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“They’re professionals,” Leif said. “Terrible cooks, but they’re smart.”
“What about your magic?” Valek asked.
“I have the deluxe accommodations. Slop pot, damp walls, straw bedding and a null shield.”
“Considerate of them.” He scanned the small area, searching for possible ways to escape.
“They won’t tell me anything. What’s going on?” Leif asked.
By the time Valek finished explaining, Leif paced his cell in agitation. “She can’t give him the Ice Moon. She knows that. Right?”
Concerned about listeners, Valek tapped his ear, then switched to the sign language he had taught Leif. He motioned that Yelena was well aware of the danger. Worry over her reaction to the news of his capture flared. Even if they escaped, Owen could still lie to her.
We have to get out of here, Leif replied.
That’s the idea.
Do you have a plan?
I’m working on it.
Leif didn’t look reassured. Work faster.
The clang of a heavy bolt being pulled rang out. Fresh air swept in for a moment before the door slammed shut again. Valek jumped to his feet and moved close to the bars of his cell. Five armed guards preceded a familiar cloaked figure. The woman held a glass fox.
He cursed those magical communication devices under his breath. Not only did they put Ixia at a major disadvantage, but they complicated this situation.
The guards kept well out of his reach. Damn. Valek strained to catch a glimpse of her face, but couldn’t.
“Your heart mate will not believe us about your capture,” she said. “Seeing is believing.”
With the magic inside the glass, Valek guessed Yelena watched him through the woman’s eyes. He crossed his arms and scowled, drumming his fingers on his biceps. His actions weren’t random, and he hoped Yelena remembered the signals.
After a few moments, she snapped her fingers. The guards unlocked Leif’s cell door and rushed him. They pinned him to the wall as the woman entered. She pulled a switchblade from her pocket.
Triggering the blade, she advanced on Leif. “Now to show Yelena what happens when she questions us.”
PART 3 – YELENA
Seeing Valek through Owen’s mind, I stifled my desire to throttle the magician. Owen had been telling the truth. Valek had been caught, and he looked really pissed off. He tapped his fingers on his arm, signaling me. Since I was connected through Owen, I would have to decipher Valek’s message later.
Owen used his glass turtle to reach the other magician—a woman who held another one of Opal’s glass messengers. Through this strange double link I could “see” what she did. It was bad enough to learn of Valek’s capture, but when she triggered her switchblade and advanced on my brother, I lost it.
It, meaning my temper. I projected my awareness into the woman before Owen could sever the connection. Taking over her physical body, I stopped her thrust just in time. Her confusion lasted mere seconds before horror and fear flooded her mind, as she realized I had control of her body and soul. Score one for the Soulfinder.
But what I didn’t have was time. I had expended a great deal of energy to reach her, and Owen was already trying to break the link. He would soon succeed.
I turned the blade and rested the cold steel on her neck. I could kill you right now, but I won’t, I said to her. Instead, I’ll spare your life, and in exchange you will not harm my brother or Valek. If they’re injured in any way while in your care, I will find you, kill you and send your soul to the fire world. Understand?
Her panicked agreement flooded my senses through our connection.
With my last bit of strength, I compelled her to toss the switchblade to Valek, who caught it with ease, and then sent her and the guards to sleep. They would all wake as soon as I left, but I hoped it would be long enough to give Leif and Valek a slight advantage.
I returned to my own body with an audible snap. Exhaustion liquefied my muscles, and I slumped to the floor. We had stopped for the night in a travel shelter located near the middle of Military District 5 (MD-5) in Ixia. My old stomping grounds.
From my prone position, I had an up-close view of Owen’s boots.
“That was unwise,” he said. Fury spiked his words.
“It was instinct,” I whispered.
“How sweet. But it didn’t save your brother or Valek. It angered me, and now you’re unable to defend yourself. What did you hope to accomplish?”
“I liked angering you.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I’d pay for my smart remark.
Owen didn’t disappoint. The tip of his boot rammed into my ribs. Pain raced along the bones of my ribcage. He’d probably cracked a few with that hit. Being too weak to defend myself also meant I lacked the strength to heal myself. And Owen didn’t stop with one kick. Oh, no. He wanted to prove his point. After what seemed like a lifetime of blows to my ribs, stomach and back, he did.
Passing out was the best thing to happen to me all day.
PART 4 – VALEK
The female magician, or rather, Yelena, who seemed to be controlling her body at the moment, tossed the switchblade to Valek. He snatched the weapon from the air as the magician collapsed.
“Move,” he ordered Leif.
Leif didn’t hesitate to bolt. The guards, whom Yelena had put to sleep with her power, began to stir. But once Leif slammed the cell door shut, they surged to their feet, yelling.
“Here.” Through his bars, Valek handed Leif the switchblade. “Jam the tip in the lock and break it off. Quickly.”
“Why?” Leif asked.
“They have keys.”
“Oh.” He grunted with the effort, but managed to wedge the steel tip inside the locking mechanism before the magician could use her key. A temporary measure.
Valek expected her to attack Leif with her magic, but remembered the null shield around Leif’s cell. About time one of those blasted things worked in his favor.
Leif looked at Valek’s cell. “How do we—”
“Go find my clothes,” Valek said. “I have a full set of lock picks in them.”
“Shirt or pants?”
He smiled. “Either one.”
Laughing, Leif went to search. He left the door to the small prison ajar. Valek breathed in the fresh air for a moment as he considered his new neighbors. A couple of the guards tried to unlock the cell door, but the magician sat on Leif’s mattress. During the ruckus, her hood had fallen back.
While she might talk like a Sandseed, she resembled a Moon Clan member. Blond hair so light, it could be mistaken for white, matched her large silver-colored eyes. Her pale skin could easily blend in in Ixia. Fear lurked in her gaze, and he wondered what Yelena had said to her. Probably threatened to send her soul to the fire world. As far as threats went, Yelena couldn’t be outdone. People might risk pain and even death for a cause, but spending eternity in the fire world was just too big a price to pay.
The magician remained quiet, but Valek couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
She ignored him.
“How did you get involved with Owen?” he tried.
Again she kept silent, but her gaze flicked to her hands. They were clasped together in her lap. She wore a bright ruby ring on the middle finger of her right hand, and a heart-shaped diamond ring on the pinkie of her left.
“Are you and Owen Moon married, or just heart mates?” he asked.
A slight movement in her shoulders revealed her surprise, but otherwise her expression stayed neutral. Impressive.
“You are married. Sitians are more apt to make their unions official, and they like to have an excuse to have a party.” He tapped a finger on his lips. “You’re a few years younger than him, but since you’re both magicians, you probably met him while attending the Magician’s Keep.”
Her body language once again betrayed her. Valek was three for three.
Footsteps shuffled, and he
turned his attention to the noise. Leif backed into view. He held his hands out.
“I told you they were professionals,” Leif said. He was followed by three armed men. The weak light glinted on the sharp blades of their swords.
Valek groaned inwardly. More problems and delays.
“Move back,” the man on the left ordered Valek. “Or I’ll skewer your friend.”
Valek considered the threat. “Do you plan to wound, maim, or kill him?” he asked the guard. “Threats should be specific in order to have the maximum impact.”
