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“If you do, he won’t worry why we’re not there, but if he hears about Leif, he’ll come here,” Ari said.
Not good. He needed to stay in Ixia. “What if I say we’ve just been delayed?”
“He’ll come regardless.” Janco crinkled his forehead in confusion. “You act like that’s a bad thing. He can flatten that Mosquito.”
“The Commander has forbidden him to leave Ixia,” I said.
“That didn’t stop Valek last month,” Janco said. “He disobeyed a direct order from the Commander when he traveled to Lapeer to help you. Valek’s never done that before. His loyalties have changed, so unless you’re at the rendezvous location soon, expect to see him.”
I played with the butterfly pendent Valek had carved for me. If Janco had noticed that Valek’s priorities had switched, then it must be obvious to the Commander. No wonder he’d come down so hard on Valek.
“Then we’ll have to conclude our business with Bruns as soon as possible,” I said.
“No problem. We’ll rescue Leif, bring down the Cartel and be home in time for our afternoon naps,” Janco snarked.
I stood and slapped him on the back. “That’s the spirit!” However, my insides churned with dread. This Cartel might be beyond our ability to stop, and convincing the Sitian Council would require more proof than we currently had. Drawing in a deep breath, I cleared all the things I couldn’t control from my mind and focused on the most important issue: rescuing Leif.
Fisk drew on his network of information gatherers to collect any bit of news regarding the Cartel’s location. They kept an eye on the businessmen who were suspected of having ties to the Cartel. Irys gave permission to Lindee, Fisk’s accountant, to access the Citadel’s records room. According to Fisk, she had a sharp mind and was a genius with numbers. Perhaps she’d find a bill of sale for a building that could be traced back to the Cartel.
I organized the intel, searching for clues and weak links, and tried to piece together their plans. Ari and Janco frequented the taverns in the government quarter, listening to the gossip.
The Mosquito’s messenger arrived four long days after the encounter in the alley. The young boy waited outside for a reply. The letter said:
The meeting is now. Follow the boy. If you don’t arrive in thirty minutes, my boss will be gone.
“No way,” Ari said, reading over my shoulder. “We won’t be able to have backup on site.”
“I think that’s the point,” Janco said. “It’s a trap.”
“You can follow me to the meeting place, then send one of Fisk’s helpers to fetch Irys. I’ll delay as long as possible.”
“No.” Ari shook his head. “It’s—”
“Our only chance to find Leif.” I gestured to the papers spread on one of the kitchen tables. “There’s nothing here.” I stood and wrapped my cloak around my shoulders.
Ari and Janco scrambled to grab theirs, but Fisk stopped them.
“You’re too noticeable. Let my people do the honors, and they’ll relay Yelena’s position to you. You’ll only be a minute behind her. I promise.”
Ari straightened to his full height and peered down at me and Fisk. “First sign of trouble and we’re coming in. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I hurried outside and found the messenger. “Where are we going?”
The boy shrugged. “All I know is to go east.” He turned right and headed east.
After a few blocks, another boy waited. His instructions had been to lead me south until we reached a third boy. Then a fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. I had kept track of my whereabouts despite the serpentine route. But once we’d traveled into the southwestern resident quarter of the Citadel, I lost my exact location in the unfamiliar labyrinth of streets. We reached a dilapidated section. Wooden boards covered the windows and doors of the buildings. Broken glass and trash coated the walkways. The air smelled rancid.
The eighth boy led me to a broken-down shack. “Inside,” he said.
I hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He pulled open the warped door, revealing darkness. “After you.”
Bruns hadn’t said to come unarmed. I yanked my switchblade from its holder and triggered the blade.
The boy smirked. “Good luck with that.”
Bracing for...well, anything, I entered. The floor creaked under my boots. After two steps the door clicked shut, and I stopped, unable to see in the utter blackness. He brushed past me and then swept aside a curtain. We stepped into a room filled with sunlight that streamed in from two skylights high above. I blinked at the expensive furnishings, rugs and solid walls. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was in the living room of one of the Sitian Councilors and not in the poorest section of the Citadel. The shack must be an illusion to keep the neighbors away.
The boy indicated the couch. “Please have a seat. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Uh, no thanks.”
“Mister Jewelrose will be here shortly.” The boy disappeared through an alcove on the left.
I peered through the single small window facing a narrow street. A row of houses slumped against one another. A few people sat on porches or pulled wagons over the cobblestones. No familiar faces. I hoped Fisk’s people hadn’t lost me.
“My estate outside Kohinoor has a much better view,” a male voice said behind me.
I turned. A tall, well-dressed man with graying black hair and gray eyes strode toward me. He held out his hand. “Bruns Jewelrose.”
Without thinking, I shook it. “Yelena Liana Zaltana.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
“Not from what I’ve heard.”
He smiled. “That was just business, Yelena. Nothing personal.”
I gaped at him. How could he believe that? I recovered from my shock. “I disagree. You hired an assassin to kill me. That’s very personal.”
“You were an obstacle to be eliminated, but now the situation has changed.”
“Yay for me.” Sarcasm sharpened my tone.
“Now, now. No need for that. Have a seat and we can discuss my proposal.”
I remained standing. “Not until you tell me what happened to Leif. Is he okay? Where is he?”
“You’re jumping ahead. Sit down and—”
“Not until I know Leif is alive and well.”
Bruns tsked over my stubborn refusal to play nice. “All right.” He settled on a leather couch and crossed his legs. “Come on in,” he called.
A door opened, and Leif strode into the room. An intense relief washed through me, and I swayed. He rushed to hug me, keeping me upright. I clung to him. Was he real?
“Took you long enough,” he said. “Good thing the food is delicious.”
Yup. It was him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. I’m going to get you out of here.” Somehow. I hoped.
“Thanks, but I don’t need to be rescued.”
I pulled away. “What?”
“I’ve joined the Cartel.”
23
VALEK
“Are you talking about pirates?” Valek asked the young magician.
She knelt on the bow of the ship, soaking wet. “I guess. They pretended to be in distress, and we pulled alongside their ship to help. Except they boarded our ship. They had swords and they killed Nell and our first mate.” She closed her eyes for a moment as if enduring a wave of pain. “And then tossed their bodies overboard.”
“Did they know about your and your brother’s magic?”
“I...don’t think so. No one knew except Nell. She taught us how to control it, and then we helped her avoid the storms. Until...they came.”
Someone must have known about the siblings. The pirates had targeted their ship for a reason.
The young magician drew in a deep breath. “We tried to use the storms and water to escape, but the...pirates caught and separated us. If one of us doesn’t obey, then they will kill the other.”
Vale
k doubted they would have carried out the threat. The siblings were too valuable to the pirates. But the girl was sixteen at most and didn’t have the experience to recognize a bluff. Or the confidence to use her magic effectively.
“That’s why you can’t go to the island. As soon as Jibben sees you, he’ll kill Zethan.”
“Then we’ll make sure he doesn’t see me.”
Endre arrived. Blood splattered his face and stained his tunic. “All are secured, boss.”
“Any causalities?”
“Nah. Minor cuts and bruises. Most are kids, but there are a few adults in the mix.” Endre glanced at the girl. “What about this one?”
“She’s been spinning quite a tale.” Valek told him about the pirates. “What do you think?”
“It explains quite a bit. And we can check the island.”
“All right. Find crew who can sail this ship and who are willing to help us for a reduced sentence. Secure the others below. Have Annika find those steer disguises. We’re going to need them.”
“Yes, sir.” Endre dashed away.
Valek studied the girl. Something about her blue eyes and sharp features seemed familiar. “What’s your name?”
“Zohav.”
“Are you willing to help us?”
“Do I have a choice?”
