Dawn Study

8

VALEK

An agreement? Valek leaned back to meet Yelena’s gaze and did not like her pained expression. Not at all. He tightened his arms around her for a second, his instinct to protect her flooding him for a moment. Then, with effort, he relaxed and stepped away. “What is he talking about?”

Yelena explained the deal she had worked out with Cahil. As she talked, Valek kept a tight leash on his emotions. After a hellacious night spent healing his injuries and worrying about her, this was the last thing he wanted to hear.

“...we need Cahil on our side. You agreed. He won’t listen to reason while under the influence of Theobroma. This is the only way we’ll be able to convince him.”

Anger shot through him. “No. You can’t go to the Featherstone garrison. Bruns will find out, and then you and the baby will be killed.” Valek pressed his arms to his sides as the desire to throw her over his shoulder and bolt from the warehouse pulsed through him. She hadn’t trusted him to defeat Onora. Didn’t believe she’d be rescued. For the first time in years, he was furious at her.

“You can’t stop her. She gave her word,” Cahil said, holding up a piece of parchment.

The smug superiority of Cahil’s tone grated on Valek’s already frayed nerves. He pulled his dagger and advanced on the idiot. “I know a quick way to void that.”

“Valek, stop,” Yelena said.

“Are you that certain he’ll see reason?” he demanded.

“Yes.”

“What happens if Bruns learns you’re there?”

“I’ll protect her. It’s a provision in our agreement,” Cahil said.

The handle of Valek’s knife bit into his palm. He’d never regretted killing anyone in his life, but he’d kicked himself for letting certain troublemakers live, because they always returned to cause more problems. Cahil happened to be one of them. However, Valek’s plan to stop the Sitian takeover did include Cahil’s assistance.

“Can I see the accord?” he asked.

“Of course.” Cahil handed him the accursed document.

Valek read through the terms. A red-hot knot squeezed his chest. He sought loopholes. None. After committing it to memory, he returned it. “In ten days, I will be at the Featherstone garrison.”

“What if she loses?” Cahil asked.

“I won’t,” she said with conviction.

But Cahil could lie or break their agreement or brainwash her or...a million things could go wrong. If Cahil failed to switch sides, Valek would kill him. There was no way he’d allow Yelena to remain with the enemy.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Cahil stared at him.

“If she loses, then we are enemies.”

“And she stays with me,” Cahil said.

His heart tore in half. “Yes.”

“I want your word that you won’t try to rescue her or kill me if her plan fails.”

Valek met his wife’s gaze. Yelena seemed confident. Not much he could do at this point. “I promise not to attempt a rescue or kill you.” The words coated his mouth with a foul bile. Valek hated that he’d been forced to say them. Why hadn’t Yelena trusted him?

Cahil relaxed.

But Valek wasn’t done. “But I will be by her side.”

The idiot peered at him in confusion. “You just said we’d be enemies.”

“Correct. I won’t help your efforts or hinder them. But I’ll be with Yelena until the war is over. Consider me her personal bodyguard.”

“Valek, no.” Yelena protested. “They’ll kill you or use you to learn about the Commander. Besides, Fisk and the others need you. Sitia needs you.”

“I’m not fighting against you.”

Her face lost all color as she realized that was what she had promised Cahil. To fight against her friends and family. She clasped her hands together. “It won’t come to that.”

“I hope you’re right.” Their future happiness depended on it.

Onora stepped away from Cahil. “What’s next?”

With all the emotional turmoil, Valek had forgotten about Fisk’s people. They stood awkwardly at the edges.

“Back to HQ,” he said. They’d have to relocate and change their plans. Yelena had agreed to cooperate during the next ten days. Cahil might claim that meant revealing vital information. Also, if Cahil remained convinced of Bruns’s good intentions, then Yelena would be obligated to reveal all their plans.

Then it hit him. He couldn’t be part of developing the new strategy, or else he might be forced to divulge the intel if he became her bodyguard while she worked for the Cartel. Ah, hell. They were screwed with a capital S.

“What about my people?” Cahil asked. “Are they dead?”

“No. Neutralized,” Onora said. “They should wake up in a few hours.”

“Cahil knows Fisk has people in the garrisons and that the Stormdancers are helping us,” Yelena said.

And just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse. Unable to speak without growling at her, Valek nodded instead. It was all he could handle at this time.

“Let’s go,” Valek ordered. The guild members and Onora headed to the door. Before following them, Valek glanced at Cahil’s smug expression, and Yelena’s pained one. “See you in ten days.” He left.

Valek set a quick pace for a few blocks. Then he told everyone to scatter and meet back at HQ. Onora stayed with him as he leaned against a building, the enormity of the situation catching up to him. And the regret. He hadn’t hugged or kissed his wife goodbye.

“Can you shadow her?” he asked Onora. “Make sure Cahil doesn’t go back on his word not to harm her?”

“Yes. Meet in the town near the Featherstone garrison in nine days?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Don’t worry. She knows what she’s doing.” Onora gave him a salute and disappeared down the street.

He’d like to believe that, but ever since Yelena lost her magic, she’d been doubting herself. And now this idiotic agreement with Cahil. She must have panicked last night, believed Cahil’s lies and, worried that the baby’s life was in danger, come up with what she thought was a good solution. If only she’d trusted him.

Nothing to be done about it now. Valek pushed off the wall and headed to HQ.

* * *

“Please tell me you’re kidding,” Fisk said.

Valek wished. “No. You need to relocate the Stormdancers, my brother, my sister and Teegan to a secure place. Recall Ari and Janco. Ari is going to be your best bet for strategy and planning. When Leif, Mara and Esau return, have them go into hiding. And get your people out of the garrisons before they’re caught.”

Fisk sat stunned. “Wow.”

“Do you have any null shield pendants?”

“Yes. Leif’s learned how to make them using wood.”

“Please send one to Cahil with my compliments. And another for Yelena, just in case.”

“Got it.”

Valek left Fisk to absorb the bombshell he’d just dropped on him. When he arrived at their rooms, Valek paused. The smell of lavender—Yelena’s favorite scent—sucked away all his remaining energy. He sat on the edge of the bed and rested his head in his hands as exhaustion swept through him.

Once Onora had returned with Yelena’s location, Valek had spent all last night planning her rescue, and that was after he’d used magic to heal his shoulder and hip. Chale hadn’t been strong enough to repair such extensive injuries. The fact that Valek managed to mend the damage and didn’t flame out and kill himself had been a source of pride.

Summoning the strength to stand, he packed his and Yelena’s saddle bags. Then he carried them down the stairs and headed to the hidden stables behind the kitchen.

Fisk chased him. “Where are you going?”

“I need to leave so I don’t overhear your new strategies.”

“Where do we find you if everything works out?”

Valek considered. “The Cloverleaf Inn in Owl’s Hill. Do you know it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He continued past the ovens.

“It’ll work out,” Fisk called.

But Valek didn’t have the energy to reply. Onyx and Kiki greeted him with whickers, and they nosed his pockets for treats. Giving each a milk oat, he stroked their necks and checked their legs for hot spots. All black, Onyx was built for speed. Sleek and quiet, he matched Valek’s personality.

Valek saddled both horses and secured Yelena’s bags and bo staff to Kiki’s saddle. Leading them outside, he turned to Kiki. White coated most of her face, except for a swirl of copper around her left eye. She had white socks, but the rest of her was copper. Her long ears pricked forward.

He relaxed his mental shield, allowing Kiki’s thoughts to fill his mind—one of the perks to having magic. As a Sandseed horse, Kiki used a form of magic to communicate mentally with humans and other non-Sandseed horses like Onyx.

Lavender Lady? she asked, using Yelena’s horse name.

With Peppermint Man, he said. Go find Topaz. He’s at the Council’s stables. Lavender Lady needs you.

Needs Ghost No More.

He’d been Ghost, but since he was no longer immune to magic, Kiki had added the “No More” to his name. Not this time.

She flicked him with her tail. Every time.

He laughed without humor. Lavender Lady doesn’t agree with you. Besides, he trusted Onora to keep an eye on her.

Smoke Girl part of herd. Kiki approved.

Smoke?

Unable to verbalize, Kiki sent images of Onora sitting quiet and still, blending in with her surroundings and moving with grace, like a wisp of smoke. Kiki hinted at something deeper within the girl. That a fire burned at her core, but she hid it beneath a smoke screen.

A good analogy, Valek thought.

Kiki smart.

Yes, you are.

Come.

I will be there. I just need...time. To cool down? Time to think?

Kiki’s blue-eyed gaze peered right through him. He remained still, even though the urge to squirm like a misbehaving child pressed on him.

Come soon. She trotted away.

He wondered how the Citadel’s citizens would react to a riderless horse, but then Valek remembered Kiki’s ability to stay hidden, despite being so large. Plus, unlike the other breed of horses, Sandseeds refused to wear horseshoes. No clip-clop of hooves on the cobblestones.

Valek mounted Onyx, but he had no idea where to go, except to leave the Citadel. “Let’s get out of here, boy.”

After they exited through the north gate, Valek let Onyx pick the direction. The steady rhythm of the horse underneath him combined with his exhaustion and it numbed him. His thoughts stilled. His emotions drained. A cool breeze fanned his face. The moist scent of earth and grass filled the air as trees and bushes blurred past, their green buds and blue sky the only colors.

Whenever Onyx stopped, Valek fed and watered his horse. He rested and ate stale travel rations until Onyx indicated it was time to go. The sun set and rose. Twice.

Onyx slowed as the light faded for the third time. Valek roused in preparation to care for his horse. But instead of halting in a clearing, Onyx approached a building. He had his dagger in hand before Valek recognized the cottage he and Yelena had purchased. It was located in the Featherstone lands, near the border with Ixia. Onyx headed to the tiny stable, pushing the door open with his head.

Valek dismounted. “Did Kiki tell you to come here?”

His horse blew a hot breath scented with grain in Valek’s face as if to say, Snap out of it, man!

Removing Onyx’s saddle and tack, Valek groomed, fed and watered his horse before shuffling toward the dark, cold cottage. Horsehair stuck to his sweat-slicked skin and coated his clothes. The warm season should be renamed the shedding season.

He paused in the threshold. It’d been three and a half months since he’d been here with Yelena. This was where their child had been conceived. Memories threatened to push through the fog in his head. Maybe he’d sleep in the stable. No, he was being silly. He entered. The empty rooms held no warmth. A light film of dust coated the furniture. Not bothering to light a fire or heat up the bathwater, Valek washed quickly. The little cottage had been perfect for them. A washroom and kitchen occupied the right side of the ground floor. A large living area filled the left side, and a huge stone hearth sat in the middle, heating all the rooms. The second story loft covered half the building and contained their bedroom.

After trudging up the steps, Valek shook out the blankets on the bed. Yelena’s scent slapped him in the face, and he collapsed onto the mattress. All his anger drained away in one gush of misery. Yelena had gone with the enemy, taking all his hopes and dreams with her. Ten days was enough time for Bruns to learn of her presence in the garrison. An intelligent businessman, he’d have informers in all the garrisons. Cahil had been brainwashed like all the rest. There was no way Cahil could protect her, no matter what he promised.

So what the hell was Valek doing here? Pouting. He should be arranging another rescue. Except he’d given his word to Cahil that he wouldn’t do that, and Yelena would never break hers. Until things went sideways with Bruns, Valek’s hands were tied.

He breathed in the clean scent of lavender. As he lay on the bed they’d once shared, a realization came to him slowly. He’d been so furious at her for not trusting him that he was doing the same thing—not trusting her. Yelena had been confident of Cahil’s ability to see reason, and she’d escaped plenty of tight spots before. And if the null shield pendant was taken from her, the baby created some kind of void, which protected her from magic.

Her comment about Onora finally registered. The idiot had lied to her. Told her Valek was dead. Desperate and upset, she’d made a deal with Cahil to protect the baby. Ah, hell.

He should have picked up on it sooner. Why had he gotten so furious so fast? He could blame his exhaustion on the fight with Onora, the energy needed to heal, and no sleep. But that was just an excuse. No. The Commander had sent Onora after him. Onora, who the Commander had trained and who fought Valek with the clear determination to kill. Considering Owen Moon’s influence on the Commander, that betrayal hurt more than it should. Commander Ambrose no longer trusted him after they’d worked together for twenty-four years. When he combined Ambrose’s lack of trust with Yelena’s, Valek had snapped. However, knowing why he’d been so angry didn’t help Valek feel any better now.

Valek pulled the blanket up to his chin. He needed a good night’s sleep. And after that? In six days’ time, he’d meet up with Onora near the Featherstone garrison. Now that he had time to think about it, a brief amusement flared over Onora’s confession that Gerik was her brother. It was one of those things he should have picked up on sooner, but it made perfect sense now that he knew.

But what was he going to do for the next few days? An idea sparked. He dismissed it as too dangerous, but his dreams swirled around the idea, testing it.

In the morning, Valek sat up and knew exactly what to do. Onyx fidgeted while Valek saddled him, turning a twenty-minute task into forty. Then the horse stood rock-still, despite Valek’s signal to go.

“I know you were hoping to rest here a few days,” Valek said. “We’ll be back soon. I promise.”

Onyx glanced at the stable with longing. Then he heaved a sigh and broke into a reluctant trot. Valek suppressed a chuckle—no sense upsetting Onyx any further. Valek required his cooperation; walking would take too much time.

Due to the extra time needed to avoid the border guards and keep out of sight, it took them the rest of the daylight to reach their destination—Ixia. Valek found a comfortable spot in the Snake Forest to leave Onyx.

After taking care of the horse, Valek stroked Onyx’s long neck and said, “If I’m not back by tomorrow morning, return to the cottage without me. Understand?”

Onyx lifted his head and stared down at Valek.

“I don’t like it either, but I need to do this.”

The horse snorted. Valek assumed that was an agreement and left. He wanted to be in Castletown before the streets emptied for the night. Due to the small city’s proximity to the Commander’s castle, Valek was certain there would be extra security officers patrolling the town. If he was spotted, this outing would not end well. His cloak hid most of his advisor’s uniform, but he needed to blend in, and there were other uniforms stashed at his safe house in Castletown.

When Valek entered the apartment on Pennwood Street, he surprised the agents who had been assigned to keep an eye on the city. Adrik and Pasha jumped to attention and saluted. Good to know they remained loyal.

“Report,” he ordered.

They glanced at each other. “Uh...there’s nothing to report, sir,” Adrik said.

Valek raised an eyebrow, inviting them to continue.

“We’ve been in standby mode, waiting out the storm, sir,” Pasha rushed to explain.

“The storm?” Valek asked.

“There’s an order for your execution, sir,” Adrik said. “All your agents know it’s bogus, and we won’t work with that...girl because she’s with them.” He spat the word. “We figured we’d lie low until you returned.”

“Lie low?”

“We all stopped sending reports to the castle, and all orders coming in have been ignored.”

Valek was touched by their rebellion. “You realize that’s an act of treason.”

“No, it isn’t,” Pasha said. “The Commander is not in command anymore.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“As soon as he ordered your execution, we knew. No way you’d do anything against Ixia or the Commander.” She flicked a long blond strand of hair from her face.

He wanted to hug them both.

“And there have been a few...inconsistencies with the Commander’s orders,” Adrik said. “He’s never changed his mind before, or given us conflicting orders. It’s almost like there are two people in power.”

His agents confirmed Valek’s suspicions.

“What are your orders, sir?” Pasha asked. “Did you come back to evict the Sitians?”

If only it was that easy. “Not yet. For now, continue to lie low.”

Their postures wilted at the order.

“We will evict them at the right time,” Valek said. “I need you to spread the word to the rest of my corps that Onora is to be trusted.”

Twin surprised expressions.

“Any estimate on a timeline for the eviction, sir?” Adrik asked.

“I suspect things will get hot around the fire festival.”

“And if they don’t?”

“That means we failed, and they won.”

“You didn’t train us to fail, sir,” Pasha said. “And if we can’t fail, neither can you.”

Valek laughed. “You’re right. Now tell me about the castle complex. What’s the word on security?”

“Touch the wall, and you’ll have half a dozen guards dropping down on your head,” Adrik said.

Owen must have rigged it with a magical alarm. “How about the gates?”

“Only the south gate remains open, and it’s tight. All personnel going through it are checked against a list.”

Valek considered. “All right. I have a job for you.” He explained.

As they headed out with eager grins, Valek rummaged in the supply closet. All his safe houses had the same materials. Soon after the takeover, the Commander had given Valek the freedom to secure these houses and purchase equipment. The addresses hadn’t been written down, nor did the Commander know them—the recent orders were probably being sent by Maren. The locations were given to Valek’s agents to memorize once they were trusted members of his corps. Each house had its own safe filled with enough money to cover expenses for a year.

It didn’t take the agents long to return. They supported a wobbly man between them. He wore a kitchen uniform and muttered nonsense—the effects of goo-goo juice. Best of all, he was about six feet tall with short dark hair.

“His name is Mannix, and he just delivered the castle’s meat order to the butcher,” Adrik said.

“Good work.” Valek dressed in the all-white kitchen uniform with the red diamond shapes on the shirt.

Moving quickly, Valek mixed up putty, matching it to Mannix’s skin tone. He then used it to alter his appearance, softening his sharp nose and chin. Tucking his longer hair under his collar, Valek buttoned the shirt up to the top to keep it in place.

“Well?” he asked Adrik and Pasha.

“It should work,” Adrik said.

“Should?”

“It’s dark. You’ll be fine,” Pasha said.

He hoped so. If he was caught...

No. Not going to think about it. “Release Mannix in the morning. And stay alert for any news about the castle and the Commander’s plans.”

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.

“Thanks for the help.” Valek left by the back entrance and headed to the castle’s south gate.

He strode with confidence and didn’t hesitate when approaching the gate. There were six armed guards. Valek recognized them. It was the two others—one man and a woman—standing just inside the gate who he didn’t know. The man held a clipboard and the woman stared at him.

“Mannix, cook’s aide,” she said in a bored voice to the man. Magic brushed his mental shields. Owen had brought in more magicians. Not good. Valek lowered his shield enough for his surface thoughts to be read. At least, that was what he hoped he did. He concentrated on what he needed to do to prep for the morning breakfast rush.