Read Online Wolves of the Northern Rift (A Magic & Machinery Novel Book 1) by Jon Messenger - Free Book Online
Authors: Jon Messenger
Ads: Link
degree as the businessman.
“En garde,” Gideon said.
Gideon lunged, driving his blunted blade toward Simon’s chest. The Inquisitor shifted his weight and parried the strike, letting it pass inches wide of his shoulder. Though Gideon braced for a riposte, Simon let the strike go unanswered.
Stepping back, Gideon nodded appreciatively. The first strike was a test of one another’s skills and he was pleased with what he saw, even if there was no counter. Simon watched the businessman settle back into his stance, awaiting the Inquisitor’s response to his attack.
Simon feinted left before hooking his blade back toward Gideon’s armpit. The businessman leapt backward, sweeping his epee in a circle and knocking Simon’s saber to the side. He immediately shifted his weight to his back leg and lunged forward, thrusting back toward Simon’s stomach. The Inquisitor was forced to take a couple steps backward as he parried back-to-back thrusts from the businessman.
Despite not connecting solidly, Gideon stepped back with a confident smile and settled back into his stance.
“You’re talented with the blade,” Gideon complimented.
“It appears as though I’m facing someone better than myself,” Simon lied.
Gideon shook his head. He relaxed momentarily and pushed his hair out of his face with his free hand. “I don’t believe that for a second. You’re holding back. Don’t, at least not for my benefit. I choose my competition carefully and consider myself a very good judge of character.”
He raised his blade and saluted again. Simon returned the salute, and they both settled back into their stances.
“So is your investigation going well?” Gideon asked. “I’m assuming you at least now believe that the werewolves are real.”
Simon shrugged and flexed his fingers on the grip of his saber. “To an extent.”
The tip of Gideon’s blade dipped slightly before righting itself. “I’ve provided you a corpse. What more do you require?”
Simon could hear the faint irritation in the man’s voice. “Forgive me if I gave you the impression that I don’t believe you. As an Inquisitor, I don’t believe anything until I have seen it living and breathing with my own eyes. The advances in taxidermy make anything less than skepticism foolish for someone in my line of business.”
As soon as there was a lull in the conversation, Gideon attacked. He shifted his weight to the right in a feint, but Simon read his attempt. As the blade came from the left instead, Simon was already waiting to knock the blade aside. Instead of the normal single strike before they separated, Gideon shifted his grip and slashed toward Simon’s shoulder. Despite the epee’s thin blade being designed for piercing, Simon knew even the blunted tip could tear his skin. He spun his saber and blocked the second attack.
Gideon pressed the advantage, thrusting the blade forward. Simon was forced to take a step back. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the back line of the dueling mat and dug in his heels before he was forced to concede defeat. Turning Gideon’s blade aside, Simon slashed forward in a wild swing. The businessman easily dodged it but in his haste to avoid the blade, he staggered backward. Simon took a couple steps forward, giving him space from the edge of the mat.
Simon chose not to continue his attack, instead settling back into his stance. Haughtily, Gideon flipped the strands of hair that had come loose from his ponytail out of his face.
“So what is next for your investigation?” Gideon asked.
Simon stood from his wide-legged stance and stretched his shoulder with a broad rotation. “I’m glad you asked, Mr. Dosett. With your permission, I would like to visit the site of the last purported werewolf attack. I think seeing the site of the attack would solidify in my mind if these creatures are real or fake.”
Gideon seemed put off, and he stood from his own fencing position. He frowned deeply and crinkled his
“En garde,” Gideon said.
Gideon lunged, driving his blunted blade toward Simon’s chest. The Inquisitor shifted his weight and parried the strike, letting it pass inches wide of his shoulder. Though Gideon braced for a riposte, Simon let the strike go unanswered.
Stepping back, Gideon nodded appreciatively. The first strike was a test of one another’s skills and he was pleased with what he saw, even if there was no counter. Simon watched the businessman settle back into his stance, awaiting the Inquisitor’s response to his attack.
Simon feinted left before hooking his blade back toward Gideon’s armpit. The businessman leapt backward, sweeping his epee in a circle and knocking Simon’s saber to the side. He immediately shifted his weight to his back leg and lunged forward, thrusting back toward Simon’s stomach. The Inquisitor was forced to take a couple steps backward as he parried back-to-back thrusts from the businessman.
Despite not connecting solidly, Gideon stepped back with a confident smile and settled back into his stance.
“You’re talented with the blade,” Gideon complimented.
“It appears as though I’m facing someone better than myself,” Simon lied.
Gideon shook his head. He relaxed momentarily and pushed his hair out of his face with his free hand. “I don’t believe that for a second. You’re holding back. Don’t, at least not for my benefit. I choose my competition carefully and consider myself a very good judge of character.”
He raised his blade and saluted again. Simon returned the salute, and they both settled back into their stances.
“So is your investigation going well?” Gideon asked. “I’m assuming you at least now believe that the werewolves are real.”
Simon shrugged and flexed his fingers on the grip of his saber. “To an extent.”
The tip of Gideon’s blade dipped slightly before righting itself. “I’ve provided you a corpse. What more do you require?”
Simon could hear the faint irritation in the man’s voice. “Forgive me if I gave you the impression that I don’t believe you. As an Inquisitor, I don’t believe anything until I have seen it living and breathing with my own eyes. The advances in taxidermy make anything less than skepticism foolish for someone in my line of business.”
As soon as there was a lull in the conversation, Gideon attacked. He shifted his weight to the right in a feint, but Simon read his attempt. As the blade came from the left instead, Simon was already waiting to knock the blade aside. Instead of the normal single strike before they separated, Gideon shifted his grip and slashed toward Simon’s shoulder. Despite the epee’s thin blade being designed for piercing, Simon knew even the blunted tip could tear his skin. He spun his saber and blocked the second attack.
Gideon pressed the advantage, thrusting the blade forward. Simon was forced to take a step back. From the corner of his eyes, he saw the back line of the dueling mat and dug in his heels before he was forced to concede defeat. Turning Gideon’s blade aside, Simon slashed forward in a wild swing. The businessman easily dodged it but in his haste to avoid the blade, he staggered backward. Simon took a couple steps forward, giving him space from the edge of the mat.
Simon chose not to continue his attack, instead settling back into his stance. Haughtily, Gideon flipped the strands of hair that had come loose from his ponytail out of his face.
“So what is next for your investigation?” Gideon asked.
Simon stood from his wide-legged stance and stretched his shoulder with a broad rotation. “I’m glad you asked, Mr. Dosett. With your permission, I would like to visit the site of the last purported werewolf attack. I think seeing the site of the attack would solidify in my mind if these creatures are real or fake.”
Gideon seemed put off, and he stood from his own fencing position. He frowned deeply and crinkled his
Similar Books
