The Burning City (The Guildmaster Thief Book 2) by Jake Kerr

Author:Jake Kerr [Kerr, Jake]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Shirtsleeve Press
Published: 2016-12-19T18:30:00+00:00

21

A Message in the Streets

With Raef and Alard gone and Maela imprisoned by Polo, Ralan had not felt so lonely in a long time. He stood on his balcony looking out on his guild lands, an entire half of the walled city. In the distance he could see smoke but no fires. There was the suggestion of movement near the Great Bridge, but the distance was too great for him to see more than that.

It was odd; he was one of the most powerful men in Ness at the moment, yet he felt like there was little for him to do. He missed running through the Knight Tower to rescue Alard, galloping toward Gaotteland to reach Karch, and even the Founders Day parade that left him gagging and covered in filth. At least it was something.

But what could he do in that moment? It was as his brother had said when he first informed Ralan that he was the Guildmaster Thief--he was but a figurehead. Of course for Larsen, the Guildmaster Thief was a figurehead of scorn. Now he was a figurehead of a real guild with real responsibilities, but he was still a figurehead.

Ralan wanted more. He wanted to do something.

Marching back into the Tower, Ralan entered his quarters and put on his traveling clothes. Leather breaches and a black shirt with black boots. Flowing behind him was a black cape made of liquid cloth, the rarest of materials in Ness. There would be no mistaking he was the guildmaster.

Striding out, he approached Philos. "I am going to Founders Square to meet and talk to the Harvest Guild refugees."

Philos was too experienced to even think of contradicting the guildmaster. That was Alard's job. He simply nodded and replied, "Will you require a carriage?"

"I'll be riding my horse."

"As you wish. I shall attend to them."

"Very good. I'll meet you in the stables." Ralan knew Philos would be escorting him, and while he wanted his outreach to the Harvest Guild refugees to be his personal mission, he knew it was wise to have his personal guard with him.

Thinking of his guard also reminded Ralan that he should arm himself. Returning to his quarters, Ralan secured the long dagger that Alard had given him to his waist and thigh. He doubted it would do any good against a formidable opponent but its presence made him feel better.

The stables had come a long way since their former unused and collapsed state. Ralan's horse, the majestic beast gifted to him by Lord Wilhelm stood proudly in front, Philos holding his reins. "He is a mighty steed, Guildmaster."

"He was a gift of the Outlanders. He was raised on the plains." Ralan rubbed his hand along the horse's neck. "I've named him Kalisto." It was the name of a city that Raef said was far to the west beyond the Outlanders. It sounded exotic and wild to Ralan, and it seemed to fit the horse.

"Ah, like the glittering prize," Philos replied.

"Glittering prize?"

"Yes, the children's verse. Do your work and focus your eyes, and you, too, can make it to Kalisto, the glittering prize.

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.