When he opened the top file, a pop sounded. The ever-present weight of magic around him disappeared. A single small piece of paper had been tucked inside. It read, Gotcha.
Valek laughed. Owen had set a booby trap for him. There was a null shield around him, which would have effectively trapped him here until they arrived to collect him. Nice. He tested the boundaries of the shield. It circled the table, allowing him some room to move, but not much. He wondered how long it would be before they arrived. Just in case there were other booby traps in the apartment, Valek stayed close to the table. If he set off another one, Owen would think someone else was here. Playing the part of ambushed victim, Valek sat on the table and waited.
They took their sweet time. Probably to rub it in. Fine. Valek’s assassin training included patience.
The rasp of a key in the lock roused Valek from a light doze. He pulled his daggers. As soon as the door swung wide, he threw his knife. It thunked into a wooden shield. They’d come prepared. He waited for a clean shot, but as the shielded man advanced, Valek spotted Tyen behind him. To keep up appearances, he tried to hit Tyen with his second throw. But it veered off course as Tyen’s magic deflected the blade. The darts Valek had lined up along the table flew off with a single gesture from Tyen.
“Do you have anything else?” Tyen asked with a bored tone.
Valek gave him his cold killer gaze. He spread his arms wide. “Why don’t you check my pockets?”
“Cute. Boys.” Tyen stepped aside as four thugs fanned to the sides.
They held a net. Ah. He’d wondered how they would contain him without Owen to adjust the null shield. He assumed a null shield had been woven into the rope. Once the net was around him, it would allow them to move him without a struggle. Not about to make this easy for anyone, Valek circled behind the table, keeping it between him and the advancing men. All he could do with only a small space to maneuver.
A needle of pain pricked his neck. Focused on the thugs, Valek hadn’t kept an eye on Tyen.
The magician shrugged. “You were screwed either way.”
True. Valek pulled the dart from his skin. A heaviness flowed through his body, pressing him toward the ground. His arms felt as if they’d turned to stone. The thugs threw the net over him, and the weight of the ropes knocked him down as the sleeping potion knocked him out.
* * *
Dry-mouthed and with a killer headache, Valek woke in one of the cells in the dungeon underneath the castle. Lying on a pallet covered with vile-smelling straw, he rubbed his forehead as he took stock of his situation. No magic surrounded him. Valek concentrated, sensing that the shield had been woven around all the bars of his cell.
His uniform had been replaced with a standard-issue jumpsuit. A faint glow of lantern light flickered on the damp stone outside the bars. He wasn’t in one of the deeper levels, which meant he’d probably get visitors. He was alone in his cell for the moment, but multiple forms occupied the cells next to him. When he pushed to a sitting position, the others stood and shuffled close to the bars separating them. Valek recognized all of them—his agents.
“Are you okay?” Adrik asked. Faded purple bruises marked the man’s face.
“Yes,” Valek’s voice rasped. There wasn’t any water in the cell.
A shuffle sounded, and then Qamra’s hand appeared between the bars. She held a metal cup of water. Valek took the water and downed it, despite the unidentifiable bits floating on the surface.
“Thanks,” he said. He scanned the people. A few had cuts and bruises in varying stages of healing. Most were grim-faced, but a couple smiled in anticipation. “Report.”
Adrik gestured. “We refused to follow orders and are here awaiting execution. They plan to...burn us alive...during the fire festival.” His voice hitched.
Valek didn’t blame him. Burning someone to death was cruel and horrific. “The Commander prefers hangings.”
“Well, we all know he’s not making the decisions anymore. That magician thought fire was a more fitting execution.”
“And my other agents?”
“Are following the Commander’s orders.” He pointed to his ear, then signaled. We have a friend in high places.
Advisor Maren?
Yes.
Smart, but dangerous. If Owen and the Commander discovered she was only pretending to be loyal, they’d milk her for information before killing her.
We’re hoping you have a brilliant plan, Adrik motioned.
He wasn’t sure of its brilliance. And he couldn’t tell them, either. If a magician read their thoughts, Valek’s plan had no chance. No, sorry, I don’t.
His agents reacted with dismay. Worried, strained expressions replaced the smiles. He hated lying to them, but he hoped they’d forgive him later, once they’d managed to escape.
“That magician, Owen, did something to your bars with his magic,” Adrik said, then signed, He’s under the impression that will keep you contained.
“Then I’m stuck here like the rest of you,” Valek said in a defeated tone.
Really? Adrik gestured, still hopeful.
Really.
The mood turned downright ugly.
Valek’s expected visitors arrived a few hours later. Owen, Tyen and Maren stood on the opposite side of the bars. The Commander was smart enough to avoid endangering himself by entering the dungeon. The Commander also wasn’t the type to gloat—unlike Owen, who looked mighty pleased with himself. Maren kept her expression neutral, though, even when she met his gaze. Standing, Valek moved closer to the door and sized up the enemy. A short sword hung from Owen’s waist. Tyen had Valek’s daggers tucked into his belt—a nice little dig at besting Valek. Maren was unarmed, as far as Valek could tell, which said quite a bit. Owen might not fully trust her yet.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist returning to Ixia,” Owen said. “Did you like my trap at your safe house?”
Valek considered keeping quiet, but the man had an ego that Valek planned to manipulate. “It was clever.”
Owen preened. “I’ve been two steps ahead of you this entire time. In fact, I’m quite happy that your resistance is going to use those storm orbs on the garrisons. It’ll help me tremendously.”
Valek acted surprised, but it just confirmed what Campbell had told him about the attack from the rear.
“No sarcastic comeback?” Owen asked.
Now was the time for silence.
“I guess you’ve realized you’re out of luck and options. You’re up first for execution.”
“Is it scheduled for tomorrow?” Valek asked.
“No. You’ll be going up in flames as part of the grand opening ceremonies for the fire festival. It’ll be quite the show.”
“Too bad I’m going to miss it,” Valek said.
Owen tapped the bars with his finger. “A null shield will be around you at all times. And I control that shield. Right now, it’s as big as your cell. But all I have to do...” Owen held his hands wide and then brought them slowly together.
Valek stared at the magician, but he kept his senses open to determine the exact location of the shield. If he didn’t react properly, it was the end of the road. Owen’s lips quirked just a bit as the shield closed around his body. Valek stiffened, pretending his arms were pinned to his sides. A glint of cruelty shone in Owen’s eyes, and Valek held his breath as if his lungs were being squeezed. Valek’s gaze promised pain and death, but Owen merely laughed at Valek as he held the shield for a very long minute before spreading his hands apart again. Valek sucked in deep breaths, trying not to gasp, which just amused Owen even more. Good.
“Face it, Valek. You can’t escape,” Owen said.
“I’ve heard that before. And it wasn’t true then, either.”
“Is that so?” Owen jerked the door to Valek’s ce
ll open. “It’s not even locked. Go on, then. Escape.”
Unbelievable. Owen had just given him an unexpected gift. Valek strode up to the opening but jerked to a stop just shy of breaking the threshold. While Owen and Tyen delighted in the action, Valek signaled Maren. If she wasn’t on board, Valek was done. Maren, however, didn’t react at all.
“You’re a relic,” Owen said. “Your weakness is well known, and any magician who can erect a null shield can beat you. Considering your immunity served you so well all these years, it’s ironic, isn’t it?”
Valek dropped his shoulders a bit. “I’m well aware of the irony.”
“Good. You have lots to think about before I return to escort you to the pyre.”
Owen turned to leave.
“I do have one question,” Valek said.
The magician paused. “Yes?”
“Any last words?” Valek moved. He stepped through the door, grabbed Owen’s short sword and stabbed it deep into the man’s stomach. Hot blood gushed over his hands, adding to the satisfaction of seeing the shocked expression on Owen’s face.
Maren had a knife on Tyen, but she yelled as the man’s magic slammed her into a wall. She crumpled to the ground in a heap as the weapon clattered to the floor. Tyen gestured, and the knife flew at Valek.
Valek dodged the blade, but soon both daggers were sailing through the air and there wasn’t enough room to maneuver. He put his back against the wall and waited to grab the weapons when they came close, risking a nasty slice. However, once Tyen caught on to his plan, the man just pinned Valek in place with his magic. Shit.
Pulling power, Valek projected into Tyen’s mind. A strong barrier prevented Valek from getting inside.
Tyen stared at him. “Never thought you’d stoop to using blood magic, but that’s the only way to explain your magic.”