“But your warriors and Story Weavers are legendary fighters,” Irys said.
“They weren’t there. They’d gone to the plateau to clear out a nest of vermin. It was a decoy to lure them away. And when they returned…” Harun’s voice hitched. “When they returned, they walked right into an ambush. The vermin pretended to be our clan. Our warriors…died as well.” He reburied his face.
The councilors glanced at each other in horror. Fear fogged the air. If the Daviians could slaughter the Sandseed Clan, theirs could be next.
Valek worried about Yelena, Leif, and Moon Man. Had they been killed as well? Breathing became difficult, he rested his head on the wall as the voices buzzed in his ears. If they had killed Yelena, Valek silently promised he would decimate every last Daviian before he joined her in death.
Eventually, he reigned in his emotions and tucked them away. The council had also settled down.
“…send a battalion to the plains to aid with burials,” Roze said. “I doubt the vermin will still be there, but if they are, our soldiers will attack with the intent to kill.”
“And the rest of the army?” Councilor Krystal asked.
“Will prepare for war. The Daviians must be stopped.”
Valek and the rest of the council were in complete agreement. And now that the paralyzing fear had subsided, he could think clearly. The answer to why the Daviians attacked the Sandseeds was obvious. They were a threat. A bigger one than the Sitian army. With them out of the way, the Daviians had a better chance of gaining control of Sitia.
* * *
The next morning’s council session was as boring as the day before. Other than the absence of Councilor Sandseed, there was no mention of the clan’s slaughter, which wasn’t a surprise. The council wouldn’t want to panic the citizens of Sitia. Not until they had more information.
Valek had worn a different disguise and sat on the hard bench in another row. He stifled a yawn. He’d had a rough night. Unable to sleep, he’d prowled through the streets of the Citadel, fighting the desire to get Onyx and travel to the plains to search for Yelena.
To stay awake, he considered the Daviians attack. He couldn’t assassinate the council now, that would just help the enemy. The council might be inept and unorganized, but they didn’t hesitate to respond to the crisis.
At the end of the meeting, he left the great hall with the crowd, but didn’t follow them outside. Instead, he climbed the grand staircase. Halfway up, a commotion exploded in the lobby. He stopped and turned.
A group of people had pushed their way into the lobby. It took Valek a moment to sort out the scene below, but in the middle of the confusion stood Ferde and Cahill. They had been captured.
CHAPTER9
Valek would have whooped with happiness if he wasn’t standing on the grand staircase in the Sitian Council Hall. Instead, he silently celebrated the capture of Ferde and Cahil. Their wrists had been manacled behind their backs, and they were escorted by a ring of guards. Leif and Marrok also accompanied them. Scanning the rest of the crowd in the lobby, Valek searched for Yelena. She had to be with them. Except, she wasn’t in sight. Neither was Moon Man.
He kept his emotions in check. There were a dozen logical reasons for her absence. She could have headed to the Keep to find Irys and the other master magicians. Or she could be at the stables, taking care of Kiki before coming inside. Or she could have been killed in the Daviian’s attack.
Sucking in a steadying breath, Valek focused on the afternoon council session. It would be very informative. No doubt they would interrogate the prisoners, and he might learn Yelena’s fate. Valek needed to get into position before the session started.
* * *
Valek settled in the rafters just in time. The back door to the great hall flew open. Multiple voices shouted over each other, asking questions. Apparently, the councilors had not been informed of Ferde’s escape or Cahil’s involvement. Interesting.
Roze banged her gavel a dozen times before everyone quieted. “All your questions will be answered in time.” Then, she projected her voice, “I call Cahil Ixia to appear before the council.”
Valek leaned forward to get a better angle. The side door suddenly popped into view. It opened, and Cahil followed a guard inside. Two others walked behind him. Cahil’s blond hair and beard were matted and dirty. Dark circles lined his light blue eyes, and his rumpled and torn clothing indicated he’d had a rough trip to the Citadel. Valek hoped it was Cahil’s blood staining his shirt.
“Remove the manacles and leave,” Roze ordered the guards.
They hurried to release Cahil and left through the still visible side door. Cahil rubbed his raw wrists and winced before standing behind the podium and facing the council.
“Cahil Ixia, report,” Roze ordered.
“The mission was going well, until Yelena showed up with her goons,” he said.
Valek stilled. What was Cahil up to?
“Start at the beginning. The mission is no longer classified,” Roze said.
“I’d say not.” Cahil’s arrogant tone bordered on belligerence.
