The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Craig Martelle
change. Thankfully he dropped most coins through a slot in the buckboard to a heavily secured chest hidden within.
The man put Braden in manacles against a wall. In an imperious voice the security officer proclaimed, “For violation of the rules regarding Fair Trade, you are sentenced to one turn in the manacles, no food, no water. Property on your person is confiscated. Your wagon will be searched for other contraband, which will also be confiscated once it is discovered.”
Braden was furious. He was being robbed. “For any violations of Free Trade, a Guild representative is required to be present at the hearing! But this isn’t about that, is it?” The security officer laughed as he waddled away, holding the vial of saffrimander up to the light.
Braden had no idea what the man thought he’d see in the spice. Braden was also happy that he only advertised one vial. He wasn’t sure that anyone would be successful in searching the wagon. G-War would hurt people, but they could overwhelm him with numbers. Braden needed to get himself out of this jail and out of town.
9 – Run!
The first man, lean with wicked eyes put his hands on the wagon’s back gate in order to haul himself in. He screamed in pain as two claws lashed out, raking his arms, slicing tendons on the back of his hands. He doubled over in pain.
The ‘cat leapt from the wagon onto the man’s back, immediately springing into the face of the second man. Before he could stop the ‘cat, it was claws-deep into his face and neck. He managed to grab hold of the cat’s tail, trying to fling him away, but that only ensured that the ‘cat could dig his claws deeper into the man’s throat. Blood spurted as his jugular was severed.
G-War dropped to the ground and jumped back up, landing on the first man’s back. This time, he stood up, trying to shake the ‘cat off. G-War wrapped one paw around the man’s throat from behind and with his long claws, ripped through the man’s windpipe. The dying man reached for his neck as he went to his knees.
‘Be there in a few bounds.’ G-War sent to Braden. The ‘cat measured time in heartbeats or turns of the sun, but also in distance he could cover.
The orange tabby extended his body fully during his run to the jail. People barely noticed as he flashed by. He never hesitated as he leapt onto a ledge and squeezed his body through an open window. He saw the security officer, seated at a table, looking greedily at the gold, silver, and saffrimander. The man didn’t notice the ‘cat until he landed on the table, upsetting the small treasure before him.
The ‘cat made one powerful leap into the man’s face, knocking him backward off his chair. The ‘cat pushed off hard as they approached the stone floor. The security officer’s head smacked loudly when it hit. The ‘cat deftly rolled away, turned, and went into a crouch, ready to leap again. The man lay still.
“The keys are in the pouch on his belt,” Braden offered. Although the ‘cat could work magic with his claws, he didn’t have hands. He ended up using his teeth to pull the pouch off, and brought the whole thing to Braden. “Nicely done,” he said with a nod of thanks. “Is he dead?” The ‘cat didn’t answer. Braden quickly removed the key, then the shackles. He dropped it all on the filthy floor.
He checked the man while G-War leapt into the open window, and looked out. He was still alive. Braden took his money and vial of saffrimander, and without a further look, opened the door and strolled into the street as a free man.
A free man who would be wanted shortly. They walked quickly back to the market square. A number of people had gathered and were looking at the two corpses behind the wagon. “What did you do?” Braden asked in a whisper.
‘I kept the thieves away. I knew that I had to leave to save it, as usual, so I couldn’t leave them maimed and angry. Of course.’
Braden angled away from the wagon and into the
The man put Braden in manacles against a wall. In an imperious voice the security officer proclaimed, “For violation of the rules regarding Fair Trade, you are sentenced to one turn in the manacles, no food, no water. Property on your person is confiscated. Your wagon will be searched for other contraband, which will also be confiscated once it is discovered.”
Braden was furious. He was being robbed. “For any violations of Free Trade, a Guild representative is required to be present at the hearing! But this isn’t about that, is it?” The security officer laughed as he waddled away, holding the vial of saffrimander up to the light.
Braden had no idea what the man thought he’d see in the spice. Braden was also happy that he only advertised one vial. He wasn’t sure that anyone would be successful in searching the wagon. G-War would hurt people, but they could overwhelm him with numbers. Braden needed to get himself out of this jail and out of town.
9 – Run!
The first man, lean with wicked eyes put his hands on the wagon’s back gate in order to haul himself in. He screamed in pain as two claws lashed out, raking his arms, slicing tendons on the back of his hands. He doubled over in pain.
The ‘cat leapt from the wagon onto the man’s back, immediately springing into the face of the second man. Before he could stop the ‘cat, it was claws-deep into his face and neck. He managed to grab hold of the cat’s tail, trying to fling him away, but that only ensured that the ‘cat could dig his claws deeper into the man’s throat. Blood spurted as his jugular was severed.
G-War dropped to the ground and jumped back up, landing on the first man’s back. This time, he stood up, trying to shake the ‘cat off. G-War wrapped one paw around the man’s throat from behind and with his long claws, ripped through the man’s windpipe. The dying man reached for his neck as he went to his knees.
‘Be there in a few bounds.’ G-War sent to Braden. The ‘cat measured time in heartbeats or turns of the sun, but also in distance he could cover.
The orange tabby extended his body fully during his run to the jail. People barely noticed as he flashed by. He never hesitated as he leapt onto a ledge and squeezed his body through an open window. He saw the security officer, seated at a table, looking greedily at the gold, silver, and saffrimander. The man didn’t notice the ‘cat until he landed on the table, upsetting the small treasure before him.
The ‘cat made one powerful leap into the man’s face, knocking him backward off his chair. The ‘cat pushed off hard as they approached the stone floor. The security officer’s head smacked loudly when it hit. The ‘cat deftly rolled away, turned, and went into a crouch, ready to leap again. The man lay still.
“The keys are in the pouch on his belt,” Braden offered. Although the ‘cat could work magic with his claws, he didn’t have hands. He ended up using his teeth to pull the pouch off, and brought the whole thing to Braden. “Nicely done,” he said with a nod of thanks. “Is he dead?” The ‘cat didn’t answer. Braden quickly removed the key, then the shackles. He dropped it all on the filthy floor.
He checked the man while G-War leapt into the open window, and looked out. He was still alive. Braden took his money and vial of saffrimander, and without a further look, opened the door and strolled into the street as a free man.
A free man who would be wanted shortly. They walked quickly back to the market square. A number of people had gathered and were looking at the two corpses behind the wagon. “What did you do?” Braden asked in a whisper.
‘I kept the thieves away. I knew that I had to leave to save it, as usual, so I couldn’t leave them maimed and angry. Of course.’
Braden angled away from the wagon and into the
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