Ironmongers

By Lon Varnadore

Tosh du'Vaul and his one-time kidnapper Azal are thrown together to at first help Renard and his robotic Ironmongers, though unwillingly, to enter the deadly Shatterspike mines. Yet, Tosh is blackmailed into helping, fighting for his dead cousin, Kimya's debt. Will he be able to break free from Renard? Or with the Ironmonger general break Tosh?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lon Varnadore
• Release date: May 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005084011

Lon Varnadore

I have been a fan of sci-fi and fantasy for years. Hard at work at the next book.

Book preview

One

Tosh still reeled at what Bors had announced. He’d left his friend—and Mars—in a daze. First waiting in a lounge in Deimos Station. Then a fast rocket anywhere. Anywhere became a rocket to the Zilmarian Port on Ganymede. Most of his mindwas occupied with trying to understand why Bors had told him to journey for a Martian year, then return to the alehouse Bacchanal Respite to see if he wished to continue to follow Bors around as a wondering adventurer.

It was a short jaunt to Ganymede, yet Tosh didn’t want to stay on the swampy planet. Finding another lounge in the lavish Blue Carpet Club—his family held a standing place for any member in any Blue Carpet Club—Tosh found a bartender who would make the ancient drink of a Manhattan without a heavy hand on the bitters. Drink in hand, Tosh leaned back, contemplating his next move as he stared down at the yellows, pinks, greens, and the aquamarine patchwork of Kalik City below on Ganymede. He caught a disturbance at the door of the private lounge and saw a figure he thought he’d never see again.

Azal.

The bandit leader, dressed in ragged clothes, still had the metal and leather mask over his face and was screaming as security drones tried to restrain him. Tosh’s curiosity was only further piqued when he very clearly heard Azal call out, Tosh du’Vaul! I need to see you. It is a matter of life and death!

At that moment, one of the security drones was able to finally land a stunner on Azal, and the bandit leader let out a choked cry before flopping onto the rich, thick carpet of the lounge.

For a heartbeat, Tosh considered not helping. The bandit leader had done nothing to help him. If this is a matter of life and his death, let him die, Tosh muttered to himself.

Then a small part of him whispered, He is the reason you stand here instead of trying to sell wares in Tharsis.

The voice had a point. He had gained wealth and could travel via fast rocket to the various places in the Known Worlds, thanks in no small part to Azal. The ray gun on his hip, disabled at the moment because of the security field around the lounge, wasn’t uncomfortable. It felt right sitting on his hip.

And Bors said to seek out adventure elsewhere with others, Tosh said to himself. He sighed again, stood, and walked to the security drones that were collecting Azal and pulling him toward the back, where two Earth-men in dark blazers waited, their faces stoic. Yet, Tosh knew what terrors those faces hid. If he didn’t act, Azal would get beaten and then disappear, possibly forever.

The idea nauseated him.

Please, unhand my servant, Tosh said.

Sir? one of the front desk staff asked, a pretty, tanned, freckle-faced woman with bleached platinum blond hair. You’re registered alone. You did not report any—

"I did not think he would make