Fires of Alexandria by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter [Carpenter, Thomas K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: alternate history, steampunk, historical mystery
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2014-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Lysimachus ran his fingers through the girl's short black hair, relishing its silky feel. He could feel himself rise with excitement. The girl was trembling in fear of him, but he knew in time, and after thorough training, she would come to accept his touch with relish.

He grinned to himself, pushing an errant curl from his vision. The night was going better than planned.

He'd planned on killing Heron and taking his...correction, her workshop as payment for the debt. And then sell the contents to Philo, who would pay grand sums to get his greedy hands on her papers.

That way he would receive much more than the meager cut he took of the taxes he collected.

But now, given his new information, a delicious twist as it was, he would take her into his house as a slave. Since she was a woman masquerading as a man, she wouldn't be able to raise a fuss or she'd be put on trial and hung at the first dawn.

Gragne cleared his throat. "They should be breaking down the doors right soon."

Lysimachus let his gaze lazily drift over his henchman, who pawed at the girl as he held her.

Lysimachus frowned at Gragne. He was getting right too familiar with property that wasn't his. It was possible there would be additional casualties than just the ones in the workshop.

The Alabarch fingered the blade at his hip. When events were firmly in control, he would consider giving the man his final reward. Lysimachus couldn't much stand the man's odorous breath anyway.

The mercs that he'd hired to do the evening's job could be added to his retainer. He would be able to afford them after the sales to Philo. They would be more disciplined than the pair of thugs he'd rescued from the fighting pits.

The other one with the nasty cursed finger seemed to have disappeared anyway. Probably killed by a cheap whore when he got too friendly.

A heavy thump followed by a crash echoed from the end of the street.

"That would be the door," said Gragne.

"I know, you idiot," said Lysimachus. "I made the plans, if you don't recall."

Gragne opened his mouth and then after a surprising bit of thought, closed it again.

"And if you tell me they're breaking down the back gate now, too. I'll give you a limp in your other leg," Lysimachus spat. As his henchman shrunk beneath his gaze, the girl elbowed Gragne in the ribs and broke from his grip in a sudden burst.

The girl might have gotten away if Lysimachus hadn't been preparing to kick his henchman. So as his foot flew forward, he redirected it slightly to catch her heel, spinning her into the dirt.

Gragne recovered quickly and was on the girl like a cat on an injured mouse.

Then Gragne reared up, shouting, "Ow! She bit me." He smacked her hard across the face. "Miserable whore!"

Lysimachus kicked Gragne in the back. "Stop that. You'll wake the whole street."

Gragne had the girl's arms pinned against the ground and turned his head.

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