When we reached the Council Hall, Ari and Janco headed toward the guest quarters. Kiki picked up her pace and we joined the others.
I thought about where Valek might have gone. Back to Ixia seemed the safest and most logical course, but I knew Valek would stay nearby until Ferde was caught. That led me to consider who would be Ferde’s next victim. He had been working in the Keep where there were many young female magicians just learning to control their magic. Since the full moon would rise tomorrow night, he would probably need a few days to prepare. The Master Magicians couldn’t locate him with magic, but they might be able to contact the girl with him. But how to find her?
Just past the Keep’s gate, the Master Magicians dismounted, handed their horses to the guards and started for the Keep’s administration building. I followed, but Roze stopped me at the base of the steps.
“You’re confined to your quarters. We will deal with you later,” she promised.
I had no intention of obeying her, but I knew they wouldn’t let me into the meeting room. So before Bain could mount the steps to the building, I touched his arm.
“The killer probably seduced one of the young first-years to come with him,” I told him. “If everyone takes a barrack you can find out who’s missing and try to communicate with her.”
“Excellent,” Bain said. “Now go rest, child. And do not worry. We will do all that we can to find the killer.”
I nodded. Fatigue wrapped around me like a stone cloak, and Bain’s order to rest made sense. Before heading toward my rooms, I made a slight detour to the Keep’s guest suite.
My father answered the door. He crushed me in his muscular arms. “Are you all right? Did my pill work?”
“Like a charm.” I kissed him on the cheek. “You saved my life.”
He ducked his head. “I’ve made some more for you just in case.”
I smiled with gratitude. Looking past his shoulder, I asked, “Where’s Mother?”
“In her favorite oak tree by the pasture. She was doing so well until…” He gave me a sardonic grin.
“I know. I’ll find her.”
I stood at the bottom of the oak, feeling as if I’d been run over by a horse. “Mother?” I called.
“Yelena! Come up! Come up where it’s safe!”
No place is safe, I thought. The events of the last two days began to overwhelm me. Too many problems, too much riding on me. My encounter with Alea proved that, even when I felt confident that I could take care of a situation, I really didn’t know what I was doing. If Alea had checked me for weapons, I would be standing ankle deep in my own blood.
“Come down. I need you,” I cried. I sank to the ground and wrapped my arms around my legs as tears poured from my eyes.
With a rustle and creak of branches, my mother appeared beside me. I transformed into a six-year-old child, flung myself into her arms and sobbed. She comforted me, helped me to my room, gave me a handkerchief and a glass of water. Tucking me into bed, she kissed me on my forehead.
When she went to leave, I grabbed her hand. “Please stay.”
Mother smiled, took off her cloak, and lay next to me. I fell asleep in her arms.
The next morning she brought me breakfast in bed. I protested about the extravagance, but she stopped me. “I have fourteen years of mothering to catch up on. Indulge me.”
Even though the plate was loaded with food, I ate every bit and drained the tea. “Sweet cakes are my favorite.”
“I know,” she replied with a smug smile. “I asked one of the servers in the dining hall, and she remembered that every time they cooked sweet cakes your eyes would light up.” She took the empty tray. “You should go back to sleep.” Perl went into the other room.
I could have easily complied, but I needed to find out if the others had discovered who was missing. Unable to stay in bed, I decided to get a quick bath before finding Bain.
“Come to our suite when you’re done at the bathhouse,” Perl said. “Once your father told me what’s been going on with this killer and the Curare, I thought of something that might help you. It may have aided you yesterday,” she huffed. “I’m not a delicate sapling. You and Esau don’t need to keep things from me. And that includes Valek.” She put her hands on her hips, wrinkling the smooth lines of her blue-green dress.
“How—” I sputtered.
“I’m not deaf. The dining hall buzzed with conversation about you and Valek. And Valek’s escape from Cahil!” She put a hand to her throat. But then she took a deep breath.
“I know I tend to overreact about some things and go running for the trees.” She smiled ruefully. “Valek has the most horrible reputation, but I trust you. When you have some time, you need to educate me about him.”
“Yes, Mother,” I said and also promised to stop by their suite after my bath.
It was the middle of the morning so the bathhouse was almost empty. Washing, I thought about how much I would tell my mother about Valek. When I finished drying off, I changed and headed toward the guest suite.
Dax intercepted me. His usual jovial face was taut with worry, and the dark smudges under his eyes made it look as if he hadn’t slept in a while.
“Have you seen Gelsi?” he asked.
“Not since the New Beginnings feast.” So much had happened since that night. The semester had not gone as I had imagined. Nothing since coming to Sitia had gone as I had imagined. “Wasn’t she working on some special project for Master Bloodgood?”
“Yes. She was experimenting with the Bellwood plant. But I haven’t seen her in days and I can’t find her anywhere.”
His words struck me like Alea’s knife. I gasped.
“What?” His green eyes widened in alarm.
“Plant? Where? With who?” The questions tumbled from my mouth.
“I already checked the greenhouses many times. She worked with one of the gardeners. Maybe we could ask him?”
Him. My heart twisted. I knew who Gelsi was with.
32
“ME? BUT I’VE NEVER LINKED with Gelsi.” Dax’s drawn face took on a wild fearful expression.
I had taken Dax back to my rooms. We sat together on the couch. “Don’t worry. I’ve only worked with her once, but you’ve known her for a year. I’ll find her through you.” I hoped. “Relax,” I instructed. I took his hand in mine. “Think of her.” Finding a thread of magic, I reached toward his mind.
A horrible vision of Gelsi, bloody and terrified, filled my mind. “Dax, don’t imagine where she might be. Think of her at the New Beginnings feast.”
The image transformed into a smiling young lady wearing a soft green gown. I felt Dax’s thrill when he held her hand and guided her while they danced. I sent my magic to Gelsi, trying to see Dax from her mind.
She gazed up at him. They had always danced together at the feast, but this time felt different. Her skin tingled where he had touched her, and a warmth pulsed in her chest.
Gelsi, I called, pulling her into the memory.
What a lovely evening, she thought. How things have changed. Dax seemed distant after that night. Preoccupied.
Gelsi, where are you? I asked.
Shame flared. I’ve been a fool. No one must know. Please tell no one. Fear trembled through her mind.
You were deceived by a cunning sorcerer. No one will hold that against you. Where are you?
He will punish me.
She tried to pull away. I showed her Dax’s concern for her. His hunt through the Keep. Don’t let your captor win, I pleaded.
Gelsi showed me a bare room. She was naked and tied to metal spikes that had been driven into the wooden floor. Strange symbols had been painted on the floor and walls. Pain throbbed from between her legs and the multiple cuts along her arms and legs burned. He hadn’t needed to drug her with Curare.
I loved him, she said. I gave myself to him.
Instead of the wonderful loving experience she had expected, Ferde tied her down, beat her and raped her. Then he bled her, collecting the blood in
an earthen bowl.
Show me where you are, I instructed.
Beyond the room was the living area and outside I could see a courtyard with a white jade sculpture of fifteen horses.
Have faith, I said. We’ll be there.
He’ll know. He has surrounded the neighborhood with a magical shield, he knows when someone passes through and if he feels threatened, he’ll complete the ritual.
Doesn’t he need to wait until the full moon tonight?
No.
The note left by Alea had originally set the exchange for the full moon so everyone had not only assumed Ferde sent the note, but that the phase of the moon was critical for the ritual.
He had to move many times, Gelsi said. I had thought it exciting. I didn’t know he was the one the Masters were searching for. He led me to believe he was on a secret mission for the Master Magicians.
We’ll find a way, I promised.
Hurry.
I withdrew my awareness and sat back. Dax stared at me in horror, he had been able to see and hear our conversation.
“She will need you when this is over,” I told him.
“We need to tell the Masters—”
“No.” My mind raced through options.
“But he’s strong. You heard Gelsi. He has a shield,” Dax said.
“All the more reason to go alone. They have been searching for him and he knows them. I think I can get through undetected.”
“How?”