Jon was beyond amazement. He went to the mill door and listened. He could hear men arguing. No more than three or four. He had a bullet for each of them. He drew the pistols from his breeches and made sure they were properly loaded.
He heard a noise behind him.
A small gang of men emerged from the ruined house across the street, wielding pitchforks, cleavers and jagged strips of wood. The remnants of the Freeborn.
“The Lion,” one said in wonder.
“How did you escape?” asked another.
“By the grace of the gods,” Jon replied.
They nodded solemnly. “What should we do?”
“Say your prayers, ready your weapons and prepare to follow me.”
Continued in Book Two of the Thrice~Crossed Swords Trilogy
‘The Pillow Knife’
A request from the author
In the world of 21st-century publishing, the opinions of readers are worth far more than those of any critic. If you have enjoyed reading The Censor’s Hand, and wish to help others discover it, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Subscribe to www.amsteiner.com for news, special offers, short stories and updates on The Thrice~Crossed Swords Trilogy.
About the author
Adam M. Steiner grew up in Highgate, North London, a place of wild forests and ancient graveyards. He spent his schooldays raiding the local library, immersing himself in role-playing games and paying attention to his teachers when they were talking about ancient gods.
Later in life, he travelled the world, had many adventures, and learned a great deal about the murky worlds of business, politics and magic.
When he is not writing dark fantasy novels, Adam fences épée and longsword. He recently returned to Highgate to raise semi-feral children with his perfect wife.
Acknowledgements
Creating a book involves far more people than you might suppose. Thanks are due firstly to my family, without whose belief and support The Censor’s Hand would not have been possible. Next, to Pat Sumner, for her wonderful editing. To John Jarrold, for his advice and encouragement. To Helen, for her wise reading. To Patrick Knowles and Sergey Zabelin for their evocative art. Lastly, to the many wonderful authors and film-makers who proved to me long ago that if something can be said, it can be said better in fantasy.
The Censor's Hand: Book One of the Thrice~Crossed Swords Trilogy Page 44
