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Read Online Twilight of Kerberos - [Shadowmage 01-03] - The Shadowmage Trilogy (Shadowmage; Night's Haunting; Legacy's Price) by Matthew Sprange (v5.0) (mobi) - Free Book Online
Authors: Matthew Sprange (v5.0) (mobi)
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paused, unsure of whether he should interrupt another team’s business, but his seniority in years got the better of him and he marched up to Ambrose.
The veteran thief looked up in surprise, a querying look on his face.
“A message from Treal,” Lucius said. “The Guild is in the markets.”
“Damn it!” Ambrose cursed, with a virulence that made Lucius wonder just how bad the situation was. Ambrose turned his attention briefly to the boy standing with them. “Move to the east, like I told you. And not a word of the Guild to anyone, understand? If I hear any rumours floating about, I’ll know where they came from.”
The boy gave a hurried nod, then fled into the market. Ambrose stood and gestured for Lucius to lead the way.
Their pace was quick, with Ambrose driving Lucius on until his legs began to ache. “I am not entirely sure what is going on,” Lucius said as they half-walked, half-trotted.
“The Guild is moving in on our territory. No damn respect, that’s their problem. Today it’s just pick-pocketing, but they’ll be watching how we react. Any weakness here and they’ll be all over our territory.”
“I thought we were the only thieves’ guild in Turnitia,” Lucius said, beginning to become a little breathless.
“Would that were so,” said Ambrose with a grim tone. “Used to be just one, before Vos descended upon us all. They smashed the old Guild, broke it up. Didn’t want any rivals in the city, you see. Took a few years for the thieves to get back together again and when they did, they could not agree on who should lead.”
“So two guilds arose?”
“That’s right. The Night Hands, under our Magnus, while Loredo started his Guild of Coin and Enterprise. Pompous man, pompous title.”
“And they’ve been fighting ever since?”
“No one’s died yet, been nothing more than a few brawls. The city got carved up into territories managed by them or us, but no one was completely happy with what they got. When we get to this Guild team, just follow my lead. Remember, they are just kids, whatever the provocation. I am not going to start a war because of pickpockets!”
They reached the northern market quickly and Markel’s nod caught Lucius’ attention from the people still milling around the stalls. They were quickly joined by Treal, who related what she had seen to Ambrose.
“Just three of them, seen no other teams. Don’t recognise them. Could be they’ve been brought up from the docks. They’re good – well practised. Definitely Guild, they’ve done this before.”
“They still working?”
“Moved to the north edge, following the crowd and keeping away from the Citadel. I’ll show you.”
They followed the twins, threading through the waning crowd. Treal and Markel then stopped and, with a nod of the latter’s head, they looked on to see the three young thieves. Lucius saw they were probably younger than his charges, lounging casually around the front of an open forge. To the casual eye they were just a group of kids lazing between chores, but Lucius saw the flickering glances, quiet muttering and sly movements that told him they were carefully combing passers-by, searching for another easy and rich mark.
Without breaking a step, Ambrose took the lead and marched straight up to them, Lucius in his wake and the twins trailing. At sight of the approaching man, the boys looked as if they were about to run but seeing nowhere to flee, one obviously decided to brazen it out, and his friends took his lead.
“Bugger off, the lot of you!” Ambrose’s first words were not subtle in the least.
“Says who, old man?” said one of the boys, taking a step forward to meet the challenge. “We got as much right to be here as you.”
“You know damn well this ain’t your place. Now, clear off, or you’ll be in for a beating.”
One of the other boys threw a purse at Ambrose. It was empty, having been looted by them earlier, but the sign of defiance made Markel
The veteran thief looked up in surprise, a querying look on his face.
“A message from Treal,” Lucius said. “The Guild is in the markets.”
“Damn it!” Ambrose cursed, with a virulence that made Lucius wonder just how bad the situation was. Ambrose turned his attention briefly to the boy standing with them. “Move to the east, like I told you. And not a word of the Guild to anyone, understand? If I hear any rumours floating about, I’ll know where they came from.”
The boy gave a hurried nod, then fled into the market. Ambrose stood and gestured for Lucius to lead the way.
Their pace was quick, with Ambrose driving Lucius on until his legs began to ache. “I am not entirely sure what is going on,” Lucius said as they half-walked, half-trotted.
“The Guild is moving in on our territory. No damn respect, that’s their problem. Today it’s just pick-pocketing, but they’ll be watching how we react. Any weakness here and they’ll be all over our territory.”
“I thought we were the only thieves’ guild in Turnitia,” Lucius said, beginning to become a little breathless.
“Would that were so,” said Ambrose with a grim tone. “Used to be just one, before Vos descended upon us all. They smashed the old Guild, broke it up. Didn’t want any rivals in the city, you see. Took a few years for the thieves to get back together again and when they did, they could not agree on who should lead.”
“So two guilds arose?”
“That’s right. The Night Hands, under our Magnus, while Loredo started his Guild of Coin and Enterprise. Pompous man, pompous title.”
“And they’ve been fighting ever since?”
“No one’s died yet, been nothing more than a few brawls. The city got carved up into territories managed by them or us, but no one was completely happy with what they got. When we get to this Guild team, just follow my lead. Remember, they are just kids, whatever the provocation. I am not going to start a war because of pickpockets!”
They reached the northern market quickly and Markel’s nod caught Lucius’ attention from the people still milling around the stalls. They were quickly joined by Treal, who related what she had seen to Ambrose.
“Just three of them, seen no other teams. Don’t recognise them. Could be they’ve been brought up from the docks. They’re good – well practised. Definitely Guild, they’ve done this before.”
“They still working?”
“Moved to the north edge, following the crowd and keeping away from the Citadel. I’ll show you.”
They followed the twins, threading through the waning crowd. Treal and Markel then stopped and, with a nod of the latter’s head, they looked on to see the three young thieves. Lucius saw they were probably younger than his charges, lounging casually around the front of an open forge. To the casual eye they were just a group of kids lazing between chores, but Lucius saw the flickering glances, quiet muttering and sly movements that told him they were carefully combing passers-by, searching for another easy and rich mark.
Without breaking a step, Ambrose took the lead and marched straight up to them, Lucius in his wake and the twins trailing. At sight of the approaching man, the boys looked as if they were about to run but seeing nowhere to flee, one obviously decided to brazen it out, and his friends took his lead.
“Bugger off, the lot of you!” Ambrose’s first words were not subtle in the least.
“Says who, old man?” said one of the boys, taking a step forward to meet the challenge. “We got as much right to be here as you.”
“You know damn well this ain’t your place. Now, clear off, or you’ll be in for a beating.”
One of the other boys threw a purse at Ambrose. It was empty, having been looted by them earlier, but the sign of defiance made Markel
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