The Shadow Revolution by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

Author:Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Historical
ISBN: 9780345539502
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 2014-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Kate felt badly out of place in the Devil’s Loom.

The close, musty scent of sweat and beer mixed with suspicious glances from the locals. Knowing eyes pinned her as a provincial swell with no attachment to the neighborhood. They also stared at Malcolm beside her, but with looks of concern, and even fear.

Simon stood at the bar chatting amiably with a group of rugged workingmen. They all laughed and slapped each other’s shoulders, and Simon bought them ales, and the laughing and slapping commenced anew.

Kate sipped a glass of pedestrian sherry, wishing it were something stronger. “Mr. Archer seems to be getting on.”

Malcolm grunted and shifted. She could hear the telltale rattle of his twin Lancaster pistols beneath his coat.

“It’s remarkable,” she continued. “Everyone likes him. From lords to longshoremen.”

“Yes.” Malcolm grunted again. “Everyone.”

“It’s almost unnatural.”

The hunter downed his scotch with a grimace of whiskey criticism. “It’s because the man has no soul.”

“That’s a terrible thing to say, Mr. MacFarlane.” Kate twisted her head quickly, shocked.

“It’s not meant as a criticism. He is exactly what he needs to be, whenever he needs it. But I can tell you, we’ve never seen the true man.”

Kate regarded Simon, who continued to master his audience with a glib phrase and a direct, manly look in the eye. Perhaps the grim, uncomfortable Malcolm was merely jealous of Simon’s easy nature.

The Scotsman murmured, “I wonder if he’s ever seen it either.”

“Mr. Archer learned how to survive in a society that cared little for him. No different than how you learned to live out in the wild, I imagine. Some may call you uncivilized and uncouth.”

Malcolm shrugged, taking no offense.

“Doesn’t make you any less of a man, does it?”

Malcolm grinned. “No, it doesn’t.”

Kate sat back. “Any more words of wisdom?”

“His friend, Nick Barker, is a coward.”

“Why do you say that?” she asked with surprise. “Because he doesn’t want to stand up to Gretta Aldfather?”

“Among other things. I abhor magicians who prefer the shadows instead of facing someone outright.”

Kate recalled how, after the fight with Lord Oakham, she had seen Simon upbraiding Nick for some distasteful action to bring the battle to an end. And there was no denying Nick’s reluctance to get involved with Imogen’s problems. Still, he had done something to help the wounded and he was Simon’s friend. She was coming to trust Simon’s judgment. “Perhaps there is more to Mr. Barker than we know.”

Malcolm snorted his skepticism. “I’d certainly wager that.”

“Regardless, Simon Archer is one magician who does not stand in the shadows.”

“Perhaps. We’ll see who stands and fights when hell breaks loose.”

“Do you have character assessments of me then?”

Malcolm slowly raised his eyes to her. His hunter’s countenance sent chills along her spine. Gratefully, her attention was drawn to Simon as he shook hands all around his group of chums, signaled to the barman for another round for them, and came smiling back to the table. He sat opposite Kate and Malcolm, glancing curiously at Kate’s penetrating expression.

He drummed his hands on the tabletop.

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