Read Online The Misbegotten (An Assassin's Blade Book 1) by Justin DePaoli - Free Book Online
Authors: Justin DePaoli
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dumping the rest of the ale into my bloated belly. “Truth is if you bungle up one time, you’re a dead man. You think we’ve got it all. Our pick of whores, vaults full of gold, bellies full of tender meats, and pure, unadulterated freedom. You wouldn’t be far off. But one slip of your hand, a simple miscalculation of one’s intentions… and your head’s cut clean off. Or you’re sitting in a dungeon, taking kicks to your balls till your cock spurts blood. Who would want that for their own kin?”
He folded his hands. “Especially a kin who isn’t good enough. That’s the reason you never wanted me.” He shrugged indifferently and added, “I know. I was the kid who couldn’t run through the woods without hitting his head off a branch, couldn’t scale a tree without crying about the heights. Awkward as they come, clumsy as they make ’em. But look at me now.” He spread his arms proudly and began shouting. “Just look!”
The tavern quieted and its patrons regarded us hopefully, mugs and skins in hand, waiting for the outburst to flare into a brawl they could pick sides and join in on.
“Emotional outbursts,” I whispered to my brother, “are unbecoming of a Red Sentinel officer. Congratulations for the rank, and please, don’t mistake my praise for satire.”
He lowered his head and scooted closer to the table. Realizing that fists wouldn’t be hurling into jaws anytime soon, the drunks went back to drinking, laughing and adding aitches to esses.
“How’d you know?” Anton asked.
I stretched across the table and flicked the pin fastened to his cloak. “Grunts don’t wear these. Also, I know everywhere you’ve been and everything you’ve accomplished since you joined this army. And, if you don’t mind keeping this between you and me, it’s made me proud.”
He scratched his cleanly shaven face. “I appreciate the… the gesture. Even if it doesn’t sound much like you. But I know you didn’t risk coming here to tell me this.”
“Who the hell here knows my face? Braddock and maybe a couple lords and ladies of the court? I’m not much for meandering up to the third plateau and kissing rings or whatever it is they force you to do up there to show respect, so I feel pretty fucking safe. Invincible, you might say.”
Anton finally took a sip from his mug. “I’d say the drink has a lot to do with that.”
Speaking of which. I flagged a barmaid down and had her bring me another ale. I’d sleep well tonight. “But you aren’t entirely inaccurate. Stopped by to see an old friend.”
“And who might that be?”
“I’ll spell it out for you,” I said. “Eye tee apostrophe ess. Eh ess ee see are ee tee.”
Anton scribbled the letters onto the table. Then he chuckled. “You’re a bastard.”
Smiling, I winked. “Haven’t been here for a few years, but it’s changed. A lot more… force is present. Looks like you’ve got an army up there on the third plateau.”
“Sentinels were all ordered back. Same with the Red Guard. You oughta see some of the cities around here. They say red tents are gushing out of the walls like blood.”
The barmaid brought me my ale, and I quickly wetted my lips. “My brother’s one of the lucky ones, is he? Gets to sleep in the capital of the world, instead of one of its boroughs.”
He snorted. “Not terribly lucky. You should see the keep up above. Surrounded by tents and fire pits. Not enough room here, either.”
“Must be a reason for all this mobilization,” I suggested.
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll spell it out for you. Eye tee apostrophe ess.”
I reached across and gave him a brotherly punch in the shoulder. “You don’t know shit anyway.”
He furrowed his brows. “Don’t be so sure.”
It wasn’t worth pressing him farther. There’s only one reason a king mobilizes his entire army, and it’s sure as shit not to play parade the troops through the streets and hand sweets to little boys and girls. Braddock had a
He folded his hands. “Especially a kin who isn’t good enough. That’s the reason you never wanted me.” He shrugged indifferently and added, “I know. I was the kid who couldn’t run through the woods without hitting his head off a branch, couldn’t scale a tree without crying about the heights. Awkward as they come, clumsy as they make ’em. But look at me now.” He spread his arms proudly and began shouting. “Just look!”
The tavern quieted and its patrons regarded us hopefully, mugs and skins in hand, waiting for the outburst to flare into a brawl they could pick sides and join in on.
“Emotional outbursts,” I whispered to my brother, “are unbecoming of a Red Sentinel officer. Congratulations for the rank, and please, don’t mistake my praise for satire.”
He lowered his head and scooted closer to the table. Realizing that fists wouldn’t be hurling into jaws anytime soon, the drunks went back to drinking, laughing and adding aitches to esses.
“How’d you know?” Anton asked.
I stretched across the table and flicked the pin fastened to his cloak. “Grunts don’t wear these. Also, I know everywhere you’ve been and everything you’ve accomplished since you joined this army. And, if you don’t mind keeping this between you and me, it’s made me proud.”
He scratched his cleanly shaven face. “I appreciate the… the gesture. Even if it doesn’t sound much like you. But I know you didn’t risk coming here to tell me this.”
“Who the hell here knows my face? Braddock and maybe a couple lords and ladies of the court? I’m not much for meandering up to the third plateau and kissing rings or whatever it is they force you to do up there to show respect, so I feel pretty fucking safe. Invincible, you might say.”
Anton finally took a sip from his mug. “I’d say the drink has a lot to do with that.”
Speaking of which. I flagged a barmaid down and had her bring me another ale. I’d sleep well tonight. “But you aren’t entirely inaccurate. Stopped by to see an old friend.”
“And who might that be?”
“I’ll spell it out for you,” I said. “Eye tee apostrophe ess. Eh ess ee see are ee tee.”
Anton scribbled the letters onto the table. Then he chuckled. “You’re a bastard.”
Smiling, I winked. “Haven’t been here for a few years, but it’s changed. A lot more… force is present. Looks like you’ve got an army up there on the third plateau.”
“Sentinels were all ordered back. Same with the Red Guard. You oughta see some of the cities around here. They say red tents are gushing out of the walls like blood.”
The barmaid brought me my ale, and I quickly wetted my lips. “My brother’s one of the lucky ones, is he? Gets to sleep in the capital of the world, instead of one of its boroughs.”
He snorted. “Not terribly lucky. You should see the keep up above. Surrounded by tents and fire pits. Not enough room here, either.”
“Must be a reason for all this mobilization,” I suggested.
“Sure,” he said. “I’ll spell it out for you. Eye tee apostrophe ess.”
I reached across and gave him a brotherly punch in the shoulder. “You don’t know shit anyway.”
He furrowed his brows. “Don’t be so sure.”
It wasn’t worth pressing him farther. There’s only one reason a king mobilizes his entire army, and it’s sure as shit not to play parade the troops through the streets and hand sweets to little boys and girls. Braddock had a
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