The Mercenary Trilogy Boxed Set by J W Webb

Author:J W Webb [Webb, J W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Myths & Legends, Sword and Sorcery, swordplay, Souls, Assassins, Quest for Vengeance, Nomads
Published: 2019-10-16T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16 | Regroup

Corin cursed as the bird flashed past his face. Bloody thing. His nerves were shot bad enough without getting dive-bombed by shitehawks. They’d crept through the city, by way of the sewers. Not pleasant, but young Dully had responded quickly to his sisters’ urgent message. He’d been excited, happy to see her.

The resourceful pair had known every crook and hideout before they reached the sewer. Even so, that had proved tricky with Crimson Guard everywhere. Corin had heard fighting and wondered how his friends were coping.

Crawling through the sewers didn’t make for a fun afternoon but was better than getting poked at by heated steel. You had to stay positive in these situations. Hold your nerve and keep your head. Besides, his young companions weren’t complaining.

Dully led them through culverts and holes, down to the city’s belly. They’d emerged hard by the walls, waited in the dusty quiet of a deserted corner. Dully had scrambled out and run off. Returning quickly and nodding they come out. He’d led them to the crack in the walls, scarce wide enough for Corin.

“Hurry!” hissed the boy, his face just showing in the gloom ahead. A tunnel accessed via a culvert hidden by drains. Corin suspected smugglers had widened it.

But not enough for comfort. He climbed down, still cursing the bird for his ragged nerves, and crept on his knees behind the boy and his sister. They reached the far end, sunlight stabbed him but he glimpsed another crack. More of a drain hole, but with iron bars blocking escape.

Not good.

“Don’t worry,” Dully grinned at him. “I’ve been working on these bars for months––they’re my way out of the city.” Corin’s eyes widened as Dully moved his nimble fingers along one of the bars, twisted it and the rod clattered on the ground.

“How?” Corin asked.

“Stole a hacksaw,” Dully said. “Came down here whenever I could. Hard work but I’ve sawed through three. Always put them back so as not to cause suspicion.”

“Quite the little smuggler, you are,” Corin laughed.

“Among other things,” the boy’s sister said. There was a gap wide enough for Corin to squeeze through. Outside the sun hit him like a sizzling mallet. Late afternoon. Quiet. He guessed they were a long way from either gate. He heard a distant rumble that could only be the sea. Corin looked at Dully.

“Northside,” the boy said. “I usually make for the dunes, follow them for a mile and then turn back towards the city cross-country. Slip inside one of the caravan camps.”

“Why bother––I thought you were a pickpocket?”

“He finds the pockets hold more out here,” the girl said.

“That and no Crimson,” Dully added.

“So why stay in the city at all?” Corin asked as trotted alongside Dully and the girl, the shadow of walls shrinking behind them. Keep talking––that kept the fear of a crossbow bolt in your back at bay.

“Her,” Dully nodded at his sister running on ahead.

“You tried to help her––a slave? What could you do?”

“Not much,” Dully shrugged. “Her name’s Talesa, though she’ll never mention it.

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