Ice Study (Poison Study 3.60)

He would pay for every mark on Leif’s body. That I promised my brother.

The magician had instructed his men to hide my brother without telling him the location. They’d set up a complicated message system to ensure their boss’s life and his freedom during the mission.

Digging a little deeper into his mind, I learned his name: Owen Moon. And I sensed that he would keep his word not to harm Leif if I agreed to his demands and helped him steal the Commander’s Ice Moon. He also wouldn’t hesitate to order my brother’s death if I failed. I tried to discover Leif’s current location, but to no avail. With a sudden snap, my connection to Owen broke.

“That’s enough. Do you believe me?” Owen asked.

“Yes.”

“And your answer?”

“When do we leave?” I asked.

He smirked with satisfaction. “Now. Go pack a small bag. Reed, go with her.”

A young man with short, dark hair stepped forward. I allowed him to follow me upstairs, but I stopped outside my bedroom door. “Stay here,” I ordered.

“But—”

“I need to change my clothes.”

His shoulders stiffened. “I’ll turn my back.”

“No. You’ll stay here. What do you think I’ll do? Your boss has my brother.” I shut the door and drew in a breath before pushing my awareness toward Reed. As I’d suspected, he was no longer covered by the null shield. Owen’s confidence in my cooperation could be used to my advantage. Too bad Reed didn’t know anything useful. I capitalized on his fatigue, and eventually my escort ceased resisting and lay down in the hallway for a little nap.

Valek coalesced from the shadows and wrapped me in his long, lean arms. I breathed in his musky smell, listening to his heartbeat. Strong and steady. No indication that he had been sneaking around.

“What do you want me to do, love?” he asked in a low whisper. “Find Leif, or smooth the way for your trip north?”

“How about both?”

“It’s Ixia. Messages take forever compared to Sitia, but if you drag the trip out a few days, I could have a couple helpers in place.”

“Leif first.”

“Right.” His sigh vibrated through me. “So much for our vacation.” He pulled back, and I recognized the eagerness in his blue eyes. “Interesting problem, though. Could be a bit tricky.”

“Free Leif, and then you can play,” I said.

“Promise?” An eagerness lightened his tone.

“If I don’t get to them first.”

“That’s my girl.” He released me.

While I changed, Valek packed my bag. In order to travel in Ixia without drawing attention, we would have to leave Kiki and the rest of the horses behind. I swung my gray cloak around my shoulders. The cooling season in Ixia meant icy winds and freezing nights. Valek would have to find Leif before the cold season’s blizzards began, or we would be stuck in Ixia for two months.

Valek handed me the backpack. “Directly north of us there’s a safe house near the Ixian border.”

“You’re not supposed—”

“We can argue about it later. It’s stocked with Ixian uniforms, money and papers. You’ll still have to sneak across the border, but it’ll help once you’re inside.” He gave me directions to the house. “Then head for Military District 3 and find the Commander’s diamond mine—the one he grew up in. Its designation is MD-3-13 and it’s in the foothills of the Soul Mountains near the northern ice sheet. I’ll meet you there.” He rested his hands on my shoulders. “Stay safe, love.”

I reached and pulled him close, rising up on the balls of my feet to kiss him. Heat pulsed in my chest, and I wished to melt into his skin. But I sensed Reed waking up. We broke apart.

Valek said, “I doubt you’ll get close to the Ice Moon, but if some odd twist of fate leads you to it, do not let that magician get his hands on it. Not even in exchange for Leif’s life. The consequences—”

“I know.”

“How?”

“Master Magician Bain Bloodgood told me.”

“Good.”

The knob on the door turned and Valek moved, disappearing once again into the shadows. Reed entered the room, glaring in suspicion.

“I’m ready,” I said as I breezed past him. I joined Owen and the other three men in the living room. Without waiting for Owen to give the order, I said, “Let’s go.”

Leading them outside, I turned north. I was sure Owen knew how powerful the Ice Moon was. But I’d bet my butterfly pendant that he had no idea it had been given—not stolen—to the Commander by the Master Magicians for safekeeping.

PART 2 – VALEK

Valek watched Yelena, Owen Moon and his four men head north toward Ixia. The cold wind rattled the bare branches of the trees, and a shiver zipped over his skin. She was outnumbered, and the magician could protect himself with a null shield. Worry swirled in his chest as they disappeared over a slight rise. Yelena led the men on an impossible quest—to recover the Ice Moon from the Commander’s mine. If Leif’s life hadn’t been on the line, the five intruders would already be dead.

Time to fix that problem, Valek thought. He saddled his horse, Onyx. Kiki stuck her head out of her stall and gave him a morose look. Because horses were only ridden by the Generals and special officers in Ixia, she had to stay behind and wait for Yelena to return. She would miss Onyx’s presence, but that couldn’t be helped. He needed to get to the Citadel as fast as possible.

He fed Kiki a few milk oats and scratched her behind the ears before mounting his pure black horse. For a moment, he wished he could communicate with the horses the same way Yelena did, but he knew they were smart. He asked Onyx to hurry to the Citadel, and the horse broke into a fast gallop.

They arrived at the northern gate of the Citadel just as the first rays of dawn shone over the white marble of the outer walls. Onyx headed straight for the Magician’s Keep in the northeast quadrant of the city. Valek wondered how Yelena fared. Was she tired? Worried? But once he reached the Keep’s gate, he shoved his concerns deep within his heart.

With no time to be subtle, Valek informed the guard in the gatehouse that he needed to see Master Magician Irys Jewelrose. He didn’t wait for permission to enter. Onyx hopped the wooden barrier with ease—a trick he’d learned from Kiki. They crossed the courtyard to the administration building.

If Irys wasn’t in her office, she soon would be. There was always a magician stationed in the gatehouse, and he or she would inform the second-most powerful magician in Ixia that Valek, the Commander’s assassin, waited for her.

Having an infamous reputation is handy in certain situations.

Valek hopped off Onyx and entered the building, arriving at Irys’s office without encountering anyone. He wasn’t too surprised to find her working at her desk. Her normally tidy hair hung to her shoulders, as if she’d given up on keeping it pulled back.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Where’s Leif?”

She eyed his dusty travel clothes. “I asked first.”

He huffed in annoyance. Yes, he could discover Leif’s last known location without her help, but he didn’t want to waste any more time. Besides, Irys could have information on this Owen Moon. He recounted the midnight ambush to her.

“I remember Owen,” she said. “Cocky little twerp who came from a rich family. His strongest ability is mental communication. The only magician I know of who can lie to another magician in his mind. Most people can’t lie when you’re linked mind to mind, but he can.”

“Where’s Leif?” he asked again.

“Councilor Moon requested his help to interrogate a murderer. Not all of his victims have been found, and they wanted to use Leif’s magic to locate their remains.”

“Have you heard from him recently?”

“No, and I was beginning to worry. Last time he made contact was three days ago. He reported that he had reached Fulgor late at night and would go to the Councilor’s Hall the next day.”

> “Can you contact one of the Councilor’s people?” he asked.