To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(61)

Jiandra sat up straighter. “Thinking back over the images I glimpsed in Terijin’s thoughts, of what I thought at the time was a cult meeting—perhaps it was a recruitment meeting. If Uman was a supporter of Thakur’s heir, then perhaps he was helping plan the rebellion, and that’s what Terijin was involved in. Didn’t Terijin keep insisting the two of you were usurpers after we arrested him?”

“Yes.” Yavi sipped his katsuri, then leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Jiandra, tell us anything you remember about the stone fortress you said you saw in Terijin’s thoughts. What did it look like?”

“Dilapidated, dark. I had the impression that the room I saw Uman and Terijin in was underground.”

“There’s an abandoned stone guard tower just outside Faril,” Yajna said. “But it’s barely standing. It was a lookout point in the days of Nandala’s wars with Xilaterra, because it’s near our eastern border with them.”

“Does it have enough space to house a couple hundred men?” Jiandra asked. “Because the room I saw in Terijin’s mind was quite large.”

“No, it’s only a tower. Far as I know.”

Yavi spoke up. “Tomorrow when we meet with the generals, brother, let’s find out what they know about any abandoned fortresses in Nandala. If Uman was helping this son of Thakur plan a rebellion, the members of it could still be meeting there.”

“Tejeshwar has given us an advantage over the enemy, brother.” Yajna smiled. “We shall infiltrate his fortress and assassinate him before he can launch an attack, and save many innocent lives in needless fighting.”

“Excellent plan.” Yavi toasted his twin.

Graciella glanced from one brother’s face to the other, worried.

§

After Yajna and Jiandra said good night and left the study, Yavi turned to his lovely female companion and offered her his arm. “Would you like me to escort you to your room now, Miss Stovy?”

“Yes.” She slipped her arm through his, then pulled it back. “No, I forgot—I’m not touching you anymore. And have you spoken to Wolfan about standing guard in my room tonight?”

“Wolfan isn’t here. I gave him the night off.” He started walking toward her room.

Graciella stopped and placed her hands on her hips. “You gave him the night off?”

Yavi turned to face her, trying to hide his smile at his own cleverness. “Yes. I had Captain Harshad check Wolfan’s schedule. Poor man had worked for thirty days straight with no day off. He was long overdue.”

“Well…? Where did he go?”

“Probably into town to get drunk at the tavern and find a wench to bed.”

Graciella glared at him.

“So, your choices of personal guards to stay with you in your room tonight are either me, or me.”

She folded her arms. “Maybe I’ll stay alone tonight.”

“As you wish. I’ll bid you good night, then.” He inclined his head to her and started to walk past her back to his study.

“Wait!” She caught his arm to stop him.

He looked down at her dainty little hand, then raised his eyebrow. “Tsk, tsk—no touching, Miss Stovy.” He plucked her hand off his sleeve.

“Yavi,” she scolded. “Please…please just go with me and have a look around my room before you go to bed.”

“As you wish. Shall we proceed, then?” He motioned with his hand for her to go ahead of him.

When they arrived at her door, he reached for the handle and pushed it open tentatively, acting as if something were about to jump out at them. He peered into the room with feigned nervousness.

She slapped his bicep, giggling. “Stop it! You’re scaring me.”

“Ow.” He rubbed his arm. “No touching!”

“Just hurry up and open the door.”

He swung it open all the way, and it clattered against something that fell to the floor with a loud thunk. Much to his delight, Graciella grabbed his arm with both hands and plastered herself to his side.

He chuckled, looking behind the door to see what had fallen. “Is this your coatrack?”

She leaned forward to see. “Oh. Yes. I guess someone moved it to the other side of the door.” She released his arm and smoothed the skirt of her dress down while he picked up the fallen coatrack.

“Well, looks good to me. Fire’s lit, room’s warm. Only one piece of mysteriously moved furniture. Good night.” He pretended he was about to go.

“Wait! You haven’t searched the room for ghosts yet.”

He hid a smile. “Are you adding that to my list of services to be performed? I thought I was simply escorting you here and having a look at the room.”

“Have a look around the room,” she corrected him.

“My apologies, milady.” He stepped into the center of the room and did a slow spin, examining everything. “Right. Looks okay to me.”

“Look under the bed and in the armoire.”

He stooped to see under her bed, then strode over to open the doors to her armoire. “All clear. Good night.”

She stopped him from leaving by grasping his arm as he swept past. He looked down at her hands. “Graciella, for a person who’s determined not to touch me anymore, I have to say, you are doing a fair amount of touching.”