Shadow's Son by Jon Sprunk Read Free Book Online Page A

of Torim, the
Storm Lord, or Hisu, the patron goddess of love and nauseating poetry.
Whichever god it had been, the name had been chiseled out of the pedestal as if it never existed. Ral smirked under the hood. It was a shame people
couldn't be eliminated as easily as deities. His life would be a lot simpler.

    As the old women shuffled off to the next station, Ral sank down
beside Markus, who knelt in the last row, his large hands clasped together.
    Markus barely looked over. "No, thank you, Father. I'm-" Then the
prefect caught sight of his face. "Ral? God's breath! Isn't anything sacred
to you?"
    Ral glanced at the massive sculpture of the Prophet of the True Faith.
Lord Phebus, the Light of the World, towered above the high fine at the
end of the nave. The statue was clothed as a simple peasant, but glittering
rays chased in real gold radiated from his bloodied brow.
    "I'll worry about God when he starts worrying about me."
    Markus looked around. "Someone could see you."
    Ral had already checked during his approach. No other worshippers
were in earshot.
    "Not likely. These bleaters are too busy worrying about saving their
souls. With all this praying, you'd think there was an army of Shadowmen
banging at the gates, eh? Or old King Mithrax riding from the grave with
his Hellion Host."
    The scabbard of Markus's sword scraped on the floor as he shifted
position. He moved easily for a big man. "What are you doing here?"
    "Just making a last-minute visit. I take it you haven't heard the
latest?"
    "No, what?"
    "Your grand master has been arrested."
    "On what charges?"
    Ral put his hands together as if to pray. "Treason. Sedition. It doesn't
matter. Our benefactor will make sure he never sees the light of day again."
    "I never thought-"
    "That's your problem, Markus. You never think. But now that the
head of your order is out of the way, the way is clear for new blood to rise
to the top. Especially for those with allies on the Elector Council."
    Markus sucked in a deep breath.
    Ral let him ponder that idea for a moment. "Is everything in place?"
    "Sure. The plan is simple. I'll get there a candlemark after sundown.
The signal is-"

    "How many men are you bringing?"
    Markus glanced over, a flicker of annoyance passing across his pale blue
eyes. "I got a few boys on board, just like you told me. A couple of them
owe me money, and another guy is bucking for a promotion so he can move
out of his mother's house. They'll do what I say without question."
    "And afterward?"
    "They'll keep their mouths shut."
    "They'd better. Our patron doesn't forgive mistakes. If one of these
men talks-"
    "I know what I'm doing."
    Ral leaned into Markus, hooking his right arm through the man's
elbow. His left hand pressed into the prefect's side, the needle-sharp point
of the stiletto held in his palm pricking through both surcoat and mail to
touch the flesh beneath. Markus huffed and strained to remain still.
    Ral pitched his voice to a low whisper. "Listen to me. You don't have
to worry about the boss. If you mess this up, I'll peel your worthless hide
from your back myself. Do you understand me?"
    Markus nodded. With a hiss, Ral released him. The stiletto vanished
into his sleeve. Markus clutched his side and stared at the floor with his
lips compressed into a tight line. The prefect wasn't used to being manhandled, but he had to understand and fast. Both their lives hung in the
balance if he messed up.
    "Get more men," Ral said.
    The prefect rolled his shoulders. "I'll need more money for that. God's
soldiers don't come cheap."
    Ral wanted to laugh, but he didn't let it touch his features. He
reached under his cassock. Markus stiffened, one hand dropping to the
hilt of his sword, but he relaxed as Ral passed him a heavy pouch.
    Ral stood up and rested his hand on the prefect's beefy shoulder, the
very picture of a pastor counseling one of his flock.
    "Remember, Markus. No mistakes. No loose ends."
    "Don't worry.