(eng) Marshall Ryan Maresca - Maradaine Elite 01 by The Way of the Shield

Author:The Way of the Shield [Shield, The Way of the]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

KEMMER DIDN’T THINK the clubhouse was much. It had been a basement pub, the sort that any Druth man used to be able to run from his household. But that had been before the Brewers Guild had colluded with the city aldermen, imposing new laws to crush the average man just trying to earn a living through simple trade. The pub had been shut down years ago, since Gillem hadn’t greased the right pockets in the Guild. Gillem still owned the house, and thus the pub, where he freely let the Patriots assemble, especially to discuss the sorts of things that couldn’t be said in the Alassan. Gillem was a good sort, having seen how the common Druth were being shackled. He was an old man, too old to be in the thick of things, but he was with them in spirit.

Kemmer had come alone, leaving Braning to rest in the back alley boarding room they had rented last night. Braning was still recovering from the blow to his head at the museum, and reeling from the loss of his brother. Kemmer thought it best to let him do that, while he got a scent of the air on his own. It was possible that Constabulary or marshals were looking for them, separately or together, but Kemmer was at less risk than Braning. Kemmer at least had resources he could reach out to, were he arrested. He could demand a lawyer, and someone from his father’s agency would come. Braning had no such luck.

Kemmer had come in through the back alley, where no one but a few cats had seen him. He wasn’t sure if anyone was specifically watching for him. They must be. With most of the Patriots in shackles, they were surely being beaten for information. Lannic wouldn’t talk, of course, but the others might. The Alassan couldn’t possibly be safe. Gillem’s clubhouse probably wasn’t either, but only a few people knew about it. Enough did, though.

Other than Braning, he had no idea who was still free. The newssheet he read that morning only mentioned Lannic by name, though it said “was arrested with others.” Who? How many? Was Tharek out and about? The newssheet talked about Tarians helping capture the Patriots. Kemmer hadn’t known much about the Tarians before yesterday, other than the old fables, but from what he had seen, it would take a Tarian to bring in Tharek Pell.

“Who’s that?” Gillem stood behind the old bar, crossbow aimed at the door.

“Just Kemmer.” He held his hands up, so Gillem wouldn’t get too nervous.

Gillem put down the weapon. “Been wondering if anyone was still around. Today’s newssheets are all about our boys being ironed up.”

“Rather,” Kemmer said, closing the door behind him. “Only a handful of us free at best. Maybe just me and Braning. No one else came in yet?”

“Not unless they were mouse quiet,” Gillem said. “Ever since I got word, I been keeping an eye on the door.”

“Mouse quiet, indeed,” came a low growl from the corner of the room.

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