* * *

“...sir? Sir?” One of the Commander’s security officers poked his head into Valek’s office.

Valek waved him closer. “Yes?”

“The Commander has retired for the evening, sir.”

Already? He glanced at the array of candles on his desk. They had burned down a few inches. Absorbed in his memories, Valek had lost track of the time. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

The man retreated. Valek finished writing the notes on the security weaknesses he’d seen earlier. He’d address the issues with the soldiers in the morning. Extinguishing the candles, Valek locked up and joined the Commander.

“Anything to report?” Ambrose asked, handing Valek a glass filled with a dark red liquid.

Valek sat in the soft armchair. He swirled the contents of the glass and sniffed. General Dinno’s homemade cherry brandy. Swallowing a mouthful, he savored the sweet taste as it burned down his throat. Then he informed the Commander about the messages from Yelena and Irys, Janco’s mission and Arbon’s visit.

“I’d like to send a couple agents to keep an eye on Yelena,” Valek said.

“Do you really think she needs the help or is sending them a way to make you feel better about the situation?” The Commander studied Valek over his brandy.

“I’ll admit, after the first message I wanted to go myself. That was my knee-jerk reaction. But after learning about this new threat from Irys, I’m thinking she’ll need added protection.”

“From an unidentified threat. Could Sitia be trying to get you to do their dirty work for them?”

“I wouldn’t put it past the Council, but I think the Master Magicians are sincere.”

“We could invade, take over Sitia, and then your loyalties wouldn’t be divided.”

Valek paused, letting the Commander’s comment sink in. Ambrose had put that bit in there about invading Sitia to throw Valek off.

“You believe my loyalties are divided between you and Sitia?” Valek asked.

“Perhaps not Sitia, but between me and Yelena. Am I right?”

Ah. Valek considered.

“Let me put it this way. If she was in mortal danger and I ordered you to stay here and write reports, what would you do?” Ambrose leaned forward. “No need to answer. Your expression gives you away. You’d bolt for the border.”

The Commander was right. Valek would. When had his feelings changed? He’d been prepared to kill Yelena for the Commander eight years ago.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to be. You’ve served me faithfully for twenty-four years. And what I’ve learned in your absence is that I need someone here who is as committed as you once were.”

“I’ve been trying to train Maren, Ari and Janco.”

“Won’t work. Maren isn’t organized and the boys would rather be playing spy.”

Valek had to agree. “You think Onora could do my job? She’s pretty inexperienced.”

“I hate to disappoint you, Valek, but I’m looking a few years, not a few days, into the future.”

“You don’t know much about her.”

“And I knew nothing about you when I accepted your pledge in that alley twenty-four years ago.”

True. “Why did you? You had no idea if my word meant anything.”

“You had a hungry determination in your eyes. The same look Onora has now.”

“I wanted the King’s blood. Whose blood does she want?” Valek asked.

“Perhaps that captain in MD-2?”

“Perhaps.” But Valek wasn’t convinced. And if he was going to relinquish his job to her, he would make sure she had more to her than a hungry look in her eyes.

25

JANCO

The clatter of the wagon’s wheels echoed off the tunnel’s stone walls. Janco followed the glow of the torches while remaining far enough back to avoid being noticed. Not that the six guys would have the energy to look behind them. Each set of three men pulled a heavy wagon through the narrow cave that was too tight for horses.

They had been going downhill, but now the ground slanted up. He wondered if they noticed the extra weight in the second wagon. Onora had sneaked under the burlap. She’d ordered him to follow the cart heading into Ixia, but that was Ari and Gerik’s territory. Besides, he didn’t completely trust Little Miss Assassin yet.

Janco hoped the incline meant they neared the end. The air seemed thicker in here and harder to draw into his lungs. He’d inspected the walls of the tunnel as he traveled through. The natural cave formation had narrowed then ended. At that point, the smugglers had carved a hole and dug out a mix of dirt and rocks. Shovel marks scored the walls. Janco wondered how long it’d taken them and where all the dirt had gone.

He hunched a bit, half expecting the ceiling to collapse on top of him at any minute. The cool air smelled earthy and a dampness clung to him. Or was that sweat? Being down here was almost as bad as being in the Creepy Keepy.

Finally a fresh breeze fanned his face. The tightness around his chest eased. The tunnel emptied into a forest. It resembled the Snake Forest, which meant they hadn’t gone too far into Sitia. And from the location of the entrance in Ixia, Janco guessed they were in the Moon Clan’s lands.

A team of horses and four people waited in the forest outside the cave. Janco stayed in the darkness of the tunnel as the men transferred the wagons to the horses. Once they finished, everyone jumped on the wagons. Janco hoped no one discovered Onora. He wondered if she blended in and resembled one of the barrels like she had matched the colors of the rocks earlier.