Hanni sheathed her weapon. “No need to sneak up on us. We’re on the same side.”
Onora shrugged. “Habit.” She scanned the area. The room was filled with desks, and a door in the back led to Cahil’s office. “Are you alone?”
“Yes. I guess you heard about Valek.”
My pulse jumped. “No. What happened?” My tone was sharp and squeaked in panic.
“Then why—”
“What happened?” Must. Not. Shake. Her.
“Master Magician Zitora Cowan detected him near the Council Hall, and they’ve been hunting him all morning.”
I sank into a nearby chair. They didn’t have him. Yet. “Hunting?”
“Yes. General Cahil was summoned to the Hall an hour ago to help with the efforts. Master Zitora can track Valek within a few blocks, so they are setting up an ambush and plan to steer him into it.”
“Where?” Onora asked.
“The messenger said they spotted him on the roof of the third ring.”
Onora glanced at me. “Third ring?”
“It’s one of the business and factory rings that are located around the market,” I said. “Hanni, do you know his position on that ring?” Otherwise, it’d be miles of ground to cover.
“Northeast.”
Still a rather large area, but it was better than nothing. I thanked her. We dashed up the stairs. Onora snagged her boots as we crossed the warehouse.
“The intel’s an hour old,” Onora said, pausing at the door to put on her boots. No need for stealth. Not yet.
“I know, but it’s a place to start.”
When we exited the building, I took a few seconds to get my bearings. Cahil’s headquarters was in the southeast section of the fifth ring. Heading north at a quick pace—not fast enough for me, but if we were seen running, it would draw unwanted attention—we scanned the streets, alleys and rooftops as we cut through to the third ring. Once we reached the northeast section, we slowed, seeking any signs of an ambush. Trying to appear as if I wasn’t frantically searching for my husband, I resisted the urge to yell his name.
At one point, Onora leaned close to me and said, “Have you ever heard the term ‘looking for a snowflake in a blizzard’?”
“No, but there are millions of snowflakes in a blizzard.”
“Exactly.”
“That makes no sense. It’d be easy to find a—”
Onora touched my shoulder. She drew me into a side street. “There are a number of soldiers ahead. Stay here while I go check it out.”
My protest died in my throat. Valek was more important than my ego. I nodded. She left her boots with me and then disappeared. It took all my self-control not to poke my head around the corner to see where she was going.
Instead, I inventoried my weapons just in case I needed them. Then I compared my boots to Onora’s—hers were two sizes bigger. I paced while trying to ignore the various horrible scenarios that threatened to play out in my mind. Counting the buildings on both sides of the narrow street—there were eight—I tried to guess what type of industry went on inside them. One had to be a garment factory, judging by a delivery wagon outside full of bolts of colorful cloth. Although they could also be manufacturing bedding.
Without warning, Onora appeared at my elbow. I jumped a foot into the air. “Well?” I demanded.
“They know he’s nearby, but not exactly where. Soldiers are blocking the streets and alleys, and a group of eight is searching buildings. I think Zitora is with that group.”
Not good. I mulled it over. “Where?”
“A few blocks north of here.”
“Can you show me?”
She scrunched up her face. “Why?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Okay.” She said the word as if placating a crazy person. “Stay right behind me.”
The deserted streets felt strange in the middle of the day. Onora stayed in the shadows and slowed once we’d crossed two streets. She stopped next to a wagon that had been abandoned. The soldiers must have chased the driver off while they searched for Valek.
“They’re another block north,” Onora said.
I scanned the area. It was familiar, but I couldn’t remember why. If I was Valek, where would I hide? Onora might know. She’d had the same training. But this was the Citadel. Fisk would know best. Fisk!
“Come on!” I said. Turning around, I hurried a block south, then found the alley that led to Fisk’s first headquarters. I hadn’t been there in years, but I remembered the deceptive entrance. Unlike the other doors in that alley, this one only appeared if you stood in a certain location. I hoped Valek also recalled this little quirk. It took me a few minutes to find it. Being with a jittery assassin who thought we were too exposed didn’t help.
Finally I popped the lock, and we entered the semidarkness. Dust motes floated in a beam of sunlight from the single window. A thick coat of dust painted the broken furniture. Cobwebs filled the corners. Empty, but another chamber was further inside. It had beds for the Helper’s Guild members. Keeping my disappointment at bay, I moved deeper into the shadows.
“Yelena,” Valek said behind me. It was Onora’s turn to jump.
I turned and stifled a gasp. Dark smudges lined his eyes. Already sharp-featured, Valek now appeared almost skeletal. I opened my arms for a hug, but he grabbed my hands, lacing his fingers in mine instead.
“Ahh.” Valek sank to the floor. “I hoped you’d find me here.”
Alarmed, I knelt next to him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“When I was checking the Council Hall with my magic, she picked up on me and latched on with her incredibly strong powers. My barrier is barely keeping her from discovering my location. Otherwise, she would have found me by now.”
“Why is she chasing you?”
“Because she doesn’t believe me about Bruns. I tried to explain, but Bruns has already convinced her that the Commander is planning to invade Sitia. She thinks I assassinated the Councilors, Irys and Bain, and that I’m coming for Bruns next.”
I sat back on my heels. “Does she know about your magic?” That would be bad.
“No, she thinks it was only because I was so close that she was able to reach me. And that my immunity allows me to lie to her.” He gave me an exhausted grin. “She and a contingent of soldiers are hunting me.
”
“They also set up an ambush for you,” Onora said.
“I figured they would try to flush me into a trap.”
“Why didn’t you return to the apartment right away?” I asked. “I could have talked to her.”
“I couldn’t risk Bruns discovering our location.”
“What about now?” Onora asked. “Can Zitora find us while you’re holding Yelena’s hand?”
Valek’s strained face was grim. “Yes. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I thought the baby blocked magic,” Onora said.
“The baby drains it,” I said. “Are you using your magic?” I asked Valek.
“No. I stopped using mine to block her as soon as I held your hands, but the baby is siphoning her power through me. Being the second most powerful magician in Sitia, she can follow that drain of magic.”
Which explained his exhaustion.
“Is she close?” Onora asked him.
“Yes. They’re a block away and heading for the mouth of the alley.”
“How many are with her?” She pulled her daggers.
“Eight. Best to ambush them. Do you have any darts with sleeping potion?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Find a hiding spot in the alley. When they come, hit as many as you can.”
“What if they’re resistant, like the ones who were guarding my father?” I asked.
Valek cursed.
“Wait,” Onora said. “We have that new draft Leif cooked up for us.”
So much had happened, I’d forgotten about that. Or was it baby brain?
“Thank fate,” Valek said. “Give some of them to Yelena and then get into position.”
“Yes, sir.” Keeping ten, Onora handed me six darts. Then she disappeared through the door.
“Yelena, do you have your blowpipe with you?” he asked.
“Always.” I loved that weapon. Stolen from Bruns’s armory, it had a rifling pattern on the inside to improve even my terrible aim.
“Stay here and hit anyone who comes through that door.”
“And you?”
He pushed to his feet, pulling me up with him. “I’m the bait.” He let go of my hands.