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“That was entertaining,” Valek continued. “Although Yelena didn’t trick you. That was the Commander’s doing, a long time ago.”
Owen opened his mouth to speak, but, in one fluid motion, Valek hit him with a Curare-filled dart. As the drug paralyzed Owen’s muscles, he toppled to the ground and his men bolted from the cavern.
When Valek didn’t move, I gestured to the exit. “Shouldn’t we—”
“No. It’ll give Janco something to do. Otherwise he’ll whine that he waited outside all this time and didn’t have any fun.”
“And Leif?”
“He’s fine.”
I wrapped my arms around Valek, squeezing him tight.
“Easy, love.” He pulled back slightly. “You weren’t worried? You saw my signals. Right?”
“Uh…I saw your signal that Owen is a liar, but that didn’t help.”
“And the others? The ones where I warned you that he can lie with his mind.”
“Uh…”
“I guess someone needs a refresher course.”
I snaked my hands under his shirt. “Yes, I definitely need to reacquaint myself.”
He grinned, but gently disengaged. “Not now. Janco is waiting.”
“How did he get involved in all this?” I asked as I followed Valek from the mine.
Valek explained about sending a message to the castle.
“What now? What about Owen?”
“He won’t leave Ixia alive.”
#
Valek and I stopped at the Commander’s Castle before returning to Sitia to finish our interrupted vacation. The Commander invited us into his war room. I hadn’t been inside the round chamber in ages, and I soaked up the colorful sunlight. The Commander was impeccably dressed in his tailored uniform. More gray streaked his short hair since the last time I’d visited. We sat and chatted about mundane things for a while.
“Yelena, I wanted to thank you for stopping Owen Moon,” the Commander said.
“What about the next person who wants to find the diamond?” I asked in concern. “You don’t have the fake one anymore.”
“I assure you the Ice Moon is in a safe and secure place.”
I laced my fingers together. “Do you know how dangerous it is?”
“Yes. I’m well aware of its power. That’s why it’s unreachable. Don’t worry, Yelena. Go and enjoy your time with my Security Chief. We have lots to do when he returns.” The Commander gave Valek a pointed stare before leaving the room.
Valek jumped to his feet. “I don’t need to be told twice. Let’s go.”
But I remained sitting.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“We’ve encountered so many things that are said to be impossible or unreachable, yet somehow someone always manages the impossible, and I’m sure that, eventually, someone will reach the unreachable.”
“True.” Valek considered. “These stained glass windows are beautiful. Aren’t they?”
Confused, I glanced over at the windows in question. “What are you talking about?”
He gestured to one of them with a sly smile. “The colors are exquisite. Like this brilliant blue. You can see that color in all the panes. Don’t you think it adds a certain depth and power to the pattern?”
I stood and examined the panes more closely. “Is that—?”
“Yes. It was cut into pieces and now decorates the Commander’s war room. A fitting end, don’t you think?”
EPILOGUE – YELENA
Three Months Later
The Sitian Council members filed into the great hall for their afternoon session. I’d just returned from Ixia, and Leif and I occupied a bench behind the large, U-shaped conference table that dominated the hall. The three Master Magicians sat along the bend, and the eleven Councilors, one for each Sitian clan, sat on the sides—five on the right and six on the left. A wooden podium faced the U, and behind that, rows of benches for spectators, witnesses, advisers and other citizens.
Armed soldiers ringed the vast room. Long silk banners representing each clan hung from the ceiling and flowed down three stories to the floor. The white marble walls had slender windows that allowed in the sunlight. Overall, an impressive space.
First Magician Bain Bloodgood pounded a gavel to start the session. The most powerful magician in Sitia, Bain was also the leader of the Council. A hush fell over the assembled crowd. Bain consulted a parchment with the day’s agenda and called the next item.
As I waited for my turn, I projected my magic throughout the room. Not dipping into people’s thoughts, I just kept light contact, sensing emotions as I half-listened to the proceedings. I encountered various intensities of anxiety, worry and fear, as well as boredom, amusement, annoyance and curiosity. Then a smoldering anger snagged my full attention.
Sitting in the front row, a man met my gaze. The anger ignited into full-out hatred and fury. Tall, with black hair and brown eyes, he sat between a woman and an older couple. The elder woman fretted with a handkerchief, and the man stared at nothing, appearing dazed. The family resemblance between the three left no doubt that they were Owen Moon’s parents and younger brother, Ben. They had come to the Citadel to hear my report. Unease stirred in my heart.
I glanced at the guards, seeking the one who was really a magician in disguise. Since the Daviian Warpers had attempted a coup, all Council meetings had extra security in place. When I found the magician, I tapped on her mental barrier. She opened her mind to me.
Man in the front row could cause trouble, I said.
I’ll alert the others. Thanks, she said.
I signaled Leif as well, warning him. His bruises from the kidnapping had faded, and
, aside from the extra hours of training, he’d put the entire incident behind him.
After a couple more issues were resolved, my name was called. When I approached the podium, I strengthened my connection to Ben, since he would be behind me. But then it cut off abruptly. Ah. Guess Owen wasn’t the only one with power in his family. I relayed this information to the magician and Leif. My brother stood and inched along the walls, moving closer to me.
“Liaison Yelena, please tell us the details of your meeting with the Commander regarding Owen Moon’s status,” Bain said.
“I presented him with your request to extradite Owen to Sitia, so he could stand trial and be judged by the Sitian Council. I explained all the reasons Owen should be returned to Sitia, but the Commander refused your request.” I kept my tone neutral, because at this moment, I wasn’t a Sitian or an Ixian, but a bridge between the two. “The Commander wishes me to remind the Council and the magicians of Sitia that his intolerance of magic in Ixia is not negotiable. He has made it clear that any person with magic captured illegally inside the borders of Ixia will be executed.”
“What about you?” An angry male voice demanded. “You have magic.”
I turned. Ben Moon pointed an accusing finger at me.
“Are you exempt because you’re the assassin’s whore?” Ben asked.
Gasps erupted and voices murmured. Schooling my expression, I remained calm. Inside, the desire to punch him pushed up my throat.
Bain hammered his gavel and restored order.
“When does the Commander plan to execute Owen?” Councilor Moon asked.
Oh, boy. This wouldn’t be pleasant. “I request a private meeting with Owen’s family before divulging that information.”
“No,” Ben said. “Tell us now.”
I met Bain’s gaze. He nodded his approval. Summoning my courage, I walked over to Owen’s family and crouched in front of his parents, so that we were eye level. “I’m so sorry, but the Commander has already executed your son.”
