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22
HE STRODE AWAY. TONIGHT I had planned to be on my way to Sitia. A visit to Porter would delay me, but it seemed too important to ignore.
After my jaunt to the stables, I arrived back at the doors of the guest suite at the same time as a messenger. The Commander wanted us to meet him in the war room this afternoon. Inside, Tauno paced the living area like a trapped animal, prowling next to the windows.
“Why don’t you go outside?” I suggested to him. “The soldiers run laps around the castle complex for exercise. You can join them if you want.”
He stopped in surprise. “I can leave this room without being escorted by an adviser?”
“The advisers are a courtesy provided by the Commander to help you find your way around the castle. If you go out on your own, you’ll get some suspicious looks, but as long as you stick to common areas, no one will bother you. Just make sure you’re back for the meeting.” I told them about the message.
Moon Man sat next to Marrok on the couch. Marrok stared at us with an intense expression as if he tried to decipher our conversation.
“Interesting how you see the advisers as a courtesy, while Tauno sees them as guards,” Moon Man said.
I ignored the Story Weaver’s comment and gave Tauno directions to find his way outside. Even with my assurances, he still pulled the door open as if he expected to be accosted.
“Has Marrok said anything yet?” I asked.
“No, but he is understanding more and more. Unlike you.”
I scowled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Moon Man refused to answer. My plan to leave my companions in Ixia so I could travel faster through Sitia became more appealing as time went on. The Commander would keep an eye on them and I wouldn’t have to worry about being betrayed.
I looked around the room. “Where’s Leif?”
“In his room,” Moon Man said.
Judging by the monosyllable response through Leif’s door, I guessed he was still upset with me. I told him about the meeting then retired to my room.
A quiet group followed me to the Commander’s war room. Tauno had returned, seeming more settled since he had burned off some of his energy. Moon Man’s calm demeanor returned, and Leif frowned at the world at large and me in particular. My brother knew how to pout.
The Commander had a surprise waiting for us. Valek, Ari and Janco sat around the circular table. My emotions flipped to joy at seeing them.
“Valek was just informing me on the state of affairs in Sitia,” the Commander said. “Continue.”
“I found the situation to be rather ah…unique.” Valek leaned back in his chair. He scanned my companions with a thoughtful purse of his lips. The sharp features of his angular face would soften only when he smiled.
“Unique is putting it mildly,” Janco said. He rubbed the scar where the bottom half of his right ear used to be. A sure sign of his worry.
“Try alarming,” Ari added.
Panic began to simmer under my heart. Ari tended to counter Janco’s exaggerations with cool logic. His steadying presence helped keep Janco in check. Opposite in appearance, Janco’s wiry build reflected his quick wit and lightning-fast fighting style, while Ari’s strength could outmuscle most others.
“Alarming would work,” Valek agreed. “Taking out the Council wouldn’t result in better leaders. In fact, it would have inflamed the citizens to all-out war. And they have some new players who could potentially tip the battle in their favor.”
“Players? Try creepy men. Scary magicians. Evil demons.” Janco shuddered.
Valek shot Janco a warning look. “I need to obtain more information before I can assess the true nature of the threat and determine the best way to counter it.”
“Why have you returned?” the Commander asked.
Another glance from Valek, but this time he aimed it at me. “I require more help. Things were getting a little too hot even for me.”
So much for my plans to travel to Sitia alone.
The room fell quiet as Commander Ambrose considered. “What do you need?”
“A few more men, Yelena and her brother.”
I had suspected Valek would want me. By Leif’s grunt of shock, I knew his surprise matched my own when hearing his name.
“She hasn’t agreed to be an adviser yet so I can’t order her to assist you,” the Commander said.
“Then I will have to ask.” Valek looked at us.
“Yes,” I said the same time Leif said no.
“I’m a Sitian, remember? I can’t aid Ixia in overthrowing Sitia,” Leif said.
“I don’t want to take control of Sitia,” the Commander said. “I just don’t want them to invade us and I will take preventative measures to stop them.”
“By helping us, you will also help your country,” Valek said.
“We can do it on our own. We don’t need you or Yelena.” Leif turned to me. “You could never have been a true Liaison, little sister. Ever since we’ve been in Ixia, you have revealed your true loyalties.”
Outraged, I asked, “Is that what you believe?”
“Look at the evidence. At the first sign of trouble, you run for Ixia. We could have returned to the Citadel, and explained everything to the Council.”
His accusations stabbed me as if he held a knife.
“The Council will not believe us. I told you what Irys said.”
“But what if you lied? You know I don’t have the power of mental communication on my own. You don’t trust us so why should we trust you?”
First the Council had turned on me and now my brother. “Believe what you want, then. Valek, can we do without him?”
“We can.”
The Commander stared at Valek. “You will tell me your plans before you disappear again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. You’re all dismissed.” The Commander stood.
“What about us?” Leif gestured to Moon Man and Tauno. “Can we return to Sitia?”
“Consider yourselves a guest of Ixia until this unfortunate incident is resolved,” Valek said.
“What if we no longer wish to be guests?” Moon Man asked.
“Then you will be our first prisoners of war and your accommodations will not be so luxurious. It’s your choice.” The Commander left.
Leif glared at me and I wanted to laugh. His current reaction mirrored the first encounter I had had with him after fourteen years of being apart. Another full circle. I felt dizzy. Perhaps this was a sign I should stay in this spot to avoid having to exert time and effort to go around again.
Valek turned to Ari and made a slight movement with his hand.
Ari nodded and stood; his blond curls bounced with the motion. “We will be happy to escort you to your quarters.”
A gamut of emotions flowed over my former companions’ faces as they followed Ari from the room. Leif barely contained his fury, Tauno looked worried and Moon Man appeared thoughtful.
Janco brought up the rear of the procession. He flashed me an inviting smirk. “Training yard, four o’clock.”
“You need more lessons?”
“You wish.”
My smile faded when the door closed. Valek remained on the far side of the table, his face serious. I felt awkward and uncertain.
“Is it that bad?” I asked.
“It’s a situation I’ve never encountered before. I’m worried.”
“About Ixia?”
“About you, love.”
“Me?”
“I’ve always been amazed at how you can draw unwanted attention and ire from powerful people. This time, though, you managed to get a whole country upset. If I was the Commander, I would wait out the political strife in Sitia and then offer you to the victors in trade for Ixia being left alone.”
“Good thing you’re not the Commander.”
“Yes. And we should leave Ixia before the Commander figures it out. What were you planning?”
I tried to look innocent. “Me?
You’re the one with the plan.”
“And the adviser uniform you had Dilana size for you? You weren’t thinking of sneaking off to Sitia without me, were you?”
Another betrayal. “Did she tell you?”
“I had ripped a hole in my favorite pants. When I dropped them off, she asked me to deliver your uniform and gifted me with a leer. I would guess the servants were already betting how soon one of them would spot us together.” He sighed. “If only intelligence information worked through my corps as efficiently as gossip flowed through the servants, then my problems would be minimal.”
In one fluid motion, Valek stood. He walked over to me, his smooth stride graceful as a panther. Powerful energy coiled in his body. He leaned on my chair’s arms, bringing his face inches from mine. His black hair hung to his shoulders; his expression was lethal. “I’ll ask you again. Your plans include me, correct?”
I slumped deeper into my chair.
