Boots for the Gentleman by Eon de Beaumont

Author:Eon de Beaumont [Beaumont, August Li; Eon de]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Chapter 11

AFTER TAKING five different carts and a meandering set of country roads to the outskirts of the city, Querry and Reg arrived at the edge of the factory district just as night fell. It was bitter cold and still; nothing but the distant chug and clang of the plants broke the silence. The clouds hung low and pregnant with snow, but, as yet, none fell. Darting from shadow to shadow, hoping the hood of his fur-lined cape would hide his face, Querry led his companion toward Dink’s shop, jumping at the slightest sound, unnerved even by the crunch of their feet on the filthy snow. Reg’s gloved hand went again and again to the antique pistols with the mother-of-pearl grips that he wore across his hips or to the rapier beside them. Querry knew Reg could handle them. He’d been quick and adept when they’d played at swords as boys, and weapon proficiency remained part of a gentleman’s education. Still, Querry hoped Reg’s skills wouldn’t be put to the test. Fortunately the brutal temperature gave them the streets to themselves, and soon Dink’s scrap yard came into view. Taking Reg’s hand, Querry sprinted the final block and turned onto the path that led to the small store.

The chimes announced their entry into the warm, well-lit space. Querry breathed into his hands to warm them as he looked at the treasures gleaming on the walls and lining the shelves and counter. Reg, who’d heard Querry talk about the shop but had never seen it himself, gazed around with almost as much amazement as Frolic had. Gingerly he touched a polished brass, telescopic monocle.

“Odd,” Querry said, looking at the chain-mail curtain from which Dink should have already emerged. He called out his old friend’s name, though, and heard a scuffling from the other room.

To his surprise, not Dink, but the blond leader of Dink’s scavengers, the boy who called himself Lizard, appeared. Querry could see at once that something had badly shaken the boy; his face was pale and his eyes darted back and forth. In his hand Lizard held a heavy, metal wrench, and he didn’t look like he planned to use it for tinkering. Seeing Querry, the boy relaxed only slightly.

“Lizard,” Querry said, putting a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Where’s Dink? Has something happened?”

“Yeah, you might say that,” came the answer. “Couple of weeks back, half a dozen big blokes show up in the middle of the night. Me and the boys was asleep down below, and we woke up to hear all kinds of noise coming from the shop. We hear Dink arguing with someone, so we come up to investigate. Now, these blokes claim to be coming from that Lord Thimbleroy, but they sure don’t look it.”

“How so?” Querry pressed.

Lizard shook his head. “Just, don’t. Too rough, like, street gang types.”

Querry nodded. A boy like Lizard knew thugs when he saw them. “What happened?”

“They say they’re recruiting artisans for work on that there tower. Old Dink tried to brush them off, when they tell him the job ain’t optional.

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