Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(76)

Looping around to the back, Valek stood close to the hall and lowered his mental barrier. No magic buzzed, other than from the power blanket around him. He pressed his palm to the cool stone.

Nothing. Or so he thought. A...consciousness sought him, as if drawn by his magic. Valek quickly raised his shield, but distant shouts cut through the quiet night, and the unmistakable sound of drumming boots echoed. He cursed.





18





HELI


When they arrived at the gate, Heli halted Thunder. “Are you sure your grandparents won’t mind?” she asked Teegan, who stopped beside her. “There are four of us.”

“For the twenty-third time, no. My grandparents will be thrilled.” Teegan dismounted to unlock the gate.

“Until you tell them we’re being hunted by the Cartel,” Zohav muttered darkly.

Everyone ignored her. Zohav had an annoying tendency to exaggerate the direness of every situation, and Heli was too hot and tired to correct her. Yes, the Cartel sought them, but the Cartel had no idea where they were—unless they’d intercepted the message to Fisk, informing him of their new location. Which she doubted, since Fisk’s people were ignored by most adults. No, the missive would have reached Fisk by now.

It had taken them forever to reach Teegan’s grandparents’ home in Booruby. They had traveled a circuitous route to ensure no one followed them, which added more time to the trip, so they reached the city on the fourth day of the heating season. And it was confirmed that Thunder was the slowest horse in Sitia. The cream-colored horse in the Stormdancer’s stable turned out to be Teegan’s mount—a sweet mare named Caramel. Plus Smoke showed no signs of fatigue, even with the twins riding together. Meanwhile, Heli could have walked behind and pushed her horse faster.

The hinges squealed as Teegan swung the gate wide. He led them up to the large stone farmhouse. Instead of a farm, there was a glass factory, a few sheds and a small stable that looked new. Puffs of light gray smoke blew from a chimney atop the factory. The Avibian Plains surrounded the small complex on three sides, leaving only one direction open for an attack. Heli approved.

A short woman with graying hair opened the door to the house. She put her hand up to block the sun from her eyes.

“Hi, Grandmom!” Teegan gave her a quick hug. She peered at them over his shoulder. If she was surprised by their arrival, she hid it well.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him. “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”

“Oh, yeah, she sounds thrilled,” Zohav said in a low voice.

“Hush,” Zethan scolded her.

“The Magician’s Keep is closed. Haven’t you heard?” Teegan asked.

“No. Why didn’t you go home, if that’s the case?”

“Uh, Grandmom, can we discuss this inside?”

Her demeanor changed in an instant. “Of course! Where are my manners? Your friends must be thirsty.” She gestured to the stables. “Please feel free to use our facilities. There’s grain and hay, but I’m not sure how fresh it is. It’s been a while since we had equine visitors.”

Teegan trotted over to Caramel, but Heli waved him off. “Go explain things to your grandmother. We’ll take care of the horses.”

Not wishing to intrude, the three of them took their time grooming and settling the horses. When they finished, Heli grabbed her saddle bags and headed to the house with the twins. The door opened before they arrived. Teegan stepped to the side to allow them into a large, comfortable kitchen. A fire burned in the vast hearth. Pots of delicious-smelling edibles bubbled on the coals. Heli’s stomach growled but, unsure of their welcome, they remained by the door, standing awkwardly. The older woman finished stirring one of the pots and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Grandmom, this is Heli, Zethan and his sister, Zohav,” Teegan said.

“You’re welcome to stay here with us until you’re needed.” She gripped the stained fabric of her skirt in a tight fist.

“Thank you, Mrs. Cowan,” Heli said.

“Please, call me Vyncenza. Teegan will show you to your rooms. Supper will be ready soon.”

Teegan led them through a living area and up a set of stairs. The air smelled of anise and cinnamon.

“What did you tell her?” Zethan asked.

“She’d already heard rumors about the Cartel but didn’t know what was really going on.”

“No, I mean about us?”

“Oh, that.” Teegan shrugged. “I told her we were helping Aunt Yelena and Uncle Valek, and they told us to lie low until they needed us.”

Which explained why the woman fretted with her skirt. Yes, Teegan was a powerful magician, but he was only fourteen and her grandchild.

“Does she know that we’re Valek’s...you know,” Zethan said.

He flashed a grin. “Didn’t have to. She’s quick, but she thought you were his children and was worried about Aunt Yelena’s reaction.”

Zohav choked. “Bad enough being his sister—”

“I wish I had a sister,” Heli said to distract her. “Being an only child, I didn’t have anyone else to play with, and I had my parents’ attention all the time. It would have been nice to share that pressure with another sibling.”