The Archon's Assassin Read Online Free PDF

bestowing a touch here and there on outstretched hands. Someone got overexcited and tried to get his face between her breasts. One of Morrow’s goons yanked him back and held him still while another broke his face. Stupid scut. But you had to admire his nerve.
    When the dame continued her speech without any indication she’d been ruffled, Albert finally got round to replying. “The Demiurgos’s Disciple.”
    “Never heard of it. What’s that, then? Quintus shogging Quincy?”
    “Bent Horrigan,” Albert said. “They love him in the provinces.”
    “Yeah, well, he can shogging stay there.”
    “This is the infamous soliloquy of the succubus,” Albert said. “It’s supposed to give you an insight into what the ladies want, though why anyone would care about such things, I’ll never know.”
    Shadrak strained his ears to catch what the dame was saying. Not that it mattered much, what women want, because they still wouldn’t want it from him. That was the trouble with being the height of a child. Didn’t help none he was white as a sheet, and most everyone found the pink of his eyes disturbing. Great for intimidation, but shit for all else.
    “Load of bleeding bollocks,” he muttered, looking back at Morrow’s box when he saw Albert stiffen.
    Morrow had turned green. His cheeks puffed up, like he was gonna throw. The two men beside him helped him from his chair and rushed him out the back of the loge.
    Dame Consilia glanced over from the stage. Only for a second. She was a real pro, and instantly snapped back into her role. Except she fluffed a line and stood there like a lemon till someone prompted, “And what big balls you have, sir dwarf,” from the wings.
    Murmurs rumbled about the auditorium, and all eyes shifted to Morrow’s empty box.
    Dame Consilia struggled on, but her cheeks were red, and she kept glancing off stage.
    “I’ll follow them outside, see if it worked,” Shadrak said.
    Albert spun out of his chair to face him. “And why would you do that?”
    “Just in case. You know…”
    “In case I got the dose wrong?” Albert clasped his hands over his belly and tapped his thumbs together, like he always did when he was pissed off.
    “I trust you, Albert. Really. It’s just the way I am. I have to check.”
    Never leave anything to chance. He wouldn’t have gotten where he was today if he’d not been so careful. He’d never have survived so long among the Sicarii in Sahul, never mind made it as boss of the Night Hawks and unifier of all the guilds in New Jerusalem.
    All but Morrow’s.
    And that was about to change.
    “Wait here,” he said, as he slipped through the curtain at the back of the box.
    “If I must.”
    The ruffle of the curtain was instantly followed by a swirl of dust motes in the corridor beyond. The air shimmered, and then there was another ruffle, this time from a brown robe that flickered into view, growing quickly denser, more solid. There was no face beneath the drooping cowl, just a blinding brilliance that made Shadrak throw a hand over his eyes. He couldn’t help it, and dipped his head, but his free hand still went to the grip of a flintlock, for all the good it would do.
    “What the shog do you want?” he asked, before he could stop himself.
    The Archon’s robe rippled, and flames erupted from where his face should have been.
    Shadrak stumbled back into the curtain and dropped to one knee. He hated himself for it, but what else could he do? Save wait, and learn from each time the shogger put in an appearance.
    “Leave your scheming and attend to mine,” the Archon said in his rustling voice.
    “Busy,” Shadrak said. “Can’t you see that?” He stood and made to walk past, but the air in front of him took on the solidity of a wall.
    “Our agreement is binding, Shadrak.”
    “Tell me about it,” Shadrak said. It was a contract that had been sealed with irresistible bait. “So, how’s my mother? How’s Kadee?” He suppressed a scoff, partly