Rise of the Falsemarked (Spies of Dragon and Chalk Book 2) by Samuel Gately

Author:Samuel Gately
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2017-02-16T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19. A Favor

A short, polite cough from next to the bed woke Cal. He lifted his head with a start, then immediately groaned as the motion stretched at his aching ribs. Eyes closed against the bright light streaming into the room, he took a quick damage assessment. He ran his tongue over his teeth, all still there, a few a little loose. He flexed his hands. No broken fingers. Though his torso was battered and the wound on his side still hurt, he would be able to get up under his own power. Waking to injuries wasn’t unusual to Cal. What was unusual was that he was apparently lying on silk sheets.

The cough came again. Cal eased open his eyes. A servant, head bowed, stood next to the large bed Cal was sprawled on. They were in a vast, glamorous room. There was no ceiling to keep out the sunlight. Or rather, Cal noted, there was a ceiling far above them but it was made of glass. Which put him on the uppermost level of the Shields.

Cal slowly sat up, surprised to find he was unbound. He was still shirtless but it appeared his wounds had been dressed, even the healing ones on his hands. He still wore his black pants. No boots or swordbelt in sight.

“Sir,” began the servant, “I hope you don’t mind rising for a sunset drink with Mr. Bray.” Cal gave the man a dark look. He was dressed something like a palace butler but a little less formally. A thin wisp of a man with carefully pulled back hair. Cal immediately wished him ill. “I could make you a drink right now, sir, if you would care for it.” Cal immediately wished him less ill. He nodded. The servant went to the bar and began placing ice cubes in a glass.

Cal climbed out of the bed, warily found his feet. His sore ribs fussed as he stretched a little, giving himself a better range of motion. He studied the room as the servant poured him three fingers of a strong whiskey.

“I hope you don’t mind walking with this, sir. You’re due to speak with Mr. Bray in a few moments. Would you care for a cigarette?” Cal nodded and the servant produced a silver cigarette case and lighter. Cal took one and accepted the light. He drew deeply.

“Unfortunately, there is one more thing.” The servant produced a set of steel manacles and looked meaningfully at Cal’s wrists.

“I wouldn’t have pegged Hideon Bray as so worrisome,” Cal said.

“Something like that,” the servant said coolly.

Cal nodded and held out his hands. No point in forcing the servant to summon reinforcements and do it the hard way. “Bring the bottle,” he said when the manacles where firmly locked to his wrists and the men moved towards the door.

The halls were made of a smooth white substance like porcelain with walls that rose only about ten feet. High above, long curving sheets of glass wove in and out.

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