That Self-Same Metal (The Forge & Fracture Saga, Book 1) by Brittany N. Williams
Author:Brittany N. Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Abrams
Published: 2023-04-25T00:00:00+00:00
Rodge Rhode was used to the bloody business of the Bear Garden; he preferred to witness the brutality of battling beasts to the fluffy business of playmaking.
He had an eye for battle. Could peg the winner of a bout with no problem. Heâd racked up enough winning bets to make him as despised as he was admired, especially given his youth.
The jealousy didnât bother him none, but the admiration felt like gold.
âWho we got today, Rodge?â
âWell.â Rodge puffed out his chest and lay back along the bench like he was holding court. He felt the rough wood rub against his skin through the hole in his trousers. He ignored it. âHephaestusâs in the ring, so you know who my moneyâs on.â
The bear, Hephaestus, had yet to lose a match, be it against any manner of beast. Lion, dog, bull, or another bear would all fall before the beastâs might.
Rodgeâd never bet against the creature. Never was there a surer win.
âHeard heâs goinâ âgainst a newâun,â Garvin mumbled as he hobbled over. His pale pate shined with the memory of hair long gone.
Sykes snorted. âYeah, a dog.â He spat on the floor, the tip of his nose bright red against the rest of his paper-pale face.
âA dog?â Anders coughed out a laugh. He flapped a sunburned, four-fingered hand at the rest. âThey puttinâ a mangy olâ dog âgainst Hephaestus?â
Rodge laughed too.
Hephaestus hadnât been defeated in twenty bouts against all manner of great beasts. No dog could break that streak, no matter how fierce.
âYou never know, worldâs full of surprises these days.â
Rodge and his crew turned to face the man whoâd inserted himself into their gathering. He was tall and slim with a too-pretty face despite the ugly, barely healed scar cutting beneath one eye. He looked to be Black and, by his garments and ornamented hair, more suited for the playhouses than here among blood and battle.
Rodge ran his tongue across the gap where his two front teeth used to be. âYou know something, stranger?â
The man smiled and shook his head. Rodge immediately averted his gaze. He could always tell a threat, animal or otherwise. And this man, despite his foppish appearance, was a threat.
âI say we go take a look at this new one,â Anders said grinning, âand see whatâs got this knave making a fuss.â
Rodge watched the other men shuffle off.
âWell,â the stranger said, âarenât you going too?â
Rodge shook his head and refused to look at the man. âYou go along with them, Iâm fine right here.â
âOh, I think you should.â The manâs voice was suddenly very close. âI think you should go right now. With me.â
Rodge felt the manâs words shiver through his body like an icy touch. His feet moved without his permission, dragging him into step behind the man.
âThatâs a good lad,â he said.
Rodge gritted his teeth and stopped moving. He hated when people called him âlad.â At eighteen, he was fully a man, not some sniveling boy.
The other man turned around, rage in his eyes, before he let out an amused sigh.
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