Read Online The Blackguard (Book 2) by Cheryl Matthynssens - Free Book Online
Authors: Cheryl Matthynssens
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and Owen had been with him since he’d killed his predecessor. Aorun trusted them both as much as he dare trust anyone, and let no one else close to him. He had others in his employ and protection, but only these two knew most of what Aorun did, and only they were allowed to stand beside him in the trench. Their position meant that both of them slept in the Trench Hall.
“Sordith, since you have a head for numbers and do not mind it, I want you to oversee the collections today. Review the warehouse reports and inform me if you see any discrepancies.” Aorun indicated the pile of reports on his desk, his tone one of unquestionable order. He waited until Sordith gave his usual brief nod. Sordith did not speak overly much, but he had a sharp eye and was good at catching errors in figures. Aorun had some education with numbers, but had to belabor them with difficulty. He was a man of the sword and hated anything that required him to sit behind a desk with paper.
“Owen.” Aorun paused, waiting for the man to look to him. “The wench in my bed has little skill and giggles far too much. Deliver the slut to Madam Aerius down at the brothel and make sure you tell the Madam to put the girl into training for at least two weeks before she is offered up to any tiers.” Owen nodded and turned to head for Aorun’s bedroom. “Oh, and Owen.”
Owen turned back and looked at Aorun. “Yes, m’lord?” he asked. His deep voice usually brought plenty of his own wenches, and his commanding tone was what made Aorun look him over the first time when assessing men to move up to his side.
“Feel free to test her yourself, but I found her sorely lacking in any skills.” Aorun smiled at his man, knowing that to use the Trench Lord’s woman in his bed would be a pleasure he would not have to offer Owen twice.
“As you command, m’lord, so shall it be.” Owen grinned wickedly, already unbuckling his sword belt as he walked out the door.
Aorun caught Sordith’s disapproving glare at Owen’s departing back before Sordith could mask it. “You have got to get rid of that sense of honor of yours, Sordith. While it leads me to trust you with my books, I swear one day you will get yourself carved up for some wench who deserved her lot.” He shook his head, chuckling softly.
Sordith had already schooled his face to its usual casual blandness. “They can try,” he answered with some arrogance.
Aorun just shook his head. When the door behind Owen shut, his demeanor became more serious. “What time is the stable lord due to visit us?”
Sordith moved forward on that question. “I again beg you to reconsider helping this man. This army he plans to build…what if it is you they seek to dethrone?” Sordith frowned at Aorun. “I do not like this breeding of people like they are dogs.”
“Sordith, most of those sent to the stables are little more than dogs. Look at it this way, if it bothers you so much: those that are accepted and keep their mouths shut are given a chance to leave the sewers. It will help some better their lot.”
Sordith leaned onto the desk as Aorun sat down behind it. “Maybe the half-breeds, Aorun. Maybe their lot is better, but Lerdenian women are free. They should not be rounded up as slaves.” Sordith spoke with passion; he was one of the few that could speak to Aorun so honestly.
Aorun’s eyes hardened as Sordith spoke. “Even if I agreed with you, which as a point of fact I do not, the High Minister himself has commanded that I work with the stable lord. I am not going to be the one who irritates that man. There are few that give me cause for concern, but he is one of them.”
“So you are afraid to refuse,” Sordith shot back, his anger at such injustice flaring up.
Aorun’s temper flashed and he rose up to lean across the desk. His eyes narrowed, and he drew his face within inches of Sordith’s. “Say that again,” he hissed dangerously to Sordith.
T he two stood eye-to-eye for a long
“Sordith, since you have a head for numbers and do not mind it, I want you to oversee the collections today. Review the warehouse reports and inform me if you see any discrepancies.” Aorun indicated the pile of reports on his desk, his tone one of unquestionable order. He waited until Sordith gave his usual brief nod. Sordith did not speak overly much, but he had a sharp eye and was good at catching errors in figures. Aorun had some education with numbers, but had to belabor them with difficulty. He was a man of the sword and hated anything that required him to sit behind a desk with paper.
“Owen.” Aorun paused, waiting for the man to look to him. “The wench in my bed has little skill and giggles far too much. Deliver the slut to Madam Aerius down at the brothel and make sure you tell the Madam to put the girl into training for at least two weeks before she is offered up to any tiers.” Owen nodded and turned to head for Aorun’s bedroom. “Oh, and Owen.”
Owen turned back and looked at Aorun. “Yes, m’lord?” he asked. His deep voice usually brought plenty of his own wenches, and his commanding tone was what made Aorun look him over the first time when assessing men to move up to his side.
“Feel free to test her yourself, but I found her sorely lacking in any skills.” Aorun smiled at his man, knowing that to use the Trench Lord’s woman in his bed would be a pleasure he would not have to offer Owen twice.
“As you command, m’lord, so shall it be.” Owen grinned wickedly, already unbuckling his sword belt as he walked out the door.
Aorun caught Sordith’s disapproving glare at Owen’s departing back before Sordith could mask it. “You have got to get rid of that sense of honor of yours, Sordith. While it leads me to trust you with my books, I swear one day you will get yourself carved up for some wench who deserved her lot.” He shook his head, chuckling softly.
Sordith had already schooled his face to its usual casual blandness. “They can try,” he answered with some arrogance.
Aorun just shook his head. When the door behind Owen shut, his demeanor became more serious. “What time is the stable lord due to visit us?”
Sordith moved forward on that question. “I again beg you to reconsider helping this man. This army he plans to build…what if it is you they seek to dethrone?” Sordith frowned at Aorun. “I do not like this breeding of people like they are dogs.”
“Sordith, most of those sent to the stables are little more than dogs. Look at it this way, if it bothers you so much: those that are accepted and keep their mouths shut are given a chance to leave the sewers. It will help some better their lot.”
Sordith leaned onto the desk as Aorun sat down behind it. “Maybe the half-breeds, Aorun. Maybe their lot is better, but Lerdenian women are free. They should not be rounded up as slaves.” Sordith spoke with passion; he was one of the few that could speak to Aorun so honestly.
Aorun’s eyes hardened as Sordith spoke. “Even if I agreed with you, which as a point of fact I do not, the High Minister himself has commanded that I work with the stable lord. I am not going to be the one who irritates that man. There are few that give me cause for concern, but he is one of them.”
“So you are afraid to refuse,” Sordith shot back, his anger at such injustice flaring up.
Aorun’s temper flashed and he rose up to lean across the desk. His eyes narrowed, and he drew his face within inches of Sordith’s. “Say that again,” he hissed dangerously to Sordith.
T he two stood eye-to-eye for a long
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