Guards of Haven by Simon R. Green

Author:Simon R. Green
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Penguin Group US

Down in the street, Hawk strode blindly through the snow and slush, staring straight ahead. People took one look at his face and hurried to get out of his way. Burns walked along beside him, studying his partner anxiously.

“We have to talk about this, Hawk,” he said finally. “Of course the idea of Fisher being a rogue is ridiculous, but we can’t just ignore it, either. Whoever the corrupt Captain is, it has to be someone who’d normally be above suspicion. Someone so honest and trustworthy no one would ever connect them with Morgan. Everyone we’ve talked to agrees on that, and it has to be said there aren’t many Captains in the Guard who fill that description.”

“It isn’t Isobel,” said Hawk.

“Then why name her in front of someone like Linden? Even if Morgan’s people knew they were being overheard, how would they know you’d end up talking to Linden? You only decided to visit the Advisors a short time ago.”

“He would have passed the word on, and it would have got round to me eventually. It’s just a distraction, that’s all.”

“Sure,” said Burns. “Look, whoever the rogue is, it has to be someone close to us. Close to you. Someone who knows you well enough to know the people you’d go to for answers. How else did Morgan’s people know where to ambush us after we left Saint Christophe?”

“We’re probably being watched,” said Hawk.

“Not all the time; we’d notice.”

“Well, maybe he’s got a sorcerer watching us magically! He had a sorcerer at the factory; how do we know he hasn’t got another magic-user working for him?”

“I think we’d better leave this till later,” said Burns suddenly, his voice low. “We’re being followed again. Look around you.”

Hawk’s preoccupation fell away in a moment, and he looked casually about him, his hand moving naturally to the axe at his side. “Hell’s teeth, how did I miss them? They’re not exactly professional quality, are they? That’s what happens when you let yourself get distracted. There’s a lot of them; I make it twenty-seven, most of them wearing gang colors. How about you?”

“I only see twenty-two, but I’ll take your word for it. They must have known we were going to be here, Hawk; it’s another bloody ambush. Better thought-out than the last one, too; they’re all around us this time.”

Hawk sniffed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just in the mood to cut up a few bad guys.”

Burns looked at him sharply. “Wait a minute, Hawk; this is no time to start feeling heroic. We’re outnumbered more than ten to one here.”

“So what do you suggest? Put up our hands and surrender nicely, and hope we’ll get taken as prisoners of war? This may be a war, Burns, but no one’s taking any prisoners.”

“We could always make a run for it.”

“We could, but how far do you think we’d get? The streets are narrow and crowded, and we’re both dog-tired while our pursuers look decidedly fresh. There aren’t even any fire escapes in easy reach this time.

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