“Is your soul dead because of the Harman sap?” Ambrose asked.
“I...” Valek recalled Yelena’s description of souls and how she influenced them. A body without a soul was like an empty cup—it lived, but had no awareness or emotions or personality. “No. I’m still...me.”
“Exactly. The Harman sap will remove the magic that is holding my mother here.” He tapped his chest. “That’s the theory. But I’d rather Yelena do it, so I know for sure my mother is at peace.” He smoothed a hand over his pants leg. “Speaking of peace, do you think Yelena will be willing to be the Liaison again?”
Good question. “I don’t know, but I’ll ask her. What if she says no? Who else would you accept?”
“You.”
Valek’s laugh died in his throat—it would be an interesting job. “I doubt the Sitian Council would agree.”
“I’ll also work with Ari, but if Janco is assigned the position, I’m declaring war.”
Amused, Valek imagined Janco pouting from the insult. “I’ll make sure to include that in my report.”
They talked late into the night, healing the rift that had grown between them. The Commander then insisted Valek see the medic, and even escorted him to the infirmary. On the way, they stepped over the still forms of Gerik and his partner. Valek wondered what Gerik thought, seeing the two of them together. He guessed Gerik would pretend to sleep until the other man woke.
Medic Mommy’s professional demeanor didn’t alter when the Commander roused her from sleep and explained.
“I’ll leave you in good hands. Good luck, Valek. You and your family are welcome to visit at any time.” Ambrose shook his hand and left.
As soon as the door closed, Medic Mommy grinned. “I’m glad you two are friends again.” Almost gleefully, she peeled off his shirt and cleaned and then sealed the cuts on his arms. But when she finished and Valek stood to leave, her jovial manner changed in a heartbeat.
She jabbed a finger at a bed. “Sleep.” When he hesitated, she stepped closer. “Do I need to secure you?”
An empty threat, but Valek decided right there and then that his future would not include being captured, chained, manacled, jailed, beaten, stabbed or knocked unconscious ever again. And while he was dreaming, he included a future in which he spent his days locked in a tower with Yelena and their children. “No, sir.”
“Good. Give me eight hours, and then you can leave.”
His stiff and sore muscles protested the movement, but he managed to lie down and pull the blanket up before he fell into an exhausted sleep.
* * *
When he woke, Sergeant Gerik stood next to his bed. Valek reached for his knives, but the big man held up his empty hands.
“I’m here to escort you to the Citadel,” Gerik said. He tried to keep a stern expression, but a glint of cheerfulness shone in his gaze. “The Commander’s orders.”
Ah. Gerik would see his sister sooner. “And escort the new Chief of Security home?”
“Yes.”
The cuts on his arms flared to painful life as Valek pushed into a sitting position. His entire body ached. “Do your orders include carrying the ex-chief to Sitia?”
“If that’s what it takes, sir.”
“Good to know.” Valek stood, although his body threatened to revolt and send him reeling back into bed. He needed at least a couple more years of sleep.
Medic Mommy hurried over to inspect Valek’s injuries before she discharged him from her care. “Send me a message with your new location. I’ll come to deliver the baby.”
He was about to remind her of Sitia’s capable healers, but remembered the baby’s magic-sucking abilities. If anything unexpected happened, they couldn’t use magic to heal Yelena or the baby. “I will. Thank you.”
They swung by Valek’s hiding spot. Valek retrieved his pack and changed into a clean shirt. Then they left the castle.
“Horses?” Gerik asked as they crossed the complex.
“Not this time. Getting into Sitia is going to be tricky, even without horses. The Sitian army is prepared for an invasion, so they will attack anyone or anything exiting the Snake Forest.”
A crowd of people waited by the southern gate. The guards on duty saluted Valek as he approached. Pasha and Adrik stood with Valek’s other agents. Smiles shone in the bright morning sunlight. It appeared the Commander had orchestrated his rescue. Figured.
“We would have busted you out regardless,” Adrik said.
“What if I decided to go to Sitia instead of remaining here?” he asked.
“Then we would have escorted you to Sitia,” Pasha said. “But Adrik would have lost a couple of golds to the captain of the watch.”
No surprise they’d been betting on him. He shook hands with everyone, thanking them for their years of loyal and excellent service. “Onora is more than capable. I’m sure she’ll earn your respect in no time.”
Maren waited for him outside the gate. She stood with her arms crossed, blocking the path. Gerik rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, but Maren ignored him.
Instead she asked Valek, “So this is it? You’re done?”
“What do you think?”
“I think you broke your pledge to the Commander.”
Valek considered. Was she trying to force a reaction? He kept his tone neutral. “I retired.”
“Onora’s not ready.”
“Do you think you should be in charge?”
Maren dropped her arms. “Hell, no. No one can do that job.”
“I’m flattered.”
She huffed. “You’re leaving all of us vulnerable. Onora’s bound to make mistakes.”
Gerik gripped his weapon. Valek put a hand on his arm, stopping the man from drawing the sword. Maren’s comment explained quite a bit. “Yes, she will make mistakes,” Valek said. “Just like I did when I first started. Just like I did a few days ago. You’re right. No one can do the job on his or her own. Not even me. I built a support network to help me, and she will, too. She’s already learned how valuable even Janco can be. And you’ll be here to hel
p her.” Unless... “That is, if you want to stay. You’re always welcome to come with me to Sitia.”
“Not interested. I pledged my loyalty to the Commander.”
Okay, then. “If you change your mind—”
“I won’t.” She stepped aside. “Tell Ari and Janco to get their asses back up here. Their vacation is over.” Maren strode away without saying another word.
Gerik watched her go. “Does Onora need to worry about her?”
“No,” Valek said. “Maren has a temper. She’ll settle down.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“Onora can handle herself.” Valek met Gerik’s concerned gaze. “Right now, your sister is the best in Ixia and Sitia.”
“Right now?”
“There will always be a young hotshot eager to prove himself or herself. Part of the job. Someday, one of them will best her, but I don’t think you need to worry about that happening anytime soon.”
Gerik smiled. “You lasted twenty-four years.”
“Exactly.”
* * *
Valek calculated. He and Gerik would arrive at the Citadel right at the hot season’s midpoint. The day the Firestorm had been scheduled—and a day longer than it should have taken, because he was unable to avoid the Sitian army. The soldiers had blanketed the land south of the Ixian border. The only way to get through without causing an incident was to creep into the encampment at night and find an officer to explain things to. The fact that the Snake Forest had emptied of all but a few border guards helped support his news of the canceled invasion. However, the unit he’d surrendered to didn’t have a magician who could communicate with the people in charge.
Since they still didn’t quite believe him, the captain sent him and Gerik to the Citadel with an armed escort. Valek longed to retrieve Onyx and reclaim his vial of blood, but as soon as he spotted the white marble walls of the Citadel in the distance, his focus and energy and thoughts all turned to one goal—holding Yelena in his arms.
30
YELENA
“What do you mean, the forest is empty?” I asked Ayven, sure I’d heard wrong.