Free Blood on Bronze (Blood on Bronze Book 1) by Anthony Gillis

some the businesses. Bronze making was not the most important
trade in Zakran, but it was important enough that even some of his friends
would balk if it collapsed entirely. He hated the thought of having to put money
into businesses instead of stripping them clean of it for more… pleasant
purposes, but so be it.
    The other man interrupted his thoughts, “But at the
moment, Bal-Shim, I agree with you regarding the matter of Ashur dra Artashad.
It might be time to make his removal more… irrevocable.”
    Bal-Shim considered that, and then something else,
“Ah, but there’s another problem. Ashur’s arrogant whelp! Where’s he gotten to?
He had some little rat hole to crawl through and escape this house, and sooner
or later we’ll find it. But, what’s he been up to since?”
    The other looked unconcerned, “He is little more than
a boy is he not? I think he will be up to little of use. Still, there are many
possibilities. Perhaps he is cowering, or dreaming ill-conceived dreams of
revenge. He might have fled the city to foreign lands, from whence he would no
doubt hope to return some day and strike at you, though more likely he would
end up dead or a beggar.”
    Unlike the other man, Bal-Shim knew Ashur’s son, and
took the problem more seriously, “I hope you’re right, but I think we should
make greater efforts to look for him.”
     

 
    7.
The Tale of Audacity
     
     
    Arjun walked through the grand bazaar at dusk, heading
for the stall of Umrub the G’abudim. Voices called out in sale of goods from
every corner of the world. The scent of spices and amber mixed with those of
cedar and smoked meats. Strings of beads hung from hooks, silver boxes gleamed
in the sun, and fabrics of many colors sat in rolls before strange-clad
figures. Parrots squawked in cages and snakes hissed in baskets. All the folk
of the world might be found here, and sometimes, he thought, all the thieves.
    But he was more watchful now. Training with Inina had
already taught him a few things, and when the pickpockets attempted to ply their
trade, he was watching them. Every few days he had come here, to visit Umrub.
The secretive G’abudim was not much of a conversationalist, but on two
occasions, he’d had stones from Kartam dra Argesh. In each case, the messages
had said merely that his father was alive, but still in captivity.
    He approached Umrub’s stall. G’abudim traded mainly in
spices and medicines, though Arjun had heard they also dealt in poisons. Umrub,
like most G’abudim men, was on the shorter side, solidly built, clean shaven on
face and head, and more darkly complexioned than any Hayyidi, though not so
dark as the tall seafarers from far Amshala. He was wearing his folk’s normal
garb – an array of amulets, a kilt short on the sides and long in the center,
very different from the knee-length kilts worn by Hayyidis, and a pair of
peculiar panels hanging on his chest and back, comprised of complex patterns of
various colors.
    Umrub’s face was impassive as Arjun approached. He
motioned him closer, and spoke in the soft accent of his people.
    “He who calls himself Sharur, welcome. I have a stone
for you today.”
     As Umrub spoke, he handed Arjun the stone with a
small motion, not easily seen. Once it was done, he spoke again, “Know that the
word of unlocking this day’s stone is ‘Nishir’”
    “Thank you Umrub, and I have a question for you.”
    Umrub gave the slightest nod. “And what would you
ask?”
    “I know many things come for trade from the land of
G’abud, and I wish to learn of more of them than can be seen at your stall.
    The G’abudim watched him silently for some time, with
a stony expression, but at last he spoke, “Such things may be discussed better
at other places. However first I must see if they may be discussed at all.
Return to me as you normally would, a few days from now, and I will give you
the answer I am given.”
    “I will do as you ask,” said Arjun with a bow, and