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After Phelan left, Valek sent Onora to observe the Council Hall. “I’ll relieve you later tonight. While there, watch for Zitora.”
“Yes, sir.” Onora prepared to leave.
“Aren’t you going to eat first?” Yelena asked.
“I’ll get something on the way.”
“But Phelan said—”
“No one will see me. Queen of blending in, remember?” She swept her arms wide in a dramatic fashion.
Yelena laughed—one of Valek’s favorite sounds. “Just wait until I tell that to Janco.”
“Go ahead. He’ll just argue with you that he’s the queen,” Onora shot back.
“Don’t you mean king?”
“Janco doesn’t worry about the details.”
“True. He’ll just wave it off and say it’s all royalty.”
The girls shared a smile.
When Onora left, Yelena asked, “What’s my task?”
He hesitated, knowing if he ordered her to eat and rest, she’d probably punch him. “I need you to go to the Keep’s library to search for information about those Harman trees and find Ellis Moon’s notes. But...”
She leaned forward. “But what?” Her tone held an edge.
“I’d like to check the security at the Keep first.” No response. “Please,” he added. “You can go in the morning.”
Yelena relaxed back on the couch. “On one condition.”
His heart paused in mid-beat. “And that is?”
“That you tuck me into bed properly before you leave tonight.” Heat burned in her gaze.
Desire shot through him. “As my lady wishes.” He bowed. “Perhaps you’d like to retire early? Like right now?”
“Nice try, but food first.”
Undaunted, he settled next to her on the couch. “Phelan will be a while.” Valek cupped her cheek, turning her face toward him. He ran his thumb over her lips. “Let me distract you from your hunger.”
“When you put it that way, how can I resist?” she teased.
He pulled her close and kissed her with the full depth of his love. It was a long time before he broke away. “Still hungry?”
A pink flush spread over her skin as she gasped for air. “Oh, yes. But not for food.” Yelena laced her fingers behind his head and claimed his lips.
They never made it to the bedroom.
* * *
Yelena was curled up asleep on the couch when Phelan returned with the supplies late that afternoon. However, the spicy scent of the still-warm meat pies woke her.
She wolfed down two while Valek questioned the boy. “Do you know where General Cahil’s headquarters is located?”
“No. Why?”
“I want you to assign a few people to keep an eye on it and let me know when the general is there.”
“All right.”
Valek told him the address of Cahil’s safe house. After Phelan left, Valek ate and then tucked Yelena into bed. The lack of sleep caught up to him, and he curled around his wife and slept for a few hours.
It was full dark by the time he reached the Council Hall. Onora signaled him with a faint whistle. Blending in a hidden corner, she was impossible to see. The lamplighters had finished their duties, and the air smelled of lantern oil. Heat pulsed from the buildings as the air cooled.
“What do you think of their security?” he asked, staring at the Hall’s front entrance. The large square structure had multiple tiers and resembled a wedding cake. Constructed from the same green-streaked white marble as the city walls, it also sported jade columns at the grand entrance on the first floor. No windows or doors had been installed on the ground floor, and steps led up to the well-guarded double doors.
“It’s tight.”
“Can you get in?”
“Yes, but I couldn’t get anyone out.”
“Have you seen anyone significant?”
“There’s a fair amount of traffic, but I haven’t recognized anyone.”
“All right. Go get some sleep. Tomorrow night we’ll take a peek inside.”
She grinned. “I’ll let you tell Yelena.”
“Chicken.”
Onora gave him a wave before ducking out of sight. Valek remained in place for another hour, but it appeared as if the Hall was closed for the night. Ghosting north to the Magician’s Keep, he checked for watchers and found a couple stationed near the main entrance, which was the only way in if you weren’t aware of the underground passage. A wall also surrounded the Keep, and four towers, one at each corner, rose high into the air.
Satisfied that no one else lurked nearby, he traveled to the west side of the Keep. He slipped down a narrow alley and counted doors. The third one on the left was unremarkable. Valek pulled his lock picks from their hidden pocket and opened the door. Bracing for an attack, he entered the darkness.
Nothing. All remained quiet. He drew in a breath. The dry scent of dust tickled his nose. Closing the door, Valek then groped for the torches and flint that had been set on a nearby table. With a quick strike, a spark flew, igniting the torch. The light burned his vision for a moment. When his eyes adjusted, he descended the stairs and used the tunnel to cross under the Keep’s wall. The passage ended in the basement of Second Magician Irys Jewelrose’s tower.
Once Valek ensured the tower remained empty, he left the torch in a holder near the tunnel and did a sweep of the campus. It had been abandoned only about three months ago, but a cold, lifeless feeling permeated the air. After the Cartel had managed to position their cook in the Keep’s dining room, they laced most of the food with Theobroma. When all the students, staff and magicians had ingested enough of the drug, Bruns’s loyal magicians brainwashed everyone into believing that Ixia was going to invade Sitia. Determined to stop the Commander, the Keep’s personnel traveled to the garrisons and joined the Cartel. Valek had to admit it was a brilliant plan.
Valek stopped in the library. It appeared as deserted as the rest of campus, but he searched for an ambush just in case. Happy to see it remained as desolate as the rest, Valek hurried to the exit tunnel.
Back at the quiet Council Hall, Valek considered his options. Built to withstand invaders, the building had few places to enter. The tall, narrow glass windows of the great hall stretched three stories high but didn’t open. Valek wondered if a magical alarm had been attached to the slick marble walls. Only one way to find out.
Looping around to the back, Valek stood close to the hall and lowered his mental barrier. No magic buzzed, other than from the power blanket around him. He pressed his palm to the cool stone.
Nothing. Or so he thought. A...consciousness sought him, as if drawn by his magic. Valek quickly raised his shield, but distant shouts cut through the quiet night, and the unmistakable sound of drumming boots echoed. He cursed.
18
HELI
When they arrived at the gate, Heli halted Thunder. “Are you sure your grandparents won’t mind?” she asked Teegan, who stopped beside her. “There are four of us.”
“For the twenty-third time, no. My grandparents will be thrilled.” Teegan dismounted to unlock the gate.
“Until you tell them we’re being hunted by the Cartel,” Zohav muttered dar
kly.
Everyone ignored her. Zohav had an annoying tendency to exaggerate the direness of every situation, and Heli was too hot and tired to correct her. Yes, the Cartel sought them, but the Cartel had no idea where they were—unless they’d intercepted the message to Fisk, informing him of their new location. Which she doubted, since Fisk’s people were ignored by most adults. No, the missive would have reached Fisk by now.
It had taken them forever to reach Teegan’s grandparents’ home in Booruby. They had traveled a circuitous route to ensure no one followed them, which added more time to the trip, so they reached the city on the fourth day of the heating season. And it was confirmed that Thunder was the slowest horse in Sitia. The cream-colored horse in the Stormdancer’s stable turned out to be Teegan’s mount—a sweet mare named Caramel. Plus Smoke showed no signs of fatigue, even with the twins riding together. Meanwhile, Heli could have walked behind and pushed her horse faster.
The hinges squealed as Teegan swung the gate wide. He led them up to the large stone farmhouse. Instead of a farm, there was a glass factory, a few sheds and a small stable that looked new. Puffs of light gray smoke blew from a chimney atop the factory. The Avibian Plains surrounded the small complex on three sides, leaving only one direction open for an attack. Heli approved.
A short woman with graying hair opened the door to the house. She put her hand up to block the sun from her eyes.
“Hi, Grandmom!” Teegan gave her a quick hug. She peered at them over his shoulder. If she was surprised by their arrival, she hid it well.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
“Oh, yeah, she sounds thrilled,” Zohav said in a low voice.
“Hush,” Zethan scolded her.
“The Magician’s Keep is closed. Haven’t you heard?” Teegan asked.
“No. Why didn’t you go home, if that’s the case?”
“Uh, Grandmom, can we discuss this inside?”
Her demeanor changed in an instant. “Of course! Where are my manners? Your friends must be thirsty.” She gestured to the stables. “Please feel free to use our facilities. There’s grain and hay, but I’m not sure how fresh it is. It’s been a while since we had equine visitors.”
