Read Online Wolves of the Northern Rift (A Magic & Machinery Novel Book 1) by Jon Messenger - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jon Messenger
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brow. “A visit to the refinery? Royal Inquisitor, I have employees who fear going to work because they can’t stand the thought that monsters may wait in ambush. Every day that we hesitate, it costs me money. How much evidence do you require before you request reinforcements from the crown?”
Simon arched a brow at the man. His experiences thus far had led him to believe the businessmen’s happy façade was unflappable. To see him so passionate about his business gave Simon pause.
“Allow me to visit your operations,” Simon countered. “If I find evidence that supports the insinuations in the governor’s report, then I will request a company of soldiers be deployed to Haversham.”
Gideon’s smile returned. “Then it seems our conversation has reached an impasse until you’ve seen my refinery. Would tomorrow be good for you to depart?”
Simon saluted with his blade. “That would be perfect.”
“Then shall we continue?” Gideon asked, settling back into his fencing stance.
Simon lowered his sword to his side and took a couple steps backward, crossing the edge of the dueling mat and disqualifying himself. He raised his blade in surrender.
Gideon stood with a huff and lowered his epee. “This is not a satisfactory conclusion to our match.”
Simon bowed with a flourish. “Forgive me, but Luthor and I have much to do today if we leave in the morning. This is hardly a time to duel, wouldn’t you agree?”
Gideon turned and walked off the mat. He hung his epee on the wall and collected the rest of his equipment before walking out of the room. Luthor nodded as the man pushed past him and stormed down the hallway. As Gideon passed, Luthor scratched absently at his arm.
Simon approached the near wall shortly afterward, hanging his saber on its hook. He reached up and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“So?” Luthor asked as he approached his friend.
“We leave in the morning,” Simon replied. He took his coat from the apothecary and slid it over his shoulders. Fitting his top hat on top of his head, he canted it to the side.
As he started toward the door, Luthor placed a hand on his arm. “I don’t understand. All Inquisitors spend years training with the blade. You could have easily beaten him.”
“My dear Luthor, sometimes you learn far more from an opponent in the course of a battle, rather than in the man’s defeat. A man like Mr. Dosett has little in his life besides his business and his pride. These werewolves have brought his business to a halt. Had I handily beaten him in our duel, I would have taken his pride as well. Take everything away from a man and you make him unpredictable. If there’s one thing that makes my job difficult, it’s unpredictable men.”
Luthor smiled appreciatively. “So what did you learn about Mr. Dosett?”
“He places the well-being of his business above the well-being of his employees. His concern was with the money he was losing, and not the workers he’s already lost.”
Luthor turned and led them both into the hallway, back toward the stairwell. “Nothing personal, sir, but I could have told you that after our dinner with the man. He’s not keen on interpersonal relationships.”
“Fair enough. I also learned that he’s offended whenever someone questions his integrity. The thought that his word wasn’t good enough to make me believe in the authenticity of the werewolves made him irate, though he kept up a stoic visage.”
“Again, sir, I believe that’s fairly standard for every businessman in the capital. I wouldn’t expect it to be different here, just because we’re far detached from the bustle of the city.”
Simon patted the man on the back. “Then I guess it’s a good thing that I also learned that there’s a secret door in the room we just left that leads into the tunnels beneath the city.”
Luthor looked over his shoulder. “Really? Where?”
“There was dirt on the floor near the far wall, the type you would expect from
Simon arched a brow at the man. His experiences thus far had led him to believe the businessmen’s happy façade was unflappable. To see him so passionate about his business gave Simon pause.
“Allow me to visit your operations,” Simon countered. “If I find evidence that supports the insinuations in the governor’s report, then I will request a company of soldiers be deployed to Haversham.”
Gideon’s smile returned. “Then it seems our conversation has reached an impasse until you’ve seen my refinery. Would tomorrow be good for you to depart?”
Simon saluted with his blade. “That would be perfect.”
“Then shall we continue?” Gideon asked, settling back into his fencing stance.
Simon lowered his sword to his side and took a couple steps backward, crossing the edge of the dueling mat and disqualifying himself. He raised his blade in surrender.
Gideon stood with a huff and lowered his epee. “This is not a satisfactory conclusion to our match.”
Simon bowed with a flourish. “Forgive me, but Luthor and I have much to do today if we leave in the morning. This is hardly a time to duel, wouldn’t you agree?”
Gideon turned and walked off the mat. He hung his epee on the wall and collected the rest of his equipment before walking out of the room. Luthor nodded as the man pushed past him and stormed down the hallway. As Gideon passed, Luthor scratched absently at his arm.
Simon approached the near wall shortly afterward, hanging his saber on its hook. He reached up and wiped the sweat from his brow.
“So?” Luthor asked as he approached his friend.
“We leave in the morning,” Simon replied. He took his coat from the apothecary and slid it over his shoulders. Fitting his top hat on top of his head, he canted it to the side.
As he started toward the door, Luthor placed a hand on his arm. “I don’t understand. All Inquisitors spend years training with the blade. You could have easily beaten him.”
“My dear Luthor, sometimes you learn far more from an opponent in the course of a battle, rather than in the man’s defeat. A man like Mr. Dosett has little in his life besides his business and his pride. These werewolves have brought his business to a halt. Had I handily beaten him in our duel, I would have taken his pride as well. Take everything away from a man and you make him unpredictable. If there’s one thing that makes my job difficult, it’s unpredictable men.”
Luthor smiled appreciatively. “So what did you learn about Mr. Dosett?”
“He places the well-being of his business above the well-being of his employees. His concern was with the money he was losing, and not the workers he’s already lost.”
Luthor turned and led them both into the hallway, back toward the stairwell. “Nothing personal, sir, but I could have told you that after our dinner with the man. He’s not keen on interpersonal relationships.”
“Fair enough. I also learned that he’s offended whenever someone questions his integrity. The thought that his word wasn’t good enough to make me believe in the authenticity of the werewolves made him irate, though he kept up a stoic visage.”
“Again, sir, I believe that’s fairly standard for every businessman in the capital. I wouldn’t expect it to be different here, just because we’re far detached from the bustle of the city.”
Simon patted the man on the back. “Then I guess it’s a good thing that I also learned that there’s a secret door in the room we just left that leads into the tunnels beneath the city.”
Luthor looked over his shoulder. “Really? Where?”
“There was dirt on the floor near the far wall, the type you would expect from
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