![Twilight of Kerberos - [Shadowmage 01-03] - The Shadowmage Trilogy (Shadowmage; Night's Haunting; Legacy's Price)](https://fs.ageofbook.com/455305/thumbs/152x264/twilight-of-kerberos-shadowmage-01-03-the-shadowmage-trilogy-shadowmage-nights-haunting-legacys-price.jpg)
Twilight of Kerberos - [Shadowmage 01-03] - The Shadowmage Trilogy (Shadowmage; Night's Haunting; Legacy's Price) by Matthew Sprange (v5.0) (mobi) Page B
Authors: Matthew Sprange (v5.0) (mobi)
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Caradoc shrugged. “He knows I’m not an automaton. The important thing is that he trusts me to follow his orders, and I trust him to do what is best for the Hands. That is what we have in common – a desire to make the Hands the best guild it can be.”
“So what about the other? The Guild of Coin and Enterprise?”
For a moment, Caradoc looked as though he might spit in disgust, before he remembered where he was. “Well, that is where Magnus and I may differ. He believes we can reach an accord, dividing the city between us without bloodshed. He says it is the most profitable route for both organisations, and I guess I can see the sense of that.”
“They don’t seem very receptive to that idea,” Lucius said.
“No. Once, maybe up to a year ago, we might have made an agreement. But something has changed within the Guild. They are too aggressive, pushing too hard.” He sighed. “I fear a war is coming. This might not have been the best time for you to join us!”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You proved that last night. Look...” Caradoc seemed self-conscious as he mustered his next words. “I wanted to thank you for stepping in yesterday. Those mercs were tough, and I am not sure I could have taken them all. You did well.”
Lucius blushed and he felt as uncomfortable as Caradoc looked when confronted with this gratitude. “Anybody else would have done the same.”
“Well, you were there and they weren’t. Thanks anyway,” Caradoc said, looking at the floor. “What was it, flash powder you used to distract them?”
Not trusting his voice to carry the lie, Lucius just nodded.
“Good move. Painful stuff too, when shoved in someone’s face. Still, that bastard deserved what he got.”
Not having anything more to add, Lucius simply smiled, and the expression was returned by Caradoc. Neither said anything more, and Lucius pretended to look over the crossbow again, doing anything to break the uncomfortable silence. He looked up again when Caradoc coughed.
“Anyway, there’s a meeting going on. Magnus asked me to fetch you.”
“Me?”
“Just routine business. Magnus thinks that it would be good for you to see how the guild operates.”
“Well, if Magnus has asked... Who else will be there?”
“The most senior thieves of the Hands. These meetings are used to track business, spot opportunities, and generally ensure everything continues to run smoothly. Needless to say, your input won’t be required. Just watch and learn.”
Leading Lucius up to the third and highest level of the guildhouse, Caradoc took him to Magnus’ own meeting hall. Lucius had to bite his tongue to stop from gasping at the sight of the room.
The walls were covered with carefully sculpted wooden panels, displaying exquisite craftsmanship in their varnish and carving. No rare paintings hid their natural beauty, and Lucius got the feeling that Magnus was, at heart, a man who enjoyed simpler things.
The room itself, however, was dominated by a long dark wood table, whose polished surface reflected perfectly the light of the oil lanterns standing on pedestals in each corner of the chamber. Around the table were eighteen tall-backed chairs, upon sixteen of which were seated an assortment of men and women. Some Lucius had seen before, passing through the common room, but he did not know any of their names. At the head of the table at the far end of the chamber sat Magnus, and he smiled as they entered.
“Here comes our hero Lucius – welcome to the Council,” Magnus said grandly, and Lucius felt acutely uneasy as all eyes turned on him. Caradoc had taken his seat at the opposite end of the table to Magnus, indicating that Lucius should take the last free chair, halfway along the left edge.
Lucius was aware of the short woman seated to his right watching him as he sat, and he nodded in greeting. She was perhaps of a similar age to Magnus, but showed few signs of ageing. Her hair was dark and slicked back along
“So what about the other? The Guild of Coin and Enterprise?”
For a moment, Caradoc looked as though he might spit in disgust, before he remembered where he was. “Well, that is where Magnus and I may differ. He believes we can reach an accord, dividing the city between us without bloodshed. He says it is the most profitable route for both organisations, and I guess I can see the sense of that.”
“They don’t seem very receptive to that idea,” Lucius said.
“No. Once, maybe up to a year ago, we might have made an agreement. But something has changed within the Guild. They are too aggressive, pushing too hard.” He sighed. “I fear a war is coming. This might not have been the best time for you to join us!”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You proved that last night. Look...” Caradoc seemed self-conscious as he mustered his next words. “I wanted to thank you for stepping in yesterday. Those mercs were tough, and I am not sure I could have taken them all. You did well.”
Lucius blushed and he felt as uncomfortable as Caradoc looked when confronted with this gratitude. “Anybody else would have done the same.”
“Well, you were there and they weren’t. Thanks anyway,” Caradoc said, looking at the floor. “What was it, flash powder you used to distract them?”
Not trusting his voice to carry the lie, Lucius just nodded.
“Good move. Painful stuff too, when shoved in someone’s face. Still, that bastard deserved what he got.”
Not having anything more to add, Lucius simply smiled, and the expression was returned by Caradoc. Neither said anything more, and Lucius pretended to look over the crossbow again, doing anything to break the uncomfortable silence. He looked up again when Caradoc coughed.
“Anyway, there’s a meeting going on. Magnus asked me to fetch you.”
“Me?”
“Just routine business. Magnus thinks that it would be good for you to see how the guild operates.”
“Well, if Magnus has asked... Who else will be there?”
“The most senior thieves of the Hands. These meetings are used to track business, spot opportunities, and generally ensure everything continues to run smoothly. Needless to say, your input won’t be required. Just watch and learn.”
Leading Lucius up to the third and highest level of the guildhouse, Caradoc took him to Magnus’ own meeting hall. Lucius had to bite his tongue to stop from gasping at the sight of the room.
The walls were covered with carefully sculpted wooden panels, displaying exquisite craftsmanship in their varnish and carving. No rare paintings hid their natural beauty, and Lucius got the feeling that Magnus was, at heart, a man who enjoyed simpler things.
The room itself, however, was dominated by a long dark wood table, whose polished surface reflected perfectly the light of the oil lanterns standing on pedestals in each corner of the chamber. Around the table were eighteen tall-backed chairs, upon sixteen of which were seated an assortment of men and women. Some Lucius had seen before, passing through the common room, but he did not know any of their names. At the head of the table at the far end of the chamber sat Magnus, and he smiled as they entered.
“Here comes our hero Lucius – welcome to the Council,” Magnus said grandly, and Lucius felt acutely uneasy as all eyes turned on him. Caradoc had taken his seat at the opposite end of the table to Magnus, indicating that Lucius should take the last free chair, halfway along the left edge.
Lucius was aware of the short woman seated to his right watching him as he sat, and he nodded in greeting. She was perhaps of a similar age to Magnus, but showed few signs of ageing. Her hair was dark and slicked back along
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