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“Yes, sir,” they said in unison.
While Janco wasn’t happy with the new members, he suspected Little Miss Assassin was annoyed that Ari was chosen as team leader. She stood next to Sergeant Grunt as if waiting for Valek to yell go. Two of them against him and Ari would be interesting as long as she didn’t have her knives.
“All right, chief. What’s next?” Janco asked.
“Team meeting,” Ari said.
“Here?” Little Miss Assassin glanced around at the clusters of fighters.
“Hell no. First meeting will be at the Black Cat Tavern this afternoon.”
Sweet. “Ari, you the man.”
14
YELENA
I scanned the four men and three women surrounding us on horseback. Most of them had drawn their hoods up over their heads. If I’d had my magic, I’d know exactly whom I dealt with and would have clouded their thoughts so we could continue on our way to the Avibian Plains. Instead, I told Leif to put his machete away so we could play nice. For now.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
One person pushed his hood back and I recognized him as Captain Romas from the Citadel’s guards.
“Yes,” Romas said. “I’m here because the Sitian Council believes you’re in danger.”
Leif snorted. “And that’s news?”
Romas ignored him. “Seems an assassin is after you, and we are to escort you back to the Citadel so we can provide you with additional protection.”
Ah. “Please tell the Council that I appreciate the concern, but I’m quite safe. And I’m not returning.”
“We’re not here as a courtesy. We have our orders.”
“I don’t care. The Council cannot order me.”
“Liaison Yelena, a word in private.” Romas gestured and an opening between his riders appeared.
I considered refusing, but was too curious about what he had to say. Kiki followed until we were far enough away.
“The Council is more than concerned. They know all about the danger you’re in,” Romas said in a low voice despite our distance from the others.
Fear swirled and I gripped Kiki’s saddle. Was he implying they knew about my magic? Impossible.
“And considering you’re heading straight to the man who vowed revenge on you, it would be wise to return with us.”
“Quit dancing around the subject, Captain, and tell me what exactly the Council knows.”
Concern creased Romas’s brow and he leaned forward. “The Council has recently learned that your magic is gone and you are unprotected.”
His words burned into me like a red-hot pontil iron, but I used every ounce of will to keep my face neutral. “Interesting rumor. Who started it?”
He shook his head sadly. “I’ve my orders. Please cooperate or I’ll be forced to take drastic measures.”
“Such as?”
“We are armed with Curare.”
I shrugged. “Go ahead and waste the Curare.” As I glanced back at Leif and Hale, I tapped my fingers on Kiki’s neck, signaling her. “Come on, guys. We’re done here.”
When Romas gestured for his men to stop them, I leaned close to Kiki’s ear and whispered, “Ask the others to dump their riders and run home, please.”
Seven horses bucked at once, throwing their riders onto the ground, including Romas. They galloped north.
“Let’s go!” I yelled.
Garnet and Rusalka joined Kiki as we raced south. Darts whizzed by my head, but I stayed low until we were out of reach. Then we slowed so we didn’t exhaust the horses.
“What was that about?” Leif asked, riding next to me.
“Tell you later.” I inclined my head, indicating Hale.
“We really should have returned to the Citadel,” Hale said when he joined us. His hair was windblown and two red spots spread on his cheeks. “I don’t know if I can protect you against an assassin.”
“Not to worry, Skippy. Did you see how Yelena gave them the slip? She’s more than capable of defending herself. You’re just here to be arm candy.”
I almost laughed at Hale’s pinched expression, but the thought that the Council knew about my condition still burned, sending sweaty waves of fear through me. How did they find out? The only people who knew were Irys, Bain, Leif, Mara, Healer Hayes and Fisk. All trustworthy.
Unless someone tricked the information from Mara. A sweet, lovable woman who was kind to everyone and would never suspect duplicity. Except she kept Opal’s secrets and knew how important this was. Unless someone forced the information from her.
I stopped Kiki.
“What’s the matter?” Leif asked.
“Give us a moment, please?” I asked Hale as I pulled my brother aside.
“Okay, now you’re really worrying me.”
I explained about the Council. It didn’t take long for Leif to jump to the same conclusions. “I’d better contact Irys. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He dug in his saddlebags for a small super messenger.
“We were a little busy fleeing the Council’s guards.”
“Oh, right.” Distracted, Leif gazed into the square-shaped glass. After a few minutes he glanced up. “She’s checking.”
We waited forever. If Mara had been hurt because of me, I’d never forgive myself. Kiki shifted her weight under me as if she, too, worried about Mara. She probably did. Mara fed her apples on her way to the glass shop every morning. As far as Kiki was concerned, a daily apple equaled unconditional love.
Leif’s attention riveted on the glass. Then he smiled. I relaxed.
“She’s fine and a little angry we didn’t trust her to defend herself,” he said.
“She wouldn’t last against a skilled opponent.”
“I know, but she said she’d match her pontil iron against your bo staff any day.”
That would be an interesting fight. “Tell her she’s on.”
We resumed traveling. Once again, my thoughts contemplated the encounter.
Who else knew about me? The assassin was well aware of what he had done to me. Did that mean the assassin worked for the Council, or was in contact with one of the Councilors or aides? A more likely scenario.
After a few hours, we reached the border of the Avibian Plains and headed east. The long stalks of grass had turned brown and brittle. Various shades of browns, grays and tans covered the undulating barren landscape.
“It’s dreary during the cold season,” I said to Hale. “You should see this place in the warm season. It’s bursting with color and life.”
“What about the Sandseed’s magic?” Hale asked in a small voice.
“Stick with us, Skippy. The protection doesn’t attack family. Oh, wait, you’re not family. Too bad. Good luck finding your way home.” Leif chuckled.
Even after the decimation of a majority of the Sandseed clan members, the protection remained strong, attacking intruders by convincing them they were lost. They’d wander the plains for days until they died of thirst.
“You’re not family, either,” Hale said.
“Distant cousins. You know that weird magic you teased me about in school? I’ll bet you wished you had some of that now.”
“Don’t listen to him, Hale. Garnet will keep you from going crazy.”
“Lovely,” he muttered.
Garnet pinned his ears back.
“He didn’t mean it, Garnet,” I said. “He’s just scared.” I gave Hale a pointed look.
“Oh...ah...right.” He patted Garnet’s dark neck. “It’s my first time in the plains. I’m a bit...skittish.”
Nice word choice. I gave him a thumbs-up. “Okay, Kiki, you’re in charge.” It seemed weird talking out loud to her after years of silent communication.
“What d
oes that mean?” Hale asked.
“It means Kiki will decide the route we take to Fulgor,” Leif supplied. “And she’ll stop when the horses are tired or hungry or thirsty. We’re just along for the ride. Oh, and hold on tight. It’s a ride like no other.”
“You mean because of that gust-of-wind gait you talked about?”
“Yep.” Leif grinned.
As if on cue, Kiki broke stride and, with a hop forward, launched into the gait I’d dubbed her gust-of-wind gait. It felt as if we rode on a river of wind. That was the easiest way to describe the feeling. Kiki’s hooves didn’t drum on the ground. I didn’t have to match my movement to hers. We flew, covering twice the amount of ground as a regular gait.
The magical gait only worked in the Avibian Plains and only Sandseed-bred horses had the ability. Handy, considering the plains, which were located southeast of the Citadel, stretched east to the base of the Emerald Mountains and south to the Daviian Plateau. A nice chunk of Sitia that we used as a shortcut on many occasions.
Kiki stopped to rest a couple of hours later. We collected firewood and Leif used his magic to start a fire. With Hale in charge of cooking dinner, Leif and I groomed the horses as they munched from their feed bags.
Leif broke the silence. “If the Council didn’t find out from Mara about your...ah...condition, how did they?”
“The only possibility that makes sense is the assassin or the person who hired the assassin told one of the Councilors or one of their aides.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Well, would you like the sound of Irys, Bain, Healer Hayes or Fisk betraying my trust better?”
