Night Study (Soulfinders #2)(61)

Irys pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes as if enduring a wave of pain.

“Real nice, Janco,” Ari muttered.

“What’d I say?”

“You need to warn all of them of the possibility of an ambush,” I said to Irys. The desire to add Leif first, please pushed up my throat.

Her eyes snapped open. “Of course. I’ll do it right away.”

“You mean you’ll do it after letting us out of here, right?” Janco asked with a hopeful tone.

“I can’t. The Council wishes to interrogate you regarding the incident in Lapeer.”

“If they just wanted information, why charge us with treason and sign an arrest warrant?” I asked.

“Your actions right after looked suspicious, and when you add in your attempt to sneak into the Citadel with two known Ixian spies...let’s just say they’re not taking any chances. Not with magicians being assassinated.”

Janco huffed. “If we were here on official Ixian business, you wouldn’t have caught us.”

“Not helping,” Ari said.

“Will they drop the charges after I explain what happened?” I asked Irys.

“At this point, I’ve no idea.”

Lovely. “Then what should we do?”

“Talk to the Council. Then escape as soon as you can. It’s not safe here.”





17


VALEK


Valek considered Hedda’s question. Up until five minutes ago, both he and the Commander had been under the impression that Onora had killed Hedda when she refused to name the client who’d paid for a hit on the Commander.

He scanned her office. Spartan and neat—just like when he’d been a student here, she kept her personal effects in a hidden apartment. But nicks marked the furniture, a chair arm had broken off and bald spots littered the area rug. Despite the uniform requirement for all Ixian citizens, Hedda wore a faded gray-green mottled tunic and pants. Patches dotted the threadbare fabric.

Remaining behind her desk, Hedda clutched her knife. Her informant from the garrison sidled next to her. The young pup brandished a sharp dagger. Valek would have been impressed if the man’s arm wasn’t shaking.

“If the Commander sent me, Hedda, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he said, showing her his empty hands.

She didn’t relax. “Then why are you here?”

“I followed your man, hoping he planned to warn the Storm Thieves about my presence.”

“I didn’t see him,” the man said in his defense.

“Of course you wouldn’t, you idiot. Valek was my best student. The only person to come close is Onora.” Hedda’s frown deepened as she gazed at Valek. “You killed her.” It wasn’t a question.

“Actually, no. Do you still keep a bottle of blackberry brandy in your desk?”

Hedda’s knife disappeared. “I do.”

Valek turned to the idiot. “Report back to the garrison before you’re missed.”

“Yes, sir.” The man paused in the doorway. “Sir, are you...?”

“Going to discipline you?”

He nodded, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“Let me guess. You’ve been exchanging information for instruction from Hedda, right?”

His grip on the knob tightened in surprise. “Yes, sir.”

“Do you wish to become an assassin?”

“Oh, no, sir. I just wanted to improve my skills. The garrison’s master of arms is...old, sir.”

“I’m not about to punish ambition, but I suggest you work on spotting a tail.”

“Yes, sir.” He bolted.

Hedda settled behind her desk and produced a bottle of brandy. She poured the deep red liquid into two glasses as Valek sat in the chair facing her.

“You’ve changed,” Hedda said, handing him a glass.

“Oh?”

“The old Valek would have made him suffer for a few days, waiting to find out if you’d inform his commanding officer or leave him one of your infamous black statues.” She downed her drink in one gulp, then poured herself another. “The old Valek would have killed Onora for getting so close to the Commander.”

“I’ll admit, I was tempted to get rid of my competition, but she’s proven to be quite the puzzle. And you know me and puzzles. That hasn’t changed.”

“Good to know.” Hedda sipped from her drink.

“And while I’m truly glad you’re alive, I’m wondering why Onora informed us of your unfortunate demise.”

“I’ve no idea.”

“No?” Valek swept his arm out, indicating the shabby room. “Perhaps it’s because there wasn’t a client. You probably haven’t had a client since the takeover. And after years of resentment, you finally had a student you could send after the Commander. And what better time than when I was in Sitia.”

“You always did have such an active imagination, King Killer.”

“Then how about this? When the Commander ordered her to murder this...er...shall we say mystery client, she returned. But Onora couldn’t kill you. You took her in after she’d been abused, taught her to fight, to stand up for herself, to no longer be afraid. Instead, she reports your death and you agree to go into hiding.” He drank his brandy, savoring the burn of the spicy blackberry flavor.