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Now that Valek had an idea of what that curved blade could do, he changed the line of his attack from head-on to an angled approach. Jibben was strong like Ari, but also surprisingly quick. Not as quick as Janco, but only a few could make that claim.
This time, when Valek parried Jibben’s sword, he deflected the blade down. The tip of the curved sword missed him and Valek was able to cut into Jibben’s arm. When he blocked Jibben’s blade, knocking it high, Valek nicked the man’s thick leg. Each near miss increased Jibben’s frustration, causing him to make small but critical mistakes. Blood soon soaked the brute’s sleeves and pants. The man swayed.
Valek tried his takedown again, spinning and hooking his heel. Jibben landed with an oomph and Valek pricked him with a dart filled with sleeping potion. When the brute relaxed, Valek stood and surveyed the scene.
Most of the soldiers held their own, but a few struggled with their opponents. Valek helped those in need as they advanced inland. The sun rose and the trees cast long shadows. He engaged in a couple fights that ended in a few moves. Jibben should have trained his crew better. Weaving in and out of the other matches, Valek pricked the pirates with darts.
The last pirate fell not long after the sun’s arrival. Endre searched the buildings, while Mikus compiled a list of the stolen goods they found. Two other soldiers interviewed the young teens, who had been smart enough to keep away from the fighting.
Annika pointed to Valek’s shirt. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.”
She pulled a first-aid kit from her pack. “Sit.”
He recognized that tone. It meant business. He sat on the steps leading up to the door of one of the island’s cottages. All the structures but one had been built atop tall pylons, probably in case the island was swamped with water. It would take a fierce storm for the tide to reach the living areas of the buildings.
Annika inspected his wound and decided it needed to be sealed. She pulled his shirt off before he could stop her. If she noticed his still-healing heart-shaped scar, she didn’t say a word. Instead, she concentrated on her task by cleaning the cut and applying Rand’s glue.
To distract himself from the pain, he studied the structures the pirates had built. Arranged in a circle around a giant fire pit, the one-story cottages appeared to be for housing and storage. One oversize building had a ramp leading up to the first floor—probably for the livestock. All the surfaces had been painted with gray, green and brown paint in a camouflage pattern that blended in with the surroundings. The color combination would probably work during all seasons. Further proof that Jibben was no fool.
The island’s trees had been cleared farther out to make room for the crops. Small green shoots poked through the newly plowed dirt.
Valek spotted Endre and waved him over for a report.
“We defeated all the pirates, sir,” he said. “The kids have corroborated Zohav’s story. There’s another ship docked on the back side of the island. It’s the Sea Serpent.”
Ah, the other one that had been lost at sea. “Secure the criminals in the Starfish’s hold. And get the names of all the survivors. We’ll match them to the manifest and ensure none of the pirates are pretending to be a victim. And find Zethan—he’s Zohav’s brother and should be among the teens.”
“Yes, sir. We also found a few older teens locked in a jail, but we couldn’t find a key and the lock is...complex.”
“Once Annika is done, I’ll open it. Have the soldiers load the stolen goods onto the other ship. Also find a crew for both ships. We’ll set sail as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
By the time Annika finished, the cut throbbed. “Thanks,” he said, donning his ripped shirt.
“What should I do now?” she asked.
“Check the others. Make sure no one else is wounded.”
“Yes, sir.”
Valek found the jail. It was on the ground floor of the only building not set atop tall pylons. The pirates hadn’t cared if the occupants drowned during a storm. Inside, four grubby boys stood on the other side of a row of bars. The rest of the cell had been constructed with thick wooden planks.
Purple bruises marked the prisoners’ faces. Their shirts had been torn, and dried blood stained the fabric, as well.
“I take it you’re the troublemakers?”
“Who wants to know?” a tall boy with black hair and blue eyes demanded.
The boy resembled Zohav and must be her brother, Zethan.
“The person who is rescuing you,” Valek said. He pulled his various lock picks from hidden pockets and worked on the complicated mechanism. After a few minutes, it popped open and he swung the door wide, letting them free. “Give your names to the sergeant. We could also use crew for the ships, if you’d like to help all of us get home.”
Three of the boys grinned and took off, but Zethan remained.
“Where is my sister?” he demanded.
Magic swelled around him, pushing against Valek. He held his ground. “She’s safe.”
“I want to see her. Now.”
“You’re not in the position to be demanding anything, Zethan.”
Zethan jerked back. “How did—”
“Zohav told me. She was worried that I’d kill you.”
“Why?”
“Because of that magic you’re gathering around you right now.”
Recognition was followed by fear. The power disappeared. His control was impressive.
“Are you...?” Zethan asked. His voice barely a whisper.
“Going to kill you?”
He nodded.
“No, and don’t call me a liar. I’ve already been accused of that by your sister. Trust me or not, just keep it to yourself, along with your abilities. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Valek waited.
“Uh...yes, sir.”
He led Zethan to the Starfish. Jibben remained on the dock, but his throat gaped open and blood pooled around him. The pirate’s curved sword lay next to him, covered with the bright red liquid. Someone had slit Jibben’s throat with his own weapon while Valek was busy. He had wanted to interrogate the pirate, but other than that, he wouldn’t mourn the man’s death. Perhaps the girl with the bony arms had taken matters into her own hands, meting out justice for her sister.
They boarded, and Valek escorted Zethan below. When they reached the Captain’s quarters, the teen gasped and rushed to Zohav’s side.
“What did you do to her?” he asked Valek.
“Relax, she’s sleeping. Stay with her until I come for you. And if I feel any magic, no matter how small, you’ll be joining her. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Valek paused at the threshold. With the siblings side by side, he realized they must be very close in age. “Are you twins?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you have any other siblings?”
“An older brother.”
“Does he have magic?”
“No, nor do our parents. We’re the only ones.”
Unlikely, but he’d go along with it for now.
* * *
They arrived at the port in Gandrel by midafternoon. Anxious to get on the road, Valek put Endre in charge. “Interrogate everyone and have the pirates processed by the security office in Gandrel. Once all the goods are distributed to the rightful owners, you and Annika are to report to the Castle to be reassigned, since your covers here have been blown.”
“Yes, sir.” Endre gave Valek what Janco would describe as the sad-puppy-dog look.
He suppressed a sigh. “Because you and Annika work so well together, I’ll find a post that needs two agents.” He’d either gotten soft, or it was just the idea of seeing Yelena soon that made him...nice. Bah.
Endre grinned. “Are you leaving now?”
“Yes. I’m taking the magicians to the Castle.”
“Are you going to visit their parents first?”
Annoyed, Valek snapped, “W
hy would I do that?”
“They believe their children were lost at sea. I’d think it would be a kindness to stop by and let them see their kids for a couple hours.”
A refusal pushed up Valek’s throat, but he swallowed it down. Endre was right. Valek went to collect the twins, who had remained in the Starfish as ordered. Zohav had woken. She leaned against her brother, who had his arm around her shoulders. Good. They could leave right away. He questioned them on the location of their home.
