City of Rogues: Book I of the Kobalos Trilogy Read Online Free Page A

look come over the man’s eyes. “Because I lived on these streets for a while when I was about your age.”
    Lucius's voice showed he was telling the truth.
    The boy lifted the coins.
    Lucius pointed to the money. “ There can be more of those.”
    It was Wyck’s turn to smile. “How?”
    “ I take it you spend most of your time here in the Swamps.”
    The lad nodded.
    “ Then you are someone who hears things,” Lucius said, scanning their surroundings as if making sure no one else was listening, “someone who knows things.”
    “ I hear enough.”
    “ Good, because that’s how you can earn my silver.” Lucius stared at the lad again. “I want you to be my eyes and ears on the streets. If there’s news or gossip, let me know.”
    Wyck stared at the coins in his hand. “That’s easy enough.”
    “ Off with you, then. I’ve business to attend to.”
    The boy turned and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. His mind was already filling with fruit-filled pastries and sugar candies.
    He pulled to a halt after a dozen steps and turned to see the man still standing next to the stall. “ How do I find you?”
    “ You know the Rusty Scabbard?”
    Wyck nodded again. He was familiar with the tavern.
    “ Leave word for me there.”
    With that the boy rushed off.
    Once the youth was gone down an alley, Lucius turned to his right. He had been telling the truth about the two city guards, and he needed to ask directions of them.
     
    ***
     
    The blackened shell that had been the home of Trelvigor the wizard was little more than smoking walls and rubble by morning. Even the mansion’s tower had fallen once the wooden roof of the main structure had collapsed.
    It was the job of Sergeant Gris to clean up the mess. It was not a job he enjoyed, but it was not one he detested. It was merely another task to be performed among the steady stream of tasks he dealt with daily.
    Soon after the sun was above the remainder of the wizard’s mansion, Gris and three of his men were overseeing a crew of workers who had been pulled from various jobs around the city to attend to the burnt building. Someone from another division of the city’s bureaucracy would normally be in charge of such an operation, but the mayor had wanted the Guard there because of the nature of the building. It had been a wizard’s home and could present untold dangers. Gris believed any dangers would have gone up in flames, but he didn’t question what he was told to do.
    Wheelbarrows were lined up in front of the mansion’s remains as workers loaded them with pieces of blackened wood and stone that had fallen outside of the residence proper. The inside of the structure was still too hot for anyone to enter, but the crew was cleaning as best it could.
    Gris turned to face the street. There were still some gawkers, most fresh awake though a few looked haggard enough to have been there all night.
    Surveying the surroundings, the sergeant was grateful the fire had been on Mages Way. The street’s width would make it easier for a crew to move in with cranes to dismantle the leftovers and clear away the rubble. Trelvigor wasn’t able to talk, but Gris couldn’t imagine the mage would argue about tearing down the building. There was nothing to save.
    Movement in the back of the crowd caused the sergeant to shift his gaze, and he spotted a man making his way toward him through the pedestrians. He recognized the tall, sturdy fellow dressed in tanned deer skins and leathers.
    The sergeant’s lips formed into a grin. “ By Ashal, Lucius Tallerus.” He marched forward with a hand outstretched.
    Lucius returned the sergeant’s firm grip with a smile of his own.
    “ You’re a long way from the Prisonlands,” Gris said as their hands parted. “What brought you here?”
    “ Looking for you.”
    “ Busy this morning.” Gris nodded toward the shell of a building. “But nothing I can’t break away from for a few minutes. How’d you find me?”
    “ A clerk