Shadow Rogue Ascendant by Mike Truk

Author:Mike Truk [Truk, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

I led the way back into the waiting chamber, a tight smile on my face, hand repeatedly patting the empty spot where my sword hilt should have extended from my scabbard. How was I going through blades so quickly? Thank Blind Fortuna for being deep underground; the sheer amount of solid stone between the office and this parlor was such that people glanced up at me with some measure of concern, but little more.

“Is everything all right?” asked one man from the depths of his couch, a lit pipe glowing cherry red in his fingers. “I heard - I thought I heard - shouting?”

“Everything is well, nothing to worry about,” I said, patting his shoulder as I passed him by. His coat was excessively fine. “Just a minor disagreement about rents. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

“I say,” said the butler, emerging from the shadows. “Is your business concluded? If so, I’ll escort you above?”

“Master Kzzgt would like a word,” said Netherys before I could respond. “He asked that you attend him immediately.”

The butler blinked. “Most assuredly.” He brushed past Netherys, who followed him into the dark hall.

“Now,” I said, brushing at the spattered mud that ruined my costume. “To work. If you’ll excuse me.” My tight smile became a grimace as I led Cerys and Iris through the compact knot of chairs to the back of the chamber, where a tunnel extended into rose-lit gloom, a dozen doors leading off of it.

A well-dressed gentlemen in a waist coat and flaring sleeves stepped in my way just before I could enter the corridor. Something about his rakish smile and the gleam in his eye immediately betrayed him for one of my kind, however, and not a true elite. “Excuse me, sir, but this hallway’s for clients of the highest degree. You squared everything away with Master Kzzgt?”

“Not really, no,” I said. “But I’d appreciate your directing me to the lampetraman.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That don’t add up, see. Why should I allow you to sample our wares free of charge?”

Cerys reached over casually and pressed a small blade to his neck. “I’m sure we can find an adequate incentive.”

The man’s smile didn’t falter. “Now see, that’s some good incentivizing right there. I can accommodate such motivations with ease. Third down on the left.”

“Good man,” I said, patting him on the shoulder. “I’d not try and raise the alarm while we’re in there.”

“Well, that’s sort of my obligation, isn’t it, seeing as I’m a paid employee of this here rarefied establishment, and would like to remain as such.” His smile turned apologetic. “Don’t see as I have much of a choice.”

Netherys joined us, brushing her ashen hair back over her slanted ear. “You’ll have to wait to make your report to Master Kzzgt,” she said, drawing the helm out of our new sack so that it gleamed for but a moment before she let it fall back within. “So you might as well take a seat and wait.”

The man’s face paled. “Ah.

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