Page 27 of The Unweaver

Verek jabbed a flame-tipped finger at Bane. “The reason for the last war—for that horseshit truce—was because ofyou. Youwere the one shoving us out of our own territories. Draining our profits. Killing our people. Using the Profane Arts. Now you’re at it again.”

A charged silence pulsed in the room.

Bane’s cool gaze slid between the heads of the table. “Five.”

Mother exchanged an uncertain look with Verek. “Five?”

“That’s how many times you both just fuckin’ lied.” Bane’s voice could freeze hell. “My counterpoint to your allegations is this: Bullshit. You’ve no proof.”

While Verek blustered and coughed, Mother’s eyes flashed amber. Her gaze fixed on the Realmwalker, she gestured to Owens who handed her papers from his over-starched coat.

“This is the ownership title for the Silvertown docks.” Mother tossed it onto the table like a gauntlet. “Purchased by Malachy Bane. This morning.”

Bane nearly smiled. “Your pets are quick, Edwina.”

“How—?” Verek ripped through the pages, a vein pulsing in his reddening forehead. “They’ve denied my offer twice! Did you forge these signatures?”

Bane exhaled a plume of smoke and said nothing.

“Bastard!” Pounding his fist on the table, Verek’s sparking fingertips singed the paper. “Those weremydocks. For shippingmysteel. I’ve fought and bled for London long before you Paddies colonized my city—”

“An Englishman against colonization?” Bane said. “Good thing I’m sitting down.”

“This ain’t your city! Yet for years I’ve had to fill out your sodding paperwork and pay your ridiculous fees. You can’t keep denying all my shipments out.”

“Still haven’t learned how to count, I see. I’ve denied one shipment, Verek. As we discussed in my office when I painstakingly explained how much you can go fuck yourself.Looks like you need a reminder.” Bane took a slow pull on his cigarette. “I’m not letting you ship guns into Ireland.”

Verek sputtered, hacking up a glob of blood into his handkerchief. “That was steel we were trying to ship into Belfast.”

“And under that steel were eighty-eight Ferromancer-modified Winchester rifles and six hundred rounds of specialized ammunition. Rifles with magically curving bullets, to be delivered into loyalist hands to fight against the IRA.”

Verek’s eyes shot daggers at Bane. “Snooping through my cargo ain’t part of the truce, either.”

“On the contrary. The truce states that I have inspection rights and discretionary approval for all your shipments in and out of London.”

“You’re IRA, ain’t you?” Steam curled off the Pyromancer’s bald pate. “No doubt you’re one of them Fenians. Biting the hand that feeds you.”

“Anti-Irish independence? That’s noble of you, Verek. Your king must be proud.”

“You dirty Fenian—”

“Ahem,” Mother interrupted. The Doberman inched closer to her but her attention was on Bane. “These ownership documents are proof of you violating our truce. We agreed to anequaldivision. Or don’t you remember?”

“Oh, I remember, Edwina. It’s the same truce you twats violated when you conspired to kill my second, Emmet Moriarty.” The Chronomancer’s name crackled like a summoning spell. “My intention was to cut you both in on the Silvertown expansion. A factory for your steel. A playground for your pets. A Christmas present for all three of us. But no longer.”

Mother’s eyes widened and darted to Verek. Purpling with rage, he flashed a look at his thugs. Their fists clenched and unclenched over their blades.

Mother cleared her throat. “My pets did not end your Chronomancer.”

“No, you’re the scavengers circling someone else’s kill.” Bane leveled Verek with an icy stare.

“Listen here, Paddy. We didn’t kill your Chronomancer, but he was asking for it. Moriarty was in our territory. We took appropriate action. Ain’t my fault the bastard shot himself.”

“Bullshit. My second was on business in Lewisham. You brought Moriarty to those docks to provoke me.”

“Prove it,” Verek sneered. “Can’t, can you, eh? Cause there’s no way you could know where every member of your gang is at every moment of the day. Especially outside your territory.”

“Ah, but those docks are my territory now.” Bane gestured at the singed papers. “I’m sure Edwina has another copy. Why don’t you hold onto that one. As a reminder.”

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