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“Lieutenant Lacole. She and Ari are teaching me how to fight.”
“Oh?” I tried to keep my tone neutral, but Janco sensed my concern.
“Hey, Ari. You’re in big trouble,” he called.
Ari strode into the room. His aimed his scowl at Reema. “Didn’t I tell you not to run ahead of me? And to keep in sight?”
She shrugged. “You were too slow.”
“I’m not racing through the castle’s halls. You need to stay with me.”
Reema failed to appear chastised. “Can I take Kiki for a ride?” she asked me.
“We can go for a ride later. And you can tell me all about what you’ve been doing here for the last month.” I glanced at Ari.
“I was following orders,” Ari said in his defense. He sat next to Gerik.
“Thanks a lot, Ari. Now I’m in trouble,” Valek said as he reached the table.
Maren scraped her chair on the floor as she plopped down, joining us. She had pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail. Her pale complexion stood out against her black adviser’s uniform. Nodding at me, she said, “Hiya, Puker. Long time no see. You look soft.”
I grinned. “Those are fighting words.”
“I certainly hope so. I haven’t had a decent bo fight in ages.”
“I missed you, too.”
Her deep laugh rolled around the room.
“Reema,” a woman called from the doorway. “Are you ready?”
“Lacole!” With a quick goodbye, Reema rushed from the room. “Can we do more knife fighting today?”
I glared at Ari and he pointed to Valek, who closed the door after Reema.
“We’ll discuss this later,” I said to them both.
“That’s never good.” Janco rubbed his hands together. “Can’t wait.”
Valek returned and stood at the head of the oval table. I guessed he’d changed his mind about Onora and Maren. He filled Ari, Maren and Gerik in on what had happened in Sitia with Owen. Then he broke the news about Owen and the others being a guest of the Commander’s.
Copying Valek, I studied their expressions closely. Onora kept her face neutral. Janco and Ari appeared to be ready to commit murder. Gerik seemed more concerned than Maren, who relaxed in her chair as if this wasn’t news to her.
“At least we know where they are,” Janco said. “When do we ambush them?”
“We don’t,” Valek said, then explained about the Commander’s orders.
“That’s...that’s...” Janco was at a loss for words.
“Bad?” Ari supplied.
Janco shook his head. “Beyond bad. Catastrophic. We can’t follow that order. Owen may have hexed the Commander.”
“The order will be obeyed. We will leave Owen alone.” Valek’s tone left no room for discussion. “Maren, tell everyone what you told me earlier.”
Maren leaned forward. “When I worked in the Curare factory in Lapeer, the Boss... Owen had been working on a secret project with someone they called the Master Gardener. I tried to uncover information. But Owen suspected I’d been sent by the Commander to oversee the production, so it was difficult. During the chaos of shutting down the factory and loading my wagon with all the remaining stock of Curare, I overheard him tell one of his men to gather all the Harman saplings.”
Everyone turned to me expectantly.
“I’ve no idea what a Harman tree is used for. My father might. Did you catch the Master Gardener’s name or see who it is?” I asked Maren, thinking this person may have been the one to crossbreed those plants in the hothouse.
“No. All I could discover was the Master Gardener had been key in getting the Curare vines to grow in those glass houses.”
“Didn’t you and Leif speculate about Zaltanas who may have the necessary knowledge and skills?” Janco asked.
“Yes. Our Councilman, Bavol, and our cousin, Nutty. My father would know if there is anyone else.”
“Sounds like your father also has this ability,” Gerik said.
“Watch your tongue,” Ari growled.
“It’s okay, Ari. He has a valid point,” I said. “If my father is involved, then he was duped. Or his memories altered. Which I’d like to believe is what might have happened to Nutty and Bavol.” Better than suspecting them of treason.
“Would Leif be able to tell if a person’s memories were magically changed?” Valek asked me.
“It’s possible. I’ll messenger him about this Master Gardener and Owen’s location. My father should have arrived by now.”
“What can we do?” Ari asked Valek.
“You, Janco and Maren keep an eye out for any new construction near the castle. If Owen brought Harman saplings and Curare vines, he’d want to build more of those hothouses. Also watch for any strange deliveries like ones with unusual materials or odd supplies.”
Ari nodded. “What about Reema?”
“She’s going home as soon as I can arrange an escort. Gerik, you are assigned to the Commander’s security detail again. If you hear or see anything about Owen or the others, let me know.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Onora, you’re to stay by the Commander’s side during the day. He has a glass magic detector. If it flashes, then magic is in use. That’s when you don’t follow your instincts and question all your thoughts, as they might not be your own.”
“What about at night?” she asked.
“I’ll take the night shift.”
I suppressed my disappointment over having the bed to myself at night.
“And if he protests?” she asked.
“He won’t. Although he may kick you out for sensitive conferences. In that case, stay by the door.”
“Yes, sir.”
The meeting ended. I waited until everyone left before asking Valek, “Why did you decide to trust Maren and Onora?”
“Maren convinced me she had no idea Owen was alive. Gerik and Onora showed up with Janco. It would have looked suspicious if I’d dismissed them.” He strode to his desk.
I followed. “Which explains why you didn’t detail your own plans or mine.”
Valek paused before sitting in his chair. “You’re sending Leif a message and talking to Onora.”
“And?”
“And staying far away from Owen. You’re not exactly his favorite person, love.”
“Fine. What else can I do?” I half leaned, half sat on the edge of his desk.
“Perhaps a repeat of this morning’s activities?” He leered.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“Valek.” A warning tone rumbled in my voice.
He sobered. “You have training.”
Ah. “Spy training?”
“Yes. You need to learn all those skills that you had previously used your magic for.”
A daunting task. “That could take years.”
“It won’t. You’re smart and a fast learner. Plus you already have plenty of experience.”
“I don’t—”
“At the meeting today, who was surprised that Owen’s here?” he asked.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Answer the question.”
Annoyed, I recalled the various demeanors that ringed the table and said, “Ari, Janco and Gerik.”
“Very good. You picked up on Onora despite her lack of a reaction.”
“That was a guess. How did she know about Owen?”
“You tell me.”
I bit down on a Janco-inspired sarcastic response. “The Commander told her. Probably after your meeting with him, since she also didn’t seem upset that he’d ordered you to leave Owen alone.”
“That’s my assumption, as well.”
“Okay, I get it. I’m not a total newbie. When do my spy lessons start?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
That gave me the rest of the day off, which I could put to good use. I needed to check on Kiki. And that reminded me of my promise to Reema.
“Why is Reema learning
how to fight?” I asked Valek.
“I may have suggested it to Ari before I left.”
I waited.
“She would have driven him crazy if she had nothing to do,” he said.
“She’s missing school. They could have worked on her reading skills, math, history...” I sighed. And she still would have driven him crazy. “If Opal gets upset, I’m blaming you.”
“Feel free. But I suspect her lessons have strengthened her magic.”
“No one has been able to confirm she has magic.”
“No magicians, you mean? I’ve picked up on it when I’m next to her, but last night, I felt her power in the hallway.”
