Night of Blood and Beauty by C. S. Johnson

Author:C. S. Johnson [Johnson, C. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781948464260
Publisher: C. S. JOHNSON
Published: 2019-02-20T23:00:00+00:00

*5*

◊

Amir did not have to question how desperate he was as he raced along the port with Lumiere behind him. As they left the building—loudly, to the objection of several of the men inside who were supposed to be guarding him—Amir was beginning to wonder if he had done the right thing in letting Lumiere go.

“Wouldn’t happen to have a pistol on you, would you?” Lumiere asked, as they ran from a pair of Bohemian guards. “I’m a crack shot, and it would be easier to get rid of the king’s supporters.”

“No,” Amir called back. “If you’re going to Bohemia, why are those guards chasing you?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Those are Bohemian loyalists. They came with the king’s ambassador, and they think they’re doing the sultan a favor by catching deviants like myself and trading me off to the local authorities. Never mind that I control half the Ottoman’s profits in Constantinople.”

“Those are the Bohemian ambassador’s guards.” Amir was grateful for the confirmation, even though he did not know what to think about it. He decided he would ask Harshad later, after he found Naděžda.

“Yes, and they’re quite upset, too. Probably needed someone like me to tamper the crushing blow they’re going to deliver to King Ferdinand.”

“Crushing blow?”

“Let’s just say not everyone in Bohemia wants a revolution, but those who are not prepared for it are going to get hit the hardest.” Lumiere snorted disdainfully. “They call him ‘Ferdinand the Good,’ but personally, I prefer the name ‘Ferdinand the Good-for-Nothing.’”

Amir said nothing; he knew there was plenty of unrest in Bohemia, same as several other nations. While there was likely to be enough blame on both sides, he had a feeling there would be no easy answer.

“Say, my good sir, what is your name, anyway?” Lumiere asked. “I’m getting tired of pretending I respect you.”

Amir sniffed. “I saved your life.”

“There are plenty who would say my life is of no consequence.”

“My name is Amir.” As they ducked around another building, Amir held out his hand in greeting. Lumiere shook it as they stopped.

“Good to know.” Lumiere straightened as he glanced around. “I need to get back to the Chaos. It’s nearly dark, and I need to get into my formal clothes.”

“Formal clothes?”

“What am I? A commoner?” Lumiere shook his head. “I might have to work, but it’s at my pleasure that I do so.”

“I assume that your pleasure is the reason you were caught, too?” Amir asked.

“Don’t you know me so well already?”

Amir flinched at the thought. “You can go back to your ship once I find my partner.”

“Good,” Lumiere said. “I’m starting to get annoyed by you. But then, men of honor are frequently annoying. And I suppose looking for a woman would do that to you.”

“This is not just any woman,” Amir said. “She is too important to me.”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Lumiere rolled his eyes. “Women. Who needs them, anyway?”

Amir frowned at him, but Lumiere grabbed his arm and tugged him down another street.

“Come, Amir,” Lumiere said. “I will show you where all the contraband tends to run.

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