Page 111 of The Study of Poisons
Soon after he settled into a comfortable position, her window opened, and she dropped her cloak out. Was that a sign to him that she needed help? Her room was about twenty feet above the cold hard ground. Instead of waiting for her next move, Valek climbed the wall and reached her window just as she left with her two guards.
Ah, so much for rescuing the damsel-in-distress.Janco would have been disappointed, but Valek was intrigued. He climbed inside and then followed. They stopped at the baths.
“I don’t need an audience. Wait here, I won’t be long,” Yelena ordered.
She entered but the guards obeyed her orders. Well, the one did. The other smirked and headed off. Valek trailed him. There must be another way into the baths. Sure enough, the guard leaned on the wall across from a door.
The big man straightened at the scrape of metal. Then the snap of a tumbler sounded. The door swung open, and Yelena paused, spotting the smirking guard. Valek pulled a dart from his sleeve, but she rushed the guard, knocking him off-balance as she punched him in the groin. He crumpled in pain.
Valek silently cheered as she ran away. Once she was out of sight, he approached the moaning guard.
“Tough luck, mate.” Valek jabbed the dart into his thick neck. When the guard stilled, he removed the evidence.
He considered his next move. Yelena knew this house. She didn’t need him right now and would wait for him in the trees. He’d join her there right after checking in with Ari and Janco.
They played poker in the barracks with a group of MD-5 soldiers. Valek hovered at the edges of the lantern light until he caught Ari’s gaze.
A few minutes later, Ari cursed and threw down his cards. “We fold.”
“We?” Janco asked, glancing at his hand.
“Yes,we.”
“Okay.” He tossed his cards onto the table. “We fold.”
Ari stood. “We’re also tired of losing. Come on, Janco, let’s get some fresh air.”
Janco impressed Valek by hopping up and joining his partner without question. If Brazell’s soldiers thought it odd, they didn’t comment as they continued bidding on their hands.
Valek met up with the power twins outside.
“Oh,” Janco said. “Well, that’s good. I thought I just threw my best hand of the night becauseyouwere tired of losing.”
“And yet you still did it,” Valek said.
“Yeah, well, Ari usually has a reason and since we’re in enemy territory...” He waved a hand, indicating their surroundings.
“Something happened?” Ari asked.
“Yes. All the advisers are now under Mogkan’s influence and Yelena did a runner this evening.”
“Good,” Ari said. “Do you think we’ll be tapped to aid in the search?”
“No. I think they’ll keep it to a few guards. They think she can’t go far.”
“Why not?” Janco asked.
He explained about Butterfly’s Dust and Yelena’s daily need for the antidote.
“Wow. That’s…” Janco cast about for a proper word.
“Smart, if you look at it from Valek’s point of view,” Ari said.
“Fiendish, if you look at it from her point of view.”
“I’m hoping that the antidote won’t be needed much longer,” Valek said.
“There’s a cure?” Ari asked.
