The Spider and the Scribe by Morgan Stang

Author:Morgan Stang [Stang, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-09-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

I enjoyed the company of the older people that lived in them. They teased me often, and eventually I got the nickname. “The Flea-Boy of the Alleys!” they would cry. To them, that's what I was. I can't say I ever really denied it.

Harriette gawked upward as Duncan tumbled to the ground, revealing Rowan standing behind him. She held her sledgehammer, the end bloodied, and stared wide-eyed at the man she'd hit.

“Rowan,” said Harriette, feeling like her feet were stuck beneath her. She managed to run a hand through her hair. “You...you killed him...”

“He was a Cobbler's man,” said Rowan, her voice a harsh whisper. She shifted her weight back and forth on each foot. “He was gonna take you to the Cobbler. I heard him.”

“You...you fucking killed a Cobbler's man...”

“Yeah, but...but Harriette. I heard him. I heard what he said. He said he was gonna take you to the Cobbler.”

“Oh shit,” said Harriette, and she finally was able to move. She paced back and forth, staring down at Duncan, and then around the square, checking to see if anyone was out. It seemed quiet and still, but a few open windows worried her. And just around the corner of the building was a main street, where anyone could walk by and discover them.

“Oh shit, oh shit,” elaborated Harriette. “You killed a fucking Cobbler's man. Do you know what they do to people who raise a hand to the Cobbler's Guild? Do you know how mad she is? You killed a Cobbler's man.”

“Well a thank you would be nice,” said Rowan, standing at ease now. She pointed downward. “But it looks like he's still alive, actually. Kind of.”

Harriette brought a hand to her face when she saw Duncan twitching and shaking. Gurgles came from his mouth, and blood oozed out the back of his head, along with other solid bits.

“Oh god,” said Harriette, and her stomach lurched.

“Dang,” said Rowan. “It usually always takes just one. That's why Bert lets me do in all the pigs, you know. I always do it in just one swing. Not good when they need two, because then they wiggle all over the place and make the worst noise. I guess a man is a little different than a pig, though.”

Harriette put all of her mental capacity into not vomiting, but she couldn't pull her eyes away from the twitching Duncan.

“Must have been the angle,” continued Rowan. “It's gotta be. Usually they're real close to the ground. Cause pigs are short, you know? He was so high up, so I wasn't used to the angle. Hey. Hey, Harriette. Do you think it was the angle—”

“Junos and Cronia, Rowan, finish him off, please...”

“But you said it'd be bad if we killed a Cobbler's man.”

“Look at him. He's already dead. Just...put him out of his misery, oh god...”

“You want I should hit him again?”

Harriette couldn't say it, but she nodded yes, and then jumped when Rowan slammed her hammer down into Duncan's skull a second time without hesitation.

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.