“Mission?”
“I’ll tell you what it is, if you’d like to exchange information?”
“You already know everything I do, Cahil.”
“Oh?”
“Bruns had his magician interrogate me when I couldn’t refuse his commands. He relayed it to you when you visited the Krystal garrison over a month ago.”
He tightened his grip on Topaz’s reins. “Bruns told you about my visit?”
“No. I was in the room next to his office and overheard everything. And I distinctly remember that you advised him to put a big bow on me and send me to the Commander.”
“Bruns should have listened.”
“I agree. It would have been a smart move if the Commander planned to attack Sitia.”
“Not this again,” Cahil muttered.
“But since Bruns knows that there won’t be an attack, he knew I’d be more useful to him in Sitia.”
Cahil urged Topaz into a canter, pulling ahead. Kiki stayed back. I expected to have that conversation a few times before he was able to accept the logic.
Starling’s Egg appeared to be a typical base town with a larger number of taverns and inns for visiting relatives. The market was full of weapon vendors and gear to lure in the soldiers stationed at the garrison. Cahil sent the bulk of his crew to the base, but ordered Hanni, Sladen and Faxon to remain with us.
We avoided the busy downtown district as Cahil led us on a circuitous route to a quieter side street. He stopped at the Lucky Duck Inn. While we settled the horses in the inn’s stables, Cahil went inside the four-story wooden building. When he returned, he handed the keys to two adjoining rooms to Hanni. She gave one to Faxon. Guess I was bunking with Hanni.
“Stay out of sight,” Cahil said to me. “If you need anything, one of my people will get it for you. Either I’ll be here for my meals or I’ll eat food purchased from the market. All right?”
“Yes.” House arrest was better than being locked in the stockade. Good thing I had a few books with me.
We ordered supper in the common room. Only a few people occupied the other tables and, aside from a few curious glances, they didn’t pay us any undue attention. When the server set down five servings of the house pork-and-noodle casserole, everyone waited for me to taste it. Other than a nice medley of spices, the meal was Theobroma-free.
And that began my daily routine. Meals with Cahil and my guards in the common room, and the rest of the time I either read in the room I shared with Hanni, trained or exercised Kiki. I sent Hanni out for a few things, mostly tea bags and more books. I tried to engage her in conversation a few times. Quiet and serious, Hanni avoided divulging any personal details, but she was happy to read my books and discuss the finer points of self-defense and intrigue. Hanni also sparred with me. About twenty-five years old with short brown hair, she handled a knife and a sword with ease but hadn’t trained with a bo staff. I showed her a few basic moves.
Faxon and Sladen preferred to remain uninvolved and kept an aloof bodyguard’s demeanor whenever near me. However, on a couple occasions, their laughter slipped through the door between our rooms.
On day four of my house arrest and day seven of the agreement, Cahil joined us for a late supper. He strode to our table with stiff movements, and his fierce expression meant trouble. I braced for an outburst, but he kept silent.
After we’d ordered, I was unable to contain my curiosity any longer. “What happened today?”
“Nothing. And don’t start with any of your—” he waved a hand “—speeches.”
“All right.”
Our food arrived, and we ate in a tense silence.
When he finished eating, Cahil leaned back and let out an audible breath. Dark smears of weariness lined his eyes. He asked me, “Did you know that Fisk’s people not only infiltrated all the Cartel’s garrisons but also were working in many different areas—some quite sensitive?”
Oh, no. “Yes, except I’m surprised by how...deep they managed to get. Were they arrested?” Poor kids.
“No. They all scattered. Fisk must have quite the communication system in place.” He scowled. “Better than ours.”
I kept my expression neutral, even though I wanted to beam with pride. “Is that why you’re so upset?”
“No.”
I waited.
“In order to ensure there are no more spies, the Cartel ordered a complete sweep of all the garrisons for null shields.” He banged his hand on the table. The empty bowls rattled. “Don’t say it.”
Swallowing, I refrained from stating the obvious—why would the Cartel be worried about null shields if they weren’t using magic to influence their people? It almost killed me. Instead I asked, “Are you worried you’ll be caught?”
The idea surprised him. He straightened. “They wouldn’t test me.”
“Are you sure?”
Cahil surged to his feet. “I’m the General of the Sitian Army.”
“And you follow the Council’s—or, in this case, the Cartel’s—orders. There are a number of magicians in the garrison, including Second Magician Irys Jewelrose.” I didn’t add that Irys hadn’t been brainwashed, but had been biding her time. As a master-level magician, Irys could ingest Theobroma and still resist the influence. “You need to leave the garrison for the next three days to avoid the sweep.”
He grabbed my shoulders and hauled me to my feet. “You don’t give me orders.”
“She’s right,” Hanni said. “We need to leave town. All of us.”
Cahil turned to her. “Oh?”
She stood. “A week ago, I believed in Bruns and the Cartel and would have given my life to support them. Now I won’t.” Hanni met my gaze. “I’m thinking clearly for the first time in seasons.”
Sladen and Faxon stood on either side of Hanni in a show of support. I suppressed the desire to pump my fist.
Cahil released me and sank into his chair. “I hate—and I mean loathe—having to say this, but...you’re right. Bruns has been using magic.” He held up a hand. “But, I still believe he is trying to protect Sitia and is doing an excellent job of training soldiers and magicians on how to work together.”
Being an adult, I did not gloat or act smug or do any of the childish actions my emotions urged me to do. Instead, I said, “That’s why we need you, Cahil. There is still a slight chance the Commander will attack, and Sitia should be prepared, but Bruns’s methods are unconscionable. Our goal is to stop the Cartel and get the Council back into power. We can best meet that goal with you remaining in your position.”
“And spying for you?”
“Yes. And perhaps waking others up so they’re loyal to the Sitian Council and not the Cartel.”
“Which will be difficult if Bruns’s magicians do frequent sweeps for null shields. It took us a week.”
“One problem at a time,” I said. “Right now, you and your people need to avoid that sweep. Perhaps leave for a training exercise?”
“That would work, except...” Cahil rubbed his face. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Switching sides. Betraying Bruns. Working with Valek.” He waved a hand. “Take your pick.”
“It’s the right thing to do, and you know it.”
Drawing in a deep breath, he said, “Then I should tell you that your father and sister-in-law, Mara, have been captured. They’re on their way here, and so is Bruns.”
11
VALEK
The door to the Commander’s apartment flew open. Owen Moon strode in as if he owned the place. Tyen, another powerful magician, trotted at his heels. Time to go. Valek backed toward the window, but his connection to the power blanket disappeared suddenly. Owen had surrounded Valek with a null shield. Unwilling to let the magician know the shield could no longer trap him, Valek froze as if caught. Signe vanished, and the Commander returned.
“What did you hope to accomplish with this little stunt?” Owen asked Valek. There was more gray in his short dark hair than Valek had remembered, and he looked older than his forty-four years.
Valek didn’t respond.
“Still hoping to save your commander?” Owen laughed. “Trust me, it’s too late.”
Not quite, but Valek wasn’t going to correct him and expose Signe.