AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mouth fell open. ‘He’s a Council member but he’s never there because he’s off golfing?’ I said incredulously.
‘I wouldn’t saynever,’ Tarkers smirked. ‘But “rarely”? Yeah, I’d say that.’
If that were true, it certainly gave William Walker a reason for all his flash cash: he wasn’t a Black Tourney organiser, just a man with a decent swing. Dammit.
‘Ducky?’ I asked nosily. ‘Where does that nickname come from?’
‘Hughes. Huey. Huey, Dewey and Luey. Donald Duck. Ducky.’
‘Of course,’ I agreed flatly.
He flashedme a grin. ‘God forbid a man has a nickname that actually make sense.’
‘Indeed. What can you tell me about Aitken?’
Tarkers grew solemn. ‘Well, I call him Aitken,’ he confessed drily.
‘Not your best bud?’
‘He has a rod up his arse. It’s so long that by rights it should be coming out of his mouth.’
‘Please,’ I said faintly, ‘tell me what you really think.’
He burst out laughing. ‘Right you are, Your Maj.’ He immediately became serious again. ‘I saw what you can do, Queenie, and I’m not in a hurry to have you turn your head wolfie on my account. I’ll tell it like it is until you tell me otherwise.’
I waved away the suggestion. ‘I’ll never tell you otherwise. I value honesty.’
‘Then we’re going to get on like a wizard and his wand, Your Maj.’
‘Wizards don’t actually use wands, do they?’ I frowned. Wizards use the Intention and Release, and they had no need of wands as far as I knew – but every day was a school day and this realm did so love its secrets. Maybe wizardsdidhave wands.
He coloured. ‘Ah, no. Sorry, Queenie. That one is an off-colour saying. It means a wizard and his…’ He trailed off and gestured to his crotch.
‘Crotchular region?’ I suggested.
‘Right you are.’ He winked.
Despite myself, I was really starting to like this slightly crass man. I could see why Lord Samuel had enjoyed his company, though I wondered cynically if Samuel had merely been pumping the loquacious alpha for information. Which reminded me… ‘Where’s your beta?’ I enquired.
‘Left him at home, Your Maj. Someone needs to run things in my absence.’
One of my eyebrows rose of its own accord. ‘You didn’t feel vulnerable strolling in here alone?’
‘Oh, yes, Queenie, I did. Felt like I was strolling in with my meat and two veg for all and sundry to see and tackle. But if I’m for the chop, best not bring the others down with me.’
‘You’re not for the chop,’ I assured him. ‘I’m trying to start a revolution, and for that I need allies. What better place to start than with the men my old alpha used totrust?’
He smiled. ‘Right you are. Not just a pretty face,’ he said to himself, obviously thinking aloud. ‘You’ll want Debbie, too.’
I blinked. A woman? How had I not heard of her? ‘Who is Debbie? She can’t be an alpha.’
His expression grew rueful. ‘Sorry to get your hopes up.He. Richard Denby. Debbie.’
I grimaced. Dammit, Ihadgot my hopes up. I wanted more powerful women on side – though Rae was a start. ‘Ah, Denby from Derby?’
‘That’s the one.’ He clicked his fingers and did a ‘gun’ finger point.
‘He’s coming tomorrow. He had something on today,’ I explained. I surreptitiously checked my watch. Time to go: Thomas Elliott really wasn’t going to like being left hanging. I’d see Elliott after Grandy’s duel. Probably.
