“Come on, sis, you’re exhausted. You’ll think better tomorrow. I’ll fetch you supper.”
Leif escorted me to the white room. The goons trailed us, but remained in the hall. Probably taking up flanking positions by the door, which Leif closed.
“Don’t bother bringing me any food,” I said. “I’ll find my own.”
“You’re being paranoid. Bruns is—”
“Killing magicians, hiring assassins, kidnapping people and committing treason.”
He glowered at me.
“You tasted the Theobroma. Come on, Leif, think about it.”
“You’re wrong.”
I almost groaned in exasperation. “Okay, then prove it. Stop eating the food for a couple days and see if you still feel the same way about Bruns.”
Leif gasped. “Stop eating?”
“At least find food that isn’t tainted by Theobroma. Can you do that for me?”
He met my gaze. “And if I prove you wrong, will you join Bruns?”
“Yes.”
* * *
Over the next three days, I tested the limits of my imprisonment. The goons bookended me whenever I left my room and kept within two paces of me at all times. Leif brought our meals to my room. It was mostly fruit and raw vegetables—the only edibles not tainted with Theobroma. He ate with me and griped about the food, but he was determined to prove me wrong.
Even with all the various war preparations going on, I spent most of my time in the armory. A number of the new weapons fascinated me, and I practiced with a few at the range. It was amusing to see the goon brothers so tense and ready to tackle me should I aim a weapon at them. Amusing and infuriating, since they completely blocked any opportunity for me to escape.
I also had to fight against the constant barrage of positive thoughts about Bruns and his efforts. Suspecting a magician able to mentally communicate these good feelings to everyone, I asked Leif about it when he brought supper that night.
“I didn’t notice it before, but...”
“But what?”
“Oh, for sand’s sake! You were right. Since I’ve been Theobroma-free, it stinks big-time.” He speared a piece of broccoli with his fork. “Happy now?”
“Yes!” Relief flowed through me. “What’s been going on?”
“There are magicians arriving daily who are already on Bruns’s team. I’m guessing his recruiters are using Theobroma to convince them.”
That was disturbing. “How is he getting to them?”
“Probably the same way he’s doing it here, by spiking their food.”
“Do you know where we are?” I asked.
“Krystal Clan’s garrison, near the coast.”
“Do you know where the other training areas are?”
“No. But I’ve been Bruns’s best buddy, and I’m hoping to be part of his inner circle soon. He’s assigned me to convince you to be on our side, so you’re going to have to spout the bullshit to keep my cover.”
“Can’t wait,” I said drily.
“I hope you’re a better actress than that, little sis, or we’re all in trouble.”
As we finished our meals, I had an idea. “Is there any way to swap the Theobroma for a substance that tastes like it, but doesn’t have the same magical properties?”
“I wish. Theobroma is one of a kind.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“I suggest you play nice, show up for meals and pretend to be influenced by Bruns.”
“Then what?”
“We gain his trust and find the chink in his armor. Then we send a message to Ari and Janco and Irys.”
It sounded easy, except... “We can’t eat the food in the dining room.”
“But I can’t keep coming here. Bruns is getting suspicious.” Leif rubbed his chin. “And frankly, I’m sick of eating nothing but fruit and vegetables. I’m friends with Alvar, the chef—let me see what I can do.” He stood, squeezed my hand and turned to go.
I made a quick decision. “Leif.”
“Yes?”
“Make sure you get plenty of food. I’m eating for two.”
He jerked as if I’d slapped him. Then a range of emotions crossed his face—surprise, excitement, worry and then concern. “You shouldn’t have risked the baby for me!”
“I couldn’t not try to rescue you.”
Leif wrapped me in a hug. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Congrats, sis. Does Valek know?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’d better escape before he sends the entire Ixian army to rescue you.”
* * *
The next morning I met with Leif in the dining room. He had two plates of scrambled eggs and bacon waiting for me. I thanked him before shoveling the food into my mouth. Leif filled me in on how he’d offered to help Alvar with the morning rush and managed to snag a few servings of eggs before they were glazed with a special sauce.
“Holy snow cats! There’s Dax Greenblade.” Leif gazed over my shoulder.
I crushed my napkin in my hands to keep from turning around. Was he captured? “Does he have goons with him?”
“No. Just a goofy smile, and he’s heading this way.” Leif leaned forward. “Remember, we love Bruns.”
“Leif! Yelena! So this is where you two have been hiding,” Dax said. “I should have known you’d be where all the action is.”
I glanced way up at the tall man with light green eyes. For him, I didn’t need to fake a smile. He’d been my first friend when I’d been a student at the Magician’s Keep. “Hi, Dax! Did you just arrive?”
“Yup. Isn’t this place great? Much better than that stuffy old Keep, where we don’t do anything but study. What a waste of time. Now we can contribute to the welfare of Sitia.”
“Yes, isn’t it wonderful?” The words tasted like ash on my tongue.
“That looks yummy,” Dax said. “I’m famished.”
I grabbed his wrist before he could leave. “You can have the rest of mine. It’s still warm.”
“Great.” He dug into my plate with abandon.
“So how did you hear about this place?” I asked.
“One of the students, I think,” Dax said between mouthfuls. “This is good, but not as good as the Keep’s.”
“Really?” Leif asked.
“Yeah. We got a new chef and her dishes are...divine!”
Nausea bubbled in my stomach. I met Leif’s equally horrified gaze. If Bruns had managed to put Theobroma into the food at the Keep...
“I don’t remember a new chef,” Leif said. “When did she start?”
“Oh, a couple weeks ago, I think.” He shrugged, oblivious to our alarm.
I sagged back in my chair. Everyone at the Keep ate their meals at the dining room, including Irys and Bain, the two most powerful magicians in Sitia.
Leif used a series of subtle hand signals, telling me to stick to the plan.
I replied, What plan?
Get Bruns to trust us.
And then?
We stop him.
That’s not a plan.
Do you have anything better?
No.
Discouraged, I said goodbye to Leif and Dax. I scanned the faces in the dining room as I left, searching for more magicians from the Keep. I recognized four others. At this point, I thought only the Commander’s army could stop Bruns. But what if he couldn’t?
I was so preoccupied, I tripped and sprawled on the floor.
Before my goons could help me, another soldier swooped in and lifted me to my feet. “Are you all right?” he asked.
I met Janco’s gaze without visibly reacting. Inside, my heart was doing a jig. “Yes. Just a bit clumsy.”
“Not your fault—there are lots of people in here. It’s hard to move.”
My depression lifted. Help had arrived! “All the better for when we go to war.”
“True. Bruns will lead us to victory.”