Birthright by P M Cole

Author:P M Cole [Cole, P M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-29T22:00:00+00:00

*****

As day slipped into night, I made adjustments to the strange suit of armour, until it was half its original weight and had cushioning in the appropriate areas. I was now sure it could take a hefty blow to most parts without the corresponding force being applied to my body.

I looked at it hoisted upon one of the shelves and smiled. Whatever lurked in the shadows of London, I could now face with a little less fear.

As I waited for Colin to arrive to take me to see Bernard and his mysterious sick friend, I tried to put my fear of returning to an asylum behind me. Even though the institution we were heading for was different to the one I survived in for almost four years, I knew the sights, sounds and stench would drag the memories back from the dark places I had pushed them.

A knock came on the wooden partition. I pulled on the weight and it slid to the side, and I climbed out.

“Ready?” he said.

I nodded and we started our journey. I was now beginning to gain some knowledge of the routes possible beneath the streets of the city and forged on ahead, wanting to get this visit over with.

It wasn’t long before we ascended a ladder into a fog-covered street. I looked for some sign of where we were, but the opaque walls of mist gave nothing away.

Colin closed the cover and we walked forward until we found the edge of the pavement, and then a wall with black iron bars. We followed it until an orange glow waved back and forth in the distance.

I wondered if it would have been better to give my unusual suit of armour its first field test tonight, but instead, I pressed on my crossbow inside my coat confirming it was still there.

Bernard, dressed in a thick black overcoat and derby hat, appeared from the white gloom holding a lantern. A horse and carriage waited behind him but to his left were the impressive gates of the asylum, the building itself being hidden to us due to the weather conditions. His expression was grave.

“I must ask both of you to stay close to me when we are inside. My… friend should be amicable, but I cannot say the same for the other inmates.” He looked at Colin. “I expect you to protect the young lady, if—”

Before Colin could show any sign of being insulted, I lifted the inside of my coat revealing the crossbow. “The lady can protect herself.”

Bernard smiled. “Of course.”

Colin looked at us both. “I can help too!”

Bernard waved his lantern towards the gate, in the distance a similar phantom like glow moved back and forth and then bobbed and grew in size until a thickset man appeared.

“Mr Hayward?”

Bernard nodded and handed the man a coin of some kind.

“You’ll get the rest after I have spoken to my friend.”

The man then unlocked the gate and pulled one half open and we moved inside.

He led us forward.

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