Hot steamy air along with the rich earthy smells of the jungle puffed in his face when he opened the door. Janco entered. Various plants and bushes filled the room along with pools of water and two red-hot woodstoves. A thick vine wove through the foliage. The Curare vine.
This was bad. Really bad. If they were growing their own vines here, they could be growing them anywhere. He’d assumed they brought the vines up from the Illiais Jungle. That would be easier to stop than finding these little glass hothouses.
Time to leave. Janco exited the...jungle. He turned to relock the door and a sharp point pricked him in the back.
Three sharp points, actually.
“Hands up,” a voice said.
Damn. Not much he could do. He spread his arms, but kept his hands low. They took his sword, knife and lock picks. Well, one set, anyway. Then manacled his hands behind his back. Pushing on his shoulder, they led him to another building. Not the chattiest bunch, either, which meant he’d been ambushed by a trio of grunts. A blow to his ego, for sure.
A number of people were inside the new building. The guy he guessed was Ben was there, but also another man he recognized, who stood inside a wagon. This had gone beyond bad. Janco was screwed.
“Well, well, well. Isn’t this just a happy reunion? Yelena, guess who came to visit? Your friend...Janco, is it?”
“Pretty good memory for a dead guy,” Janco said. He glanced around, but didn’t see Yelena. She must be on the floor of the wagon and under a null shield, otherwise the jerk wouldn’t be so cocky.
Owen Moon beamed at him. “I always remember the faces and names of my enemies. I don’t want to forget to kill anyone.”
32
YELENA
What little hope I had of being rescued shrank even more when Janco’s sarcastic voice sounded. He’d been captured, too. And from his comments, he was as surprised as I had been upon seeing Owen Moon alive and well. Despite the Commander’s message to the Sitian Council, informing them of Owen’s execution four years ago. Why hadn’t the Commander killed him? The answer flashed in my mind.
Owen had been busy working for the Commander. And it didn’t take a genius to guess what he had been doing—learning how to manufacture Curare.
But why would the Commander wish to shut Owen down? Owen smirked at me. His posture like a hunter’s, gloating over his kill. Cocky bastard. And I’d bet that particular personality trait of his was what had pissed the Commander off. He’d rescued his brother, alerting the Sitians, and I’d guess he was selling Curare to other interested parties. Yep, I’d wager more than a few gold coins that was what had happened.
Of course, it would have been useful to have figured this out sooner. Before I’d been tied to the wagon and gagged. The knowledge didn’t help my situation. Nor Janco’s.
“Where is your companion?” Owen asked Janco for the second time.
No answer. Janco would never tell him.
“Loris, jog his memory,” Owen ordered.
Janco cried out. A thump sounded. “Nooo...” He groaned.
Helpless, I struggled against the ropes as I listened to Janco’s distress increase as Loris pulled the information from Janco’s mind. I’d been assaulted the same way when I’d first arrived at the Magician’s Keep. Janco had another reason to hate magic. Right now, I hated it, too.
Janco yelped. Then grunted. More than a few moments passed.
“What’s taking so long?” Owen demanded.
“His thoughts are...jumbled. Chaotic.”
Go Janco!
“Crack a few ribs. That’ll give him something to focus on.”
I braced for the impact even though I wasn’t the target. The thud echoed in my chest as Janco’s breath whooshed out.
Another pause and then Loris said, “She returned to Lapeer to rendezvous with Yelena.”
“What about Valek? Is he on the way?” Owen asked.
Valek! Reema and Devlen should have reached the castle by now. Devlen would have told him everything. Valek was probably angry at me. No, not probably. Furious would be the correct term. Although, keeping secrets was a part of both our jobs. Should I be upset with him for not telling me about Owen? Did Valek even know about him? Hopefully, I’d have a chance to ask him after Owen’s arrest. Might as well think positive.
“Last time he talked to Valek, the assassin planned to remain at the castle, collecting information.” Loris huffed in amusement. “He didn’t have time to send a message to Valek about what he has discovered in Lapeer.”
“Good. And the Commander? Any info on him?” Owen asked.
“Nothing new. The Commander is still intent on shutting down our smuggling routes into Ixia.”
“Does Janco know how the Commander found out about our...side business?”
“No.”
“Take him down to the cellar. Stake him down to the floor spread-eagle. These Ixians have weapons and lock picks hidden everywhere. It’s best just to keep their hands and feet far apart.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sounds of a scuffle reached me along with another thud. Then nothing. Poor Janco.
“Send out a couple patrols,” Owen ordered. “His companion will be back and we need to pick her up before she has a chance to send a report north.”
“Yes, sir.”
Owen looked down. “Now you’ll get my full attention.” He crouched beside me. “My hunting expedition inside your mind was very educational. While I’m not happy the memories I planted in your head didn’t work, I discovered something very interesting about you.” His expression was downright gleeful.
I’d panic. But I’d been in a state of ever-increasing panic since I woke up tied to the wagon and saw Owen. I was beyond mere panic and into the realms of mind-numbing terror at this point.
Owen stroked my throat. I recoiled from his touch.
“Oh, please.” He pulled on the chain around my neck, tugging my octopus pendant free of my shirt.
Pain bit into my skin as he yanked the necklace, breaking the chain.
“Oops.” Owen dropped it over the side of the wagon. It shattered. He pressed his hand on my chest near the base of my throat.
An uncomfortable burning sensation spread throughout my body. The skin on my scalp crawled. Goose bumps rose despite the heat. A reaction to his magic? The strange conflicting feelings stopped as fast as they started.
Owen laughed. “Too bad I wasted perfectly good Theobroma on you when I didn’t have to. You’re just a regular girl now. How wonderful.” He untied my gag, removing it.
Relief flowed into my cheeks and I worked my mouth and tongue to produce moisture.
He sat back on his heels. “What is blocking your magic?”
“I’ve no idea.” My voice rasped. I told him about the attack in the woods. Why not? “At first, I thought it was one of Ben’s cohorts.”
“The plan was for everyone to lie low. Until my idiot brother lured you to our hideout in Fulgor. It wasn’t us. Seems you’re just a very unpopular girl,” Owen said. “You shouldn’t be surprised. And now someone has gone to considerable trouble to neutralize you with that attack in the woods. Your death will cause too much trouble. So that’s a perfect solution—spread the word that you’re powerless, and let another person target you. Or rather, dozens of others in your case. Too bad it won’t work for me.”
“Because I know too much.”
“Right. And unless you want to swear loyalty to me...?”
“No.”
“Thought so. But not to worry. This time when I erase your memories, I won’t make the same mistake.”
“Mistake?”
“I only erased a few hours of your life. This time, I’m going to erase everything. You won’t even remember your name.”
“That’s...??
? Fear closed my throat.
“Clever. I know. Loris and Cilly are very talented with mental communication and the three of us make a great team. How do you think I stayed dead all these years?”
“When?”
“As soon as we catch your colleague. It’ll be easier to do all three of you at once.”
A momentary reprieve.
“Go ahead, ask,” Owen said in his smug tone.
“Was it the Commander’s idea?”
“Not at first. He was ready to send me to the noose, but I pleaded for my life. And argued that I could help him by getting him Curare. Actually, I should thank you, Yelena. Your efforts to change the Commander’s mind about magicians in Ixia helped sway him.”
Lovely. “And he funded your research.”
“Yes.”
“And you had to screw it up by rescuing your brother.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “I couldn’t leave him in that hellhole.”
“But you could leave your wife, Selene, in Dawnwood Prison?”
“She’s a traitor.”
“According to the Commander, so are you.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I braced for his reaction.
He curled a fist, but didn’t swing. “The fervor over Ben would have eventually died down.”
“I was referring to you selling Curare to other customers. That’s why the Commander is going to shut you down. You can erase our memories, but eventually, he’ll send Valek and his corps after you.”
Owen grinned, but the humor failed to reach his eyes. “Oh, don’t you worry about me. I’ve discovered something big that will please the Commander, and all will be forgiven.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “And that is?”
“Nice try, but I’m not stupid.”
True. Overconfidence and greed would trip him up. If it hadn’t already. “The Commander is not the forgiving type.”
“I’m touched you’re so concerned.” Owen straightened. He called to his men. “Take her down with Janco. Secure her in the same manner.” Hopping off the wagon, he disappeared from my view.
A couple of his goons untied me, but kept a firm hold. My stiff leg and arm muscles protested the movement as blood rushed to my hands and feet. I considered fighting the two men, but once I stood upright, I spotted a number of other guards in the building. And Ben leaned against the wall, watching with a satisfied smirk.
The musty smell of hay tickled my nose as they escorted me to a hatch in the wooden floor. The high-vaulted ceiling suggested that this building had once been a barn. I glanced out the window. Weak sunlight shone on the glass—early morning. If Owen’s men didn’t find Onora, we might be here awhile, which was a good thing. More time for... What? Not sure what I could do without my magic.
We walked down a ramp into the semidark dampness below. The root cellar had earthen walls and a hard-packed dirt floor. Two oversize musclemen sat in chairs near the base of the ramp. Daggers hung from their belts. Behind them was Janco.
“Can we gag this idiot?” one of the guards asked my companions. “He won’t shut up and is driving us crazy.”
Good news. If Janco had enough energy to harass his guards, it meant he wasn’t as hurt as I’d feared.
The guy on my left shrugged. “Sure. The Boss shouldn’t mind.” He handed me off to the guard. “This one can join her friend.”
“Yeah?” The guard’s expression brightened as a slow smile spread, exposing broken teeth. “Can we play?”
My breath hitched. Fear bit into my guts.
“No.”
I relaxed.
“Ah, too bad.”
My two escorts left. Broken Teeth tugged me deeper into the cellar. Janco watched us, craning his head up, but he didn’t say a word. His wrists and ankles had been tied with ropes. We stopped next to Janco. Four more metal stakes had been driven into the ground.
“Your room is ready,” Broken Teeth said.
His partner chuckled. Sections of rope hung from his meaty hands. “Lie down,” he ordered.
Broken Teeth pushed on my shoulder. “Come—”
I moved. Spinning and ducking under his arm, I snagged the man’s dagger then stepped back. They wouldn’t tie me down without a fight.
“Oh, she’s feisty. I like that.” Broken Teeth advanced. “Give me back my knife before you get hurt.”
Broken Teeth lunged. I sidestepped and slashed at his stomach. He blocked my swing late and the blade cut across his forearm.
“Hey! We need help here!” the other guard yelled toward the hatch before he dropped the ropes and drew his dagger. He moved to swing in behind me.
Sparring with Broken Teeth, I countered his attacks and tried to avoid being trapped between the two men.
When boots pounded on the ramp, I knew my time was up. I faked a breakaway to the right, but then cut left, tripping over Janco. He grunted in pain when I landed on him.
“Sorry,” I said right before the guards grabbed me.
I struggled, and it took four of them to secure me to the stakes. When they finished, they nursed their bruises while I puffed with the effort, sweating. Broken Teeth found his weapon lying near Janco. Eventually, the extra guards left, leaving the original two. They returned to their seats. At least they hadn’t gagged Janco yet.
“Not bad,” Janco said to me in a low voice. “If the guards had manned up instead of crying for help, you would have had a decent shot.”
“I tried to cut and run, but that didn’t work as planned.”
“Not entirely.”
I glanced at Janco. He shot me a grin. When I had “tripped” over him, I’d slashed at the ropes near his right wrist, but I’d no idea if it was deep enough to cut through. From the gleam in his eyes and his comment, I guessed my attempt had met with some success. I hoped it was enough.
“Do they have you covered with a null shield? Damn thing screws everything up,” Janco said.
The thought of explaining to him how I was even more helpless than he believed while tied spread-eagle to a dirt floor was too depressing. “Yeah. Don’t count on my magic. How are you feeling?”
“Murderous. Just give me one minute with that magician and I’ll show him how it feels to have things ripped from you.”
“And your ribs?”
“Sore. They’ll heal. I’ve cracked my ribs dozens of times. I imagine my bones resemble a messed-up spiderweb by this point.”
“I’d prefer a broken bone than cracked ribs,” I said. “You can’t breathe or laugh or twist or sleep without pain.”
“Yeah, but if you break your leg, then you can’t walk. And a broken arm makes it harder to fight.”
“You can’t fight with cracked ribs.”
“I can.”
“Considering our present situation, I hope you’re not exaggerating.”
Janco didn’t reply right away. “So what’s Owen’s plan?”
I explained about the memory wipe.
“I’d rather be killed.” Janco sounded horrified.
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ve some memories I’d be happy to forget.” I mulled over Owen’s confidence in regaining the Commander’s trust. The Commander already had plenty of Curare. What else could Owen offer him? I mentioned it to Janco.
“Maybe he discovered a new drug from one of his jungle plants.”
“His jungle plants? Is that a euphemism for something else?”
“No. He’s growing the Curare vine in these...hot glass houses.”
“He’s growing it? That’s...” I searched for a word to describe the magnitude of this news.
“Serious trouble for all of us?”
“To put it mildly.”
“Yeah. That’s why they got the drop on me. I was still reeling.” Janc
o described what he’d found inside the hothouse before he was captured. “Do you recognize any of the other vegetation?”
“I’d have to see it.”
“Maybe Owen will give us a tour before he scrambles our brains.”
Trust Janco to put a positive spin on a bad situation. At least he was entertaining. We could be here awhile. “What are the chances of Owen’s people catching Onora?”
“No chance. She’s probably halfway to Ixia by now.”
“Why do you think that?”
“She’s smart. And she has no reason to be loyal to us. Ari would charge in here like a bull seeing a lady bull wearing red.”
“There are no lady bulls.”
“Sure there are. How do you think we get baby bulls?”
It required too much energy to explain about the bulls and the bees to Janco. “Ari would be caught right away.”
“That’s beside the point. Onora’s like Valek—cold and calculating. Well, like him when he’s not with you.”
At least that meant we had some time to figure out a way to escape. I craned my neck. Janco met my gaze and tilted his head toward the guards, then cleared his throat. The guards kept their attention on the hatch, but checked on us from time to time. I nodded my understanding.
When both guards faced forward, Janco pulled his right wrist free. He dug in the waistband of his pants and withdrew a small knife. I watched the guards and signaled with a cough whenever one turned his head our way.
After twenty minutes or so, Janco called, “Hey, boneheads! I’m hungry. Ya got anything to eat?”
I glanced at him. He appeared to be still tied to the stakes. Janco continued to harass the guards. They threatened to gag him, but he increased his taunting until Broken Teeth stood up with a growl.
He approached and pulled a cloth from his pocket. “I’ve got a snotty hankie just for you.” Broken Teeth leaned over.
Janco slashed at his throat with the small knife. The guard yelled, and then Janco grabbed the man’s dagger and stabbed it into his stomach. Broken Teeth’s partner raced up the ramp.