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“And why did he order you to the Citadel to find me? Aren’t you supposed to be leading the Sitian army against a major attack in four months?”
“Because he knew I’d get the job done. You can’t argue about that.” He gestured to my chains.
“Fair point. But couldn’t you have told someone else how to trap me? I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
“It doesn’t work that way. Can you just tell someone how to find souls?”
Score another for Cahil. I changed tactics. “What happens if the Commander doesn’t wage war?” I asked again.
A mulish look settled on his face.
“Nothing happens, right? If the Commander is such a threat to Sitia’s safety, then why doesn’t Bruns plan to invade Ixia and take care of that threat once and for all?”
“We’re not like the Ixians. We value life. As long as we’re ready, the Commander won’t invade.”
I sagged against the wall. He’d been fully brainwashed. Nothing I could say would change his mind. “When is Bruns coming to kill me and the baby?”
Cahil stilled. “I haven’t told him you’re here.”
Oh? I waited.
“The Commander’s new assassin is in town. She and Valek were spotted having quite the battle on the rooftops and, I’m not sorry to say, your husband wasn’t doing very well.”
I kept my expression neutral despite the pain squeezing my heart into pulp.
“Our intel says that after she kills Valek, she’ll be coming after you next.”
Not a surprise, but still it felt like a kick to my stomach. “You’re going to let an Ixian do your dirty work?”
“Yes. You see, despite your current efforts to undermine Bruns, Sitians like you. If Bruns or I were to execute you, it wouldn’t be well received. But if the Commander is responsible for your death, the people will be upset and continue to support our efforts.”
Ah, hell. A smart move, although I was surprised Bruns agreed. Or had he? “Bruns doesn’t know what you plan to do.”
“Bruns had his chance to kill you, and he screwed it up because he wanted you as a showpiece.”
“What if Valek kills Onora?”
“Then I let one of the assassins in town score fifty golds. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve work to do.” He headed for the door.
“Cahil.”
He paused without looking at me.
“If Onora comes for me, can you free me from these chains and return my switchblade?”
“You won’t beat her.”
“I’d rather die fighting than chained to this wall.”
He met my gaze. “All right.”
* * *
Waiting was never fun. However, when I considered what I was waiting for... I forced my thoughts away, but of course they just circled right back around. If Valek won the fight with Onora, I might emerge from this situation alive. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t. Unless Fisk’s people moved in before Onora could. My emotions flipped from optimistic hope to fatalistic numbness and back again.
In order to remain sane, I focused on how I could protect the baby. I concentrated on what I could do. Me, and not any what-if scenarios about being rescued. But after looking at every possibility, I conceded that my chance of survival was close to zero.
Time limped along, and one of Cahil’s agents came by to feed me a handful of grapes. The voices in the other room eventually died, and the lanterns were turned down. They must be stopping for the night.
The thought of a night spent chained to the wall produced mixed feelings. The longer I remained alive, the greater the hope of rescue. Besides, stiff muscles and discomfort were a mere inconvenience if it meant Valek lived.
Another agent strode into the office. He extinguished the lanterns and muttered a hasty good-night before bolting. There were a number of words to describe this night, and good wasn’t one of them. Nope, not even close. I managed to doze briefly, at least until a burning pain in my shoulders woke me.
Cahil returned in the morning, or what I assumed was the morning, as he appeared awake and clean-shaven. He stood staring at me while one of his men lit the lanterns.
Unable to endure the silence any longer, I asked, “What’s the verdict?”
“The Mosquito is dead.”
“That’s good news.”
“I’d thought you’d like that.”
“What’s the bad news?” I braced for his answer.
“Onora was spotted in the Citadel late last night.”
My legs trembled with the effort to hold my weight. The chains prevented me from sinking to the floor. Valek would never have allowed her to walk away from a fight. The fact that she lived meant...
“We were unable to locate Valek’s body.”
“Why would you care about that?” I asked, leaning back on the wall as the rest of my world melted.
“Confirmation. We think she’s hidden the body to keep everyone guessing long enough to avoid any retaliation from Fisk and his people.”
The body. No longer being referred to by name. I concentrated on Cahil’s comment to keep from screaming. My focus narrowed to one thing—keeping the baby safe. “Why would she worry about Fisk’s guild? If she can...beat Valek, no one else can touch her.”
“Fisk has the numbers, plus Stormdancers.”
“Stormdancers?” This kept getting worse. If Bruns suspected the Stormdancers, then they needed to disappear. Fast.
“Don’t act stupid, Yelena. A huge thunderstorm roared over the Krystal garrison at the precise moment you needed a distraction to escape. You couldn’t have done it without their help.”
“We would have figured something out.” Eventually. Maybe. Probably not. Bruns had us pinned.
“You know, I was about to disagree, but I’m sure you would have, which is exactly why keeping you alive is a bad strategy.”
“Trying to rationalize your decision so you don’t feel guilty, Cahil?”
“I won’t feel guilty. I’m protecting over a million people. If only you understood that we’re doing the right thing—” he gestured vaguely “—none of this has to happen.”
“I understand that’s what you believe.” I straightened as a sudden notion popped into my head. Perhaps a way to save the baby. “How about a deal?”
“No deals.”
“Okay. How about you prove me wrong?”
Cahil gave me a just-how-dumb-do-you-think-I-am look. “Okay, I’ll bite. How would I do that?”
“You stop eating the food Bruns’s people cook and wear a null shield for ten days. After that, if you still think Bruns’s strategy is beneficial for Sitia, then I’ll sign up and help you convince Fisk and all his people to join up, as well.”
“And why would I trust you?”
“Because I’d give you my word, Cahil. And you know me. I’ve never broken a promise. Not even to the Fire Warper.”
A contemplative purse rested on Cahil’s lips. Then he chuckled. “You almost had me, Yelena. But I’m not falling for any of your tricks.”
“It’s not a trick. I’m serious. Think about it. There’s no downside for you.”
“Yes, there is. I’d have to let you live for ten days. Plenty of time for Fisk to send in his troops and rescue you.”
Good point. “I’ll send them home. I’ll stay with you.”
“Why would they listen to you? You could have been...what’s the word you used?...indoctrinated to the cause.”
I balled my hands into fists. Another valid concern. “It takes more than a few days to be brainwashed. How about if I sign an agreement, so you have written proof that I’ve given you my word? And we can also leave the Citadel before they try to rescue me. We can go to the Featherstone garrison. Isn’t that where you need to be to prepare
for war?”
“So you can steal all our secrets.”
“Lock me in a cell. I’ve been in so many, it’ll almost feel like home.”
He studied my face for a dozen heartbeats. “You are serious.”
“Yes.”
“And if I write up an accord right now?”
“I’ll sign it.”
“What if I’m cured, but I still believe Bruns is the best for Sitia?”
“Then I lose. I’ll help you and Bruns, like I promised.”
“You’re that confident of my response once free of the Theobroma?”
“I know you, Cahil. I know that you would be upset by Bruns’s methods of robbing people of their free will and ability to make their own decisions.”
He strode to his desk, found a clean piece of parchment and wrote up our deal. It was simply worded. I would agree to go with him, without trying to escape or interfere with any of his plans, and to cooperate for ten days. No one but his loyal people would know who I was. In exchange, he would wear a null shield pendant at all times and no longer consume food cooked with Theobroma for ten days.
“How do I know if the food has Theobroma or not?” he asked.
