Shield and Crocus

Shield and Crocus by Michael R. Underwood Page A

Book: Shield and Crocus by Michael R. Underwood Read Free Book Online
Authors: Michael R. Underwood
Tags: Fantasy
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raised his hand. “I still think it’s a trap.”
    “If I have to bury all of you by myself, I’m going to cave in the tomb and never look back.” Sarii at her most sentimental—in public at least.
    Wonlar unfolded a map of the district around Ruby Shackles. “Alright, here’s my plan. If it is a trap, we won’t be caught unawares. Dlella will have people placed here and here.” Wonlar indicated the alley in front of the brothel and the street behind it. If Nevri means to imply that we were prostitutes, at least she thought us high-class ones.
    “Wenlizerachi, I want you, Bira, and Sarii to stay back, watch the exits and keep our line of retreat open. Rova and I will go inside.”
    [ And what about Selweh/Aegis ?]
    Wonlar didn’t notice a reaction from anyone else. The message was only for him, coming back to the doubt he’d let slip through to the forefront of his thoughts. [ I swore an oath to do anything I could to protect him. But we have to take this opportunity ,] Wonlar thought back to his old friend. [ He would kill me if we passed up this opportunity just for him. ]
    Wonlar thought back to Bira, [ As soon as we get back, we start crossing warehouses and laboratories off the list, until we find the right one and take it by storm .]
    City Mother, let this not be a trap.
    * * *
    Most brothels had a doorman, some tough—often a Freithin—who kept out the riffraff and waded in when trouble started.
    Ruby Shackles had three, standing in a wide V-shape: a tall lanky Pronai who wore a white straw hat, a portly Freithin as wide as the double-doors, and a full-blood oxkin Millrej with raven-black fur and a bronze nose-ring.
    The first trick was getting in. Audec-Hal’s sex trade had a great deal of money invested in keeping the tyrants in power. Before the Republic fell, prostitution was tightly controlled and limited. But under the tyrants, no perversion was out of bounds. Anything for the right price.
    As Sapphire and First Sentinel approached the door in full raiment, the three bouncers stood shoulder-to-shoulder-to-shoulder to bar their way.
    The Pronai adjusted his hat. “Who do we have here?” he drew out the last word slowly, a big grin on his face.
    First Sentinel sighed. I don’t have time to do my laundry, so I certainly don’t have time for small men with big egos.
    “We’re here to meet Dlella. We’re expected,” he said, striding forward, attempting to force them to move out of his way.
    They didn’t. First Sentinel stopped on the toes of his foot just before colliding with the Pronai.
    The thin bouncer looked down his hawkish nose at First Sentinel. “Your kind is bad for business, okay? Why don’t you just keep on walking?”
    Sapphire flanked First Sentinel, squaring off against the portly Freithin. “We’ll play nice. Buy some rounds, and keep out of the spotlight. Won’t even know we’re here.”
    “With those outfits?” the Millrej snorted.
    Come on, flinch, First Sentinel thought. He found thrashing smart-asses to be very calming.
    Instead, he stepped back and addressed the group.
    “Well, if you want to get on Dlella’s bad side.” he looked to Sapphire, then back to the bouncers.
    They could fight their way through, but he’d rather not raise anyone’s ire and set himself up for even more of a trap in the brothel full of gangsters.
    Sighing, First Sentinel slipped the Pronai a crisp bill. Likely as much as the guard would make in a night. Then he pulled out two more, for the Millrej and Freithin.
    Having stuffed the pockets of the bouncers, First Sentinel held his hands up and asked, “are we done here?”
    They parted, and the Shields walked inside.
    Ruby Shackles was a monument to indulgence. Wallto-wall crushed red velvet, polished mahogany fixtures, and expensive Jalvai sculptures, all from the last great pre-oligarchy movement, defined by bold lines and self-assurance. The bar was polished steel, manned by a four-armed Spark-touched woman and a slight Pronai.

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