“I’d need to teach them how to read between the lines first.”
“I can?—”
He took the reports from her. “You don’t have the time.” It was an old argument. She was in charge of assigning corps members, keeping track of them, and training the new recruits. Besides, Valek had so much practice at reading reports, he could scan them in half the time.
“How’s Star?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Still grieving, which means she’s not scheming. We have bets on when she’ll start planning her next treachery. I’ve a silver on mid-warming season.”
The Commander had sent his elite unit to raid Star’s operation. She had set up quite a network of illegal activities in two small towns in MD-7. When Major Granten had returned with prisoners, confiscated goods, and stacks of paperwork, gossip spread through the castle like a wildfire. It had been inevitable that Star would learn the fate of her organization. It had been a visible blow.
Kenda had reported that Star’s confidence and bluster had died. The shattered woman moved through her days in a fog. Kenda had allowed Star some liberty while she mourned her organization’s demise. She no longer stayed in the holding cells between tasting the Commander’s food. Instead, she had a room in the servants’ wing.
“I’ll bet a silver that she starts before the cold season,” Valek said.
“That early? Her people in Castletown were also arrested.”
“Probably not all of them. I’m betting she’ll soon be exploring her options and making trips into Castletown.”
“It’s your money.” She shook her head as if to imply he was wasting it.
“Anything else of note?” he asked.
“I’ve upped the intensity of Trevar’s training.”
Ah. The young man—or young puppy dog according to Janco—had claimed to be bored with his current classes. “How so?”
“Random ambushes, late night assassination attempts, more complex knife drills. Poor guy hasn’t gotten a good night’s sleep in a while. Bright side, he’s no longer bored.”
“Good. Maybe he’ll do better during the next round of exercises.”
“Don’t wait too long for that next round. Since your return from Sitia, Janco keeps suggesting creative ways for me to test Trevar. I haven’t been implementing them, but I’m afraid Janco will take the initiative—especially now that he’s one of your seconds-in-command.”
“He has no authority over you right now.”
“Oh, I know, but his team’s honor has been called into question. In this case, I don’t think he cares about the chain of command.”
“Noted.”
Kenda left and Valek read through the new reports. It was best not to let them pile up. Gabor, his agent in the Sitian Citadel, mentioned Yelena had returned to the Magician’s Keep and was currently living in Fourth Magician’s, Irys Jewelrose’s, tower.
That was new. Before, she had lived in the apprentice wing. Valek considered the change. Yelena was still learning the extent of her magic, still technically a student. But she had defeated Ferde and Alea, exhibiting master-level powers. Irys probably decided a full time apprenticeship would work better than Yelena attending various classes. Valek hoped it wasn’t an attempt to keep Yelena under house arrest again.
He'd worry more, but Gabor had written, “all appears well.”
By the time Valek reached the last report, his muscles had stiffened, and his bruises pulsed with pain. He either needed another hot soak, or to mix some pain powder in his now-cold tea. He’d missed dinner, and he was expected at his nightly meeting with the Commander soon. Unable to leave without finishing, Valek quickly scanned the information from his agents in MD-1.
They noted that General Kitvivan had sent out a large hunting party fully equipped with traps and large cages. Not unusual for this time of year. Game would be scarce during the cold season. So why would Kelia, Valek’s agent, mention it? His gaze was drawn to the word ‘large.’ It was darker than the rest, as if Kelia wanted to emphasize it.
Valek mulled it over. General Kitvivan, like all the generals, had a bad scare. They had been targeted by a group of magicians and lost control of their thoughts and actions. Alea Daviian had led the group and been the only one to escape to Sitia. The Commander and Valek executed the others.
Had Kitvivan increased his security forces? Was that why he needed a bigger hunting party? But what about the large cages? Nothing unusual about capturing live squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs to breed them for meat, but the hunters would use smaller cages.
An uneasy feeling bubbled in his chest. Valek remembered Kitvivan complaining about the snow cats coming down from the Northern Ice Pack during the cold season and killing their livestock. The Commander had forbidden the general from hunting the cats. However, it was clear that the general decided to ignore the Commander’s order.
CHAPTER3
The drink in Ambrose’s hand paused midway to his mouth. “Are youcertainKitvivan plans to hunt snow cats?”
