Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(81)

“You dusted. Thanks.”

She bit into a piece of ham. “I was bored.”

We ate the rest of the meal in silence. I kept glancing at the door, as if my will alone would cause Valek to appear.

“My aunt also had strange cravings for food,” Onora said. “One time, she sent me to the market for eggs—dozens of eggs. We ate omelets and scrambled eggs for a week straight.” She laughed at the memory.

“How long did you live with her?” All humor fled her face, and I wished I hadn’t asked the question.

“About six years. My dad left us a year before my mom died. She sickened with a lung infection, and by the time the medic determined the source, it was too late.” Onora stared into the past. “Same with my aunt. We lived too far from help, and my uncle wouldn’t let her travel to town when the baby was due. He said the midwife would do fine, even though both the midwife and my aunt thought the baby was breech.” Her shoulders stiffened, but then she drew in a quick breath as if she’d realized something. “Not that it will happen to you! Valek will have you surrounded by healers and medics. You don’t have to worry.”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Right now my priority was for Valek and me to survive the Cartel’s takeover. Once that happened, then I could focus on our future.

I checked the door. Still closed.

When Valek failed to show up by midafternoon, I decided I wasn’t waiting any longer. I touched up my disguise.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Onora asked.

“While you check the Council Hall, I’m going to visit Cahil’s headquarters. Maybe he has some information on Valek.”

“No. It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m not asking permission.” No way I’d sit here another minute.

“Cahil might not even be there.”

“Then I’ll find Phelen, see if he’s seen or heard anything.”

“What if Valek shows up before one of us returns? You know he’ll panic when no one’s here.”

“Nice try. We can leave him a ‘be back soon’ note.”

Onora muttered under her breath, but then said, “I’m coming with you.”

Not like I could stop her. “Fine.”

*

We looped around the Council Hall just in case Valek had stayed there to watch the traffic.

“Do you want me to go inside?” Onora asked. “See if they’ve caught him?”

I considered. Valek wasn’t easy to catch. “Not yet. If there’s no sign of him, that’ll be plan B.”

Our next stop was Cahil’s headquarters. A shudder rumbled through me when I stepped inside the abandoned warehouse. The time I’d spent here hadn’t been pleasant.

No one guarded the entrance. I followed the dust-free path through the stacks of dirty crates that littered the floor. The place smelled of grease, rusted metal and mold. When we arrived at the top of the stairs that led down to Cahil’s underground offices, we spotted a faint yellow glow. At least one person was here, probably more.

Onora pulled her daggers and slid off her boots before signaling me to follow her down the stairs. I grabbed my switchblade but didn’t trigger the blade.

The light brightened, and the murmur of a distant conversation floated on the air. By the time we reached the bottom, I recognized Hanni’s and Faxon’s voices. Onora eased into the room so quietly, they didn’t hear her.

“...going to be hard keeping silent when—” Hanni jerked to her feet with her sword in hand when I entered. Faxon followed a second after.

Guess I wasn’t as stealthy as Onora. No one moved. They blinked at us for a moment before relaxing.

Hanni sheathed her weapon. “No need to sneak up on us. We’re on the same side.”

Onora shrugged. “Habit.” She scanned the area. The room was filled with desks, and a door in the back led to Cahil’s office. “Are you alone?”

“Yes. I guess you heard about Valek.”

My pulse jumped. “No. What happened?” My tone was sharp and squeaked in panic.

“Then why—”

“What happened?” Must. Not. Shake. Her.

“Master Magician Zitora Cowan detected him near the Council Hall, and they’ve been hunting him all morning.”

I sank into a nearby chair. They didn’t have him. Yet. “Hunting?”

“Yes. General Cahil was summoned to the Hall an hour ago to help with the efforts. Master Zitora can track Valek within a few blocks, so they are setting up an ambush and plan to steer him into it.”

“Where?” Onora asked.

“The messenger said they spotted him on the roof of the third ring.”

Onora glanced at me. “Third ring?”

“It’s one of the business and factory rings that are located around the market,” I said. “Hanni, do you know his position on that ring?” Otherwise, it’d be miles of ground to cover.

“Northeast.”

Still a rather large area, but it was better than nothing. I thanked her. We dashed up the stairs. Onora snagged her boots as we crossed the warehouse.

“The intel’s an hour old,” Onora said, pausing at the door to put on her boots. No need for stealth. Not yet.