It didn’t take long to spot the officers who were truly corrupt, like the captain in charge of personnel transfers, and those that had been bullied by Timmer, like the lieutenant overseeing all outgoing messages. Valek noted each of their names. After he dealt with Timmer, Valek planned to make major changes for the command structure of the base. And he’d retrain the soldiers in spotting intruders. Even dressed as a servant, Valek shouldn’t be able to move around the base with such ease.
Before settling in Wilona’s room for the evening, Valek changed back into his adviser’s uniform and prepared for a late-night visitor. He lounged on her bed in the dark, considering what he’d learned that day. It had been a couple of years since he’d organized surprise inspections of the bases, and his agents here had missed a number of illegal activities, which probably meant the same lackluster reporting must be going on for the other bases, as well. It was well past time for another shake-up, but the idea failed to excite Valek. He had more important things he’d rather do. Like discover who had targeted Yelena.
A creak of metal interrupted his musings. Lantern light from the hallway outlined the door as it swung inward. A dark figure entered the room and shut the door. Valek smiled as the man banged his shin on a chair.
“Damn it, Wilona, I told you to leave your light on,” a gruff voice said.
Valek pulled the metal slide of the bull’s-eye lantern open an inch. A beam of light illuminated Captain Timmer. The tall muscular man cut an impressive figure even in his robe. Clean-shaven with short black hair and brown eyes, Timmer held up a meaty hand to block the light.
“That’s not funny, Wilona.” Menace rumbled deep in his throat. Timmer stepped closer. “Move the light or I’ll—”
Valek stood. “Careful, Timmer. You don’t want to get into any more trouble.” He yanked the slide all the way open, flooding the rest of the room with light.
Timmer grunted in surprise, pulled a knife from the pocket of his robe and froze when he met Valek’s gaze. Recognition flashed. He straightened, but didn’t put his weapon away. “Sorry, sir. I thought you were an intruder.”
Smooth recovery. Impressive. “Since these aren’t your quarters, Captain, I could say the same about you.”
“I...was invited. Wilona and I have been dating for a couple months.”
“You’re dating a soldier in your company? That’s unethical.”
“Her transfer—”
“Has been denied by your buddy Captain Maitol twice. Don’t lie. I already have enough reasons to kill you, Timmer.”
Timmer’s grip on the knife tightened along with the muscles in his jaw, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. Good.
“You’re going to cooperate,” Valek said. His matter-of-fact tone warned there wouldn’t be any arguments. “Give me your knife.” He held his hand out.
Timmer hesitated.
Valek waited. A part of him hoped Timmer would attack. The feel of his fist ramming into the man’s gut would be sweet. Too bad the captain handed his knife to Valek.
“It’s her word against mine,” Timmer said.
“I believe her. Case closed. Now you’re going to tell me about another private who came through here about four years ago. Private Onora. Do you remember her?”
“I’ve hundreds of privates come through my company.” Timmer shrugged, trying to act casual.
“Yet according to the base records, very few who transfer into your company are women. In fact, I memorized all their names and plan to interrogate all of them. Well, the ones who didn’t go AWOL on your watch.”
“There’s not much to tell.” Timmer almost growled the words. “Onora showed such promise, but she couldn’t keep up with my rigorous training schedule and she left.”
“Were you dating her?”
Timmer clamped his mouth shut, but his gaze darted to the bed. And that would be a yes. Valek twirled the knife, deciding if this man deserved to walk out of here with his balls still attached or not.
“Do you know where she went after she left?” Valek asked.
“No. We sent the military police to search for her, but they lost her trail in MD-1. Why are you so interested in her?”
“She has reappeared. And she has honed that potential into a new occupation.”
“Oh?”
“An assassin.”
“Oh.” Timmer swallowed. “Is she any good?”
“She managed to reach the Commander’s suite. Unprecedented.”
The captain relaxed. “You took care of her.”
“I did more than that.”
“Good. She was willful, disrespectful and unable to follow orders. No one will mourn her.”
Valek raised an eyebrow at his outburst and waited.
The captain finally put it together. “You didn’t kill her?”
“I recruited her.”
“Oh.”
“It should be a fun reunion between you two.”
“You can’t—”
“I can.”
Valek escorted Timmer to the base’s MPs and gave them strict instructions to transport the captain to the Commander’s castle. He reported the lax security and other infractions to the colonel in charge of the base. Valek wished to stay longer, but he had only two days left to return home.
* * *
The two-day trip to the castle was uneventful. After Valek unsaddled Onyx and groomed the horse, he washed up and changed into clean clothes. Then he swung by his office and paused.
The door stood ajar. He grabbed his knife and pressed against the wall to the side of the entrance. It’d be stupid to rush inside. The intruder could be armed with a crossbow. Valek slid his small mirror from his pocket. It resembled a lock pick, but with a round reflective surface on the end. Careful not to catch the light from the lanterns, Valek angled the mirror to look inside. A dark-haired man sat at his desk.
“Come on in, King Killer.” The man waved.
Valek kept his weapon in hand as he entered. Only a few people could breach the castle’s security and then be brazen about it. “What are you doing here, Arbon?”
“I heard you were looking for me.” He spread his arms wide. “So here I am.”
Keeping a firm grip on his knife, Valek approached his desk.
Arbon grinned and gestured at Valek’s hand. “I see you’re still skittish.”
“Cautious,” Valek corrected. “You don’t live long in this business without it.”
“Ah yes. I’ve heard about the young chicky who almost took you out.”
Leaning back in Valek’s chair, Arbon appeared relaxed. Patches of silver painted his black hair, he had filled out a bit in the middle, and wrinkles creased his tan skin, yet he still resembled the young boy who’d trained with Valek at Hedda’s school. He wore a servant’s uniform with the Commander’s colors of red and black.
“You’ve been hearing lots of things. Does this mean you’ve been in town for a while?”
Arbon’s booming laugh echoed on the stone walls. “I’m surprised you don’t know. Or is it in one of these reports?” Arbon ran his fingers over the stacks of files. “I’d never pegged you for a desk jockey. No wonder you’re losing your touch.”
Valek stepped closer and brandished his knife. “Care to test your theory?”
“Love to, but this is a friendly visit. What did you want to talk to me about?”
He sheathed his weapon. “My chair.”
A smile played on Arbon’s lips. “You wanted to talk to me about a chair?”
Valek waited.
With a huff of amusement, Arbon stood and made a grand sweeping bow before relocating to the visitor’s chair.
Valek settled behind his desk. He pulled one of the files from a stack and opened it. “I’m looking for information about an
assassination attempt on Liaison Yelena Zaltana. According to my records, you’ve been living and working in Sitia.”
“Thanks to you and the Commander, that’s where the jobs are. The market in Ixia dried up after the takeover.”
Ignoring Arbon’s jab, he asked, “Did anyone contact you about this job?”
“Of course they did. I’m the best in Sitia. But once I learned who the mark was, I told them to find someone else. Going after your girl would be suicide. I’m not suicidal.”
“Do you know who tried to hire you?”
“You know better than to ask that.”
Hedda had never shared the names of her clients with her assassins. It had provided protection for both of them. And Valek had been content with that arrangement until he’d met Ambrose.
“Do you know who agreed to take the job?” Valek asked.
“I’m not ratting out my fellow assassins.”
“I didn’t ask for a name.”
Arbon stared at him a moment. “I know a few others who might have taken the assignment despite the risks, but I don’t know which one.”
“I’m looking for a male magician. Know anyone like that?”
“Why a magician?”
“He hid behind a null shield.”
“Hell, Valek, that could be anyone. These days it’s easy to purchase a cloak or even undergarments that have null shields woven into the fabric. What weapon did he use?”
“Bow and arrow.”
Arbon laced his fingers together and rested them on his stomach. “That narrows it down to three or four. When did it happen?”
“Seventeen days ago.”
“That rules out the Hunter.”
“The Hunter?”
“Yeah, the Sitian assassins all have monikers to keep their real identities a secret.” Arbon didn’t sound impressed.
Valek couldn’t resist asking, “What’s yours?”
“The Ixian. Original, eh?”
“Accurate. What about the other possible assassins?”
“Sorry, can’t do it. I’m planning on retiring soon and don’t need some guy with a grudge tracking me down.”
“Fine. How about you find out who took the job and ask him who hired him? Get me the name of the patron and I won’t go after the assassin.”
“And why would I do that?”
Time for the ace. “Because you owe me a favor and I’m collecting.”
Arbon shook his head. “I waited all these years for you to ask for that favor. I figured after the takeover, you’d forgotten or you didn’t want help from me.”
“I offered you a position on my staff.”
“Yeah, well, I like my freedom.”
“I have freedom.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” Valek’s tone turned icy.
“It doesn’t look like it from where I’m standing. From what I’ve seen and heard, the Commander holds your leash and has since you first met him.”
“You know nothing about it. Now, can you get me that name or not?”
“I can, but I’m going to need lots of gold. That information doesn’t come cheap. And once I do then we’re even.”
“As long as the information is accurate. If not—”
“Save it for one of your green recruits. Give me some credit. I’ve known you longer than anyone else. Do you really think I’d double-cross you?”
“Not if you value your life.”
“Exactly. Now, where’s that gold?”
“How much do you need?”
“Forty pieces.”
Valek waited.
“All right, gimme thirty-five. That should be enough.”
“Thirty. I don’t think we need to help fund your retirement.”
“Too bad. I’ve a sweet little place picked out on the coast.”
“Ixia?”
“No way.” He shivered. “Too cold.”
“I like the cold.”
Arbon laughed. “No surprise. You spent more time hanging out on that freezing-cold rock than in your room at Hedda’s.”
Valek sobered. “Have you heard about Hedda?”
All humor dropped from Arbon’s round face. “No. What happened?”
Surprised Arbon didn’t already know, Valek broke the news.
“And you let this chicky live?” Outrage colored his voice. “I would have sliced her into three pieces.”
“I need to learn more about her and the situation before I decide on her future.”
“What else do you need to know? Hedda took us in, she taught us, she—”
“I’m well aware of Hedda’s generosity. However, the girl has made an impression on the Commander.”
“So what?”
Valek met his gaze.
“Oh yeah, I forgot.” Arbon put his fist up near his neck and pretended to yank on an invisible leash. “He’s your master. But he’s not mine. If I just happen to run into this chicky, I’ll ensure she gets what she deserves.”
“Better brush up on your knife-fighting skills, Arbon. She’s younger, faster and more skilled than you. In fact, if you do go after her, make sure you get me that name first.” Valek unlocked the lower drawer of his desk. He filled a pouch with thirty gold coins and tossed it at Arbon, who caught it in midair.
“That good, eh?” He jiggled the pouch. The coins rattled. “I’ll think about it.” Arbon stood to leave.
“Would you like an escort, or would you rather sneak out the way you came in?” Valek asked.
“I’ll find my own way out.” Arbon waved and left.
Valek counted to two then raced to the door. He caught sight of Arbon’s back as the man turned the corner. Curious to see how Arbon had reached his office without calling attention to himself, Valek followed. However, the assassin didn’t duck down a secret passage or climb out a window or bribe one of the guards. He simply sauntered through the corridors as if he owned the place. Arbon nodded and said good afternoon to the people he passed. No one questioned him or glanced at him in suspicion. He exited the castle complex without trouble. And when Arbon reached the other side of the gate, he turned and saluted Valek.
No wonder Onora had reached the Commander with ease. Not only had his security detail been compromised, but everyone in the entire castle had relaxed just like at MD-2’s military base. Valek had assumed Onora scaled the outer wall and climbed up the castle, but after this little demonstration, she could have waltzed right in the main gate.
Valek pulled the guard who had let Arbon through aside. “Who is that man who just left?” he asked.
“One of the servants,” the guard said.
“What’s his name?”
“Uh...” The man glanced at his colleague, who pretended to be engrossed in another task.
“Here’s an easier question. Where does he work?”
“Um...”
“You’ve no idea, do you?” Valek demanded.
“He’s wearing—”
“A basic uniform that could have easily been stolen. Have you seen him before today? Did he have the proper papers?”
Fear replaced the man’s confused expression. “I—”
“You are relieved of duty, Sergeant. Collect your things and come to my office in one hour for your transfer papers.”
“Yes, sir.” The man hurried away.
Valek turned to the other three guards. White-faced, they braced for his anger.
“Do not let anyone into or out of this complex without checking their papers and making sure their name and position are on the approved list. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” they chorused.
“Make sure all of the shifts are following the proper procedures. You will be te
sted frequently. Failure to catch one of my agents will result in immediate reassignment. They’re always looking for more workers in the mines.”
They blanched. “Yes, sir.”
Fuming, Valek strode to the castle. Something had happened to his security measures while he’d been gone. He’d trusted Maren to be in charge, but it seemed as if she’d left long ago and not the few weeks the Commander claimed. Unless she’d been overwhelmed by the job, which allowed the guards to be lazy. Either way, he had to test all the security for the entire castle to discover what else had changed.
Again he wondered if the Commander had orchestrated all this to test Valek. Although he couldn’t fathom why Ambrose would put himself at risk. The man had a strong sense of self-preservation. Always had.
Valek remembered when Hedda assigned him what had seemed at the time an easy job.
“It should take a couple weeks at most,” she had said. “This young man’s been making people nervous with his speeches, and we’ve been paid a whole pile of gold to make him disappear for good.”
“What’s the mark’s name?” Valek asked.
“Ambrose Diamond. He has all the miners agitated and has amassed quite the following. According to our patron, he has based his operations in Pinchot.”
That was on the other side of Ixia near the Soul Mountains. “What’s he look like?”
“Black hair, average build, your height, but he’s about seven years older than you, around twenty-four. I’m told his eyes are distinctive—almond-shaped and gold in color.”
“Does our client want me to give Ambrose a message before I kill him?”
“No.”
So this wasn’t personal. Probably political. “Anything else?”
“No. This job shouldn’t be too difficult. He’s been making public speeches. You could probably blend in with the crowd and put a bolt in his heart.”
Valek scoffed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Careful, King Killer. I lose more assassins to overconfidence than to the authorities.”
He grinned. “That’s sweet. I didn’t know you cared.”
“Only until you kill the King. That’s the only reason I’ve kept you around.”