Read Online Ethan Wright and the Alchemist's Order, (Book 2) by Kimbro West - Free Book Online

a dead one — you’d better watch your attitude, alchemist — I could just as easily spill your blood right here … in this very room,” grumbled Ciprian.
    “That’s enough from you, Ciprian. Be kind to our guests or I’ll put you on Stonewolf duty,” hissed Xivon.
    Overlooking Ciprian’s comments, the man with the gold medallion continued. “It was reported that Odin, friend of Loka, is currently bound to the Oroborus. Not only is Odin untrained in binding with such a creature … he isn’t even an alchemist — we assume the binding is only temporary. He would make an easy target.”
    Xivon laughed with delight. “And at the same time, killing Odin would send a … message … to Ethan Wright. The kind of message that may get him interested in searching me out.” Xivon pondered for a moment. “Hitomi — you are the best assassin this world has ever seen. I want you to make a display of whoever is in the hut of Dimon.”
    Hitomi sat motionless. “Your praise of my talent is appreciated, General Xivon, but I try not to make it a habit to make a mess of things,” he said with a pointed glance at Ciprian. “I use precise instruments and prefer my work is kept secret. Besides, precision … inside the hut of the most dangerous being in all of creation … is needed. This may not be the right task to assign me if you require a display, especially since there was already an attempt on Wegnel. No doubt there will be guards all about the area.” Hitomi’s eyes glistened with a fierce blue that matched the markings on his face except for a thin green line separating his pupil from his iris.
    Xivon’s face contorted and the displeasure was instantly apparent to Hitomi.
    “But if I had a distraction, I could easily split him open and push the corpse into the street before I leave, if that’s what you wish,” added Hitomi bluntly.
    Xivon smiled. “I can give you the distraction of a lifetime, Hitomi … as I will be going along. I haven’t been to Tirguard … in years,” he added, laughing.
    “Are we concluded then?” asked the alchemist with the gold medallion.
    “Yes … alchemist. We are finished. I would, however, like to keep Seafarer; he has been most useful. Consider him a gift to me.” Xivon focused his cold grey eyes on the human contingent, giving them a demanding look.
    The man with the gold medallion nodded. “Of course,” he replied. He and two others, having concluded their business, briskly left the room before any further demands could be made.
    “What kind of distraction, my Lord?” asked Ciprian humbly.
    “For once, Ciprian, you have asked an intelligent question.” Xivon clasped his fingers together and took a moment for himself. “I have been made aware of the sudden … appearance … of the Mortuus Manus bracelet.”
    This captured everyone’s attention, including Hitomi, whose irritation quickly evaporated with the news. “The bracelet is in Tirguard?” asked the assassin.
    Xivon gazed around the table to observe everyone’s reaction to the news. “Yes … the device had been hiding in an old Aeroseth library in Tirguard — recently unearthed by the current Castellan. The fool doesn’t even know what he has.” Xivon’s pleasure at releasing the news was suddenly overtaken by a great seriousness. “I want it made perfectly clear — there is nothing more important than getting that bracelet in my hands. If it requires killing our partnership with…,” he laughed, “or just killing the Alchemist Order altogether, then so be it — any problem with that, Seafarer?”
    The hooded alchemist shook his head gracefully, indicating he had no issues.
    “And if we should happen to run into Ethan Wright while in Tirguard?” asked Hitomi.
    Xivon reached inside his cloak, pulled out a metallic arrow and set it on the table. “This,” replied the General.
    “A torture arrow? Am I correct to presume … you do not wish us to kill him?” asked Hitomi, leaving the arrow