Sage by Stephanie Holder

Author:Stephanie Holder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, young adult, sage, soldier, teen fiction
Publisher: Stephanie Holder

*******

Nox downed a glass of whiskey, and then smacked his lips together in appreciation. He flashed the bartender a grin, revealing sharp teeth, and tapped his glass to gesture for another refill. The bartender gave Nox a cautious look, but whether that was because he was suspicious of him or couldn’t decide if he had had too much drink, Nox didn’t know. Didn’t care, either.

He was on night-watch, having arrived in Sacred Plains in record time with Dante and Toren earlier in the day. They had wanted to meet with Yunen as soon as possible, but discovered he was held up in some important conference for the rest of the afternoon. Toren would find a way to get the message to him, though, as Toren always did. Even after all these years, Nox and Dante didn’t question Toren’s… efficiency when it came to things like that.

Luckily for Nox, the Shadow Soldiers weren’t easily recognised in Sacred Plains, at least not to civilians. The Renark’s policy was that the civilians of Sacred Plains remain oblivious to what was beyond the regional borders, because the trials and tribulations of Soldiers were of no importance to those not involved. Nox didn’t agree that civilians should be ignorant, but he wouldn’t deny that Sacred Plains had kept up its reputation as the most peaceful, well organised city in Zone.

Nox threw back his next drink and then dropped the glass onto the table. He took a look around the shabby little bar as he stretched his arms back, a satisfying crack rippling up his spine, and saw only a few strays loitering on single tables. It was just after midnight, and since the streets of Sacred Plains emptied after nightfall it was only the lonely, and the suspicious, that stayed out.

Until two men in business attire, the Sacred Plains emblem of a diamond stitched into their lapels, walked into the bar. They were jovial but looked weary, and Nox almost scoffed. How hard their lives must be, how tiring it must be, to sit at a desk all day and squabble over words on paper.

‘That conference went on for longer than necessary,’ one of the men said, gesturing to his companion that they seat themselves at the bar.

‘It’s because Yunen doesn’t know when to shut his mouth,’ the other said and together they shared a bout of laughter, like there was some personal joke between them. Yunen certainly didn’t seem like the type to speak out of turn, but then again Nox hadn’t seen him since he had coincidentally received the higher job position.

Nox turned in his seat so he faced the rest of the room, arms back and propped up on the ledge of the bar, but he kept himself focused on the conversation between the two men.

‘We’ve got another conference tomorrow,’ the first man said, and Nox glanced across to see them receive a glass each of dark scotch.

The second man took a swig and then said, ‘Yeah, but tomorrow’s isn’t as imperative

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.