome home, sir.”

The remainder of the night was too subdued to be called a celebration but all spirits were uplifted just the same. It seemed that almost everyone had become resigned to, even if still uncomfortable with, living in the Ruins. At least any who still harbored fears didn’t let it affect their enjoyment of a good night’s sleep.

Chapter 15

The following morning, the ladies were excited to have