Chapter 7

Thinking of Mogkan, Valek replied, "One powerful magician is worse than seven with lesser powers. In either case, I need to alert my corps about the danger. Perhaps one of them will discover something useful."

"Do you have agents in the barracks at the Commander's castle?" Janco asked.

"Worried one of them is going to report you for sleeping through the morning meetings?" Ari asked.

"No," Janco shot back a little too quickly. "I'm just curious. We all know about your network of spies. How extensive is it?"

"That information is classified," Valek said. "And we have a problem to solve."

"What to do about the generals," Ari said.

"Yes. What would you suggest?"

Janco rubbed a hand through his goatee. "Why do anything? Won't the effects of the Criollo wear off eventually?"

"As long as there isn't any more Criollo. We don't know how much the factory produced before it was destroyed," Valek said.

"We could visit each general and you could track the magic to the source and capture the magician. Ha!" Janco pumped his fist in the air.

Not a bad idea. Yet that assumed the magician was nearby. Then Valek remembered what General Tesso had said about the generals discussing the situation with the Commander and Valek.

"Or we wait until all the generals are in one place and see what happens," Valek said and told them about Tesso's comment.

"Won't that be too dangerous?" Ari asked. "What if there are seven magicians and they all come together?"

"We'll be one step ahead of them," Valek said. Ari and Janco failed to look reassured. "It'll be similar to the time we knew there was a threat to the Sitian Delegation. Remember? We discussed all the ways a person could target the talks and we planned for each. In the end, we stopped the assassination attempt."

"Except, Yelena almost died," Ari said.

True. And he had been completely powerless, unable to do a damn thing to help her. Dreadful.

"What's next?" Ari asked.

"We keep searching. There's still Mogkan's suite, his laboratory, and where he chained his victims."

Janco groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that." He rubbed his stomach. "I think I'd rather be stabbed again than go near there."

"If it helps, I don't think there's much in that room." He hoped. "I'll check it while you and Ari search his suite."

"My hero," Janco said.

* * *

A damp funk tainted the air in the two lower levels of the East Wing. Valek, Ari, and Janco each held a lantern to push back the darkness. Still not enough light. Valek stopped at every wall sconce and lit it. The windows had all been covered with bricks. Another thing to add to General Ute's long to-do list.

"We should set fire to this place," Janco suggested. "Give it a good cleanse."

The ground floor had housed Reyad's rooms, labs, and office, which had already been searched and cleared. The room of horrors, used by both men, was located at the end of the hallway. The floor above had been Mogkan's domain.

Ari and Janco climbed the stairs to Mogkan's suite, while Valek continued down the corridor. Blood and other bodily fluids had soaked into the stone floor, permanently staining it. Ari and Janco had fought ten guards in this narrow space to reach the victims. Janco had been skewered with a sword, but due to their efforts, Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose had been able to get through and steal Mogkan's extra power source from him. It had been the turning point. Without their valiant efforts, Mogkan would have won. Brazell would be the new commander and Valek would be dead. He yanked his thoughts away from listing who else would be dead.

Instead, he focused on the now empty room where the children had been chained to the floor. Children wasn't exactly the right term. There had been some older teens and a few young adults. However, all the victims had been tortured until nothing remained but a shell. Rendered mindless, they ate and breathed and their hearts beat, but nothing else. Now freed, they would be cared for until they died.

With dread dragging at his heels, Valek entered. The metal drain in the center of the ground reflected the lantern light. The floor had been cleaned and scoured; the chains removed. The painted lines, linking each person, had faded with the scrubbing, but the design was still visible. The scent of cleaning fluid mixed with a fetid odor of feces. Bile rolled in his stomach. A heavy presence pushed on his shoulders and squeezed his chest. Magic?

He spun in a slow circle, seeking a direction. Was there a magician nearby or was it just a lingering residue? Irys had said the power generated by the victims had been immense. They had been arranged so they formed a shape similar to a wagon wheel to augment their power. They all had the ability to use magic, but Mogkan stole their will and had siphoned their energy. He had tried to do the same to Yelena, but her will had been stronger.

A pang of longing and worry brushed his heart. He hoped her strength and intelligence would keep her safe in Sitia. Logically, he knew she could protect herself. After all, she survived this horror, she could survive anything. But the heart tended to ignore logic and his arms ached to hold her.

Not able to pinpoint the source of his unease, Valek searched for a hidden door or a loose brick that might indicate a hiding place. Nothing. He checked twice and then bolted.

He joined Ari and Janco in the living room of Mogkan's apartment. "Find anything?"

"Nothing significant yet," Ari said. "You?"

"I found the desire to kill Mogkan again. He died too quick."

"Agreed."

"I almost lost the contents of my stomach." Janco handed him a book. "I read his journal. It details what he and Reyad did to those poor children and rates them by effectiveness. Let me save you from some nightmares, there's no information we can use."

They worked in sickened silence for the next few hours. Valek was about to call a fresh air break, and suggest they go cuddle some puppies, when Ari pulled a ledger from a hidden drawer in Mogkan's desk.

Valek scanned the pages. Excitement built and rushed through his veins. "It's an account of everything regarding the Criollo factory. This is what I hoped to find."

"Does it mention Alea?" Ari asked.

"Yes. She's on top of a list with an asterisk next to her name, indicating she is the leader of Mogkan's Beta Team. The rest of the members are also named along with their abilities."

"Magical abilities?" Janco looked queasy.

"Yes. There's seven magicians total and Alea. Her skills are not listed, unless she doesn't have any. She was the one who distributed the Criollo after Mogkan died."

"That leaves one magician for each general," Janco said.

"Looks like we were right about Mogkan targeting the generals. I guess he was worried they wouldn't accept him as the new commander."

"But why is the Beta Team still going through with the plan?" Ari asked.

Good question. "Perhaps the team believes they can use the recent upheaval with the Commander and Brazell to turn the generals against me. With me out of the way, the team has a better chance of assassinating the Commander. With the generals on Beta Team's side, they won't protest the coup or send their soldiers to attack the team."

"If we didn't encounter that caravan, we might have never known about the danger," Janco said. "Talk about luck."

"Or good timing." Ari's broad face creased in concentration. "Word will eventually get to Alea and the others that we know about the Criollo. Do you think they'll give up? Go back to Sitia?"

"It's possible," Valek said. "But I'd rather they stay in Ixia so I can kill them. Seven less problems in the world."

Janco glanced at Valek's face and took a step back. "We have their names. Can we arrest them?"

Valek handed him the book. "Do you recognize any of the names?"

Janco flipped through the pages. "Uh. No. But this list…" He shuddered, then read aloud, "The ability to move objects, the ability to read minds, the ability to set fires…and it seems they all can do some kind of freaky mental communication with each other. That's just…unfair! How are we supposed to fight them?"

"If they're going to proceed with their plans, then we have the element of surprise."

"Won't they know we know?" Ari asked.

"They know I found the third Criollo shipment. I'll spread a little disinformation, saying we stopped the delivery, and the threat has been neutralized. Hopefully, they'll take that as a sign that we didn't figure out they were targeting the generals and continue with their plans, walking right into our trap."

"But our trap has mundane things like blades and swords. While they can set us on fire from a distance." Janco tapped his finger on the journal. "And once the gig is up, they'll all know about it in an instant."

"Then let's ensure the gig is never up," Valek said.

* * *

"You want me to do what?" the Commander demanded.

Even though they were in MD-5, they still continued with their nightly meetings. They were sitting in the living area of the lavish guest suite that the Commander had moved into after he'd woken from his magical coma. General Ute was in the process of cleaning out Brazell's wing, giving away all his heavy dark furniture and replacing it with bright colors and practical furniture with elegant designs.

Valek sipped his whiskey, waiting for the outburst to subside. The Commander really didn't need him to repeat his request.

"Why would I invite the generals to my castle, when the last thing I wish to do is deal with them?"

"For damage control, and to set a trap," Valek said, then explained about the discovery of Alea and the seven magicians in Ixia, and the targeting of the generals.

The Commander drained his brandy, stood, refilled his glass, downed it, filled it again and sat heavily on the couch. "Can you assure me that you'll kill all seven of the vile creatures?"

"You know I can't, but I'm going to try my hardest."

"This is precisely why I hate magicians. They're power hungry, greedy, manipulative and?—"

"Would you include Yelena in that assessment?"

"Not yet. She's still new. After a while, all that power warps their thinking and all they want is more and more."

"We've had military officers who've abused their power. No magic required."

The Commander harrumphed.

"And then there are the master magicians in Sitia. If they all turned into ravenous creatures, then why haven't the four of them attacked us? Why work for a mutually beneficial trade treaty with Ixia? Why help us fight Brazell and Mogkan?" Valek asked mildly.

"Would you please stop countering my rant with logic. I'm not in the mood to be logical."

"Clearly."

Another annoyed huff, but the Commander soon relaxed back into the cushions and sipped his drink. Perhaps the brandy had taken the edge off his anger. "At least if all the generals are together, I won't have to visit their districts."

Valek wanted to argue, but he knew when to pick his battles.

"Find out if Brazell knew about this Beta team of Mogkan's, and if he has any additional information to share. He'll be traveling with us to the castle," the Commander said.

"Is that wise?"

Ambrose stiffened.

Valek rushed to explain. "This Beta Team might attack us to free Brazell."

"Are you saying we can't handle an attack?"

Oh no. Valek chose his words with care. "We can handle a physical attack. I'm more worried about a magical one. I don't know how long the Criollo lasts. You might still be vulnerable." That didn't go over any better.

The Commander's expression turned to stone. "Then it will be a good test. And if it doesn't work, it'll put my mind at ease."

And if it does, Valek and the Commander's unit would not only have to fight seven magicians, but the Commander as well. Lovely.

* * *

After the meeting, Valek headed to the jail cells in the underground level of the manor house. Brazell was the only occupant. He'd been incarcerated for approximately sixty days.

When Valek approached the cell, Brazell sat up. He'd been lying on a pallet of straw, which was much cleaner than the bedding Valek had been provided with during his short stay in the same accommodations. In fact, Valek had ensured the man was treated humanely and all his basic needs were met.

Blinking and shielding his eyes from the lantern's light, Brazell asked in a rough, disused voice, "Who's there?"

"An upstart, conniving, sneaky thief."

"Ah, Valek. You don't forget much, do you?"

"You're not the first to call me names."

"Nor the last, I'm sure." Brazell stood and moved closer to the bars. He wore the plain red gown that was given to all prisoners. The clothing was rumpled, but clean. He had lost some weight, and his gray hair had grown.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"We've been going through all your files. You made payments to Mogkan's Beta Team. Do you know who the members of this team were?"

"I think they worked with the Criollo."

"The manufacturing team?"

"I don't know. He handled everything regarding the factory. That team arrived later, though, after the factory was up and running, so they might have been extra security."

Valek studied his gaunt face for signs of deceit. Finding none, he asked, "Do you know who Alea is?"

"If she worked at the factory, I might have met her during one of my visits, but I don't remember anyone with that name."

"Did you know Mogkan was sending Criollo to the other generals?"

Anger creased his forehead. "I told him not to bother. After the brandy meeting, it was clear the generals were on my side."

Remembering the meeting, Valek doubted it. At least four of them held opposite opinions of Brazell's. Mogkan had been at that meeting and probably read their thoughts. "You do realize that Mogkan didn't follow your orders; that he had his own agenda?"

"I knew he wanted to attack Sitia. After I secured Ixia, that was his next move."

"I found evidence that he wanted both Ixia and Sitia, and you were just going to be a figurehead. Probably until your usefulness wore out; then he'd kill you."

Brazell scoffed. "No way that would have worked. I didn't eat any of the Criollo."

"That helps reduce a person's resistance to magic, but he didn't need it for you. You were together most of the time and he was a powerful magician. Using magic over a short distance doesn't require as much energy."

"No. I'm the reason he was powerful, and I could have removed his source at any time."

Classic denial. Plus, it had been clever of Mogkan to ensure that Brazell believed he was in charge.

"Then why did Mogkan hire seven other magicians? Why did he send the other seven generals three shipments of Criollo?"

It took a few heartbeats for Brazell to absorb his words and make the connections. Then he slammed his hands on the bars. "That bastard! He was going to turn the generals against me!"

A genuine reaction, which answered whether Brazell knew about the Beta Team. He did not.

"You can thank me and Yelena," Valek said.

"For what?"

"For preventing you from becoming a dead puppet. At least in here, you still have your soul."

* * *

Valek sprinted to the stables. Thank fate they were finally leaving MD-5 and returning home. They had been living at the manor for a full season and then some. It was the first day of the warm season and the sun hadn't crested the Soul Mountains yet. But today promised to be glorious.

Even the Stable Master's scowl couldn't ruin Valek's mood. The man stood next to Onyx, but the horse wasn't saddled and ready like the others.

"You can't take this one," the Stable Master jabbed his thumb at Onyx. "He's one of ours."

"Not anymore." Valek didn't bother with niceties. "Saddle him and two others. I'll send you replacement horses when we return to the castle."

The man gaped at him. "What do you need the other two for?"

"That's not your concern. Your concern is getting all the horses saddled and ready by the time the Commander wishes to leave."

Valek left the stables and checked on the Commander's elite squad. The fifty soldiers needed to be extra vigilant. Ari and Janco had left yesterday to scout the route. However, if they encountered an ambush, Valek wanted Ari and Janco to be able to get on the horses and escort the Commander and the four advisers to safety. That was if the Commander allowed it. The stubborn man was more likely to stay and fight.

The plan was based on the hope that Ari and Janco would uncover an ambush before they all stumbled right into the middle of it. And they'd have time to prepare to defend themselves.

The horses were all ready when the Commander and the rest of his advisers joined the travel party. The Commander peered at the assembled soldiers with a frown. No doubt wishing for a smaller escort, though Valek would have liked another fifty. Brazell soon followed, guarded by two soldiers. His hands had been shackled behind his back. A cloak had been thrown over his shoulders to ward off the morning chill, and he'd been given a pair of boots to wear. The guards also carried a gag in case Brazell decided to preach, and extra manacles and chains to secure the prisoner at night. Probably overkill, but Valek was determined to deliver Brazell to the Commander's dungeon.

The Commander mounted his horse, signaling the start of the journey, and they all headed west at a fast walk. Valek had argued for a quicker pace. The soldiers could easily maintain a jog for hours, but the Commander vetoed the idea out of concern for Brazell, who wouldn't be able to sustain the pace.

While the Commander and the advisers stayed in the middle of the group, Valek urged Onyx to the front, keeping alert for any signs of danger. On occasion, he would loop around to the back and check for anyone following them. Onyx enjoyed the bursts of speed and would glance back at Valek in disappointment when he slowed down.

They stopped at dusk to set up camp for the night and to feed and water the horses. After Valek ensured all was well, he donned his all-black sneak suit and slipped into the forest. There was just enough moonlight to pick out the shapes of the trees and budding underbrush.

Moving with a lithe and soundless grace, Valek circled the camp, avoiding the guards posted to keep watch. The day's warmth still clung to the loamy scented air. But without clouds in the sky, the comfortable temperature wouldn't last long. When Valek completed each circuit, he ranged further out until he was satisfied no one lurked nearby. Now to test Ari and Janco.

Scouts typically checked the route for each day before the party left. Then they would return to the start, confirming the route remained safe. Once the party was in motion, they stayed a few hours ahead of the main group. It meant Ari and Janco would cover twice the ground or more than the rest of the travelers. Overall, the system worked well.

Ari and Janco would overnight close to the camp—when the risk of an ambush was the highest—just in case they were needed. When the distance away from the tents seemed right, he shuffled his boots slightly and lightly brushed a few dead leaves still clinging to a bush's branches. They rustled with the contact. Back in silent mode, he kept going before making more noise. He repeated this a few more times.

Nothing happened. Valek wondered if he had miscalculated until a large shadow loomed to his left. He reached for his knife but was tackled from behind. Landing face down on the ground, Valek's breath whooshed from his lungs as a weight settled on his back. His arms were yanked behind him and secured. Impressive.

"Gotcha," Janco said in an exultant whisper. "Now to see who's been tailing us all day." He rolled Valek over. "Ah, hell."

"Who is it?" the large shadow with Ari's voice asked.

"Not the person we'd hoped." Janco removed the cuffs and helped Valek to his feet.

Valek spat dirt out of his mouth as he gasped for breath.

Ari's teeth flashed. "Still a good catch. I bet we just passed one of Valek's infamous tests."

Janco chuckled. "Yup, he fell for our distract and tackle maneuver."

At least they were in good spirits, despite being tracked all day. When Valek recovered, he asked about it.

"An unknown person has been shadowing us," Ari reported. "They're good, too, keeping just far enough away that we can't spot them. Or get a good read on them."

"Frustrating," Janco added.

"How did you discover they were there?" Valek asked.

"Janco's been feeling itchy all day."

"Twitchy." Janco corrected.

"There's a difference?" Valek asked.

"Yes. Twitchy feels like there are invisible bugs crawling over my skin. Itchy is when there are real bugs on me." He flicked a black speck off his arm. "I really miss the colder weather."

"Says the man who whined that his frozen toes were going to fall off."

In other words, it was just a feeling. Valek didn't think the men were prone to an overactive imagination. Well…not Ari. And the big man was taking Janco's claims seriously. So, either the shadow's skills exceeded Ari and Janco's or… One or more of the seven magicians lurked nearby.

Images of magicians attacking the camp flashed in his head. Now who had the overactive imagination? Valek suppressed the desire to race back to protect the Commander. Instead, he walked in a slow circle around Ari and Janco, focusing on the weight of the air around him. When magic was directed at him, it pressed against his skin. If the shadow used magic to hide, Valek would sense it, but it wouldn't work on him. The benefit of being immune.

About three quarters of the way around, the air thickened and clung. Valek stopped. A silhouette stood a dozen yards away.

Behind him, Ari cursed. "They're standing right there."

"Where? I don't see them." Janco said, despite the fact the person was in his direct line of sight.

Valek, however stood between Ari and the silhouette. His immunity must be blocking the magic from affecting Ari. The magician had been using power to influence Ari's and Janco's perceptions. And if they could do that, they could read their minds as well. Valek muttered his own curse. The gig was definitely up.

"Bees!" Janco yelled.

Valek glanced at him.

He waved his arms wildly. "A swarm! Run!" Janco raced off.

By the time Valek returned his attention to the silhouette, it was gone. Valek took off, hoping to catch up. The magician tried to hide using magic, but that only gave Valek a direction of where they had gone to ground. Eventually, they stopped hiding. Instead, they wove through the dark forest at such a quick clip that Valek wondered if it was possible to have magical night vision.

The chase lengthened, heading south. Valek worried he was being led away from the camp on purpose. Were the other magicians attacking right now?

When the silhouette halted and turned to face him, Valek pulled his dagger and slowed down, approaching with care as he sought others who might be hiding nearby.

"Persistent, aren't you," said a female voice. She wore a one-piece black suit, similar to Valek's. Except for slits for her eyes, the hood covered her entire face. "You know it's not illegal to be in the forest."

"But it is illegal for a magician to be in Ixia. What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Gathering information. Your friends were very helpful. I know you're the big bad assassin and all, but do you really think you can counter eight magicians if we decide to attack you at one time?"

Ah. Alea had powers. Was this her? "Seven," Valek corrected. "You let me get too close, Alea."

She flinched. Gotcha.

"I know who you are," he continued, trying to throw her off balance. "I know all about you."

Alea laughed. "Cocky to the last. Did you ever consider that I might have wanted you to get close? That I might have the upper hand? No, of course not." She raised her hand. With her fingers spread wide and her palm facing him, she thrust it forward. "Break!"

Valek braced for the rush of power. The magical command wouldn't work on him, but it might knock him off his feet. Instead, a loud crack sounded above him. A tree branch fell right on top of him. The impact smashed him into oblivion.

* * *

Spikes of pain stabbed deep into his head, waking Valek. Garbled voices sounded nearby. A heavy weight pressed on his shoulders and back, pinning him to the ground. He hoped that was the reason he couldn't move. Breathing required much more effort than normal. At least, he was still breathing. Bright side.

He opened his eyes. The sun had risen and Janco was squatting in front of him.

Janco jumped to his feet. "Hey! He's awake!"

Shouts exploded in Valek's ear, sending waves of agony through his skull. Valek groaned.

"Better hurry," Janco called. "He doesn't look good."

"Everyone, grab an end," Ari instructed from…somewhere. "Lift up on the count of three. One. Two."

Janco crouched down. "Sorry, boss. This is gonna hurt." He grabbed Valek under the arms.

"Three!"

The weight lifted and Janco yanked him forward. The man was right. Pain blazed and raced through his body, consuming him. Passing out brought sweet relief.

The next time he woke, he was on his back with a blanket over him. Voices buzzed in his ears. Ari and Janco must have gone back to the camp to recruit helpers to lift the branch. With effort, he managed to separate the voices.

"We'll make camp here. I want this area secured," the Commander ordered.

Valek groaned. The entire camp had come. At least the Commander was safe. For now. That thought pounded in his head along with the pain. He'd been an idiot and had completely underestimated his opponent. Valek had made more mistakes in these last couple seasons than in the last dozen years. Was it due to falling in love with Yelena? He'd let his emotions free and now they ran wild, compromising his ability to deal with dangerous situations.

He needed to stay focused. But first he needed to sit up. The muscles along his back, shoulders and upper arms ignited with fire. Now he needed to throw up.

After he ejected all the bile in his stomach, a cool hand touched his forehead. Pain battled with nausea for a moment before his guts settled.

"You should lie down. You have a severe concussion," the person attached to the hand said.

He squinted at her. Cylvia, the squad's medic, stared calmly back.

"But—"

"Unlike you, everyone's fine. There wasn't an attack on the camp."

"But—"

"We're keeping vigilant." She handed him a cup. "Drink this so I can stitch up that gash on your head and examine you."

Valek raised an eyebrow. Even that small gesture caused his head to ache.

"It's to help dull the pain. Unless you'd rather?—"

Downing the liquid, he wiped his lips. "I'm not that brave."

"I'd laugh, but I'm too worried about how many broken bones I'm going to find."

A sobering thought. Valek sank back onto the bed roll someone—probably Janco—had laid him on. The massive branch remained in place at the base of the tree. Cylvia threaded a needle with sutures. A few feet beyond her, Ari and Janco tried to appear as if they weren't hovering.

"Shouldn't you be scouting the route?" he asked them.

"The Commander ordered us to stay here," Ari said. "Said it was safer for everyone to stay together."

Good point. "Janco, go walk around camp, see if anything makes you twitchy."

"Oh. That's an excellent idea," Janco said.

Valek glanced at Cylvia. "Maybe my concussion isn't so severe?"

"Uh huh."

"Come on, Ari," Janco said.

"Why do I have to go?"

"Partners stick together no matter what."

They both looked at Valek.

"You need a partner," Ari said to Valek. "Rushing off without backup was really stupid. You're lucky you're not dead." They left.

Valek couldn't argue with him about rushing off. But he had a partner. Too bad she was in Sitia.

Cylvia cleaned the wound on the top of his head. He'd taken a direct hit. She stitched the skin together and Valek tried not to pass out. His vision blurred with each stab of the needle. And he avoided contemplating what it'd feel like if he hadn't downed that drink. It took forever.

"Hold still. It's a large gash. If you'd kept your hair short, this would be much easier," she said. After an eternity, she sat back on her heels. "Done. You'll need to see a medic in seven to ten days to get the stitches removed. Now, for the fun part."

"Why do I get the sense that your idea of fun isn't going to match mine?"

"Do you even know what fun is?" she countered.

His thoughts went immediately to Yelena. "I…"

"Thought so. Please sit up."

He bit back a groan and sat. At least this time his stomach didn't heave. Progress. Cylvia crouched behind him. Her fingers probed the base of his skull, traced his spine, pushed on his shoulder blades, then jabbed into his ribs. Each touch hurt like she was pressing on very sore muscles.

She lifted his shirt and whistled. "Very colorful bruising. Looks like a child's watercolor painting." Then she came around and repeated the process, trailing down his neck, testing his clavicle, ribs, and examining his skin. "Any sharp, stabbing pain?"

"Not sharp or stabbing."

"Good."

"My pain is good?"

"Yes. It means no broken bones. Which, considering the size of that branch, I'm surprised. Looks like your head took the brunt of the impact. Good thing you have a hard head." She gave him a wry smile. "Symptoms of a concussion are dizziness, headaches, inability to focus, nausea, and a lack of coordination."

"So, you're saying my dancing days are over?"

"Another symptom is thinking your jokes are funny."

"Ouch."

She set a pouch down next to him. "This is pain powder, your new best friend. Keep it with you at all times, you might have symptoms for a couple weeks, maybe a month or more."

Valek groaned. He didn't have time to be injured.

Cylvia packed up her kit. "You should rest, but I know you won't. If you feel like you're going to pass out, please lie down so you don't crack your head open. You used up most of my sutures."

"Your concern is heartwarming."

"You don't get any sympathy when you don't listen to medical advice." With that, she grabbed her bag and left.

He shouldn't get any sympathy as this was his own stupid fault, but he wasn't planning on wallowing in his misery. Instead, he gathered his energy, shoved the pouch of pain powder into his pocket, and stood. The forest spun around him. The ground undulated under his boots. Valek staggered to a nearby tree and held on. When the world stopped moving, he straightened and scanned the camp. A few tents had been wedged between trees. Not an ideal location, and probably a significant detour from their planned route, adding at least a day to their trip. The Commander wasn't going to be happy.

Janco was taking his new job seriously. The captain walked the perimeter, stopping every few feet to spread his arms wide for a few moments before moving on. Ari scowled into the woods as if daring anyone to attack his partner. Valek headed toward them, angling so he'd catch up with a minimum of steps because each of his strides increased the thudding in his head by an order of magnitude.

"Feel anything?" Valek asked.

"Nope, but we still have half the camp to test," Janco said.

"Even after you finish the sweep, I want you to let me know anytime you feel twitchy. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"And when we get moving again, I want both of you on horses."

"We're not scouting?" Ari asked.

"No. I want you close for the rest of the trip."

"Yes, sir."

Valek headed toward the Commander's tent. The man sat on a log next to it, sipping tea and talking with Adviser Dema. When they spotted him, they stopped.

"What are you doing?" The Commander asked.

"Uh, reporting in, sir."

"Valek, you look like death warmed over. No, I take that back. It would be an insult to those who do look like death warmed over."

Dema covered her grin with her mug.

"That bad?"

"Yes." The Commander gestured to a nearby tent. "Go lie down. It's an order. We'll continue our journey in the morning, and you can make your report when we're home."

* * *

Over the next four days, Valek and the soldiers remained on high alert for any signs of an ambush. Valek gripped Onyx's reins in white-knuckled fingers. Every step the horse took reminded him of his injuries. He was recovering a little bit each day, but not as fast as he'd like. Well, to be honest he'd love to find a magical healer right about now. Or have Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose come for a visit. As a master magician, she could perform all the different abilities. He'd memorized all of them when he was hunting the King—who had master level powers—but he wondered if magicians kept a few of their talents a secret. It made perfect sense if they did.

He replayed the encounter with Alea in his mind. She had claimed to be gathering information. Valek hoped that meant the others weren't nearby. Janco had become twitchy several times during the first two days after Valek's injury. Each time, Valek had homed in on the direction of the magic and the four of them—Ari, Janco, and Dema, Valek's temporary partner—had spurred their horses through the forest, chasing Alea.

She'd stop using her magic as soon as the thunder of the sixteen hooves rolled through the trees, but Valek hadn't expected to catch her. No. He wanted to keep her at a distance. To let Alea know every time she used magic, she'd be a target. It seemed to work, as Janco hadn't felt twitchy for the rest of the trip.

After six days on the road, they reached the Commander's castle complex around midafternoon. Valek would have whooped with joy if drawing a deep breath didn't hurt. Instead, he silently celebrated as they entered the eastern gate.

"Captains," the Commander called to Ari and Janco.

They straightened and gave him their full attention. "Sir?"

"See to the horses and make sure the prisoner is safely ensconced in my dungeon."

"Yes, sir," they said in unison, then glanced at Valek in concern.

Both of those tasks would normally be Valek's. And while he was glad the Commander trusted them enough to assign Ari and Janco the jobs, Valek turned to protest.

"Go see the medic, Valek, and then take the night off. We'll meet in the morning."

"Death warmed over?"

"You're getting there, but all that racing through the woods couldn't have been beneficial."

"Permission to take a bath first, sir?"

"Granted. I'm sure Medic Channa would appreciate it."

Valek grabbed his pack and trudged into the castle. What he really wished to do was to collapse in his own bed and sleep for a year, but he dutifully headed to the baths. When Valek peeled off his uniform and looked into the mirror, he finally understood why everyone treated him as if he stood at death's door.

Purple, black, and green bruises covered the right half of his face. Scabbed over cuts lined his cheek and neck. Normally pale, his skin practically glowed in the dark. His brow was furrowed with pain. With great reluctance, he turned so his back was reflected in another mirror.

He laughed. Cylvia was being kind in describing it as a child's watercolor. The mottled crimson, violet, and olive that stained his skin resembled something a dog had killed, chewed, swallowed, and vomited onto his back.

Valek eased into the hot water, which soothed some of the throbbing in his muscles. The rest protested the motion with sharper complaints. Despite the all-over body ache, he eventually dozed.

A sound woke him and he surged to his feet ready to fight. Medic Channa stood there with her arms crossed.

"I was planning on coming to see you," he said, as all his injuries flared to life.

"I know. The Commander told me to expect you."

Dripping wet, he waited.

"He also said you were stopping here first, and I knew once you hit that hot water, I'd be waiting all night." She glanced at the window. Blackness painted the glass. "Let me examine you quick, so we can both get to bed."

Channa poked and prodded much like Cylvia had. Amazingly, there were three places on his upper body that didn't hurt. Progress.

"You've had a number of close calls, Valek, but this one is the closest. I'd tell you to rest for at least a week but know it's pointless."

Right now, the thought of staying in bed an entire week sounded just fine. "In this case, you could order me."

"I could. How about a promise? That if you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or can't keep your balance, you will go to bed."

A good compromise. "I promise."

"I'll be checking on you these next couple days," she said before leaving.

Valek toweled dry and changed into a cleanish uniform. While he'd love to head straight to bed, he needed to inform the manager of his corps, Kenda, about the threat. They'd have to update the security protocols of the castle's guards to keep alert for signs that magic was in use. There were only a few noticeable clues, but it was better than nothing.

Even at this late hour, Kenda was in her office. Despite keeping track of his vast network of spies and a million other details, her desk was neat and organized. She was instrumental in their success.

She stood up when he entered, took one look at him, and said, "What the hell happened to you?" Kenda was also frank.

"I was attacked."

"By what? A pack of snow cats?"

"A tree."

Sinking in her chair, she covered her mouth, but couldn't hide the shine in her eyes. "Looks like the tree won."

"Ha. Ha." Valek explained what happened and briefed her on the threat of Alea and the other magicians. "I haven't had time to consider all the implications yet, but I'm going to assume they know we were planning to ambush them here."

"Well, that explains why I'm getting reports from our agents that the generals have been acting out of character. These magicians must already be influencing them."

"Then we really need to get them all here. At least to detox them from the Criollo."

"Should we send our people to provide extra security for the generals?"

"That's a good idea." He rubbed his forehead. Thinking hurt. "We have time to figure out how to find and kill the magicians. One problem at a time."

"That would be ideal, but we've been dealing with another problem since you left."