I tucked the blowpipe back in my tunic. It was a keeper. The rifling in its barrel had improved even my terrible aim. Take that, Janco!
Grabbing the keys, I unlocked the inner doors. I stepped into the lantern light and everyone turned guarded and worried expressions on me.
“You ready to get out of here?” I asked.
Smiles all around and a whoop from Janco. I moved from cell to cell, freeing them. Valek pulled me into a tight embrace. I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment of comfort in his arms.
“How?” he whispered.
“Later,” I promised. “Are you strong enough?”
“Yes.” He released me.
“Good.”
“What’s the plan?” Janco asked.
I pointed to the bucket of water, which remained upright, and to the basket, which had spilled, scattering clothes onto the floor. “Clean up and change quick. Leif, can you and Hale weave null shields into the uniforms?”
“What about Mara?” Leif asked.
“Janco will fetch her. Do his uniform first.”
Janco stripped off his shirt. “Where is she?”
I told him. “Tell her you’re taking her to Leif. That we’re all working for Bruns now and are leaving for an important and secret mission.”
Leif found a uniform sized for Janco and concentrated on building a null shield on the shirt. Hale picked up another while Janco washed up. I turned my back when Janco yanked off his pants, giving them some privacy.
They didn’t waste any time or energy asking me questions. Their unconditional trust that I had it all worked out warmed me and terrified me at the same time.
Once Janco was dressed and ready, I said, “Meet us near the entrance of the main barracks. A platoon of soldiers are scheduled for nighttime maneuvers outside the garrison, and we need to join them before they leave.”
“Got it.” Janco touched his hip. “Weapons?”
“Take one of the guards’.”
Janco stripped the men of their swords.
“Give Ari, Leif and Dax the others.”
“What about me, love?” Valek stepped into my view. He sponged grime off his neck and bare torso. Large bruises stained his skin. Bright red cuts oozed blood.
Concentrating on the task at hand and not Valek’s battered body, I pulled Ben’s knife from my boot and gave it to him. His eyes gleamed as he appraised the quality of the blade.
“And me?” Hale asked.
“I hid a few more weapons near the barracks,” I said.
Janco left to collect Mara.
“We only need to put null shields on three uniforms,” Leif said. “Hale and I can erect ones around ourselves. Plus we can drop them just in case we need to use magic.”
“Good, that will save time,” I said.
“I need one,” Valek said in a tight voice.
I spun around. Everyone stared at Valek.
“Just do it,” he said to Leif. “I’ll explain later.”
“Uh... Yelena,” Ari said.
Oh. Half-naked men. Right. I turned, but my mind kept whirling. Why would Valek need a null shield? No logical answer formed, and soon the men were ready to go.
I led them from the jail and along a route I’d scouted that kept us in the shadows. Except for the patrols, the garrison remained quiet. We stopped to grab the weapons before reaching our destination.
Unlike the rest of the garrison, activity and light spilled from the main barracks as soldiers prepped for their training mission and gathered outside. We waited nearby. My heart tapped a fast rhythm in my chest, sending pulses of fear along my extremities. Where were Janco and Mara? If we were caught, there’d be no second chance to escape.
Valek laced his fingers in mine. Comforted by the gesture, I squeezed his hand. But then I remembered what had happened with Ben. My touch had blocked Ben’s magic. Would it do the same to Valek and remove his null-shield protection? I let go and shook my head at his questioning glance. If we escaped, we had much to discuss.
A commanding officer called the milling soldiers to order. They formed ranks. Come on, Janco. We needed to join the company soon. Very soon. What if they didn’t show? Would I be able to leave without them?
Yes. For the baby, and for the others. This was the last opportunity for all of us.
My stomach twisted with pain as I gestured for us to leave our hiding spot. Leif and Ari refused to move. Stubborn, sweet idiots.
Then Leif faced the wrong direction. About to grab his arm, I stopped. Janco and Mara materialized from the shadows. Leif wrapped his wife in a bear hug.
“Did you take the scenic route?” Ari growled at Janco in a low voice.
While relief pumped through me, there was no time for explanations or hellos. I punched Leif’s shoulder and pointed at the company now marching away. We scrambled to join, lining up at the end of the ranks. None of the soldiers in front of us appeared to notice or care about the additional people. After all, we wore the standard Sitian military uniform. Mara appeared content to march next to Leif.
My heart rate increased as we neared the gate. The guards had swung the barriers wide to allow the company to pass. Just a few more minutes and we’d be outside the garrison.
When the head of the column approached the gate, the commanding officer shouted, “Round up.”
The ranks split into two and broke into a run. One side peeled off to the left and the other the right, but neither crossed through the gate. Valek reacted first, drawing his knife as the others brandished their weapons. The soldiers looped back, forming a circle around us.
Trapped.
Surrounded.
Ambushed.
It didn’t matter what word I used to describe our current situation, or how Bruns had figured it out. No, what mattered was Bruns’s next move. And he was smart enough to conclude that only one option remained.
Death.
32
VALEK
Valek kept tight control of his emotions. He scanned the fifty soldiers surrounding them, assessing skills and searching for a spot where they might be able to break through to make a run for the garrison’s gate and freedom. Motioning to Ari, Janco and Leif to form a wedge, Valek pointed to the weak link—a trio of teenagers standing shoulder to shoulder. Must be friends.
Just as he raised a hand to signal go, torches blazed to life, illuminating the area beyond their circle. More men flooded into the courtyard, cutting off their escape route. Ah, hell.
He met Yelena’s gaze, and his heart lurched to see her so frightened. Something must have tipped Bruns off, and he’d been ready for them. If Valek hadn’t been thrown off balance by losing his immunity and gaining magic, he never would have been ambushed at Mara’s. Plus, it didn’t help that pain still clung to his ribs, chest and back, and the blows to his head clouded his thoughts.
The ring of soldiers parted, and Bruns strode into view. He held a crossbow with a bolt already loaded. Pure fury radiated from every muscle of his body. This wouldn’t be pretty.
“I don’t know how you managed to disobey my orders, but it stops now,” Bruns said to Yelena, aiming his weapon at her.
Valek shifted his weight, preparing to push Yelena out of the bolt’s path. He’d gladly be skewered in her place.
“Loopholes,” Yelena said with a calm voice.
“What?” Bruns asked.
“That’s how. Loopholes in your orders gave me plenty of freedom.”
“And you think by telling me this, I won’t kill you?”
“You need me. You know Owen will double-cross you.”
“No. No more. You’d just find another way to sabotage my efforts.” Bruns wrapped his finger around the trigger and squeezed.
Valek tackled Yelena as a sudden gust of wind blew through the garrison. Bruns’s shot flew wide and slammed into Dax’s chest. The tall man crumpled to the ground with a cry of pain. Yelena struggled to go to her friend, but Valek pinned her down, covering as much of her body as he could with his
own.
“Stay put,” Valek said to her. “Bruns is reloading.”
Another whirlwind hit, kicking up a large cloud of dust and extinguishing a number of torches. Lightning flashed, followed by a roar of thunder that shook the ground. A second blinding flash ripped through the air, sizzling. The main barracks caught fire.
“Hold your positions,” Bruns ordered above the noise of the storm and the panicked yells of his men.
They obeyed until the third bolt struck the administration building. The stone wall exploded and sharp pieces bombarded those standing below. Thunder announced the arrival of a deluge. Sheets of cold water rained down, soaking everything and everyone in seconds.
Mass chaos ensued. It was a thing of beauty. One of the best distractions he’d ever seen. With no time to admire the results, Valek helped Yelena to her feet. She ran to Dax, kneeling by his side. Dax stared at the sky with dead eyes.
Another flashing sizzle. A wooden shed burst into flames.