Black Guild by J P Ashman

Author:J P Ashman [Ashman, J P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J P Ashman
Published: 2018-02-09T22:00:00+00:00

***

‘Is that them?’ Severun asked, glancing down the street their alley led off.

‘To The Three with the lot of us if ye keep on looking at ’em, wizard.’ Longoss pulled Severun to the middle of the group. ‘We need ’em to be unawares.’ He almost missed Severun’s eyes darkening like the belly of a storm; it was only for a heartbeat and the alley lay in a patchwork of shadows despite the midday sun.

‘We can’t be sure if it’s them or not, yet,’ Coppin offered, holding placating hands up between the two men.

‘We’re not striking at folk unknown,’ Egan said, keeping an eye on the other end of the narrow alley, hand-held crossbow at the ready. ‘It’s hard enough Longoss doesn’t know where his old guild is, that we have to do this in the first place, but we’re not attacking without reason.’

Rich coming from a witchunter, Longoss thought, although his anger came from turning down Poi Son’s invitations to go to the guild itself in the past. How easy it would have been to find Poi Son now, if he knew where he was based. The bastard didn’t even travel in his usual coach any longer. Turning it over in the street and torching it during a fit of rage had seen to that. Longoss took a deep breath to calm himself. Nowt I can do about that now. Look forward, not back, that’s what Coppin tells me.

‘We won’t strike at just anyone,’ Coppin confirmed, lowering her hands before moving one up and through her recently blackened hair. ‘But since we can’t find Poi Son, we’ve to draw him to us. Hindering his assassins hasn’t worked how we’d have liked, he just sends more to kill the marks, and he’s keeping his best back since there’s not as many as before’

Gold flashed. ‘Thanks to us.’

‘And the plague,’ Coppin went on, ‘but ultimately we tried and failed at hindering him completely. We told you both what we knew about the mark on King Barrison, though. That has to count for something?’

Severun and Egan both nodded, safe in the knowledge their message got through to Ward Strickland. As had Severun’s request, whatever that had been.

‘We held up our side of the bargain there,’ Coppin said. ‘Now we need Poi Son to come for us again, like he did before.’

‘His men, you mean,’ Severun said.

Too bloody right. Longoss nodded. ‘Aye, his men, and women. And lads and lasses and big fat collared rats and all manner of bastard cunts—’

The slap Longoss received across his face was clearly audible to Egan, who turned to see what happened.

‘I won’t be hearing that word, Longoss.’ Coppin’s outstretched finger caused Longoss to cross eyes. ‘Ye know I can’t stand it.’

Cunt cunt cunt. ‘Sorry lass, ye’re right. I won’t say it no more.’ Cunt.

‘Ye better not.’ She lowered her hand and unbuttoned the top of her linen shirt. ‘Now, it’s time for me to go to work.’

Gold teeth ground as Longoss nodded his head and watched Coppin walk out onto the street.

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