Sneak Peek at Prologue & Chapter One
Prologue Darkness settled over the city as the lamps dimmed to conserve energy. Curfew was never truly enforced outside the slums, but no sane or respectable person had reason to be out this late anyway. A lone hooded figured slipped down the dark street into alleys moving further and further from the noble district border. The gaps grew smaller as the buildings became one solid lane framing well used cobble and dirt streets. The young man paused to look around before turning down a narrow space between stores – less of an ally and more of a gap where the buildings had begun to sag and disintegrate. Several feet in he gave a sharp whistle and waited. “Punctual,” a woman’s voice spoke from the shadows. “Unusual for your type.” “I keep my appointments,” he stated easily, his voice confident and smooth. “You were successful?” “Sir,” the woman chuckled. “The Shades are always successful. Do you have our payment?” “As agreed, plus a littl...