The Study of Fire (The Study Chronicles: Valek’s Adventures #3)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

A stunned silence filled the room. Its sharp edges dug into Valek’s heart. Marrok was obviously being forced to accuse Yelena and her brother, but no one spoke in her defense. Not even Irys. But Bain and her appeared to be mentally communicating. Perhaps they considered it too dangerous to speak up at this time.

Roze dismissed Marrok, thanking him for his confession. Marrok stared at her blankly until the guards grabbed his elbows and led him away. Cahil trotted after them.

“We’ve always known Soulfinders are dangerous. Now, we have proof that Yelena is just like her predecessors. She has also recruited her brother to help with her schemes. I suspected this would happen, and I have already written up an arrest warrant for them. Once captured, Leif will be interrogated to determine if his involvement was by his own choice or if he was forced to comply. If it was by choice, he will join Yelena in the special cells until we can safely execute them.”

Fear zipped through him. Yelena certainly wasn’t being paranoid when she had said the council was against her. Or was it just Roze? They all quickly signed the warrant. Perhaps not. Valek noticed that Bain and Irys left the great hall before it was their turn to sign the document. Perhaps Yelena had some allies after all.

But it wouldn’t help if she was captured. Sudden heat scorched his heart. Yelena needed him, but not his strength. Odd. Regardless, he couldn’t wait until the room emptied. Valek climbed higher, reaching the windows. He opened one, climbed out, and hung from his fingertips until he found a couple toeholds.

With the cold wind whipping and his fingers turning numb, Valek mostly slid down the side of the building. He hit the ground hard, and pain jolted through his ankles. A few beggars gaped at him, but he didn’t care. He spun, getting his bearings. The Citadel’s guest quarters were about a block away. Despite the pain, he ran.

Except, he didn’t know which one was Gede’s. When he neared the row of buildings, he spotted a person. Valek just about tripped over his own feet when he recognized the stout man. Thank fate!

“Things went south at the council meeting,” Valek said to Leif. “Where is Yelena?”

Leif just stared at him in shock. But then a nearby window of one of the quarters lit up with a blazing firelight.

“Come on,” Valek ordered, running to the entrance.

Locked. He yanked his picks out and opened the door. Inside, a six foot tall fire roared. And standing too close to the flames were Moon Man and Yelena. She yanked on his shoulders, but Moon Man moved deeper into the fire, dragging Yelena with him.

Sitting cross-legged in front of the fire was Gede and two Sandseeds, but they made no move to help Yelena and Moon Man. Instead, they stood and blocked Valek and Leif from the fire.

Oh no you don’t. “Leif, save Yelena!” Valek tackled the closest Sandseed, knocking him into his friend.

“No, Leif!” Gede yelled. “Leave her alone. She’s in no danger. Yelena needs to learn.”

Leif ignored Gede and darted toward the flames. Valek fought the three men, using all his dirty fighting moves, slamming heads into the floor, and aiming for eyeballs. This wasn’t a friendly bout in the training yard. This was back alley brawling. He needed to keep them occupied.

Between punches, he checked on Leif’s progress. It seemed to take forever for him to pull Yelena away from the fire. She went limp, and Leif picked her up and headed for the door. Valek continued to fight, giving Leif time to find a safe hiding spot.

Valek tripped one of the Sandseeds, who went flying into a table. Only now did he notice all the furniture had been pushed to the edges of the room. He spotted a pewter candlestick, grabbed it, and promptly used it to bludgeon the remaining two men. They crumbled. Knocked down but not out, Gede pressed a hand to his temple and moaned.

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Valek scanned the room. The fire had returned to a normal size. Moon Man had disappeared. Yelena’s cloak and pack sat near the door. He picked them up and left.

It didn’t take long to find Leif and Yelena. Leif had only gone a few blocks before hiding in an alley. He sat next to Yelena’s prone form.

“Is she all right?” Valek asked, crouching next to her. He smoothed a strand of black hair from her face and checked her pulse. It beat against his fingertips.

“Yes, she’s breathing. I had to cut off her air. She wouldn’t let go of Moon Man, and he was being sucked deeper into the fire. What the hell is going on?”

“You tell me. Was that the Fire Warper in the fire?”

“I think so. He must have been pulling Moon Man. No way he’d go into the fire on his own.”

Valek set down Yelena’s pack and cloak. “Leave the Citadel as soon as Yelena wakes. Meet me two miles south of the Citadel.”

“But we need our horses and?—”

“Do not return to the Keep for any reason. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Valek had much to do before the night was done.

He returned to the Keep. The stables were located in the northwest, right next to Irys’s tower. He had hoped to beat the search for Yelena, but guards filled the campus. Dodging and avoiding the patrols, Valek managed to gather some supplies from Yelena’s room before he headed to the dark stables.

Two guards stood in front of the double barn doors. Pulling out his blow pipe and darts, he shot them in their necks. After a count of ten, they wobbled and fell asleep. He dragged them into an empty stall.

Taking a risk, he lit one lantern. The light woke the horses, and they peered over their stall doors.

Valek spotted Kiki right away. Janco called her the magic horse. And for once, he wasn’t exaggerating. Intelligence shone from her blue eyes, and he had witnessed her do extraordinary things.

“I need to saddle you and Rusalka,” he said to her. “Yelena and Leif needed to leave the Citadel in a hurry. Will you help me?”

Kiki dipped her head and opened her stall door with her teeth. Guess that was a yes. With her help, he saddled them both, filling their bags with feed and supplies for a five-day trip.

“We need to leave the Keep without anyone spotting us. Understand?”

Kiki huffed and nudged him with her nose. He mounted and grabbed Rusalka’s reins. Kiki took a circuitous route and frequently paused in large shadows. Eventually, she stopped in the shadow of the Administration building. They were within sight of the Keep’s entrance. She cocked an eye and looked at him. His turn.

Despite the late hour, the guards at the gate were still on alert. While the horses waited, Valek searched for Ari in the infirmary. The place was lit up and a few guards milled about. Eventually, he caught sight of him and signaled.

Ari joined him in an empty room. “Is this about Captain Marrok?”

“What have you heard?”

“They just brought him in. He’s been beaten, and he’s incoherent.”

The poor guy. Roze damaged his mind and Cahil injured his body. Valek was surprised he didn’t kill the captain. “Are there guards watching him?”

Ari shook his head. “He’s not going anywhere. Not anytime soon. What’s going on?”

Valek gave him a quick update. “I need you to create a distraction at the Keep’s gate,” Valek said.

“When?”

“Now.”

Ari glanced at the door. “All right. I just helped carry in a couple unconscious men. I could say there’s more injured people and I need help.”

“Sounds good.”

They left the infirmary. Ari ran to the gate and yelled about an emergency, leaving one guard behind. Valek mounted and Kiki trotted up to the man.

He waved his arms, yelling, “Whoa. Stop.”

Kiki stopped, reared up, and kicked him in the chest. Hard enough to send him flying into the wall. He banged his head and slumped to the ground. Handy. The horses jumped the barrier with ease.

The streets of the Citadel were also teaming with soldiers hunting for Yelena and Leif. Without being asked, Kiki avoided the searchers. Thank fate her and Rusalka refused to wear horseshoes.

“South gate,” he told her.

It took the rest of the night, but they approached the gate without being seen.

“Rather early to be leaving,” the main guard at the gate said. “We’re on alert.”

“I heard,” Valek said reasonably. “Do I look like the person you’re seeking?”

“No, but you have two horses.”

“That I do.” Valek leaned forward. “Can you keep a secret?”

The man’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword as his expression turned wary. “It depends.”

“This extra horse is my soon-to-be fiancé’s horse. Well, if she says yes.” He winked. “If her father finds out, though…” Valek sliced his finger across his throat. Then he fished out two gold coins and gave them to the guard. “Wish me luck?”

The man pocketed them and laughed. “Good luck.” He waved Valek through the gate.

Kiki broke into a gallop as soon as they were out of sight. Two miles later, they found Leif and Yelena’s camping spot. He noted they hadn’t lit a fire. Smart.

Yelena met his gaze. Her shoulders were slumped, and exhaustion creased her face.

“You know?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Valek dismounted. “Good. Saves time. The Citadel and Keep are crawling with soldiers looking for you.”

“How did you get the horses out then? A secret spy maneuver?” Leif asked.

“No. A distraction at the Keep’s gate, and I bribed the guards at the Citadel’s south entrance.”

Leif groaned. “Now they’ll know where we are.”

Exactly. “I want them to think you went south. But you should get as far away from here as possible.”

“And go where?” Leif asked.

“Ixia.” For now, it was the safest place.

“Why would we do that?” Leif’s jaw set into a stubborn line.

To stay alive. “Things are happening too fast right now. We need to regroup and plan. We need reinforcements.”

“We should go now,” Yelena said.

“I’ll meet you at the Commander’s castle.” Valek handed her Kiki’s reins.

Kiki nudged Yelena’s arm. “You’re not coming with us?”

“No. I still have a few of my corps inside the Citadel. They need to be informed about what’s happening. I’ll join you at the castle afterward.”

Before he could leave, she pulled him aside. They embraced.

“Stay safe,” she ordered.

He smiled. “I’m not the one getting pulled into fires, love.”

“How did you know I was in trouble?”

“After I heard the council agree to your execution, I had an odd notion the council was the least of your worries.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“You keep things interesting, love. It would be boring without you.”

“Is that all I am to you? An amusement?”

“If only it was that simple.”

Yelena managed a tired smile. “I guess I’m no longer retired.”

She had gained some of her confidence back. Good. Valek kissed her goodbye. “Take a roundabout route to Ixia. The borders north of the Citadel will probably be watched.”

“Yes, sir.”

He watched as they mounted and headed west. Then he began the long, cold trek back to the Citadel. Now that the danger had passed, his ankles pulsed with pain, each step sending a jolt up his leg.

When he reached the gate, the same guard was on duty. “No luck?”

“None.” He shook his head sadly. “Her father found out and confiscated our horses. It’s a good thing I’m a fast runner.”

“Too bad. Are you going to try again?”

“Of course. Love doesn’t give up.”

* * *

As he headed to the safe house, Valek passed groups of soldiers still searching for Yelena and Leif. Knowing she was safe outside the Citadel made it worth the long night of dodging patrols. The house was empty. Valek should update his team, but exhaustion had soaked into his bones. And that was when mistakes were made. Best to get a few hours’ sleep.

When Valek woke in the afternoon, he changed into nondescript Sitian clothing and went to the market. At first, nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but soon he spotted more Daviians. And it didn’t take long for Fisk to join him.

“Where’s Yelena?” the boy demanded.

“Why?”

“The authorities are looking for her. She needs to leave.”

“She’s already gone.”

Fisk shot him an annoyed glare. “Why didn’t you say that first?”

“You’re in the business of selling information. I had to make sure of your reasons.”

“I would never sell information about Yelena. And I’m insulted that you think I would.” Fisk scowled. “Tell her to stay away. And you should leave, too. It’s too hot for you both. Consider that free advice.” Fisk dashed off.

While happy that Yelena had such a loyal ally, Valek hoped he hadn’t just made a new enemy. He headed to the Council Hall. There was significant activity, with people arriving and leaving the building, but Valek didn’t want to risk being spotted. Instead, he caught Janco’s gaze and signaled. Then he looped around the stables. Brigi hefted a saddle onto a horse’s back. She noticed him and gave him a small, relieved smile.

That evening, Janco joined Valek and Brigi for dinner. Valek updated them both on Yelena and Leif’s status.

“I’m glad they escaped,” Janco said. “Things are getting scary around the Council Hall.”

“Scary, how?” Valek asked.

“The place is buzzing with creepy vibes.”

Which was Janco speak for magic.

“There’s been a lot of emergency missives going out,” Brigi said. “The council’s messengers have been busy. I don’t know what type of messages they’re sending. Sometimes I can chat them up and they’ll tell me where they’re going. And if I flirt, I can get more information. This time, it was all business.”

“Can we go home now?” Janco asked.

“Not yet.”

Instead of pouting, Janco perked up. “Phew. I thought you were going to try to stop these Daviians with just the four of us.”

“We need to find out who is in charge. Roze is either a willing accomplice or she is being manipulated.”

“I find it hard to believe anyone could manipulate her,” Brigi said.

“If they offer her what she desires, which is to neutralize the threat of Ixia, she might not care how they plan to do it. In any case, we need more details before we can construct a counter strategy.”

After having thirds, Janco returned to his post. Valek planned to sneak into the Council Hall during the early morning shift change, so he settled on the couch for a few hours of sleep.

When he pulled up his blanket, the back door opened and then clicked shut. Valek pulled his dagger, but relaxed when he recognized Ari.

“You have news?” Valek asked.

“You’re not going to believe this,” Ari said.

“Try me.”

“A few hours ago, I heard voices in Captain Marrok’s room. There’s been no guards watching him, and Healer Hayes already checked on him, so I peeked. Two Sandseeds were helping him to stand. They cajoled him into changing and gave him a cloak. I suspected they might be using him for the Kirakawa ritual, so I hid in another room until they passed. I followed them outside and they…” Ari swiped a hand through his short curls. “They disappeared in a shaft of moonlight. All three of them.”

If this had been Janco reporting, Valek would have thought a shaft of moonlight was code for something else. “Can you describe the Sandseeds?”

“A big bald man with the blackest skin I’ve ever seen. And a smaller man with brown hair.”

Moon Man and Tauno. While very happy Moon Man survived the fire, why would they rescue Marrok? “Did they say anything about where they might be going?”

“No. I searched the rest of the campus but couldn’t find them. On my way back, two horses from the Keep’s stable trotted by me. Despite the guards trying to stop them, the horses jumped the gate and headed deeper into the Citadel. Is there something going on that I should know?”

Valek explained about Marrok naming Yelena and Leif as his accomplices. “Moon Man has magical powers, so that probably explains how he disappeared in the moonlight. As for the horses…” Valek shrugged. “He may have called them. Sandseeds have a special bond with their horses.”

“This Moon Man must not be in league with the others,” Ari said.

“I’m guessing he’s being smart and fleeing the Citadel before he is fed to the Fire Warper again.” Valek wondered how he had escaped the fire.

“What’s our next move?”

“Sit tight for now. See what happens when they discover Marrok is missing. You need to be back in the infirmary before that, or they might suspect you of helping him to escape.”

“I’ll let you know their response.” Ari left.

* * *

Valek put the finishing touches on his disguise and headed to the Council Hall. No surprise, the streets were empty. Except, they seemed extra desolate. He also noted the smaller number of beggars sleeping around the building. Janco gave him a woeful look but didn’t move from his spot. It had a good view of both the hall and the Keep.

Getting into the rafters was more difficult than any previous time, Valek had to dodge not only guards but a few Daviians. Magic had briefly touched his face when he encountered a warper. The man had given him a hard look. Valek had nodded a good morning and kept walking. Thank fate, the warper hadn’t followed.

The great hall was a hive of activity. Messengers arrived and hurried away all day long. The councilors agreed to everything Roze Featherstone proposed. The most frustrating thing was the lack of new information.

The next day, Valek encountered more Daviians when he snuck in. Not a good sign. When he was in the rafters, he realized that while Roze and company were preparing for an invasion, they appeared to be waiting for something or for someone. The Fire Warper? They never said, just talked logistics and strategy.

Ari had reported that Marrok’s escape was taken in stride. No one in authority seemed upset, only Healer Hayes was concerned. He hadn’t finished healing Marrok’s ribs.

Gabor returned on the twenty-sixth day of the cold season. Ice coated his cloak.

He sagged onto a chair next to the hearth. “It’s even colder up north.”

“Did you have any trouble getting into Ixia?” Valek asked.

“No. I delivered your message to the Commander and updated Kenda before coming back.”

“How did the Commander take the news?” Valek asked.

Gabor scowled. “Not well. Good thing he’s not a kill-the-messenger dictator.”

“Did he give you any instructions?”

“He said he trusted you to take care of the problem.”

If only it were that easy.

* * *

By day twenty-seven, it was impossible for Valek to reach the rafters. Daviians crawled all over the Council Hall, the Citadel, and, according to Ari, the Magician’s Keep.

Magic filled the streets, and at times he had to push through it. On his way back to the safe house that evening, a person stepped from a shadow and confronted Valek.

A broad man pulled his scimitar and pointed it at Valek’s chest. “Who are you?”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the man’s weapon that made Valek’s heart beat out a warning. It was the sticky strands of magic touching his skin. “I’m Ilom Cloudmist, who are you?”

“The person asking questions. Why can I not sense you?”

“Pardon? Sense me how?” Valek opted for ignorance.

“Your thoughts. I am really good at reading a person’s thoughts.”

“Oh, you’re a magician. How…nice?” His voice squeaked as if he were afraid.

“And you are like a ghost.”

Shit. “Um, that’s…interesting?”

“It is. In fact, you are going to come with me to the Council Hall and talk to my boss about it.”

“I am?” He shrank back and palmed a dart.

“You are.” The man sheathed his weapon and grabbed Valek’s upper arm, pulling him down the street.

Valek jabbed the dart into the Warper’s hand.

The man tightened his grip and stopped. Magic slammed into Valek. “You cooperate or you die.”

Nice guy. The magical pressure receded. “Okay,” Valek said meekly.

“Good.” The warper continued to march Valek toward the Council Hall. After a few steps, he staggered and went down on one knee.

“Are you well?” Valek asked.

“I am…” He slumped over.

“Sound asleep.” Too bad Valek couldn’t erase the man’s memory. As soon as he woke, he was going to report the incident to his boss. Valek should kill him, but that would start a manhunt. Instead, he dragged him to a hidden spot and hurried back to the house.

Valek discussed his options with Gabor and Brigi. There was only one—to stay inside for a few days. He didn’t like it, but it made the most sense. The warper would prowl the streets with his warper friends, looking for Ilom Cloudmist. Valek just hoped they didn’t harm anyone during their search.

Late that night, Gabor returned from his reconnaissance, waking Valek.

“Something happen?” he asked.

“No, but there’s too many people on the streets. I don’t know if they’re vermin, warpers, or the Citadel guards, but they’re all very interested in anyone who should be in bed. I hightailed it back here.”

And Gabor didn’t spook easily. Valek muttered a curse.

The next afternoon Janco arrived with more bad news. “They arrested Bain Bloodgood and Irys Jewelrose for treason!”

That was beyond bad. If they had the power to capture two master magicians, Valek had no chance of stopping them. Time to retreat and regroup.

“Get cleaned up, then talk to Brigi and send a message to Ari. We’re bugging out tonight.”

Janco hesitated.

“I thought you would be happy to leave.”

“I am, but I’m worried about my friends. Some of them have been disappearing.”

Valek wasn’t surprised Janco had made friends. “As in, leaving because it’s dangerous?”

“No. Disappearing. But the others won’t leave. They say they have nowhere to go and no money to get there.”

“Minel?”

“Still there.”

Valek strode to the desk and pulled out their emergency funds. He handed the pouch to Janco. “Make sure they promise to leave the Citadel.”

Janco peered into the pouch and then gaped at Valek. “Aww, you old softie.”

“Just go.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

In the end, Gabor and Brigi requested to stay in the Citadel. They argued Valek would need them to keep collecting information. And that they would be in a good position when he returned with reinforcements. He reminded them about the agents he’d assigned to watch the Daviians, who had most likely been captured and killed. They countered that they had well-established identities, and Gabor would not stay out too late. “I’m sensing they might enact a curfew,” he said.

Valek relented, giving them strict orders to run if they felt unsafe or if their covers were compromised. They agreed.

After dinner, Valek, Ari, and Janco headed to Horses on Mane Street to pick up Onyx and the others. They mounted and walked the horses to the north gate. Valek hadn’t wanted to waste time by looping around from another exit. Besides, if the guards at the gate tried to stop them, they would fight their way through. Stealth no longer mattered.

Aside from a barrage of questions about their reasons for leaving, the guards eventually let them pass. They spurred their horses into a gallop. No one said much as they traveled north.

At dawn, Valek turned off the road and found a place to stop and rest the horses. Ari built a campfire while Janco scouted the area, ensuring they wouldn’t be discovered.

Breakfast entailed hot tea and travel rations. Valek asked Ari and Janco what they thought of their first undercover mission. He braced for Janco’s list of complaints about the weather, and the lack of food and sleep.

They were quiet at first, then Ari said, “It wasn’t what I expected. I mean, it was. I knew I’d have to lie and pretend and establish a false identity, but I didn’t know I would care.”

“Care?” Janco asked.

“I really liked Healer Hayes and some of the medics. I liked helping the patients. I felt bad leaving. I left a note saying my mother was sick, but they’ll wonder what happened to me when I don’t show up.”

“I felt bad, too. I get to go back to my comfy bed, to three meals a day, and to warm fires. And I…” Janco ducked his head.

Valek waited, but when Janco didn’t say anything more, he prompted, “You?”

He met Valek’s gaze and said in a defiant tone, “I told them to use the money we gave them to come to Ixia. To tell the border guards that Adviser Janco gave them permission to enter, and then for them to come find me at the Commander’s castle.”

Valek grappled with a response.

“If any of them are captured by the Daviians, they’ll tell them about you,” Ari said.

Janco huffed. “I doubt it. Half of them laughed, told me I was crazy, but they thanked me for the coins.”

“And the other half?” Valek asked.

“Also thanked me and said they would leave the Citadel, but not to go to Ixia. They think the Commander is a tyrant and are terrified. I didn’t have enough time to change their minds.”

“You won’t ever change their minds, Janco,” Valek said. “It’s a belief based on fear and not on facts.”

They finished their meal and set a watch schedule. By mid-afternoon, they were back on the road. The rest of the trip to Ixia was uneventful and they reached the castle complex late the night before the thirtieth day of the cold season. Officially, the coldest day of the year.

Since they had forgone sleep in order to shorten their trip, Valek sent Ari and Janco to bed when they finished rubbing down the horses. After being welcomed home by the guards, Valek tapped lightly on the Commander’s door. No noises sounded on the other side, so Valek turned but paused when the lock clicked open.

The Commander stood in the entry. He wore a set of flannel pajamas and thick wool socks. But his expression was icy.

“Did I wake you?” Valek asked.

“I’d just retired but wasn’t asleep. What are you doing here?”

“To report?—”

“Valek, you’re supposed to be taking care of a very large problem in Sitia.”

“It got too hot. I can report in the morning if you’re tired.”

“As if I could fall asleep now. Come in, I’ll get you a drink, you look half frozen.”

The whiskey wasn’t quite the Ball Thawer, but it warmed him from the inside out. Valek reported what he’d learned in Sitia.

“That tracks with what Yelena reported.”

Valek relaxed back into the couch cushions as one worry of a dozen lifted from his shoulders. “When did they arrive?”

“Just this morning. Her and her friends made quite the spectacle. I’m sure the staff are placing bets on how long they stay.”

“Friends?” He was confused. Had she introduced Leif as her friend?

The Commander’s gaze turned frigid. “You mean you are unaware of her companions?”

Not good. “I sent her and her brother, Leif, here for their own safety.”

“They arrived with three others. A magician named Moon Man, a Sandseed named Tauno, and our infamous Captain Marrok.”

They managed to catch up with Yelena and Leif. Impressive.

“Yelena and her friends had excellent timing. I just received a letter from the Sitian Council. It warned me about Yelena’s renegade status and suggested she and her treasonous companions be killed on sight. Tell me why I shouldn’t execute them all?”