Chapter 14

Yelena and Valek discussed various plans until late in the night. In the end, he would trail her to the meeting site and ambush Ferde when he appeared. Ari and Janco would keep far away so they didn't alert the magician but would be close enough if Valek and Yelena ran into trouble.

Valek returned to the Council Hall and collapsed into bed. Being with Yelena trumped sleep, but it had caught up to him.

Ilom roused him later the next afternoon. "Can you be me for dinner with the Sitians?"

"Sure. Why?"

"A couple of the councilors like to seek loopholes in everything and won't give up. They're exhausting and I've a horrible headache."

"Verbal acrobatics?"

"Yeah. Bring your sharpest wit."

Valek didn't mind standing in for the adviser. It was a good chance to see how Signe was getting on and to eat a delicious meal. Ilom hadn't been exaggerating; the Sitians liked to spar without swords. Signe kept up with the verbal battle with ease, seeming to relish the challenge. The best part, it never turned heated. No one appeared offended and there were no hurt feelings. A truly engaging discussion.

As dessert was being served, Bain Bloodgood's gaze turned inward. Valek had learned that meant he was communicating magically with another magician. A look of alarm crossed his face before he schooled his expression and excused himself from the table. Immediate worry for Yelena swirled in Valek's chest, which turned into a maelstrom when Ari appeared in the doorway. He caught Signe's eye and gestured.

Valek followed Signe into the hallway. Ari ignored Valek as they walked to a quiet corner.

"Sir, there's a situation that Captain Janco and I need to address," Ari said to Signe.

"What happened, Captain?" Signe asked.

"It appears Yelena Zaltana has been kidnapped."

Valek fisted his hands so hard his nails dug into his palms.

"Appears?" Signe asked with the same mild tone.

"She had two guards protecting her from an unknown aggressor. We were with her this afternoon, sparing, and doing self-defense training, and had parted ways. Except, Captain Janco had a…twitchy feeling, and we doubled back to check on her. Her guards had been knocked unconscious and she had disappeared."

Valek kept his bland expression, but inside he burned with rage.

"Did you alert the proper Sitian authorities?" she asked.

"Yes, we alerted the guards at the gate, and they passed the message along to the magicians."

"What more can you do? They have magicians and security people."

"The guards said a gardener wheeled a cart past them earlier and left the Citadel through the east gate. We suspect Yelena was in the burlap bag inside. At first light, we can track that cart and find Yelena."

"Aren't the Sitians able to do this as well?"

"They're sending search parties throughout the Citadel. They're convinced she hasn't left." Ari sucked in a breath in an obvious attempt to control his emotions. "They don't trust Janco's instincts. I do."

Signe met Valek's gaze for a moment. "Then you should proceed on your own. Keep me posted, Captain."

"Yes, sir." Ari dashed away.

"Don't get caught," Signe said to Valek before she returned to dinner.

Get caught? There was nothing he could do! Frantic with worry and livid that someone dared to kidnap Yelena, Valek prowled the streets of the Citadel, hoping Yelena would reach out to him through their connection. He'd gladly give all his energy to her again.

He went to the market to find Fisk. Perhaps the boy had seen or heard something. It was a slim chance, but he had nothing else to do. However, the market was closed. Valek followed the searches that had been dispatched from the keep. It was obvious they had no idea where Yelena had gone.

If she died… No. Not going there. Not now.

An hour before dawn, he found a spot to watch the east gate. Ari and Janco arrived at first light and left the Citadel. Valek followed them. They inspected the grass around the dirt road going east, then they followed the road.

After an eternity, they slowed and turned south onto a narrow path overgrown with weeds. Eventually, a small, abandoned farmhouse came into view. The barn had crumpled, and the fields had gone fallow. A small shed looked to be the only structure not on the verge of collapse.

It took all of Valek's willpower not to charge to the rescue. He waited as Ari and Janco made a loop around the structure. The new locks shone in the sunlight—a bright contrast to the peeling paint and rusted hinges. Hurry up!

As if obeying Valek's mental command, Janco pressed his ear to the door, and signaled, She's in here. He yanked out his lock picks and unlocked the door. Then he stood back, and both men drew their swords.

On the count of three, Ari signaled. One. Two. Three.

They kicked the door open. Valek's heart stopped beating.

"Yelena are you all right?" Ari asked.

Janco went inside the shed. "Keys?" There was silence. "Guess I'll have to do it the hard way."

Valek crept to the shed's door and peered inside. Ari pointed his sword at some man. Ferde? Yelena's wrists were manacled and attached to a chain hanging from the ceiling. But she appeared to be uninjured. Valek almost staggered to the ground in relief.

Janco had his lock picks out, but Yelena shook her head. "I've got the situation under control. Go back to the Keep, I'll meet you there."

Janco stared at her in astonished silence.

Ari took her at her word. "Come on, she doesn't need our help." He sheathed his sword.

Janco recovered. He flashed a mischievous grin. "I'll bet you a copper that she'll be free in five minutes," he said to Ari.

Ari grunted in amusement. "A silver on ten minutes," he countered.

"I'll bet you both a gold coin that she kills him," Valek said from behind them. Surprised, they moved aside to let him enter. "The only way to take care of your problem. Right, love?"

"No killing," she said and gave him a pointed look. "I'll manage."

"He's my man. I'll handle this," a man said from behind Valek.

Valek cursed and spun. He'd been so distracted about Yelena that he'd never heard the blond arrive. Cahil just stared at him for a moment. Ah yes, Valek had also forgotten he still wore his Ilom disguise.

Cahil entered the shed, which was way too small for six people. "Goel, stand down," he ordered.

Goel? Was that Ferde's real name? No. The man didn't have the red tattoos Yelena had told him about. Since it wasn't the rogue magician, Valek knew Ari and Janco could help Yelena if needed. Leaving the crowded shed, Valek circled around and hid behind it to listen.

"No," Goel said to Cahil. It was the only voice Valek didn't recognize.

"Goel, you were right about her. But this isn't the way to deal with her. Especially not with her two henchmen nearby. Release her," Cahil ordered.

"I don't take orders from you. Everyone else can pretend you're in charge. I won't," Goel said.

"Are you challenging my authority?" Cahil demanded.

"You don't have any authority with me," Goel shot back.

"How dare?—"

"Gentlemen!" Yelena shouted. "You can fight it out later. Everyone leave. Now! My arms are killing me."

There was a rustle of movement and a door slammed shut.

"Where were we?" Yelena asked Goel.

"You can't expect me…"

"Forget about them. You have more to worry about in here than outside."

"You're not really in the position to be boasting."

"And you don't fully understand what it's like to go against a magician."

Ah, there's my love.

"You think I'm just some girl to be taught a lesson. That I should fear you. You're the one who needs the lesson."

Valek celebrated. Knowing Yelena could handle herself, he found a better place to hide and watch. Ari and Janco waited for her by the dilapidated fence. Cahil had also hidden nearby.

He wondered if Goel was part of the "lots of somethings" Yelena had been dealing with since being in Sitia. Various grunts and noises emanated from the shed before Yelena exited ten minutes later.

Ari smiled as Janco slapped a silver coin into his huge hand.

"Your problem?" Ari asked Yelena.

"I left him hanging."

Yes!

"What took you so long?" Janco complained.

"I wanted to prove my point. Where's…ah, Adviser Ilom and Cahil?" She looked around the farmstead.

"Why the sudden concern for Ilom?" Janco asked with mock sincerity. "He's a grown man with surprising abilities. That stuffy old bore appeared out of nowhere, did a dead perfect impression of Valek's voice and disappeared as if by magic. The man's a genius! I should have known he would come along. Valek wouldn't miss all the fun."

The smile dropped from Ari's face. "Valek's going to get caught. Cahil made a beeline for the Citadel, probably to tell the council members about Valek."

Ah, so Cahil had pretended to rush back to the Citadel, only to loop around and hide. Interesting.

"Great disguise, though," Janco said. "He had us fooled."

"Cahil already suspected Valek was here," Yelena said.

That was new. He wondered what gave him away. Was it something he'd done or did Yelena tip him off? She tended to expose Valek's plans when defending him. And she had argued with Cahil earlier.

"I'm sure Valek can handle it," she said.

He could, but Signe wasn't going to be happy about it.

The three of them headed back to the Citadel. Valek waited behind to see what Cahil would do. Yelena might have told Valek ‘no killing,' but he'd seen the sick rot in Goel's gaze. Best to deal with the problem permanently.

Cahil waited until the others were out of sight before he entered the shed. Valek eased closer to listen.

"…disgrace to my unit," Cahil said.

"Your unit. That's a laugh," Goel said.

Valek thought about the comments Goel had made earlier. Sounded like there was some dissension in the ranks about who was really in charge. Valek hadn't left any of the royal family alive. Perhaps Cahil's people lied to him about his birthright? He would have been too young to remember his real parents.

The argument continued, but they both left the shed, crossing the field. Valek considered his options. He could attack them now and solve two problems. Except, there might be some push back from the Sitian authorities, and it might cause difficulties for Signe. No. He'd wait until the delegation left and then return to finish the job.

"Shut up. Just. Shut. The fuck. Up!" Cahil pulled his oversized sword from its sheath. "You've pledged your loyalty to me. Your life is mine, and I've decided you're no longer welcome in my unit." He plunged the blade into Goel's chest with one mighty thrust.

Goel staggered back with a look of astonishment. Cahil yanked the weapon out. Blood gushed and Goel collapsed. Impressed that Cahil had the wherewithal to murder a man, Valek approved the decision. Was this Cahil's first kill?

Cahil stared at the body. The red flush of his anger faded from his cheeks, and he swallowed a few times. His forehead creased. Would he get sick? Then Cahil cleaned the blood off his sword with a handful of grass and headed to the Citadel.

It would be interesting to see how the Sitians deal with Goel's murder. Valek took another route back and hoped to reach Ilom and Signe before the authorities. He found them in the suite of rooms assigned to the Ambassador.

Ilom stood. "What's going on? Why are you still in disguise? I've the morning shift."

"Did something happen to Yelena?" Signe asked.

"She's fine, but my cover is blown. I'm sorry Ilom, it's going to be a rough couple of days for you."

"Well, I wanted an adventure."

"That's the spirit, old man." He clapped him on the shoulder.

"You need to leave Sitia immediately," Signe ordered.

"I can't," Valek said. "They've a big problem here and I need to help them stop it. If not, it will eventually affect Ixia."

"How should I play this?" Signe asked.

"Indignant and angry. After all, Ilom is innocent of all accusations."

"Something no one has ever said of you, Valek."

He flashed her his cocky grin. Then he hurried to clean off his makeup and change into his soldier's uniform. Grabbing his pack, he removed all evidence that he shared the quarters with Ilom. The Ambassador's soldiers had been housed in one of the lower levels of the Council Hall. It was nicer than the barracks at the castle. A wing of bedrooms and a large common area had been earmarked for visiting guests not important enough for the nicer suites. There should be an empty room for him. He needed to create a new disguise. Perhaps a pair of glasses and a different nose.

As he crossed though the common area, Ari and Janco spotted him. They followed and practically manhandled him into their bedroom.

"Spill," Janco demanded.

"Are you crazy?" Ari asked. "You shouldn't be here."

"It's a good thing I am," Valek replied.

"What's going on?" Janco asked.

"I'm not sure what Goel was all about. He was one of Cahil's men and it sounded like he had a grudge against Yelena, but he's dead and no longer a concern."

"Did you kill him?" Ari asked.

"I planned to, but Cahil had the honor."

"What's that guy's deal?" Janco asked.

Valek had subtly asked the councilors at dinner last night about Cahil. "He's claiming to be the King of Ixia's nephew. He has a unit of special forces with him; they're soldiers from Ixia. Cahil wants to free us from the Commander's rule and become King, so he's been petitioning the Sitian Council to provide him with an army. They have no interest is starting a war with us. Also he accused Yelena of being an Ixian spy."

"That explains some of his behavior. We were sparring with Yelena, and he accused her of using magic to win bouts." Ari sounded offended on her behalf.

"He doesn't know how to handle that sword," Janco said. "It doesn't take magic to beat him. I did it in three moves with a bo staff."

"Do you think his unit lied to him so they could assassinate the Commander and set Cahil up as a puppet king?" Ari asked.

"It's possible. But we have a bigger problem than the Wannabe King."

"We do?" Janco's gaze lit up. "Do tell."

"There's a killer after Yelena." He explained about Ferde and the ritual he'd been performing. "Yelena would be the last soul he needs to gain a great deal of power. I'm going to need backup on this one."

Janco's glee faded into horror. "Wait. She's taking on this psycho magician on her own?"

"We'll be there," Valek said.

"He's as strong as a master magician and may have magician minions. I think having more than us as backup would be prudent," Janco said. "There are four master magicians in town. Don't you think they should handle this problem?"

"They can't hide who they are. Ferde has been dodging them this entire time. He'll sense when they're near and kill Opal."

"That explains why everyone was so frantic when Yelena went missing," Ari said. "They thought Ferde had her and would complete this Efe ritual."

"Have I said, ‘magic sucks' recently?" Janco asked. "Because it does. Suck. Really bad."

"What do you need us to do?" Ari asked.

"I'm going to be at the meeting site. He won't sense me, but you'll need to follow at a distance. If we don't return by a certain time, you go get help."

"The same help that can't really help?" Janco asked. "That help?"

"It's not a good plan," Ari said.

"It's all I've got."

"It sucks." Janco certainly wasn't one to sugar coat anything.

"Attention!" a muffled voice called from the hallway.

Ari opened the door a crack.

"We need a protection detail, stat!" the same person yelled. "The Sitians are trying to arrest Adviser Ilom."

And so, it begins.

Ari and Janco exchanged a look before Ari pointed to the ground. "You better stay here."

"And miss all the fun?"

"You think getting arrested and executed is fun?" Ari growled.

Most people ignored Valek's cavalier attitude, but he'd upset Ari. "I don't. Sorry. I'll find an empty room and work on my new disguise."

"Good."

Ari and Janco hurried to join the detail that consisted of ten people. If the full complement of soldiers went, they'd trip over each other. Valek dutifully changed his appearance.

* * *

Ari and Janco didn't return until later that night. Valek was in the common area, slouched on one of the couches reading when they arrived. There were a few other soldiers hanging out. A foursome played cards on a nearby table. Pleased that the card players' gazes passed over him, Valek stood, stretched, and headed for his room. Ari and Janco fell in step behind him.

When they reached his room, Valek closed the door behind them. "Report."

"They arrested Adviser Ilom," Ari said.

"Genius move," Janco said.

"Who made the arrest?"

"First Magician Roze Featherstone, Cahil, and a security detail. They claim Ilom is you in disguise, but they're waiting to reveal him in front of the entire council. They also accused him of murdering Goel Ixia."

"So, they're pinning the murder on poor Ilom."

"They're having a trial tomorrow afternoon in the great hall to decide if formal charges will be filed. He's being detained here and guarded by Cahil's unit. Apparently, there are cells below ground level."

"You're not going to let the guy be executed, are you?" Janco asked.

"He won't be. How's Signe?"

"Ambassador Signe is livid. And I'm pretty sure it's not all directed at the Sitians," Janco said, giving him a pointed look.

* * *

Ambassador Signe was not invited to the fact-finding portion of the trial. Instead, she waited impatiently in a small side room next to the hall with five members of her protection detail, which included Valek. Ilom and his guards were also there. His hands had been manacled behind his back. He appeared tired and grumpy. Rough night? Or was it because four of Cahil's team held him at sword point? Valek guessed he should be flattered that the Wannabe King believed he needed four armed guards to keep Valek from escaping.

He recognized one member of Cahil's team. Captain Marrok was the only person to ever escape the Commander's dungeon. It was interesting that he worked for Cahil. Had he been one of the soldiers who had "rescued the king's nephew"? Valek had exchanged a glance with Signe when Marrok had entered with Ilom. Would the captain recognize either of them?

Eventually, the door to the great hall opened. Captain Marrok dragged poor Ilom in, followed by his guards. Signe marched in behind them followed by her detail. The decorations from the greeting ceremony had been removed. They had brought in a giant U-shaped table and a podium. Benches filled with people lined the walls. Valek spotted Yelena sitting on the edge of one of the benches. Her intense gaze fixed on Ilom's face. The podium faced the table and Cahil stood there with his arm out, as if he'd just made a grand sweeping gesture.

Roze Featherstone and the other three master magicians—Bain Bloodgood, Zitora Cowan, and Irys Jewelrose —sat at the bend of the table, while the leaders of the eleven clans sat along the straight sides. Six on one side, five on the other. The fifteen of them comprised the Sitian Council. Cozy.

Ambassador Signe was the first person to speak. "I demand an explanation. This is an act of war." Her tone was as frigid as the Northern Ice Pack.

"Cahil, I told you to release the Adviser until this matter was settled," Roze said. Fury flared in her amber eyes. Her rank of First Magician meant she was the most powerful magician in Sitia. Tall and with an athletic build, her midnight skin drank in the light. Not someone to get on your bad side. Her magic filled the room, pressing lightly on Valek's skin.

"And let him escape? No. Better to bring him here and unmask him in front of everyone." Cahil strode to Ilom and yanked on his hair.

Valek would need to buy poor Ilom a bottle of his favorite bourbon for enduring what was coming next.

Ilom's head jerked down as he cried out in pain. Undaunted, Cahil pulled Ilom's nose then clawed at the flesh under his chin. Ilom yelped and blood welled from the scratches on his neck. Cahil stepped back in astonishment. It was worth all the trouble just to witness his reaction. The Wannabe King reached toward Ilom's face again, but Marrok grabbed him and held him.

"Release the Adviser," Roze ordered.

Ilom's manacles were removed as Cahil, his face red with rage, and his men were escorted from the room. The trial ended and Roze rushed to reassure the Ambassador and Ilom.

Valek didn't listen to the apologetic words. He met Yelena's relieved gaze. See, love? And you were worried.

* * *

Later that night, Valek snuck into the keep and was surprised that no guards watched Yelena's room. While it made it easier for him to visit, it concerned him. Yes, she'd handled herself brilliantly, but it never hurt to have a couple extra sets of eyes.

He still entered through her bedroom. When he opened the window and slipped inside, she sat up in bed and the snick of her switchblade sounded. Undaunted, he closed the shutters, shucked his boots, and joined her

"You need to leave. Too many people know you're here," she said.

"Not until we find the killer. And besides, the Commander ordered me to protect the Ambassador. I would be remiss in my duties if I left."

"What if she ordered you home?"

"The Commander's orders overrule all others."

"Valek, did you?—"

He kissed her before she could ask him if he killed Goel. Tonight was not for talking or planning or problems. It was for them. It'd been a long separation, and he knew his time in Sitia neared an end. Yelena understood his need and tugged his shirt off. He smiled, delighted. All his worries melted away. Nothing was more important than the woman in his arms.

Unfortunately, reality intruded late into the night. Valek needed to be well away from the keep before dawn. Cahil wouldn't stop looking for him. He had to be extra careful.

He spent most of the next day keeping a low profile and getting ready for the exchange scheduled for that night. Yelena had told him about a new Sitian drug called Curare, which paralyzed a person but didn't kill them. According to her, it targeted a person's muscles but allowed their heart to beat and lungs to breathe. Ferde had used the drug on his victims and would probably be armed with darts full of it. Valek's extra layer of Sitian clothing over his sneak suit should help resist the needle of a dart, but he worried about Yelena.

Pulling a set of black clothing made from a special fabric from his pack, Valek grabbed his sewing kit and tried to alter the garments to fit Yelena. She'd be in the most danger tonight and it made sense for her to wear them.

Since it was easier to enter the Keep in the daylight, Valek crossed through the entrance in the late afternoon. Yelena wasn't in her room, so he searched for her. Riding her horse without a saddle, Yelena kept her balance as Kiki navigated the uneven ground with a smooth gait. The two of them moved as one. Yelena had said Kiki had captured her heart, and he was glad to see her riding with such confidence.

When they headed toward the stables, Valek returned to Yelena's room. Soon the sun would set, and they needed to finalize their plans for the rendezvous and exchange. Or rather the ambush. Ferde would die tonight.

Yelena arrived. No longer appearing confident, her brows were creased with worry.

"Here." He handed her the black turtleneck shirt and pants he'd altered, hoping it would give her some assurance. "They're made of a special fabric that will protect you from airborne darts from a blow gun, but it won't stop a dart if you get jabbed by one."

"These are great," she said, changing into them.

They hung loose on her small frame. She rolled up the sleeves and threaded a belt through the loops to keep the pants from falling to the floor. Adorable.

A brief smile touched Valek's lips. "They were mine. I'm not the best seamstress."

He watched as she packed. She stuffed various items into her bag, including a grapple, rope, and an apple, along with some things he didn't recognize.

"What's with the small brown egg?" he asked.

She grinned. "It's Theobroma."

That name meant nothing to him. He waited.

"Oh, right. It's Criollo. The Sitians call it Theobroma."

It took every bit of self-control for him not to tear into her pack and throw the egg into the fire. "Why do you have it? It's dangerous."

"It's an antidote of sorts for Curare."

He paused, letting her words sink in. "Of sorts?"

"It reverses the effects of Curare's paralysis, but it makes a person vulnerable to magical influence, which could be just as bad."

"How do you know all this?"

She pulled in a deep breath. "My father was the one who discovered that the sap from the curare vine can be used to dull pain. He sent some to the Sandseed Clan, but it was stolen by the Daviian Vermin and concentrated to cause paralysis."

Valek sorted through the new information in those sentences. Yelena had found her family, and as much as he wanted to hear all about them, that could wait. "I thought the Daviian Plateau doesn't have a clan."

"Not legally. A bunch of Sandseeds broke off to form their own clan in the plateau. The Sandseeds refer to them as vermin. Ferde is one of those vermin."

"That explains the Curare. What about the Criollo?"

"My father also figured out it counteracts the paralysis. Esau is good with the plants growing in the Illiais jungle, discovering medicines and other useful ingredients."

"Why do the magicians even have Criollo?" The desire to tell her all about the recent trouble Criollo had caused in Ixia pushed up his throat. Unfortunately, they didn't have time for that conversation.

"In low doses, it helps new magicians who are learning how to communicate mind to mind. As with everything?—"

"It can also be abused."

"Exactly. Hopefully, I won't have to use it." Yelena twisted her long black hair into a bun and used her lock picks to hold it in place. Then, she accessed the hole he'd created in the pants' pocket to strap her switchblade onto her thigh.

"Our plan is rather simple, but let's go over it again," Valek said.

They reviewed the sequence of actions for the night. The exchange with Ferde would be at a geological feature called Blood Rock in the Avibian Plains. Located southeast of the Citadel, the plains stretched over a large portion of Sitia and were home to the Sandseed Clan. They were a nomadic people who protected their homeland with a powerful magic that confused anyone who dared enter the plains without their permission. Thankfully, Yelena was considered a cousin of the clan and would be unaffected by the magic.

"I'm planning on taking Kiki with me," Yelena said.

He stared at her. Did she want the magicians to know she was leaving? "Sneaking through both the Keep's and Citadel's gates without a large animal is hard enough, love," Valek said.

"I'll manage. Trust me."

He trusted her with his heart. In comparison, this was an easy thing to do.

"I'll take Kiki out to the plains and give you time to get through the Citadel's gate before heading toward the meeting site," she said. "Once Opal is out of harm's way and Ferde is visible, that's the sign to move in."

Valek nodded. "Count on it."

* * *

With only four hours until the rendezvous, Valek hurried back to the Council Hall, where Ari and Janco waited for him. He reviewed the plan with them, then grabbed his pack and headed out, trusting they would do their part.

Valek found a spot within sight of the Citadel's south gate. Four guards manned the archway. The oversized marble doors were never closed. Occasionally, barriers were erected to slow traffic through the gate. He guessed they'd close and lock them if the Citadel was ever under siege.

Yelena and Kiki approached the gate. The lack of the noisy clip clop of hooves on cobblestones meant Kiki wasn't wearing shoes. Smart. Suddenly fascinated with other things, all four guards turned their backs to Yelena and Kiki and didn't notice the horse and rider slip through. Another demonstration of her powerful magic. Amazing. He wondered if she had master level abilities. While he'd be happy for her, he knew if that turned out to be the case, she'd end up becoming a member of the council and would be too busy to spend time with Sitia's number one enemy.

Waiting a few minutes, Valek searched the shadows behind him for any signs of Ari and Janco, but they were well hidden. They were to wait until Valek exited the Citadel before following him at a discrete distance. Since he was dressed as a Sitian citizen, he planned to walk through the gate as if on his way home after a day working in one of the factories. He donned his pack and sauntered toward the gate, hunching his shoulders a bit as if tired.

The guards barely looked at him. Only one man made eye contact. Nodding, the guard said, "Good night."

The words rang out. Much too loud for the distance between them. Valek thanked him and kept moving. As he cleared the gate, shadows rushed him.