“Then why do it?” Zohav asked.

His gaze was drawn to his brothers’ headstones. “Because evil is out there. We’ve witnessed its devastation. We know it must be stopped.”

“And you’re the only ones who can stop it?” Father asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s rather egotistical,” Zohav said.

“It could be taken that way,” Valek agreed. “It’s still true, though.”

“What happens when you’re too old to fight?”

Valek noted the use of when. Nice to know his father didn’t think of him as too old. “By then I hope the next generation will be trained and ready.”

“And if they aren’t?”

“Evil wins.”

* * *

Considering the reception of his arrival, Valek’s family stayed by the fire longer than he expected. After they left, he lay on his bedroll and stared at the stars. Exhausted, his head throbbed and he couldn’t sleep. It was as if his skin had been rubbed off, exposing all his nerves.

So much had happened.

So many emotions.

Thoughts swirled in his mind, bits of conversation repeated, and he replayed his own reaction at Vincent’s grave when he’d realized why he had avoided any mention of his family. What had happened to him? His senses had sharpened into a super awareness, and he flinched at every tiny noise.

Giving up on sleep, Valek stirred the fire to life. Perhaps a cup of one of Leif’s teas would help soothe him.

It didn’t.

By the time dawn arrived, Valek had gotten only a few hours of rest. He packed his bedroll and supplies. Concentrating on the task at hand and not the conversation going on in the kitchen, Valek saddled the horses.

The twins both carried a pack. His parents and Zebulon followed them from the house. While Valek secured their bags on the horses, the others said goodbye.

“We want to visit them at the beginning of the hot season,” Mother said to Valek. “Can you arrange it?”

“Yes.” If there wasn’t a war between Ixia and Sitia by then.

“Good. We’ll see how it is before deciding on moving.”

“Smart,” Valek agreed.

She snorted. “You make sure they’re safe.” It wasn’t a request.

“Yes, sir.”

“If anything happens to them, I’m holding you responsible.”

Mortified, Zethan said, “Mother, he’s not going to babysit us. We can take care of ourselves.”

“As long as there’s no pirates in Sitia,” Zebulon said.

“Shut up, Zeb.” Zethan punched him on the arm.

She ignored her sons. “And you bring this Yelena to meet us.”

Another order, but one that meant so much more. “Yes, sir.”

Mother gave him a curt nod, then she hugged each of the twins. Zethan mounted Smoke, and Zohav sat behind Valek. He clicked his tongue and Onyx trotted through the gate. Unlike the last time he’d left twenty-eight years ago, this time he planned to return.

* * *

Valek and the twins approached the rendezvous location four days into the warm season and eleven days after they’d left Icefaren. Eleven days of dealing with his super-active senses, the twins’ questions, their thoughts and emotions, and worrying about Yelena. Was she there or not?

When they were half a mile away, Kiki’s whinny shot right through him. Relief and joy to see Yelena infused him. Onyx broke into a run with Smoke right behind him.

Arriving with a cloud of dust, Valek stopped Onyx. Kiki butted her head against the black horse. Valek peered over her, searching for Yelena. Signs of a campfire and other evidence of camp littered the clearing. But no Yelena, no other horses, no Ari or Janco.

He turned stone-cold. “Stay on the horses and keep quiet,” Valek ordered the twins. Dismounting, he freed his sword with his right hand while grabbing a dagger with his left.

One thing kept him from panicking. Kiki. She wasn’t agitated or upset. A rustling sounded from the woods. He spun, then relaxed as his new senses spotted Fisk carrying a water skin. Fisk’s presence meant bad news, but not immediate danger. By the time Fisk reached him, Valek had sheathed his weapons.

Before the young man could say a word, Valek demanded, “Where’s Yelena?”

“She’s been captured by Bruns Jewelrose.”

A wave of icy fear washed through him, followed by a molten fury that promised Bruns would regret the decision to apprehend her. At least she wasn’t dead. Valek focused on that, or else he’d lose the tight control he had on his emotions. “Ari and Janco?”

“Trying to rescue her and Leif. He was captured first and...” Fisk spread his arms.

“Do you know where they are?”

“Yes.”

One bit of good news. He hooked a thumb in the twins’ direction. “I need to take them to the Magician’s Keep, then we can talk to the Master Magicians and devise—”

“You can’t go the the Keep.”

“Why not?”

“There’s no one there.”

27

JANCO

Janco touched his smooth chin for the billionth time. Gah. He’d had his goatee for years. He loved it, but shaving it had been part of his disguise. Janco’s exposed skin tingled as if the entire garrison saw right through him. Plus his head itched from the red dye, and the fake ear made him sweat. One of these days, he’d impersonate a wealthy businessman for a change. He’d wear tailored silk clothing, expensive jewelry, be surrounded by a cloud of sycophants and... Who was he kidding? Grunts blended in; businessmen with minions did not.