“I saw Maren loading up the wagon with those small casks, and I heard two men arguing in an office next to the main factory area. They didn’t agree on whether to close the factory down or to relocate it. But they planned to load their inventory on barges and send it upstream to a warehouse in Sunworth. Isn’t that the name of the river?”
“Yes, but it’s named after a town in the foothills of the Emerald Mountains, where the river starts,” I said.
“That jibes with our other intel about the disappearing wagons,” Janco said. “Ari and the grunt planned to check it out on the Ixian side.”
I considered. “Onora, did you see the men or hear any names?”
“No. When Maren left with the horses and wagon, I followed her.”
Janco straightened. “Why?”
“I knew the smugglers’ plans, but I didn’t know her destination.”
“And?” he asked.
“She’s returning to Ixia.”
“Through the tunnel we found?”
“No. Why would she? She’s an adviser to the Commander and can cross the border without trouble.”
“Except she’s working undercover. That would tip the smugglers off,” Janco said.
“Unless—”
“She’s not a traitor,” Janco growled at Onora.
“Unless things have gotten too hot for her.”
I suppressed a smile. Onora might be young, but she had plenty of confidence.
“Speculation will only get us so far,” I said, trying to break the tension. “If they’re planning on moving their inventory then we need to raid the factory.”
Janco glanced around the room. “Do you have an army I don’t know about?”
“I’ll talk to Lapeer’s town watch. That might tip the smugglers off, but at this point we need to get a good look inside. There might be invoices and other documents that would indicate who is supplying them with the Curare vine.” The vine grew in the Illiais Jungle, my clan’s lands, and the Zaltanas were supposed to be guarding it for just this reason. Concern for my family pulsed in my heart. I’d have to send a message to my father, warning him of poachers.
“While you organize the watchmen, we’ll keep an eye on the factory,” Onora said. “We’ll follow anyone who leaves before the raid.”
“We?” Janco smirked. “Just can’t get enough of my company, can you, sweetheart?”
Onora met my gaze.
“It’s best to ignore him.”
“Easier said than done,” she muttered.
“Hear that, Yelena?” Janco bumped my arm with his elbow. “I’m irresistible.”
* * *
After Onora finished her breakfast, we split up once again. I rode The Madam to Lapeer. The afternoon sun warmed my shoulders. To avoid falling asleep in the saddle, I mulled over all the information from Janco and Onora. What was in those casks Maren loaded into the wagon? Curare, probably. The significance of that hit me. So worried about who’d been producing the drug, I hadn’t considered the ramifications of it being available to Ixians. The Sitian Council kept strict control of it for a reason.
If the criminal element in Ixia had access to Curare, then Valek and his corps would no longer have an advantage. My stomach churned just thinking about it. At least Maren managed to take some with her and out of circulation. Or had she? An evil thought popped into my head.
Maybe the Commander was a client. If Sitia ever attacked Ixia, they’d have the upper hand. Sitia had magicians, the super messengers and Curare. It made sense for the Commander to want to even the playing field a bit by importing Curare. Except Janco had said the Commander made finding and stopping the smugglers a priority. Why would he do that if he was benefiting from them? He wouldn’t.
The tight knot in my chest eased. I spurred The Madam into a gallop and headed straight for the town’s station house.
My arrival was initially met with some resistance, but having a reputation as a powerful Soulfinder pushed past the doubts. Handy. As predicted, it took a while for the captain to organize his forces. We had to wait for off-duty officers to report in and for everyone to be briefed. The delay allowed Janco and Onora to get into position, but it reduced our chances of catching anyone. Hopefully they’d trail whoever bailed. If that was the case, one of them would eventually return to let me know where the smugglers went.
“Speed is better than surprise,” I said to Captain Fleming for the tenth time. “They already know we’re coming.”
Sure enough, the factory was empty by the time we arrived later that afternoon. I hoped Janco had witnessed the exodus. At least I had a couple of hours of sunlight left to search the place. Papers littering the office, drawers hanging open and scuffs on the floor were all evidence of their hasty exit. In the factory, not much remained behind except for the equipment. Not even one of those casks. The rooms on the second floor remained full of storage, and I suspected the boxes had been left over from the previous tenants.
I scanned a few of the documents, looking for information. The captain tsked over the vats of half-pulped Curare vines and insisted everything would be destroyed.
“Didn’t you recognize the smell?” I asked.
“Nope. We’re not allowed to carry Curare. That’s only for the bigger cities.” He assigned a man to collect all the papers to bring back to the station to analyze.
I righted an office chair and sat. Hard to believe they managed to empty the place in twelve hours. Perhaps they had a hidden storeroom and after all the commotion died down, they’d return for the rest of their stock. Maybe in a basement?
While the officers cataloged the equipment and inventoried the storage rooms’ boxes, I searched for a hidden door. I ran my fingers along the walls in case an entrance had been concealed by a magical illusion. Soon my hands turned black with grime. After encountering a couple of dead ends, I found a small stairwell. At first, it appeared to go to only the second floor. However, an invisible metal seam marked the floor underneath the steps. Feeling my way, I discovered a square metal panel.
I triggered my switchblade and pried the edge of the panel up, revealing a hole of darkness. Another illusion? Digging in my pack, I pulled out my lantorch and lit the filament, hoping I had enough oil to last awhile.
The light reflected off a metal ladder descending into the darkness. I waited, listening for any sounds from below. All remained quiet. I climbed down. When I reached the floor, I turned, shining the light around the space.
Bingo! Barrels lined the floor along with piles of boxes. Crates had been hastily stacked against the right wall. But no casks. On the far side was an opening into another room. I entered and spotted more barrels. The Commander’s white brandy must sell well in Sitia.
A faint click sounded just as I was about to turn around to report my find to the captain. I hurried to the ladder, but the hatch above had been closed.
“I told him it wouldn’t work,” Ben said.
I spun. What I’d thought was a stack of crates was actually an illusion. Ben, another man, a woman and two goons stood in its place. The lady must be Rika, the magician who created the illusion. They had their weapons drawn, but appeared relaxed. Probably because they’d erected a null shield.
“Tell who?” I asked in a calm voice, although my heart recognized the danger and urged me to bolt.
Ben huffed in amusement. “You don’t remember and yet you found us anyway. Amazing.”
I bowed. “Thank you.”
“How did you find us?”
“I didn’t think you could clear out the entire factory in—”
“Not that. How did you know we were in Lapeer?”
No reason to lie. “A lucky guess.”
“She’s lying,” one of the men said. “Why didn’t you go west with your brother and the others?”
&
nbsp; To admit to being locked in protective custody hurt too much. Instead, I said, “Your clues were too obvious. In fact, they all looped north and have surrounded the factory. You might as well surrender now.”
Alarmed, Ben asked, “Drey, you said they headed west.”
“They did,” Drey the goon said. “She’s bluffing.”
Better than being called a liar. Progress. I acted unconcerned, but I inched toward the ladder. “Believe what you want.”
“It doesn’t matter. Once the town watch leaves the factory, Rika can hide us with her magic,” Ben said.
Uh-oh. Even if Captain Fleming realized I’d disappeared, he couldn’t see through a magical illusion. I slid into a fighting stance, keeping a firm grip on my switchblade.
“In the meantime,” Ben said, “you’re here and so am I. And do you know who’s not here?”
“Your mother?”
“Cute. The Boss isn’t here to save your life this time.” Ben tightened his grip on his sword.
The Boss! Memories of being held down with Ben ready to plunge his knife into my stomach surged. But the Boss’s identity remained elusive.
Rika touched his arm. “There’s a good reason why he doesn’t want her dead.”
Ben rounded on her. “What else can we do? She won’t stay away.”
I moved closer to the ladder.
“Incapacitate her,” Rika suggested. “Let the Boss decide.”
Time for me to leave. I tossed my lantorch at them, grabbed the rungs and climbed.
“Tyen,” Ben said.
Oh no. Tyen’s magic could move large objects, including me. Except a cold dart pricked my neck. I yanked it from my skin, but it was too late.
“That doesn’t work on her. Use one of the barrels.”
As the room spun, I knew I was in big trouble. My foot slipped off the ladder and I slid back to the ground. Darkness pressed along the edges of my vision. Not Curare. A sleeping potion? Poison? A heavy object slammed into me, knocking me to the ground, sending me into oblivion.
* * *
I woke to the rumbling vibrations of wagon wheels over cobblestones. My head ached, pain ringed my wrists and ankles, and dry cotton filled my mouth. It didn’t take long for me to learn the full extent of my predicament. Lying flat on my back in a wagon, I stared at a canvas covering that hung inches from my nose. No light shone through the fabric. Nighttime.
Gagged and tied spread-eagle to the sides of the wagon, I’d been effectively neutralized. Had they figured out the sleeping potion worked or did they assume the barrel had knocked me unconscious? Did it matter? Since I’d been bluffing people based on my reputation alone...yes, it did matter. Very much.
The only thing that kept me from panicking was the hope that Captain Fleming realized I was missing. Also Ben might be taking me to the same location as the other shipments where Janco and Onora should be. A thin hope, but better than nothing.
I marked time by the noise from the wheels. The jarring shake of cobblestones stopped and the crunch of gravel signaled we’d left the main streets of a town. Then the smooth, quiet hum of either a dirt or grass path meant we were in the countryside between towns. Keeping track of the cycles of noise, I’d counted three towns when we slowed after reaching the outskirts of the third town.
We turned left and lurched over uneven ground before hinges squeaked and what sounded like doors clicked shut. Lantern light cast shadows on the canvas covering. Voices talked, but not close enough for me to understand the words. The familiar jingle of a harness indicated someone worked at unhitching the team of horses. This stop could be our final destination. My stomach skittered. Bad choice of words.
The distant voices grew louder as the speakers moved toward my position. Ben and another man argued. The Boss? Something about his superior tone seemed familiar.
“...doesn’t matter now. He knows what you’re up to,” Ben said. “He has plenty of inventory. Cut your losses and run.”
“I’d planned to renegotiate, but now you’ve screwed that up, too.”
“What else was I supposed to do?”
“Disappear like I ordered after I rescued you from Wirral,” the Boss said.
“I endured three years of hell in that prison,” Ben said. “And she put me there. She deserves to die.”
“We’ve discussed this. If she dies, then the Master Magicians, the Sitian Council and Valek will all be breathing down our necks. Even if we’re arrested, Valek will still find us and kill us. No. I have a better idea.”
A better idea? I didn’t like the sound of that. The wagon tilted as someone climbed onto it. The canvas was pulled away and there stood—
“Hello, Yelena. Remember me?”
30
VALEK
“Kiki’s at the gate and she brought friends?” Valek asked the guard, just to ensure he’d heard the man right. He kept a tight grasp on his emotions. No sense worrying until he had all the facts.
“Yes, sir.”
“Who’s with her?”
“Ah...it would be best for you to see for yourself, sir.”
“All right.” Valek followed the guard back to the castle complex’s main gate. Sure enough, Kiki stood on the other side with two riders. The last two people he’d expect, but not unwelcome, either. “Let them in,” he ordered.
Kiki didn’t wait. She cleared the gate with one leap, then butted his chest with her head. He stroked her neck, but his attention focused on Devlen and then Reema, sitting in front. She wore Yelena’s cloak.
“While I’m glad to see you both, I’m curious why you’re here,” he said.
“It is a long story.” Devlen dismounted. He helped Reema from the saddle.
She gazed at the castle with rapt attention. Kiki, on the other hand, drooped with fatigue. Valek ran a hand down her legs, checking for hot spots.
“She kept a brisk pace and would not stop for long,” Devlen said.
“Let’s take care of Kiki and then we’ll talk.” Valek pulled Yelena’s saddle from her back and carried it to the stable while Kiki plodded beside him.
Devlen and Reema trailed behind, gawking at the sights. Valek clamped down on the million questions boiling up his throat. The castle’s Stable Master tsked over Kiki. He assigned her two favorite lads to attend to her. Satisfied, Valek led the others to his office.
Many of the household staff and soldiers stared at Devlen. Hard to blame them, considering his size and skin color. Unlike the pale Ixians, his bronzed skin stood out. Then add Sitian clothes, a powerful build, a scimitar hanging from his belt and a nasty-looking scar on his neck and he was the definition of intimidating. Devlen ignored the attention. He held Reema’s hand.
Valek ushered them into his office. Ari sat at his desk, but jumped to his feet as soon as he spotted Valek.
“I just finished sketching the security around that warehouse,” Ari said. Then he grinned. “Devlen! What brings you here?” He shook Devlen’s hand. “Tired of beating up those wimpy Sitians and decided to come up here for a real fight?”
“I wish. I have been too busy trying to outsmart a crafty fox who finds new and unique ways to avoid going to school every morning,” Devlen said. “Ari, meet my daughter, Reema.”
Ari crouched down to her eye level. “Nice to meet you.” He took her hand and pumped it once.
“Hello,” she said, gazing at him in awe. “Ari as in ‘Ari and Janco’?”
“Yup.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you two.”
Valek fought to keep a straight face.
Ari straightened. “Is that so? What have you been saying, Devlen?”
“Not me. Yelena. She tells Reema stories before bed. Seems the ones with you and Janco put Reema right to sleep.”
“Ouch.” But Ari la
ughed.
Yelena’s name cut through Valek’s amusement. “Ari, why don’t you give Reema a tour? Make sure you show her the Commander’s war room. She’ll love seeing the stained glass.”
“All right. Come on, Reema. I’ll even show you where Janco likes to hide when he doesn’t want to do paperwork.”
Reema glanced at Devlen. He nodded and she hurried after Ari, already asking questions.
As soon as the door shut, Devlen said, “Yelena’s fine—at least the last I heard.”
Relief shot through him. He gestured to a chair. “Sit down. Would you like a drink?”
“Yes.” Devlen plopped into the chair.
“Tea? Water? Or something stronger?”
“Stronger. It has been a long four days.”
Valek poured two shots of whiskey and handed one to Devlen before sitting down behind his desk. Devlen drank his in one gulp. Valek followed suit and poured them both another.
“What’s going on?” Valek asked.
Devlen tossed back the second shot. “Do you know about Ben Moon’s escape?”
“Yes. And I received Yelena’s message that he and his cohorts might be in Ixia. I dispatched agents to MD-5 but, so far, we haven’t seen any sign of them.”
“That’s because they were in Fulgor. Now the authorities believe Ben and his gang are headed west.”
“With Yelena and her colleagues chasing after?”
“No. Yelena is in the holding cells at the Fulgor security headquarters.”
Valek stilled. “For a very good reason. Right?”
“To keep her safe.”
“That’s extreme.”
Devlen sighed. “Did Yelena message you about her magic?”
A cold mist of fear settled on Valek. “No. What about her magic?”
As Devlen filled him in on Yelena’s predicament, Valek employed every ounce of self-control not to interrupt. His emotions cycled from fear and worry to fury that she hadn’t confided in him and then back through them all again at least twice more.
“...understand why Leif had her placed in protective custody?” Devlen asked.
“Yes.” Valek was halfway to the door before he realized he’d even stood up. “Come on. She won’t be locked in there for long.” And she was a sitting duck. The Mosquito would be stupid not to use that golden opportunity to make another attempt to assassinate her. Irys’s message about Yelena being vulnerable and the rumors Arbon heard made more sense now. He understood why Irys had been vague. She’d probably assumed Yelena had told Valek about losing her magic.