Read Weapon of the Guild [The Chronicles of Grimm Dragonblaster, Book 2] for Free Online Page B

Elven race: the first sentient non-human he had ever encountered.
    "Harvel, you burnt-out has-been; I see you still carry that sad excuse for a skewer. Do you think people will take you for some sort of blademaster,” the elf sneered, “when all the world knows you're no more than a bibulous, primping popinjay?"
    Grimm tensed as the swordsman leapt to his feet. He knew now how insults were handled here, and he waited for blood to flow.
Chapter 4: Murder!
    "Better a primping popinjay than a larcenous, light-fingered freak!” Harvel replied, his face reddening. Then, Grimm noticed Uril leaning on his elbows, his head resting in his hands, wearing an amused smile on his face. What was going on here?
    After what seemed an age, Harvel laughed, grabbed the slender stranger by the shoulders and embraced him with genuine warmth.
    "Crest, it's good to see you again after all this time! How are you, you hot-headed half-breed hellion?" Alliteration seemed to be on the menu, as Crest replied, “All the worse for seeing you, you sad, sorry substitute for a swordsman!” Breaking off from the embrace, the half-elf turned to the senior mage, who wore a cool smile on his face.
    "Questor Dalquist, it is good to see you again. “Are you looking to hire my services once more?"
    "I am, indeed, Master Crest,” the senior mage replied. “I am looking for a first-class thief, and I was hoping I might find you here. It is good to see that you and Harvel are already well acquainted. Are the usual terms acceptable?"
    "No complaints from me on that score, Questor Dalquist. Anything I steal for myself belongs to me, and you give me an additional stipend of one gold piece a week."
    Harvel rolled his eyes, and Grimm presumed this was at the elf's lack of acumen.
    "Crest, may I introduce my fellow-Questor, Grimm Afelnor? Questor Grimm, allow me to introduce the estimable Crest, a master thief with whom I have Quested on occasion." On reflex, Grimm extended his right hand, and the slender thief took it in a firm grasp. “I am pleased to meet you, Master Crest,” he said.
    Crest smiled. “Just, ‘Crest', please, Questor Grimm,” the elf replied. “My name speaks for itself around here, and I need no additional honorific. Well met, Lord Mage."
    With the formalities satisfied, Dalquist invoked his spell of silence once more and explained the details of the Quest. Crest nodded from time to time and accepted the challenge with no more animation than he might have done if accepting an invitation to a party.
    When Dalquist finished, Crest ordered another round of drinks. After a few minutes’ drinking, he began to introduce hair-raising tales of his various exploits, many of which Grimm felt almost sure had grown just a little in the telling.
    Then, as a swarthy, tattooed type with a shaven head passed the table, the words “They let all kinds in here these days—even freaks” floated across the room with shocking clarity. Quick as thought, Crest uncoiled a long, liquorice-like black whip from around his waist. Grimm had not noticed the weapon before against the elf's dark clothing.
    With a deft, delicate flick of Crest's wrist, the whip coiled around the man's throat. Giving it a none-too-tender jerk, the thief pulled the man's face down to the level of his own. All this happened at startling speed, and a little impromptu applause arose from some of the tables.
    "No killing in here, Crest!” Uril shouted. “You know the rules!"
    "Oh, I don't think we need any killing yet, Uril. Just a little lesson in humility should suffice, I think. Don't you agree, my friend?"
    The trapped man gasped for breath, eyes bulging as his hands scrabbled with frantic urgency at the whip wound around his throat.
    "Now I'm sure some freak of nature caused us all to mishear this silly little man's words, isn't that so?”
    Crest cried cheerfully.
    The trapped man, his panicked face now suffused with a delicate shade of purple, managed to nod.
    "I'm sure if I let him go