Night Study (Soulfinders #2)(105)
Bruns poked his head from the door and barked at the thugs. They nodded and took off. Not good. Janco debated between following the thugs or remaining in his position. Footsteps sounded behind him. He spun, grasping the hilt of his knife and stopped.
“You should give a guy a little more warning,” he said to Leif.
“I’m trying to keep a low profile.”
“Aren’t we all.”
“Yeah, well, those two bruisers that just bolted are looking for me.”
Concerned, Janco scanned the area for them. So far, so good. “How do you know?”
“We weren’t as clever as we thought. Bruns caught on that we weren’t eating the Theobroma-laced food. He just tried to use goo-goo juice on Yelena to get her to divulge everything she knows, but when I gave Bruns her darts and told him which ones had Curare, sleeping potion and goo-goo juice, I mixed them up.”
“So Yelena is...?”
“Sleeping.”
“And you know this for sure?”
“Yes. Hale used his magic to listen in on Bruns and Yelena.”
“Then you need to escape. Ari’s—”
“I’m not going anywhere without Yelena.”
“But—”
“Listen. She’ll eventually wake up and then he’ll use the goo-goo juice on her.
“She’ll blow your cover and tell Bruns about Dax and Hale’s involvement. Tonight, the three of you need to leave. This is bigger than we can handle right now. I’ll rescue Yelena and join you outside.”
“Did you see the size of those thugs? No way you’re getting to her without help,” Janco said. “Where is he holding her?”
“In the cells under the administration building.”
“Damn. There’s only one entrance. We’ll have to use the windows. It’s going to be difficult.”
“How about if I let them catch me during a rescue attempt? Bruns might think no one else will try to reach her. Is there a way I can hide lock picks or a weapon where they won’t find them?”
“Brunsie is a smart cookie.” Without thinking, Janco scratched his fake ear and almost peeled it off. Aha! “Actually, there is a way that might work, if he doesn’t kill you once you’re caught.”
“He won’t. Yelena and I are showpieces. Bruns wants us loyal to his cause. If we’re unsuccessful, he’ll probably force-feed us Theobroma and blast us until we’re mindless Bruns groupies.”
“Isn’t there an antidote? Can you use Curare to reverse the effects?”
“No. It doesn’t work that way.” Leif frowned.
“What about something else? Even poisons have antidotes.”
Leif stared at him in shock.
“What did I say?”
“Those plants...in Owen’s glass hothouses. They... We...”
“What? Spit it out, man.”
“We thought the one hybrid plant was Vossen, but it might be an antidote to Theobroma!”
“Too bad you didn’t figure this out sooner.”
“Once we’re free, it’ll be a place to start.”
“Start what?” Janco asked.
“The revolt.”
*
Janco returned to the barracks and grabbed a few things from the bag stashed under his bunk. Then he met up with Leif in an abandoned storeroom. He mixed the putty, matching Leif’s skin tone, and set to work. When he finished, Leif had a couple lock picks and a number of darts hidden under patches of fake skin.
“Don’t scratch them. And don’t touch the areas when you’re being searched,” Janco instructed.
“Got it.”
They reviewed the plan to rescue Yelena.
“Dax will leave the compound during supper and update Ari,” Leif said. “Hale will meet you on the south side of the administration building unless there are guards. In that case, he’ll rendezvous with you outside the magicians’ barracks.”
“Good. You might as well stay here until midnight. Bruns has increased the muscle searching the garrison for you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to finish my reconnaissance. There are a few places I haven’t checked, and if you think there’ll be a revolt, then we’re gonna need as much intel as possible.”
“Be very careful.”
Janco huffed. “I’m Mr. Careful.”
“Uh-huh. How many times have you been—”
“I don’t count. What’s past is past.” With a wave, Janco left.
Blending in with various groups of soldiers, Janco explored the infirmary and the stables. Without Leif to secure untainted food, Janco ate a few pieces of ancient jerky from his travel pack. He chewed on it forever.
The canteen buzzed with conversation and magic. Janco’s scar tweaked with pain. Despite the power, Janco thought it was a good time to discover where the unmarked door in the back left corner led. It didn’t have a keyhole or other evidence of a lock. The knob turned with ease as Janco, acting as if he used the door all the time, strode through and closed it behind him.
He stood on a small landing. Stairs led down into a tight stairwell, ending in grayness. There must be windows below, letting in the last of the daylight. Janco descended, zigzagging from landing to landing until he reached bottom. As he expected, small windows set near the ceiling ringed the basement.