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

“Their training would be similar to ours, but “like us”? No. No Guild is like ours. Temidan’s Guild has an even less congenial relationship with their government. Their Guild is located almost a day’s ride outside the city, or so I’ve been told. The location is a closely guarded secret and they receive their contracts through message drop offs and private meetings. It’s a safe way to operate but it takes days or even weeks from the time the client leaves a message until the Guild meets with them to either accept or refuse the contract. Many clients aren’t willing to wait that long. Freelancers do a thriving business in Temidan.” Cooper considered all this new information before asking, “And the Temidan Guild’s reputation?” Mister Ysel replied quickly, but not immediately, “Not spotless, but neither is ours, especially considering the fact that we were raided and driven from our own home. Temidan has the reputation that a contract, once taken, will be fulfilled. Is there a specific reason for these questions? Are you worried about sending Loryn and Balat to Temidan?” Cooper shook his head, “No. I’m worried about where the team that’s been hunting me, well, us came from. We confronted them last night. We killed one of them and wounded another. They left on horses. The questions that remain are the reasons for my concern.” Mister Ysel understood immediately, “Yes, I see. What brought them here in the first place, and where have they gone? And for what reason have they gone? Are you sure they were from a Guild?” Cooper sighed, “I’d say I was certain of it, but I can’t truly say that. They look like us, move like us… but they departed. I can’t say what I’d have done if I’d lost one of a team of four, but I don’t think I would’ve left. I’d have stayed and worked out how to fulfill my contract.” Mister Ysel offered no reply.

After breakfast, one of the men rescued from the quarry approached him, “’Scuse me, lad. I hear somma your people talkin’ about offerin’ spaces to open new businesses. I usta run a team’a porters over on the Waterfront. It seems ta me that wit’ alla the work goin’ on here, makin’ it nice fer new merchants an’ all, a shippin’ business might find more work’n it could handle. Eh?” Rather than inquire further, as to whether the man had the means or if it was simply an idea, Cooper pointed at Birt, “Talk to him about your plans. Maybe we can work something out.” The man followed Cooper’s instructions and approached Birt, spoke a few words and pointed back at him. Birt followed the gesture and gave Cooper a questioning look. Cooper simply gave Birt and exaggerated shrug and a look, as if to say, ‘Hear him out. See what he has to say.” Birt didn’t seem pleased but he gave the porter his full attention.

Cooper returned to the Waterfront. It had almost become part of a routine, except this morning it felt a little like returning to the scene of a crime. He tried to think of it as any Waterfront citizen would, he was here every day because this is where he lived. Where else would he be? He began walking along the boardwalk, keeping one hand on his pouch and stopping at all the vendor carts. He hadn’t walked more than the span of six buildings before he’d spotted a small group selling Apex. They’d chosen their location carefully. Tucked in away from the street. Close enough to step out and blend with the crowd, but far enough that they could quickly retreat further into the Waterfront neighborhood and disappear.

Cooper wondered if he could be convincing enough to mobilize a few Watch patrols to surround these men from Lukasi. He looked for the nearest patrol. He didn’t need to look far. Just a week ago, it might take several minutes to find a soldier of the Watch. Lately it seemed as if there was a Watchman for every ten citizens. Cooper wondered whether they had enough men to patrol the other neighborhoods. It almost seemed like every man on the city’s payroll had converged on the Waterfront.

As he drew closer, an odd thing happened. One of the guards picked him out of the crowd. The phenomenon of ‘recognition’ is an unmistakable event. The man of the Watch nudged the soldier next to him and, getting his attention, thrust his chin in Cooper’s direction. The second man followed the gesture. ‘Recognition’ again. The second man nudged the third and they all turned to move in his direction. Cooper had seen more than enough. He was already moving away and shifting through the crowd. He heard a loud, commanding voice from behind him, “You there! Halt!” Cooper almost grinned. He wondered if anyone ever actually halted when hearing those words. He turned sprinted a few steps and heard another voice from behind him, “Hey! Someone from the Palace wants to talk to you!” Not stopping, he turned and sped straight through the small group of drug peddlers and was past them before they had a chance to draw their short, curved blades. He almost laughed at the thought of the confrontation that was about to happen if the soldiers continued to pursue him. He hoped they would. After passing a dozen buildings he slowed and glanced behind him, listening for any sounds of steel on steel. He heard only the sounds of the city.

One thing that was certain, whoever was looking for him could describe him well enough that the Watch knew him by sight. Unless they’d mistaken him for someone else…? He shook his head. That would be a foolish assumption. As he considered the facts, he realized that he’d expected the Spymaster to attempt to seek him out, as his new, reliable informant. He certainly hadn’t expected the entire City Watch to be involved in the recruitment