Page 112 of The Study of Poisons
Valek bit back a curse. “Sort of. I’m hoping that she’ll join us as a teammate, and then I can train another food taster.”
“That would be sweet,” Janco said.
“Did you learn anything from your new friends?” Valek asked.
“The guards are all annoyed that they have to smell that delicious scent, but can’t eat any of it,” Ari reported.
“They also don’t like Adviser Mogkan,” Janco added. “He’s acting like he’s in charge instead of the general.”
Valek tried to recall if Brazell had eaten the Criollo. No. Not even during the brandy meeting. But that didn’t mean Mogkan hadn’t been orchestrating this takeover all along.
“Anything else significant?” he asked.
“No, sir.”
“I’m going to catch up with Yelena and see if she learned anything,” Valek said.
“And then?” Ari asked.
“Then we rescue the Commander, take him far from all this magic, and hope he wakes up.”
“We’re ready when you need us, sir.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Valek startedhis search for Yelena on the west side of the estate, where the trees grew close together and traveling through them would be easier. He’d been right about the hunt for Yelena consisting of only a few soldiers, but he hadn’t counted on the dogs.
They strained at their leashes as they bounded west through the forest. Had they caught her scent? He cursed the moonlight. It painted the stark landscape with a silver brightness.
The dogs circled a tree, barking and yipping and appearing like they’d lost her scent. It was probably the place where Yelena had climbed into the treetops. Valek had an idea. He was far enough away from the searchers that he would look like an indistinguishable figure in the moonlight. Valek crunched some leaves under his boots.
One of the soldiers shouted and pointed toward Valek. He broke cover and ran. They chased after him. Fun.
Valek led them further west for no other reason than instinct. Brazell and Mogkan might expect her to return to the Commander’s castle. To him. Yet, he sensed she’d head in the opposite direction.
The dogs, encouraged by their handlers, picked up his scent. He zigzagged, trying to throw them off. When he encountered a small stream, he ran in the water for a while before stomping through the underbrush, leaving a clear trail. Then he back stepped to the water, dashed further upstream, and used Yelena’s trick, climbing a tree.
Settling on a sturdy limb high up, Valek waited. Barely a minute later, his pursuers reached the stream. The dogs lost his scent, but the search party checked the opposite bank, eventually discovering his false trail.
He waited until they were well out of sight before climbing down. Then he headed back to the manor house. It took him hours longer to find Yelena than he expected. Valek had assumed that, after she retrieved her pack and bo from where she’d hidden them, she’d stay safe in the treetops overnight. Instead, he spotted her in a large clearing. From the worn-down grass, areas of hard-packed dirt, and stakes still left in the ground, the site appeared to be where the fire festival set up their tents every year.
Yelena knelt next to a smooth area, digging in the dirt and clearly visible for all to see. Valek wondered again about her recklessness. This was another example of her being smart enough to escape, yet risking being captured.
When he neared, he slowed as she tossed her metal hook onto the ground and clawed at the dirt with her fingers. She removed something and held it reverently. Humming happily, she refilled the hole. Then she cleaned her prize and added it to Vincent’s necklace. He caught sight of a flame design.
Ah. She must have been a very talented acrobat to earn an amulet at the fire festival. No wonder she risked so much to find it again. She was lucky this time, but she needed to be more careful.
He strode up to her. “Not the best hiding place. Wouldn’t you agree?”
She jumped to her feet.
“They’re searching for you,” he said. “Why did you run?”
Yelena told him about the Commander, the advisers, Brazell, Mogkan, and the Criollo. She’d made all the same conclusions he had. Nice.
“So Mogkan is using Criollo to take control of their minds, but where’s he getting the power?” Valek asked.
