Chapter 11

Valek cursed. Time to crash the meeting. He cut the scrim from the brackets, letting it float down. Too slow. Ambrose had dropped to the floor and rolled, but he couldn't smother the flames. Valek slid down his rope, pushing the scrim with his feet.

Everyone cried out when the fabric came down around their heads. A few advisers were knocked down, but Valek was focused on the lump that was Farren. Once he reached the ground, he tackled her and shoved his blade between her ribs. He hopped to his feet and raced to the Commander. Even though Farren was dead, the fire still burned. Valek used a part of the scrim to smother the flames.

Ute crawled out from under the cloth. She carried a pitcher of water, which she dumped onto the Commander. Between the two of them they extinguished the fire.

"Are you all right?" Valek asked, helping Ambrose to sit up.

Holes smoked, and a few angry burns marked his torso. The fabric of his uniform had a strange sheen. The Commander must have rubbed olive oil into the fibers to make it fire resistant. Valek shouldn't be surprised Ambrose had taken measures to protect himself.

"I'm fine. Worry about the magicians." He shooed Valek.

Valek only had to worry about one. The others should be sound asleep, because he'd rigged the wooden hilts with darts filled with sleeping potion. He lifted the scrim, but Alea was gone. Racing from the war room, Valek encountered no one. There should be four guards. With no one to ask which direction Alea went, he scanned the floor in both directions, looking for blood splatter. He found a couple drops and followed the trail.

It appeared she was heading to the castle's west exit. Hoping her injury slowed her down, Valek increased his speed. When he reached the hall to the double doors leading outside, he found the four guards that were supposed to be guarding the war room. They now blocked his way.

"No one must pass," they said in unison.

Valek considered. If he waited for the magic to wear off the four guards, Alea would be too far away. If he fought them, she'd escape for sure. He reached for his darts but there were none left. He'd given them all to Ari and Janco.

Well, there were other ways to exit the castle and plenty of windows. Valek turned around and raced to another room and then climbed out the window. Thankfully, the guards took her orders literally and remained behind. The blood was harder to spot on the dark ground outside, but there was only one place for her to go. The west gate. If she reached Castletown, she could blend in and disappear.

Valek questioned the guards at the gate. Did they see anyone? Hear anything? Of course not. He ran all the way to Castletown but didn't see her. Unless she stayed in the castle's complex? No. Her accomplices were caught. Her plans ruined. No way she'd stay.

A cracking crumbling noise sounded right above him. Valek dove to the side without looking up. The top of a massive brick chimney slammed into the ground where he'd just been standing. Alea's parting shot.

* * *

The war room finally lived up to its name. Bodies littered the floor. Bits of ash floated in the smoky air that reeked of blood and burnt hair. The generals huddled in a clump as far from the prone forms as possible.

Ute remained by the Commander's side as Medic Channa rubbed a salve onto his burns. He'd taken off his uniform. Wearing only his sleeveless undershirt and boxers, he endured her ministrations.

"…good thing you keep your hair so short," Channa said. "Otherwise, it'd be gone. Your eyelashes and eyebrows will grow back eventually."

Valek knelt next to Farren and checked her pulse just in case he'd missed her heart. Her skin was cold. From this angle, Valek spotted pools of bright scarlet spreading from under each magician. Someone had killed the other six, saving Valek from the gruesome task. He glanced up and met the Commander's gaze.

"Generals," the Commander said. "We'll reconvene tomorrow morning."

The men bolted, almost tripping over the bodies in their rush to leave. Ute exchanged a glance with Channa before exiting.

"Valek?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Well done. Now go get some sleep, you look beat."

"Yes, sir." It was a good idea, except Valek had to find Ari and Janco.

General Ute waited for him in the hallway. "Thought you would want to know what happened while you were gone."

"I do. Tell me on the way?"

"Sure." She matched his quick pace. "After you left, I fetched the medic despite the Commander's insistence that he was fine. When we returned, the Commander stood over one of the magicians holding a bloody knife. Without warning, he bent over and stabbed the man right in the chest." Ute's hand briefly pressed over her heart. "The other generals were staring at him in horror, and I realized that man wasn't the first magician he'd killed. I'm shocked, too. It's one thing to know magicians are executed when captured in Ixia, but quite another thing to witness it."

"The Commander was making a point."

"Message received. Loud and clear. Although he didn't really need to. Just resisting the magicians' collective magic was impressive."

"That's why Mogkan and Brazell had to use the Criollo," Valek said. "They learned what I've known all along; the Commander is not only strong but stubborn as hell."

Valek reached the stairs leading to the holding cells and Ute followed him down.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"To check on Ari and Janco." He explained.

"Oh my. I hope they're okay." She broke into a jog.

Valek chased after her. She rounded the corner and stopped in her tracks. "Oh." She covered her mouth with her hand.

With dread rising, Valek looked over her shoulder, bracing for the worse. Ari and Janco each sat in a cell, wearing nothing but their boxers. Laughter escaped Ute's fingers and Valek couldn't help joining her. Their expressions alone…priceless. Relief surged through him, sweeping away all the tension and worry that had collected since learning of Alea's plot. Lightheaded, he leaned against the wall.

"Oh, sure. You can laugh," Janco said. "You didn't endure the absolute humiliation of being controlled by magic, forced to release the prisoners, and strip. Because of course that magician knew I had a set of lock picks hiding in my uniform." He gestured to a third cell where their uniforms had been heaped. Within sight, but out of reach.

"Magic sucks," Ari agreed.

"This one's on me," Valek said as he unlocked the cell doors. "I didn't expect Alea to figure it out so fast."

"I feel much better now." Janco's sarcasm thickened.

"No need to apologize if Alea's been captured," Ari said.

"Ah, about that…" He detailed the chase. "I'm pretty sure she won't return."

Janco groaned. "And the others?"

"Dead," Ute said.

"Good," Ari and Janco said in unison.

Valek unlocked the cell that held their clothing. They moved to retrieve them, but Ute was standing in the way.

"Uh, excuse us, General," Janco said.

She shook her head, then stepped back. "Sorry. I was admiring the view."

Janco smirked and rubbed a hand down his sculpted stomach. "Nice, eh?"

But Ute was staring at Ari's chest. "Very."

* * *

Despite the attack, the Commander was in high spirits that evening. He poured them both a generous glass of his expensive white brandy. And he wasn't wearing his uniform. Instead, he wore a flannel tunic over loose pajama pants. Valek guessed the soft fabric felt better against his burns.

The Commander settled in his seat. "What happened to Alea?"

Valek detailed her escape. "Bright side, I doubt she'll come to Ixia again."

"I would have preferred it if you'd killed her, but I understand. Alea is a powerful magician. I'm quite pleased that I was able to resist her. Alea's voice sounded in my head, but she had the other seven's magic. It felt like they were holding me underwater and if I didn't agree, didn't give up, I'd drown. I fought the magic and resisted. Nice to know I can. I should thank them for the peace of mind."

"Even though they set your uniform on fire?"

"It worked out."

"How are you feeling?"

"Tender. That salve soothed most of the pain, but in order to take it with me, I had to promise Medic Channa that I'd send for her if I have any trouble breathing."

"She probably wanted you to spend the night in the infirmary. You could have invited her to sleep on your comfy couch."

"I didn't know Alea's status at that time."

"Now you know. Should I send a message to Channa?"

"No. You still look exhausted. Did you rest this afternoon?" Ambrose didn't wait for a response. "Go to bed, Valek. I need you at your best for the meeting in the morning."

He groaned. "Is this a punishment because Alea escaped?"

"No. The generals need to know how to avoid this situation. How to spot a magician. And how to improve their security. We'll be visiting each Military District during the heating season. I want them ready for our inspection." He held his glass up, stopping Valek's reply. "Don't groan again. It was your idea."

"Definitely a punishment."

* * *

The meeting wasn't as tedious and frustrating as Valek had expected. The bodies had been collected, the floor scrubbed, and the entire war room cleaned. It smelled of soap and disinfectant. Best of all, it was quiet.

The generals sat around the table and listened to Valek's lecture on magicians. They didn't cry for his dismissal or press for his execution. All the bluster had been scared out of them. Their encounter with the magicians was a wakeup call to the dangers of magic. And just how close Alea had come to taking over Ixia.

General Ute was welcomed and praised for her quick actions during the attack. The generals didn't bicker with each other. Overall, the group had a renewed sense of unity. Of working together against a common enemy. Valek wondered how long it would last.

The Commander called for a break at lunch. Kenda carried the Commander's tray, but she gave Valek a pointed look that promised pain if he didn't explain what had been happening. When he was dismissed that afternoon, Valek stopped in his suite before heading to her office.

"Hello, stranger," she said when he entered. Despite her word choice, it wasn't a friendly greeting.

"I had to keep a low profile, so I didn't tip Alea off to what I planned," he said in his defense.

"I get that, but what about the other challenges we are dealing with? Were you just working on trapping Alea and her friends all this time?"

Actually, he had. Combine a concussion with a complex problem and the need for daily naps… He took a sculpture from his pocket and handed it to her. "I carved this for you."

"Bribery? You think that'll work?" She examined it, turning the thumb-sized dahlia atop a curved stem and leaves. "How did you know dahlias are my favorite flower?"

"You stop to sniff them every time you see one. Even if we're on a mission."

She huffed. "The detail is exquisite. But I'm still annoyed with you."

"I'd expect nothing less. And I did read through Star's file. We don't have enough evidence to put her on trial for murder."

"I thought so. Too bad."

"But she doesn't need to know that."

Kenda grinned. "I like the way you think."

* * *

An hour later, a knock sounded on Valek's office door. "Come in."

The door opened and two dungeon guards escorted Star to his desk. She stood straight despite the chains linking her wrists and ankles, looking down her sharp nose at him. Her long red hair was snarled with knots and muck splattered her prison gown. Dungeon funk—a fetid odor that clung to all the prisoners—emanated from her. Her gaze shone with defiance. Thin lips were already pressed together, as if she wanted Valek to know he'd get no information from her.

He didn't invite her to sit. "This won't take long, Star." Shuffling through a few papers in a file, he shut it with a snap and added it to a high pile of dossiers on the left side of his desk.

"This meeting is to inform you that you are being charged with murder. Your trial has been scheduled for the end of the cold season." Which was nine months away. Valek glanced at the guards. "You can take her back to her cell."

"Charged with murder?" Star asked. "I haven't killed anyone. Plus, you have no evidence. I've told you nothing."

"Oh, I know. You've been quite uncooperative." He rested his hand on the large pile. "However, your colleagues have been helpful. Very helpful. We have everything we need. Unless you wish to confess, you're irrelevant." And since she craved attention, Valek guessed that comment would produce the most damage.

"You've got nothing. My people are loyal." She sounded confident, but fear lurked in her gaze.

"If that will help you feel better, then you go ahead and believe it." He waved to the guards. "Take her away, she's stinking up my office."

She lurched closer to his desk. "I can't wait nine months. I'll go crazy. Look, I've information they don't have. Drop the murder charge and I'll tell you everything."

If he could trust her, it was a good deal. She'd still go to jail for a long time, but she wouldn't be executed. Except, he'd be an idiot to expect her to tell the truth. "I already know everything. But…" He leaned back as if considering. "We do need a new food taster, and it's a couple months before the next execution is scheduled…"

"I'll do it."

"It's dangerous."

"I don't care."

"All right, I'll check with the Commander. He doesn't like it when one of his loyal people are at risk, and since you'll be on death row eventually, it follows the Code of Behavior. I'll let you know."

This time Star didn't protest when the guards pulled her away. Valek would let her stew for a few days before starting her training.

* * *

That evening, the Commander messaged Valek to report to his office. When Valek entered the office, he looked up from his desk.

"Why are you surprised? You asked me to come," Valek said.

"I did. Why…" He sighed and rubbed his brow. "I never realized just how important eyebrows are in non-verbal communication."

Valek bit down on a chuckle as he sat down. "I'll lend you some makeup. You can draw eyebrows on until yours grow back."

"I'm not very artistic. Looking perpetually surprised might be better than appearing like a super villain."

"I'll stop by your suite in the mornings and help. However, I'm sure you didn't send for me to talk about your eyebrows."

"No. I wanted an update on your exploits, and what issues you're dealing with now the magicians have been taken care of."

The report wouldn't take long, since all his focus had been on Alea's plans. "Ari, Janco, and I believe, Maren are in training to join my corps."

"Believe?"

"She hasn't committed, but I think she will. Maren is hard to read, which is why I think she'd be an asset to my team."

"You've been relying on the captains since Brazell's. Are you hoping for them to be your seconds?"

"Yes. I know Janco can be annoying at times, but they're a powerful pair. In fact, I refer to them as the power twins. And I'd like Maren to join us as well."

The Commander gave him a shrewd look. "You're not thinking of retiring, are you?"

"No. I just think if something happens to me—like a chimney falls on my head—you'll need at least three people to replace me." Valek grinned.

"My, aren't we confident today." The Commander tsked. "Chimneys aside, what's the next challenge?"

He detailed his plan for Star. "It's the only way we'll find the rest of her organization."

"You're inviting a viper into our midst," the Commander said. "I'll have to watch her closely, or she might slip poison into my food."

"She won't. Star has created a successful business under your leadership. A new commander would be an unknown. Perhaps worse. Her sole focus is going to be escaping and rejoining her people."

"And you will facilitate that escape?"

"Eventually. There needs to be a few failed attempts before she believes she has escaped on her own and wasn't just allowed to escape," Valek said.

"I'm still going to watch her. And speaking of a new commander, who did you appoint?"

Ah, the Commander had figured out Valek wouldn't allow Brazell to be named the Commander's successor. Not when the change had been influenced by magic. "I switched it to General Franis because he's the youngest. Or was. Ute is younger."

"A good choice overall. But I've my eye on another. Time will tell."

"Not me. Please."

"Don't worry. You're not in the running." The Commander waited.

Valek suspected he wanted Valek to ask why not, but as long as he wasn't chosen, he was happy. "Thank fate."

* * *

When Star returned to his office three days later, Valek asked the guards to remove her manacles and invited her to sit down. The defiance in her gaze had been replaced by a shrewd look. No doubt already plotting her escape.

He told her all the same things he told Yelena nine months ago. It was a lifetime position, the training could be lethal, no days off, no spouse, no children, no payment for her services. Star would get a room in the castle to sleep but she had to report to the Commander to taste his meals three times a day. Star's gaze sharpened at learning she'd be free to move around the castle.

"And your first lesson starts now." He retrieved the goblet he'd prepared and set it on the desk in front of Star. "Go on, take a sip."

Star sipped the drink. "Peach juice."

"Now take another sip and roll the liquid around your tongue before swallowing."

She did as instructed, and her eyebrows rose in surprise. "There are also honey and orange flavors."

"Correct. This time, gargle the juice."

Shrugging, she took a mouthful, gargled, and winced as she swallowed. "Spoiled, fermented oranges."

Valek couldn't help being impressed. Most tasters picked up the rotten flavor, but not the fermentation. "The peach juice is laced with a poison called Butterfly's Dust. The only way to detect that poison in a liquid is by gargling it. The foul taste is the poison."

"How much poison did I swallow?"

"Enough to kill you."

She jumped to her feet with a curse. "Is this a joke?"

"No, but don't worry, there's an antidote to Butterfly's Dust."

Sinking back down in relief, she scanned his desk. "Where is it?"

He opened a drawer and pulled out a glass vial filled with a white liquid. "This is the antidote. However, a dose only prevents the poison from killing you. It doesn't cure you. You'll need to visit me every morning for your dose. Skip a morning and you'll be dead by the next."

"Son of a bitch. You tricked me."

"No. I'm ensuring that you won't run away. That you'll report for duty every day. If you commit a crime or an act of treason, you'll be taken to the dungeon to wait for the poison to kill you. Symptoms are severe stomach cramps and nausea followed by uncontrollable vomiting. If your stomach starts to hurt, you're overdue for the antidote."

Actually, it was the "antidote"—a drug called White Fright—that was in her peach juice. A handy concoction that took a day to work and did indeed cause those symptoms unless another dose was administered. Useful to put a person out of commission for a day. Star would live through the experience, but the longer she ingested White Fright, the harsher her withdrawal would be. As for Butterfly's Dust, it didn't exist.

Star stared at the vial of White Fright.

Valek picked it up. "This contains about two doses. I keep my full supply hidden. Even if you found it, it would eventually run out and you would die."

A knock sounded and Hildred, one of Valek's corps, entered. She wore a housekeeping uniform.

"Hildred will help you get settled," Valek said.

Star reluctantly pulled her attention from the vial.

When she reached Hildred, the agent wrinkled her nose and said, "We'll stop at the baths first."

Right after they left, Kenda entered. "Well?"

"She's smart and has a keen palate."

"Do you want to bet on when she runs away? I give her a week."

"That's too soon. I'll bet a month. Either way, keep an eye on her at all times."

"I've Hildred and Inrick on babysitting duties."

"And at night?"

"Star isn't getting her own room. She's sharing with Amensa."

Amensa was one of his agents. "You're housing her in the hexagon? Is that wise?"

"You know how the saying goes: keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Besides, Amensa is a very light sleeper and wakes with a blade in each hand. Hard to sneak out when your roommate goes for the throat."

"I need Star alive. At least, until she gives us what we want."

"Oh, don't worry, Amensa hasn't killed anyone, but she'll scare the crap out of Star, who will quickly learn to keep her ass in bed."

* * *

Star's training occupied Valek for the next three weeks. The woman proved to be quick to learn and would play devil's advocate, finding work arounds to various tasting methods and the five S-steps—scan, sniff, sip, swirl, sample. Hildred reported that Star used her time off to familiarize herself with the castle's layout. One time, she even tried to pick the lock on Valek's office door. He had installed three very complex locks and only a few people had the skills to pick them. Yelena was one.

Working with Star was harder than Valek expected. It kept reminding him of Yelena. How her nose would crinkle when she tasted an off flavor, her quick intelligence and flashes of insights. With Yelena, it had been almost a collaborative effort. While with Star, Valek remained on edge as if they sparred.

At the end of each of the poison tasting sessions with Star, Valek's arms would ache to hold Yelena, wishing he'd told her he loved her sooner. Perhaps having more memories of them together would ease his loneliness. Or would it make it worse?

Star was officially declared the food taster at the end of the warm season. Just in time to be added to the list of people who would travel in the Commander's entourage. They would be leaving in a few days, and Valek still had a couple things left to do.

He found Ari and Janco in their suite. Janco sat on an armchair juggling three very sharp-looking knives. Ari was cleaning his broadsword.

"How's the training going?" he asked.

"Boring!" Janco said without looking away from the whirling weapons.

"It goes," Ari said noncommittally.

"Would you like to go on a mission?"

"Ow!" The daggers clattered to the floor and Janco sucked on his finger. "Geez, warn a guy first will ya."

"Of course," Ari answered. "What's the mission?"

Valek explained about the Commander's upcoming tour of all the garrisons and manor houses in Ixia. "We're going to test their defenses. They'll be informed in advance, making it a bit more challenging."

"Ho boy!" Janco bounded from his chair and bounced around the room. "Finally, a challenge! This is gonna be fun."

"How many agents are you bringing?" Ari asked.

"There will be six of us on the testing team. The other three are Maren, Hildred, and Inrick."

"Maren decided to join your corps?" Ari asked.

"Yes. I'm glad to have her."

"Good choices. I approve," Janco said.

"Thanks," Valek replied dryly. "I may have done this before."

"Yes, but this time"—Janco spread his arms wide—"This time you have us by your side. Big difference."

"I'm aware."

* * *

The Commander's entourage consisted of fifty soldiers of his elite squad for protection, Valek and his team of five agents, Star, and Adviser Dema. Valek, the Commander, and Dema rode horses, but the others walked. They headed west a few hours after dawn on day two of the heating season. General Rasmussen of MD-7 would be their first stop, and then Dinno in MD-8. They'd loop around mostly clockwise with a jig west to MD-4, then end at MD-5. That would give General Ute plenty of time to prepare.

"Are you sure you don't want us to scout the route?" Ari asked Valek.

"The new guys in the squad aren't very good," Janco added. "Plus, it's boring to do nothing but walk all day."

"Don't worry," Valek said. "I've a special job for you."

"Ooohhh. You say the sweetest things."

Valek explained what they needed to do.

Janco rubbed his hands together in glee. "Should we take bets?"

Valek left them to it as he spurred Onyx to the head of the column. He wasn't expecting trouble during this trip, but just in case the scouts missed something, Valek scanned for anything out of the ordinary. The trees were all dressed in bright green leaves and the underbrush provided plenty of hiding spots. Cloaks wouldn't be needed during the day unless it rained. During this time of the year, rainstorms would form over the Sunset Ocean and blow eastward, carrying the salty tang of the sea.

No matter how well-trained or physically fit everyone was, it was slow going. They had to stop while it was still daylight to set up camp. Major Granten and his soldiers handled all the construction and cooking. Only the Commander and Valek had their own tents, the rest shared. Star was assigned to Hildred's tent. The agent reported that Star never connected her to the housekeeper who showed her around on her first day.

Each night, Valek walked the perimeter after dinner. On the third night, a storm threatened. When Valek was halfway around the camp, big, fat, and cold raindrops splatted on his forehead. A couple at first and then more and more as the storm unleashed a torrent. Valek abandoned his task and hustled for his tent.

Hildred intercepted him. "Star's gone."

"She took the antidote?"

"Yes. She stole the bottle from your tent during dinner and headed southeast." Hildred put her hand up to protect her eyes from the rain. "Do you want me and Inrick to chase her down?"

"No need."

"Are you going to follow her, then? Find her accomplices?"

"No time right now. Don't worry, she'll be back."

"But that bottle has at least two months' worth of her antidote."

"It appears so."

Hildred groaned. "Are you always one step ahead of everyone?"

Valek grinned despite the rain pouring down his face. "Not always. Sometimes I'm two steps ahead."

"And so modest about it, too."

Star caught up to them the next afternoon. Hugging her stomach and retching, she begged for the antidote.

He handed her a pipette filled with White Fright. "Not a fan of spoiled goat's milk?"

She downed the liquid. When she caught her breath, she told him exactly what he could do with his goat's milk. It didn't sound pleasant.

"That's not nice." He filled up the pipette again. This time he squeezed the contents out onto the ground. Then did it a second time. "Whoops. That's a shame. I hope you'll have enough to last the trip."

This time she bit down on her nasty remark.

"You are now under tent arrest because of this stunt," he said. "When we stop for the night, you're only allowed to come out to taste the Commander's dinner."

Star's second escape happened three nights later. The entourage would reach General Rasmussen's manor house the next day.

When Valek seemed unconcerned, Hildred asked, "More goat's milk?"

"No. She's got the genuine antidote."

Hildred pursed her lips but didn't ask the question in her gaze. Instead, she scanned the camp. Valek waited.

"Ha!" she said. "Ari and Janco aren't here. Can scouts also track?"

"Yes. Although, they've been watching her so no need to track."

She deflated. "That's my job. Except, I haven't been doing it well."

"You're doing fine. I've been giving her some opportunities, and she knows you're watching her. While she has no clue of Ari and Janco's interest. Until now."

Ari appeared from the woods. He carried a screaming Star over his right shoulder. Her ankles had been manacled along with her wrists. They were fastened behind her back. Janco had his fingers in his ears.

"Should have brought a gag," Janco said when they reached Valek and Hildred.

"Where do you want her?" Ari asked.

Valek pointed to a tree trunk. "Secure her there for tonight."

Janco took the bottle of White Fright from his pocket. "She seemed really concerned that this didn't break." He pretended to fumble it and Star stopped yelling.

"Huh. Should have thought of that before. Here." He handed it to Valek.

In the morning, Valek squirted four doses of White Fright onto the ground, before giving Star her dose. "Your actions have consequences. No more sleeping in a tent. You'll spend every night secured outside unless we're at one of the manor houses or garrisons. Then you'll spend all your free time in a jail cell."

"How long?" she asked.

"Until I say so."

* * *

Testing the defenses of Rasmussen's manor house and garrison turned out to be a fun challenge. The team learned what worked and what didn't. They uncovered each of their strengths and weaknesses. Maren even learned the fine art of being a fake damsel-in-distress from Janco. They performed better together than he'd expected.

On the way north to MD-8, Valek gave Star another opportunity to escape, and she took it. Ari and Janco had orders to let her go further this time before capturing her.

They brought her back in the morning.

Valek dumped six doses onto the ground. "I don't know if this is going to last." He clucked his tongue. "All that effort to train you. What a waste of my time."

After that, Star stopped trying to escape. Either due to the punishments or because they were getting further and further away from Castletown.

His team spent the rest of the heating season and thirty-five days of the hot season testing defenses. It was equal parts exhilarating, exhausting, thrilling, boring, invigorating, and tedious.

MD-5 had been their last stop, and General Ute continued to impress the Commander. Overall, he was pleased with the results of the tour and energized despite the three-long months of travel.

Everyone whooped when they spotted the odd-shaped castle in the distance. Valek almost wept with joy when he reached his own bed. He face-planted and didn't move for twelve hours.

Three days later, he had the guards bring Star to his office in the afternoon. She'd been staying in the holding cells between tastings.

"Sit down, Star," he said.

She sat and glared at him, which she'd been doing ever since her third failed escape attempt. He'd made her sweat the last week of their trip, by scraping the bottom of the bottle for her antidote. Not that there had been any real danger of running out. White Fright was brewed from a common weed that grew throughout Ixia.

"You're getting your freedom back. If you try to escape again, you will become a permanent resident of the holding cells. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Good. You're dismissed."

She slammed the door when she left. Valek was curious what she'd try to do next. Hildred and Inrick would keep an eye on her.

He remembered Yelena's attempts. She'd picked the locks of his office to find his stash of White Fright. And she'd spent hours in the castle's library, seeking a book that might have the recipe for the antidote. Those had been in the early days. When Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose offered to help her escape to Sitia, Yelena had refused. She had wanted to protect the Commander and stop Brazell and Mogkan at the cost of her own freedom.

He longed to breath in her scent. To have a conversation about something trivial, like what side of the bed she preferred to sleep on. Or her favorite season.

Yearning burned in his heart. But then it increased to a painful intensity and spread. Valek held out his arms. Had a magician set his clothes on fire? Sweat collected and dripped. An invisible force yanked on his heart. He pressed his hands over his sternum, but the pressure remained.

A cloud of bright light formed on the other side of his desk. It hovered in midair. The force pulled him to his feet and reeled him toward the center of the swirl. He squinted. Something inside…no, someone… "Yelena?"

Panic creased her face, and her green eyes were wide with fear. "Help," she cried.