“The Ixians withdrew all but a few patrols,” the magician said.
Ayven stared into a glass super messenger, mentally communicating with Master Magician Irys Jewelrose on the front lines. Or what had been the front lines. We expected Ixia to attack in two days’ time.
I glanced at Bavol and then at Onora, who’d stayed by my side as much as possible since she’d saved my life. We stood in Bavol’s office in the Council Hall. Most of the other Sitian Councilors had joined their regiments in the field. We hadn’t received any information or news from Valek since he’d left thirty-two long days ago. Many people assumed he was dead when the Ixian army remained in the forest.
Dare I hope?
“Perhaps Valek was successful after all,” Bavol said.
The baby kicked as if in agreement, but I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions. By concentrating on the impending invasion, I’d been able to function. And I avoided the dark thoughts that threatened to ambush me late at night.
“Ayven, please contact Master Zitora and ask her about that unit she and Teegan sensed hiding behind our front lines,” I said. “See if they know where they are now.”
“Okay.” He focused on the messenger. A few minutes later, he looked up. “She says the unit has disappeared. She sent Devlen and Teegan to track them, and she’s waiting to hear from Teegan.”
Good or bad news? Hard to tell.
“Let me know if you learn anything new.”
“Will do,” Ayven said.
* * *
Over the next two days, more reports of the Ixian withdrawal arrived. It was the day of the planned Firestorm, and nothing happened. My emotions swung from confused to concerned to relieved, and settled into a general feeling of unease. Was this a trick? Perhaps the Commander had found a way to get all of his troops behind ours.
Zitora relayed a message from Teegan that the unit was headed east toward the Emerald Mountains. We had positioned a battalion near the tunnel the smugglers had used to get into Ixia. Perhaps we’d moved them too late—not that we’d had a ton of time. We’d only had ten days since we regained control of Sitia and the garrisons.
I sat at Bavol’s desk that afternoon, staring at the map of Ixia and Sitia. Was there another tunnel beneath the border? Or another way past our defenses? Onora had left to fetch me some tea, but the baby’s rhythmic hiccups made it difficult for me to concentrate. Poor little soul suffered with the hiccups at least once a day. I put a sympathetic hand on my mound. Calling it a bump no longer applied, I’d lost sight of my toes and couldn’t touch them without great difficulty. And I still had ten weeks to go! If I grew any larger, I wouldn’t be able to fit through the door.
A knock roused me from my musings. Fisk stood at the door with a pleased grin on his face as if he’d scored a good bargain.
“Don’t tell me,” I said, raising a hand. “You found the perfect hat for your latest client. What’s her name?”
“Mrs. Catava.” The glow dimmed just a bit. “Not yet. Soon—it’s close, I can feel it. However, I found something better than a hat.”
“Oh?”
“I found a husband.” Fisk stepped aside with a flourish.
Valek stood in the doorway, and the rest of the world disappeared. The next thing I knew, I was wrapped in his arms. Not as close as I would have liked, though, because of the mass of baby between us.
He laughed and rested a hand over my girth. “You’re—”
“Watch it,” I warned.
“—more beautiful than I remembered,” he said.
“Nice recovery.”
Cupping my cheeks with his hands, he met my gaze. “I mean it.”
Then he kissed me and proved he wasn’t lying. By the time he broke away, I was gasping for breath and thinking of continuing our conversation in my bedroom.
A polite cough reminded us that we weren’t alone. Fisk stood nearby with Sergeant Gerik.
“Do you know where Onora is?” Gerik asked me.
“The kitchen. She’ll be ba—”
He disappeared.
“He thought she was dead,” Valek explained. Exhaustion lined his face, and he was too thin. His hands slid down my arms, and he laced his fingers in mine. “I heard you defeated the Cartel. Did anyone... Are there any...”
I understood his reluctance to hear bad news. “Bain Bloodgood had massive heart failure during the attack on the Krystal garrison.”
“Ah, sorry to hear that.”
“Everyone is still reeling. And now Zitora is First Magician.”
“That’s a heck of a homecoming.” Valek braced for more bad news. “Anyone else?”
“A few soldiers were killed by the blasts from the orbs. It couldn’t be avoided. And we can’t find Hale in any of the garrisons. I suspect Bruns killed him soon after we escaped the Krystal garrison, but I can’t ask him.” I explained how Onora had saved our lives.
Valek squeezed my hand. “I owe her a debt of gratitude. How is she doing? Any problems with guilt?”
“I don’t think so, but she’s been acting like a mother bear protecting her cub. Guess who is her cub?” I tapped my chest.
“That’s normal.”
“Says the man who wants to lock me in a tower.”
“That’s normal, too.”
“For you, maybe.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s been protecting you. Were there any...incidents at the other garrisons?”
“Other than a few injuries, none of our herd died. Thank fate.”
“Injuries? How bad?”
“Janco has a couple of new scars to name. No doubt he’ll be boasting about them when we see him. Mara cut her hands pretty badly. Seems Rika Bloodgood had a knife at her throat, but Mara wasn’t going to let Leif surrender, so she took matters literally into her own hands.”
“Good for her.”
“She saved us all. If Rika had warned Bruns...” We all knew the consequences if that had happened. “Irys has already healed Mara, and Irys is talking about giving her a medal for her bravery.”
“My siblings?”
“Fine. However, Zohav almost drowned Zethan, or so your brother claims, but I suspect he’s exaggerating.” I smiled, but sobered when I remembered Bain. We’d all miss him. “Now it’s your turn. Owen?”
“Had a very bad case of overconfidence and died in my arms.”
“I’m not sorry to hear it. I take it that’s when the Commander woke up and recalled his army.”
Valek tensed. “Not exactly.”
“What happened?”
He sighed. “It’s a long story. The short version is the invasion has been canceled, and Sitia can return to normal.” He put his fingers on my lips. “I’ll fill everyone in on the details once they’re all back. Fisk?”
I’d forgotten he was there!
“Yes?” Fisk asked.
“Can you spread the word about the invasion? And please ask Ari and Janco to return to the Citadel with the twins.”
“All right.”
“Thanks.” He returned his attention to me as Fisk left. “Do you have any plans for this afternoon?”
“Not anymore.”
“Good.” Valek tugged me into the hallway. “Have you been staying in the guest suites?”
“Yes. Are you tired?”
“Not anymore.” His gaze met mine.
Heat flushed through me. “My room is this way.”
* * *
Hunger woke me a few hours later. Valek didn’t stir when I slipped from the bed. Exhaustion? Or was he finally able to relax?
I dressed and visited the kitchen—again. I imagined I’d worn a path in the rug, since I spent more time eating than sleeping these days. I grabbed a few extra pieces of fruit and cheese for Valek. At leas
t, that was the plan. Since he didn’t wake up until the next morning, I felt justified in eating his share.
Onora and Gerik visited us soon after we returned from breakfast. The guest suite had a living area, but they stood instead of making themselves comfortable. I suspected Onora had unwelcome news.
“The Commander has ordered me back to Ixia,” she said.
I studied her. She tried to keep a stoic expression, but she appeared a little green, as if she was going to be sick to her stomach. “Are you worried he thinks you’re a traitor?”
She glanced at Valek.
He shook his head. “I didn’t have time to tell her.”
“I’m the new Chief of Security,” she said.
Surprised, I turned to Valek.
“I retired,” he said.
Clearly we needed to catch up, but that would have to wait until later. I focused on Onora and was happy for her. “Congratulations.”
She hesitated. “Thanks.”
“Isn’t that good news?” I asked, because she still looked queasy. “That’s what you wanted. Right?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
Ah. “The Commander would not have given you the job if he thought you couldn’t handle it.”
“I know. It’s just...overwhelming.”
“That’ll pass in about five or six years,” Valek said.
“Thanks,” she said dryly.
“Just remember that you’re not alone. And that I owe you one.”
Onora peered at him in confusion.
“You saved Yelena’s and our baby’s lives. If you get into trouble and need help, send me a message, and I’ll—”
“—we’ll come and assist you,” I finished for him.
He drew in a breath. I waited for overprotective Valek to frown at me, but instead he amended, “We’ll come. And if it’s bad, then we’ll bring the whole herd with us.”
“Herd?” Gerik asked.
Onora smiled in relief, and the color returned to her face. “He means his family and friends.”
“Our family and friends.” I corrected her. “You and Gerik are now part of the herd.”
Shocked, Onora glanced at Valek. “We are?”
“Yes. The horses have named you Smoke Girl, but I don’t know Gerik’s horse name yet.”
“Thanks.” Another smile, this one with genuine warmth. She then asked Valek for advice on how to make the transition from his leadership to hers go smoothly.
He suggested she rely on Maren for guidance. “She’s had years of experience, and my agents trust her. They’ll trust you, too, once you’ve proven that you can handle difficult situations. Don’t try to be their friend. Ask their opinions, listen to them, but once you’ve decided on a course of action, don’t let them change your mind. Never show them you’re uncertain. Issue orders with confidence, despite how you feel.”
“Is that what you do?” I asked.
“Not at all.”
“Uh-huh.”
He flashed me a grin.
“Anything else?” Onora asked.
Valek sobered. “When you return to Ixia, you’ll have a chance to show everyone what type of leader you’ll be by how you deal with Captain Timmer.”
She stiffened. I didn’t blame her. Timmer had sexually abused her when she’d been a young solider in his unit.
“I thought the Commander...” Onora swiped a hand along her throat.
“He’s waiting to see if you’d like to execute the captain yourself or if you want him publicly hanged. Or...if you wish to spare the man’s life. What you decide will send a message to everyone in Ixia.”
“No pressure,” she muttered.
I grasped her hand. “You’re protecting the citizens of Ixia now. They’re in your care. Keep that in mind, and you’ll do fine.”
She hugged me. Or at least, she tried. Her arms weren’t as long as Valek’s. We laughed.
“Take care of the baby,” Onora said. “If you need some extra protection or a dozen babyguards, just let me know.”
I mock-groaned. “A dozen babyguards? Don’t you start. I get enough of that overprotective nonsense from him.” I jabbed my thumb in Valek’s direction.
She gave me a smug Janco smile. “Too late.”
“Go.” I shooed her out the door.
Gerik shook our hands before following her.
After they left, I glanced at Valek. “What happened with the Commander?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
“To where?”
“To fetch Onyx.”
* * *
We set off that afternoon. Valek borrowed a horse from the council’s stables and I rode Kiki, who kept her gait as smooth as possible so I didn’t go into premature labor. During the two-day ride to the farm where Valek had left Onyx, he filled me in on his adventures in Ixia. When he told me about the Commander’s orders to execute him and still proceed with the invasion, I focused on the fact that Valek had survived and was with me. Otherwise, I’d plot a way to punch the Commander. Hard.
But then his next comment about being poisoned with the Harman sap turned my desire to punch the man into wanting to stab him.
“I hid the vial of my blood in Onyx’s saddle,” Valek said. “I’m...surprised that I’m anxious to find it. I never wished for magic, but once it was gone...”
“I understand completely.”
“I know, love. There’s still hope for you, as well.”
However, there was no guarantee for either of us. Valek finished his story, and I mulled over the Commander’s request to free his mother’s soul. “If I can, I’ll help him, but I can’t promise not to punch him afterward.”
Valek chuckled, but then he sobered. “If I do recover my magic, we shouldn’t tell the Commander.”
“He’ll eventually learn about it. Plus, then he won’t bother using the Harman sap on anyone.”
“That’s true. Of course, there’s always the chance he’ll find another way to neutralize magicians.”
“Or someone else might discover a way. There’s always going to be another problem to solve. We’ll just have to tackle it when the time comes.”
“We? I’m retired, love.”
I stared at him. “You’d let someone else solve the problem?”
“I already have. Onora has my job.”
“What about Sitia?”
“I’ll help for now, but Teegan, Reema, Zethan, Zohav, Heli and Fisk are all poised to take over, and I’ll be happy to let them.”
I wasn’t convinced that he could remain uninvolved. But only time would tell.
We retrieved Onyx, and Valek’s vial remained hidden in the saddle. Both of us relaxed. However, we waited until we returned to the Citadel to inject his blood back into his body. If I missed his vein, it would ruin Valek’s only chance to recover his magic.
When we arrived, we headed straight to the infirmary in the Council Hall. To our surprise and relief, Healer Hayes was back and helping at the Hall until the Keep was ready. Hayes instructed Valek to lie down on the bed while he filled a syringe with Valek’s blood.
“Why lie down?” Valek asked.
“Just in case you pass out. Unless you want to hit your head on the floor?”
“I’m not the fainting type,” Valek muttered, but he settled on the mattress.
“Have you been injected with your blood after losing your magic before?” Hayes asked, knowing full well Valek hadn’t. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” He tied a band around Valek’s bicep, right below a cut that had been sealed but still remained bright red. Hayes traced his thumb over the injury, and Valek sucked in a quick breath. “This is getting infected. Do you want me to heal it now or after?”
“Lat
er. If my magic returns, I’ll be able to heal myself.”
“That’s good to know. I can always use help in the infirmary.”
“Walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
“Yep.” Hayes pressed the needle into Valek’s arm and pushed the plunger. Red liquid disappeared into his vein.
I suppressed the impulse to hold his hand. The baby’s magic-sucking ability might interfere. Instead, I hovered nearby.
Valek stiffened. He squeezed his eyes shut as his fingers curled into fists.
“Talk to me,” Hayes said. “What’s going on?”
“It burns.” He arched his back. “Too hot...” A red flush swept over his pale skin, leaving beads of sweat in its wake. Valek jerked again. Then his head lolled back.
I dug my fingernails into the palms of my hands as I stood there, utterly useless. Glancing at Hayes’s calm expression didn’t help. “Is he all right?”
The Healer touched Valek’s neck. “The toxin in his body is fighting the clean blood. It has overwhelmed his system.”
“And that means?”
“He lost consciousness.”
I bit back a sarcastic reply about stating the obvious. Instead I asked, “Will he wake up?”
“I hope so. Time will tell.”
Must. Not. Strangle. Healer Hayes. Once I clamped down on my panic, I dragged a chair closer to Valek’s bed and sat down to wait. There was nothing else I could do. As I watched my husband thrash about as if in the grip of a fever, I alternated between sitting and standing. Each position eventually caused my lower back to ache.
The hours added up. One day turned into two. I slept in the next bed, close but not touching. Visitors came as our friends and family returned from the various garrisons. Leif mixed his sustaining teas.
I paced around Valek’s bed. After everything he’d gone through—being knifed in his heart, being captured by Owen, fighting Onora and the Commander—to be taken out by his own blood? The desire to scream at fate clawed up my throat.
On the third day, Healer Hayes suggested I touch Valek. “The baby might neutralize the magic, and he’ll wake up.”
Without his magic. Better than without his life. But it was the “might” that caused me to hesitate. When I heard that Ari and Janco had returned, I asked Fisk to bring Janco right away.