Night Study (Soulfinders #2)(104)

“Smart,” Valek agreed.

She snorted. “You make sure they’re safe.” It wasn’t a request.

“Yes, sir.”

“If anything happens to them, I’m holding you responsible.”

Mortified, Zethan said, “Mother, he’s not going to babysit us. We can take care of ourselves.”

“As long as there’s no pirates in Sitia,” Zebulon said.

“Shut up, Zeb.” Zethan punched him on the arm.

She ignored her sons. “And you bring this Yelena to meet us.”

Another order, but one that meant so much more. “Yes, sir.”

Mother gave him a curt nod, then she hugged each of the twins. Zethan mounted Smoke, and Zohav sat behind Valek. He clicked his tongue and Onyx trotted through the gate. Unlike the last time he’d left twenty-eight years ago, this time he planned to return.

*

Valek and the twins approached the rendezvous location four days into the warm season and eleven days after they’d left Icefaren. Eleven days of dealing with his super-active senses, the twins’ questions, their thoughts and emotions, and worrying about Yelena. Was she there or not?

When they were half a mile away, Kiki’s whinny shot right through him. Relief and joy to see Yelena infused him. Onyx broke into a run with Smoke right behind him.

Arriving with a cloud of dust, Valek stopped Onyx. Kiki butted her head against the black horse. Valek peered over her, searching for Yelena. Signs of a campfire and other evidence of camp littered the clearing. But no Yelena, no other horses, no Ari or Janco.

He turned stone-cold. “Stay on the horses and keep quiet,” Valek ordered the twins. Dismounting, he freed his sword with his right hand while grabbing a dagger with his left.

One thing kept him from panicking. Kiki. She wasn’t agitated or upset. A rustling sounded from the woods. He spun, then relaxed as his new senses spotted Fisk carrying a water skin. Fisk’s presence meant bad news, but not immediate danger. By the time Fisk reached him, Valek had sheathed his weapons.

Before the young man could say a word, Valek demanded, “Where’s Yelena?”

“She’s been captured by Bruns Jewelrose.”

A wave of icy fear washed through him, followed by a molten fury that promised Bruns would regret the decision to apprehend her. At least she wasn’t dead. Valek focused on that, or else he’d lose the tight control he had on his emotions. “Ari and Janco?”

“Trying to rescue her and Leif. He was captured first and...” Fisk spread his arms.

“Do you know where they are?”

“Yes.”

One bit of good news. He hooked a thumb in the twins’ direction. “I need to take them to the Magician’s Keep, then we can talk to the Master Magicians and devise—”

“You can’t go the the Keep.”

“Why not?”

“There’s no one there.”





27


JANCO


Janco touched his smooth chin for the billionth time. Gah. He’d had his goatee for years. He loved it, but shaving it had been part of his disguise. Janco’s exposed skin tingled as if the entire garrison saw right through him. Plus his head itched from the red dye, and the fake ear made him sweat. One of these days, he’d impersonate a wealthy businessman for a change. He’d wear tailored silk clothing, expensive jewelry, be surrounded by a cloud of sycophants and... Who was he kidding? Grunts blended in; businessmen with minions did not.

Suppressing a sigh, he picked up a practice sword and sparred with a soldier wannabe. Keeping half his attention on the out-of-shape farmer, Janco watched the armory. Yelena and her thugs had disappeared inside not long ago.

One good thing about the training yard—no magic. Most of the outdoor areas were clean, but magic infected the barracks and canteen. He spent his nights sneaking into the various buildings or reporting information to Ari. The big guy remained on the outside to liaise with Fisk and his people.

Bruns strode toward the armory. By his stiff gait and the short swings of his arms, Janco figured he was either agitated or angry. Bruns entered the building and after a few minutes, Bruns and Yelena left, walking arm in arm. They both smiled, but Janco didn’t like it. Not at all. Something wasn’t right.

He let the wannabe disarm him. “Sweet move, puppy dog. You’re just too good for me. I’d better go find someone more my speed.” His ego shuddered with the blow, but showing off his superior skills would be the opposite of blending in.

Janco slipped away from the training yard and followed Yelena and Bruns to the administration building. The two thugs remained outside. A good or bad thing? He wasn’t sure. Finding an inconspicuous spot to wait, Janco kept an eye on the door.

To pass the time, he sized up the thugs and decided he could take them both by himself, if the ruckus didn’t cause every wannabe to come running. The problem with this place was not being able to tell the grunts from the magicians. They all wore the same uniform, which was a sound military tactic. No sense letting your enemy know who to target. But his magic mojo failed to work as well here. The power flooded the buildings and he couldn’t home in on the magicians.

They needed Valek. His ability to feel magic was more sensitive. Janco hoped Fisk would return soon. Kiki had only allowed Fisk to ride her. She had to be the one to go, since Kiki knew the rendezvous location and was smart enough to avoid the border guards.