《Known World Series》Ironmonger Episode 1: Azul Returns
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The Ironmongers
1.
Tosh still reeled at what Bors had announced. He’d left his friend—and Mars—in a daze. First waiting in a lounge in Deimos Station. Then a fast rocket anywhere. Anywhere became a rocket to the Zilmarian Port on Ganymede. Most of his mindwas occupied with trying to understand why Bors had told him to journey for a Martian year, then return to the alehouse Bacchanal Respite to see if he wished to continue to follow Bors around as a wondering adventurer.
It was a short jaunt to Ganymede, yet Tosh didn’t want to stay on the swampy planet. Finding another lounge in the lavish Blue Carpet Club—his family held a standing place for any member in any Blue Carpet Club—Tosh found a bartender who would make the ancient drink of a Manhattan without a heavy hand on the bitters. Drink in hand, Tosh leaned back, contemplating his next move as he stared down at the yellows, pinks, greens, and the aquamarine patchwork of Kalik City below on Ganymede. He caught a disturbance at the door of the private lounge and saw a figure he thought he’d never see again.
Azal.
The bandit leader, dressed in ragged clothes, still had the metal and leather mask over his face and was screaming as security drones tried to restrain him. Tosh’s curiosity was only further piqued when he very clearly heard Azal call out, “Tosh du’Vaul! I need to see you. It is a matter of life and death!”
At that moment, one of the security drones was able to finally land a stunner on Azal, and the bandit leader let out a choked cry before flopping onto the rich, thick carpet of the lounge.
For a heartbeat, Tosh considered not helping. The bandit leader had done nothing to help him. “If this is a matter of life and his death, let him die,” Tosh muttered to himself.
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Then a small part of him whispered, “He is the reason you stand here instead of trying to sell wares in Tharsis.”
The voice had a point. He had gained wealth and could travel via fast rocket to the various places in the Known Worlds, thanks in no small part to Azal. The ray gun on his hip, disabled at the moment because of the security field around the lounge, wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt right sitting on his hip.
“And Bors said to seek out adventure elsewhere with others,” Tosh said to himself. He sighed again, stood, and walked to the security drones that were collecting Azal and pulling him toward the back, where two Earth-men in dark blazers waited, their faces stoic. Yet, Tosh knew what terrors those faces hid. If he didn’t act, Azal would get beaten and then disappear, possibly forever.
The idea nauseated him.
“Please, unhand my servant,” Tosh said.
“Sir?” one of the front desk staff asked, a pretty, tanned, freckle-faced woman with bleached platinum blond hair. “You’re registered alone. You did not report any—"
“I did not think he would make the connection. I will pay for any fees and damages that he has wrought.”
The two front desk staff looked at each other with confused expressions. Then, they both turned to one of the two men with blazers. “Is there a way—"
“Sir, Master du’Vaul.” A third man, this one wearing a royal blue blazer, appeared from the corridor that Azal was still slowly being pulled toward. He had the oily smile and demeanor of a secondhand skimmer dealer, one Tosh knew very well.
“Understand, the Blue Carpet Club has a certain level of professionalism. We cannot simply have this man barging in—"
Tosh pulled out a small thumbnail-sized gem, one of the many he’d received thanks to the Grifter’s wife as compensation for his part in rescuing her. “Will this bauble suffice?” he asked.
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The man in the blue blazer gave Tosh a serene smile as he moved closer, clasped both hands over Tosh’s extended one, and pumped his hand a few times as an agreement. “Please see that your servant is better trained,” the man said.
Tosh bristled yet said nothing. He gave the front desk staff the false name: Gin, helped Azal up, and rented a private room for the next two hours.
“Your rocket schedule is in an hour,” the woman at the desk warned.
“I will take a later flight.”
“There are no other direct flights to Callisto, sir. This is the only one.”
“Update my itinerary once my servant is seen to. Please, have a lunch cart brought in,” Tosh said.
“You seem to know how to order them all around, sahib,” Azal said as Tosh helped him toward the private room.
“I played it well for some time while part of the family. Please do not use my last name unless you must,” Tosh said.
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Quod Olim Erat
The stars were home. Decades ago, Elcy was a battleship, until her recklessness brought her out of the front lines and to forced retirement in a human body. Now she lives a quiet life on a rural backwater planet, keeping the promise made to her last captain, until one day a letter takes her to the stars once more. Available on Amazon under the title "The Elcy Protocol" using this link: https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B097CVPBBH Listed on Top Web Fiction HERE The story is continued in: The Scuu Paradox and The Cassandrian Theory Cover by ssddx Edited by Aziraphael and Floydien
8 133Coeus?
Author's Comment: I was asked about reading my work on other sites. The answer is simple: Currently I am not active in any other networks than royalroadl.com. Only here, I correct mistakes and errors. If you read it anywhere else and have to pay for it, or have to deal with an annoying amount of advertisement, You Are Being Betrayed. You would do good if you make other people in that network aware of it. This is a free project of mine for the purpose of having fun. And if people try to make money with it you shouldn't bother visiting their website. The only one whom I actually allowed to have my work on his website is Armaell who invested the time to compile them into pdf. (http://armaell-library.net/author/andur) ——————————————————————————————— Reading Order of the Multiverse-Books ——————————————————————————————— About a boy who isn’t quite normal and doesn’t see himself as a human being, but is taught differently as he finds out about the world's secrets. Though not everyone is happy about his existence. This is inteded to evolve into a full blown space opera with elements of magic thrown into it. ——————————————————————————————— The OneShot goes FullStory. Trying to go a little more SciFi and alternate reality this time. I am not entirely sure how this fiction will turn out. And I am not sure on the tags either. They may change. Bear with it. As always, how chapters turn out is up to my mood.
8 248Advent Of The Median
Waking up, Elton finds himself reborn within a world called Arda. Each being living within this world is able to harness “Spirit Power” an energy that enables them to achieve impossible feats that go beyond the realm of imagination. Adapting to his new life as Markus, son of the local guard captain, he decides to enjoy his peaceful lifestyle where he avoids all problems. Become stronger to be able to achieve his desires to live peacefully. __________________________________________________________________________________ When I awoke, I was reborn in another World. I became Markus, son of the local guard captain. Compared to living like a slave that continues toiling away endlessly, I enjoyed the relaxing life that came with being the son of a guard and planned on settling down and living life peacefully. But it seems the life I tried to keep is being disrupted by the Kingdom. The invaders are coming for revenge, but all I want is to go as far away from all this as possible. But it seems that to protect this new life of mine, I must become stronger. Previously: “Arda: The World Of Spirits”
8 84Origin of Evil
The world is in a state of turmoil and upheaval. The religious fanatics hailing from the desert city-state of Kenan have completed a war of conquest against their neighbors, the ancient kingdom of Forelia. The Forelian capital has been razed to the ground and looted, its people sold into slavery. Gideon is a skilled warrior fighting for the Singing Blades, a mercenary warband led by Gideon's father, who have been contracted by the Kenanite king to fight on his behalf. When the Singing Blades are annihilated on a patrol, Gideon is cast adrift to find new purpose in a world bereft of justice. But fate has taken notice of Gideon. He is destined to meet and train the woman who will restore balance to the world, at the point of a sword. Cold steel will shed gallons of red blood in this novel about bravery and the cost of heroism. Please leave comments or reviews with criticism! I'm posting this explicitly for that purpose, so anything you have to say is very welcome. Updates every Thursday. Maybe. Depends on if I think the chapter is ready.
8 334The park master.
8 78A Guild of Moonlit Shadows (A KOTLC FanFic)
This is the second book in the Assassins at Dusk series by _Sibyline_, read Assassins at Dusk before reading this one!THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR ASSASSINS AT DUSK IN THIS BOOK, IM WARNING YOU.You. Have. Been. Warned.This story has very little smut, makeout sessions and such, but no REAL smut. I'm not a smut author.But it does have cursing sooooo...~~~~~Sophie, Lilac, Keefe, and Biana have finally found the entrance into the Dunmer Kingdom, hoping to find Ruy, but they were forced to leave behind Ricin in order to come off as nonhostile and peaceful. Sophie struggles to remain calm and orderly, panicked about her right-hand man and lover, but with her friends at her side, she is willing to plunge into the city of the Vatarian's worst enemy. There is no telling how the Dunmer will react to the presence of the Vatarians and elves, but that is a risk they are forced to take in order to save Ruy. Ruy learned of his Dunmer father and heritage, refusing to accept it and shutting it down. Not only does Ruy have the blood of the Dunmer pumping through his veins, but he shares the blood with the Dunmer King, making him the Lost Prince of the Dunmer Kingdom. Ruy has no need or want to join the Dunmer in any way, but when he learns that the Neverseen march on the Lost Cities, he is forced to swallow his pride and accept training from his father in order to train himself in the ways of the Dunmer. Ruy's mind focuses on the wellbeing of innocents, but most of all, returning to Sophie, his lover and dearest friend. Ruy is forced to balance what he can tell his father and the Dunmer, and what he must keep secret. The world is falling into disarray and bloodshed, and the Vatarian cities are panicked. There is no telling of the future, the only that was promised of the future was war. In this book, blood and love, tears and screams, family and enemies will be filling each word you read. The Guild of Moonlit Shadows, By Sibylline. The second book in the AAD series.
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