The Melaki Chronicle Volume II by William Thrash

Author:William Thrash
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2014-06-03T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Melaki led the spy downstairs.

Guards were entering, and Eliam with them.

The guard captain tensed. “What manner of crime is this?”

“No crime,” said Galli. “Altanlean assassins. They do not like my master.”

The captain eyed Melaki as he came down. “A wizard? You do not look Atlantean.”

He lifted the sleeve of his robe. “Perhaps that is why they do not like me.”

The guard captain squinted. “I will not allow such activities in the capital.”

Melaki grinned. “I am not allowed to defend myself against assassins?”

The captain, a tall man with a black beard, stepped forward boldly to the wizard. He stabbed his finger forward. “You will behave as I expect or I will shut down your business.”

Melaki folded his arms, his tone challenging. “I would like to see you try.”

Galli was shaking his head frantically. “Master, no. This is not like Roka.”

“What?”

“He can indeed shut you down.”

He stood straighter. “Oh, I see.”

The captain sneered. “Consider your business closed.”

“What?” Melaki's burst froze everyone in place.

The captain raised his chin slowly. “I can throw you in prison for resisting a lawful order.”

Galli was a blur of bald as he got in between the two men. “That will not be necessary, captain. We are closed. We will see the business sold to the Royal Treasury immediately.”

The guard captain looked down at Galli and then up at Melaki. “Very well. See to it, this day.”

Melaki coughed. “Galli--”

“Silence!” Galli's shout was loud and commanding. He never yelled.

He snapped his mouth shut. He was sure Galli had his reasons.

The guard captain smiled, but it was not friendly. “You have a smart friend.” Then he whirled and left.

His other guards began lifting bodies.

Galli looked up at him. “The guard captain has final and arbitrary say on any business within the capital walls.”

“He can not just--”

“He can and did.”

Melaki heaved a sigh of frustration. “What now? What is this selling--”

“The guard captain can order you closed. If he does, you must sell to the Royal Treasury. He can also declare you forfeit, at which point you must give the Royal Treasury your property.”

“Forfeit?”

Galli nodded. “I could smell the words on his tongue; I had to silence you.”

He shook his head. “Then I owe you my thanks.”

Galli grumbled, shaking his head. “I will collect the deeds.”

“They can throw us out, just like that?”

“In the capital they can.” His assistant's voice carried from the back room.

Melaki threw up his hands. “This is insane.”

“It is the law.”

“Is it like this in your country?” he said to Adaris.

The spy jumped as if startled. “Similar, yes. But only in the capital.”

“Preposterous.”

Eliam scratched his beard. “You really did not know?”

“No, I did not know.” He spread his arms. “Do I look Callacan?”

Galli waved the deeds and gave a defeated sigh. “I was almost starting to like records keeping.”

Melaki shook his head, angry.

His assistant left just behind the last of the guards hauling away the dead assassins.

Melaki followed him out, leading Adaris. Eliam brought up the rear.

Galli looked back. “You are coming, master?”

“I was going to talk to Adaris along the way to the palace, but I suppose we now have business there.

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.