“The Ixians withdrew all but a few patrols,” the magician said.
Ayven stared into a glass super messenger, mentally communicating with Master Magician Irys Jewelrose on the front lines. Or what had been the front lines. We expected Ixia to attack in two days’ time.
I glanced at Bavol and then at Onora, who’d stayed by my side as much as possible since she’d saved my life. We stood in Bavol’s office in the Council Hall. Most of the other Sitian Councilors had joined their regiments in the field. We hadn’t received any information or news from Valek since he’d left thirty-two long days ago. Many people assumed he was dead when the Ixian army remained in the forest.
Dare I hope?
“Perhaps Valek was successful after all,” Bavol said.
The baby kicked as if in agreement, but I wasn’t going to jump to conclusions. By concentrating on the impending invasion, I’d been able to function. And I avoided the dark thoughts that threatened to ambush me late at night.
“Ayven, please contact Master Zitora and ask her about that unit she and Teegan sensed hiding behind our front lines,” I said. “See if they know where they are now.”
“Okay.” He focused on the messenger. A few minutes later, he looked up. “She says the unit has disappeared. She sent Devlen and Teegan to track them, and she’s waiting to hear from Teegan.”
Good or bad news? Hard to tell.
“Let me know if you learn anything new.”
“Will do,” Ayven said.
* * *
Over the next two days, more reports of the Ixian withdrawal arrived. It was the day of the planned Firestorm, and nothing happened. My emotions swung from confused to concerned to relieved, and settled into a general feeling of unease. Was this a trick? Perhaps the Commander had found a way to get all of his troops behind ours.
Zitora relayed a message from Teegan that the unit was headed east toward the Emerald Mountains. We had positioned a battalion near the tunnel the smugglers had used to get into Ixia. Perhaps we’d moved them too late—not that we’d had a ton of time. We’d only had ten days since we regained control of Sitia and the garrisons.
I sat at Bavol’s desk that afternoon, staring at the map of Ixia and Sitia. Was there another tunnel beneath the border? Or another way past our defenses? Onora had left to fetch me some tea, but the baby’s rhythmic hiccups made it difficult for me to concentrate. Poor little soul suffered with the hiccups at least once a day. I put a sympathetic hand on my mound. Calling it a bump no longer applied, I’d lost sight of my toes and couldn’t touch them without great difficulty. And I still had ten weeks to go! If I grew any larger, I wouldn’t be able to fit through the door.
A knock roused me from my musings. Fisk stood at the door with a pleased grin on his face as if he’d scored a good bargain.
“Don’t tell me,” I said, raising a hand. “You found the perfect hat for your latest client. What’s her name?”
“Mrs. Catava.” The glow dimmed just a bit. “Not yet. Soon—it’s close, I can feel it. However, I found something better than a hat.”
“Oh?”
“I found a husband.” Fisk stepped aside with a flourish.
Valek stood in the doorway, and the rest of the world disappeared. The next thing I knew, I was wrapped in his arms. Not as close as I would have liked, though, because of the mass of baby between us.
He laughed and rested a hand over my girth. “You’re—”
“Watch it,” I warned.
“—more beautiful than I remembered,” he said.
“Nice recovery.”
Cupping my cheeks with his hands, he met my gaze. “I mean it.”
Then he kissed me and proved he wasn’t lying. By the time he broke away, I was gasping for breath and thinking of continuing our conversation in my bedroom.
A polite cough reminded us that we weren’t alone. Fisk stood nearby with Sergeant Gerik.
“Do you know where Onora is?” Gerik asked me.
“The kitchen. She’ll be ba—”
He disappeared.
“He thought she was dead,” Valek explained. Exhaustion lined his face, and he was too thin. His hands slid down my arms, and he laced his fingers in mine. “I heard you defeated the Cartel. Did anyone... Are there any...”
I understood his reluctance to hear bad news. “Bain Bloodgood had massive heart failure during the attack on the Krystal garrison.”
“Ah, sorry to hear that.”
“Everyone is still reeling. And now Zitora is First Magician.”
“That’s a heck of a homecoming.” Valek braced for more bad news. “Anyone else?”
“A few soldiers were killed by the blasts from the orbs. It couldn’t be avoided. And we can’t find Hale in any of the garrisons. I suspect Bruns killed him soon after we escaped the Krystal garrison, but I can’t ask him.” I explained how Onora had saved our lives.
Valek squeezed my hand. “I owe her a debt of gratitude. How is she doing? Any problems with guilt?”
“I don’t think so, but she’s been acting like a mother bear protecting her cub. Guess who is her cub?” I tapped my chest.
“That’s normal.”
“Says the man who wants to lock me in a tower.”
“That’s normal, too.”
“For you, maybe.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s been protecting you. Were there any...incidents at the other garrisons?”
“Other than a few injuries, none of our herd died. Thank fate.”
“Injuries? How bad?”
“Janco has a couple of new scars to name. No doubt he’ll be boasting about them when we see him. Mara cut her hands pretty badly. Seems Rika Bloodgood had a knife at her throat, but Mara wasn’t going to let Leif surrender, so she took matters literally into her own hands.”
“Good for her.”
“She saved us all. If Rika had warned Bruns...” We all knew the consequences if that had happened. “Irys has already healed Mara, and Irys is talking about giving her a medal for her bravery.”
“My siblings?”
“Fine. However, Zohav almost drowned Zethan, or so your brother claims, but I suspect he’s exaggerating.” I smiled, but sobered when I remembered Bain. We’d all miss him. “Now it’s your turn. Owen?”
“Had a very bad case of overconfidence and died in my arms.”
“I’m not sorry to hear it. I take it that’s when the Commander woke up and recalled his army.”
Valek tensed. “Not exactly.”
“What happened?”
He sighed. “It’s a long story. The short version is the invasion has been canceled, and Sitia can return to normal.” He put his fingers on my lips. “I’ll fill everyone in on the details once they’re all back. Fisk?”
I’d forgotten he was there!
“Yes?” Fisk asked.
“Can you spread the word about the invasion? And please ask Ari and Janco to return to the Citadel with the twins.”
“All right.”
“Thanks.” He returned his attention to me as Fisk left. “Do you have any plans for this afternoon?”
“Not anymore.”
“Good.” Valek tugged me into the hallway. “Have you been staying in the guest suites?”
“Yes. Are you tired?”
“Not anymore.” His gaze met mine.
Heat flushed through me. “My room is this way.”
* * *
Hunger woke me a few hours later. Valek didn’t stir when I slipped from the bed. Exhaustion? Or was he finally able to relax?
I dressed and visited the kitchen—again. I imagined I’d worn a path in the rug, since I spent more time eating than sleeping these days. I grabbed a few extra pieces of fruit and cheese for Valek. At leas
t, that was the plan. Since he didn’t wake up until the next morning, I felt justified in eating his share.
Onora and Gerik visited us soon after we returned from breakfast. The guest suite had a living area, but they stood instead of making themselves comfortable. I suspected Onora had unwelcome news.
“The Commander has ordered me back to Ixia,” she said.
I studied her. She tried to keep a stoic expression, but she appeared a little green, as if she was going to be sick to her stomach. “Are you worried he thinks you’re a traitor?”
She glanced at Valek.
He shook his head. “I didn’t have time to tell her.”
“I’m the new Chief of Security,” she said.
Surprised, I turned to Valek.
“I retired,” he said.
Clearly we needed to catch up, but that would have to wait until later. I focused on Onora and was happy for her. “Congratulations.”
She hesitated. “Thanks.”
“Isn’t that good news?” I asked, because she still looked queasy. “That’s what you wanted. Right?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”