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Valek stood at the border of the clearing with his hands wide. “One change, though. I’m going with Yelena into the Citadel.”
17
VALEK
Yelena stepped into his arms, and he pulled her close. He hadn’t realized how much of the painful tightness in his chest had been due to worry. Having her by his side filled a void inside him.
Over her shoulder, Valek studied the expressions of the people gathered in the small clearing. Ari set his jaw and Janco stiffened, clearly preparing to continue to object to Yelena’s plan. Onora, too, appeared displeased with the change. Too bad. In the last five days, he and Opal hadn’t seen any other way into the Citadel. This was their only chance.
Breaking apart, he kept one arm around his wife’s waist. “We need to figure out where they’re holding Zitora and Fisk. See if there’s any hope for a rescue.”
“I knew Opal would find her,” Yelena said.
“Except I lost her.” Opal emerged from the greenery.
Yelena, Ari and Janco took a moment to greet their friend. However, they didn’t have time for lengthy explanations.
“We arrived just as Zitora entered the Citadel,” Opal said.
“Was she arrested?” Yelena asked.
“No, but a few of the guards followed her. Bruns is smart enough to try to recruit her to his cause before using strong-arm methods,” Valek said.
“And just how are you and Yelena going to rescue them?” Ari demanded.
“If we attempt a rescue, it will depend on a number of factors.” Valek used his flat tone, warning Ari.
But Ari was in protective bull mode. Nothing to do but let him say his piece.
“And how are you going to escape the Citadel?” he demanded. “They’ll have doubled the guard at the gate.”
“I don’t plan on taking any unnecessary risks. You should know that better than most.” He gazed at his friend. “Besides, Onora will be helping, as well.”
“I will?”
“How is she going to get inside?” Janco asked, more curious than combative.
“By doing what she does best—blending in.”
Onora’s gaze turned distant as she worked it out. The matching sour expressions on the power twins’ faces meant they had accepted the inevitable.
“Yelena, where are Devlen and Reema?” Opal asked.
Valek was surprised she’d waited this long to ask.
“On the way to Booruby.” Yelena filled them in on the hothouse, Nutty and about Theobroma-killing spores while she packed her bags and saddled Kiki. She also mentioned that Ari and Janco needed to find Valek’s siblings, Teegan and a Stormdancer to help spread those same spores.
Opal played with the ring on her finger as she listened. When Yelena finished, Opal glanced at Ari and Janco. “Kade would never let Teegan, Zethan and Zohav leave the safety of The Cliffs alone. He’d either go with them or send Heli.”
“That’s good to know,” Ari said. “Do you know where they might go?”
“Yes. To my parents’ house in Booruby.”
“Are you sure? We have no time to be wrong.”
“Yes. Teegan knows it’s a safe place. The Avibian Plains are right next to the glass factory. The Sandseed protection recognizes my family, so they can hide in there if trouble arrives. Which it probably will, because if they messaged Fisk with their new location, the Cartel might already be on the way to intercept them.”
Although he’d just learned about the existence of his younger brother and sister a season ago, a protective instinct flared under Valek’s ribs at the thought of them being in danger. Plus his mother would kill him if anything happened to them. Valek suddenly understood why Janco feared his own mother.
“Then we’d better get moving,” Ari said.
They packed in record time. Opal whistled for Quartz. They had left her and Onyx a quarter mile away, just in case.
“Where do we rendezvous with you once the spores are airborne?” Ari asked.
“Longleaf. It’s a town near the Greenblade garrison,” Yelena said.
“Why?” Valek asked.
She sketched out her thoughts about the Councilors. “They need to be freed first regardless.”
He agreed.
“What if you’re not there?” Ari asked.
“If we’re not there by...” She drummed her fingers on her pants. “By the first day of the hot season, then you’re in charge of stopping the Sitian takeover. Assume the Cartel knows everything Valek and I do when you’re formulating a strategy.”
Janco glanced at her, then at Valek, then at Ari. “Holy snow cats, she’s serious!”
“Of course she’s serious,” Ari said. “If they’re caught, Bruns won’t let them escape, and he has the magicians to—” he spun a finger around the side of his head “—steal their thoughts.”
Or, in Valek’s case, they’d just need to threaten Yelena or the baby, and he would cooperate.
“I know that, but I was hoping for a more upbeat send-off,” Janco grumbled.
“We’ll always be with you in spirit,” Yelena said. “Is that more upbeat?”
“That you’ll haunt me? No. That’s creepy.”
The goodbyes were quick after that, although Ari and Janco paused long enough to obtain a promise from Yelena to not do anything stupid.
“You mean don’t do anything Janco would do?” she teased.
“Exactly.” Ari nodded.
“Hey! Who’s the one who agreed with Ari that it’s too dangerous to go into the Citadel?” Janco asked with a wounded lilt to his voice. “Avoiding that place is the smart thing to do.”
“It is smart,” Yelena said. “I guess there really is a first time for everything.”
He pressed a hand to his chest. “You wound me.”
She pecked Janco on the cheek. “Be careful. All of you.”
Quartz and Onyx arrived in the clearing. The horses all rubbed heads in greeting before Opal, Ari and Janco mounted and headed south, planning to ride in the plains to avoid being spotted. Hanni and Faxon returned to the road. They had orders to rendezvous with Cahil and his team before they entered the Citadel tomorrow.
“How does blending in
get me through the gate?” Onora asked Valek.
“An hour before dawn, go lean on the Citadel’s wall. You’ll blend in with the white marble streaked with green. Then move closer to the entrance and wait. Let a few people cross through, then empty your mind of all thoughts and slip inside with the next person going in. The magician at the gate shouldn’t pick up on your presence.”
“How do you know?”
“You’re pretty hard to read.” He held up a hand, stopping her. “When I saw Yelena earlier, I scanned the area with my magic. I sensed Ari and Janco and the horses, but not you. It’s only when I focused on you that I could hone in on your thoughts.”
Onora stared at him. “You have magic?”
He met Yelena’s gaze. “You didn’t tell her?”
“It’s your secret to share.”
Valek turned to Onora. “Here’s the short version—I lost my immunity and gained magic. I can heal and read other people’s thoughts. I may be able to do more, but haven’t had the time or the instruction to find out. But trust me when I say you’ll get into the Citadel.”
True to form, Onora took the news in stride. “All right. Where should I meet you once I’m inside?”
“The Unity Fountain,” Yelena said. “Do you know where it is?”
“No, but I’ll find it. What if you can’t get through?”
“Then collect as much information as you can about what’s going on and leave the same way you arrived,” Valek said. “We’ll meet you back here in two days. If we’re caught, then catch up to Ari and Janco. They’ll need your help.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What about Horse?” Yelena asked.
Onora smiled. “I’ll stable her nearby.”
“Be careful. See you later.” Yelena gave her a quick hug.
Valek clamped down on a laugh. The girl could handle Valek’s new magical powers without missing a beat, but a hug from a friend left her a bit shocked. Her hand trembled just a bit as she swiped a strand of hair from her face.
Yelena and Valek mounted their horses and headed to Owl’s Hill. They stayed in the forest, letting the horses pick the best path through the underbrush. Only a few hours remained before the sun set, and the warm air held a hint of moisture.
