Page 122 of The Study of Poisons
Valek cursed. The fight turned into one long slog of keeping Mogkan’s sword from skewering him. At one point, Valek became aware of Yelena’s presence. It gave him a surge of energy, which lasted all of six seconds.
Mogkan grinned and increased his speed, feinting left and lunging. The tip of his rapier slashed into Valek’s arm, cutting deep into his skin, and forcing Valek to drop his sword.
“What an incredible day!” Mogkan exclaimed. “I get to kill the famous Valek and the infamous Yelena at the same time.”
Yelena triggered her switchblade. Mogkan laughed, but the action drew his attention away from Valek. He palmed a couple darts as Mogkan’s magic moved to Yelena. Her weapon flew from her hand.
Her face creased in panic, but then it smoothed. She pointed a finger at Mogkan and he froze. His sword clattered to the ground. Valek would have whooped with joy if he had the strength.
“You rat-spawned daughter of a demon!” Mogkan cursed at Yelena. Too bad she hadn’t paralyzed his vocal cords as well.
“You’re a blight on this earth. An incarnation of hell. You’re just like the rest of them. The Zaltana bloodline should be burned out, erased, exterminated.”
Valek tuned him out as he picked up Yelena’s switchblade. Mogkan cursed and yelled in panic as he approached. Aiming at the magician’s throat, Valek thought it fitting that her blade would deliver the killing blow. A quick death because Valek didn’t have the energy to prolong Mogkan’s agony even though he deserved it. Mogkan shrieked when the knife sliced through his carotid artery. Blood poured, staining the man’s tunic. Finally silent, Mogkan’s body toppled to the ground.
Good riddance.
Valek handed Yelena her knife. She’d saved his life. Bowing, he said, “My love, for you.”
She solemnly took the knife. Then she gasped. “Janco!”
CHAPTER23
Yelena grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hallway. “What’s wrong with Janco?” he asked.
“He’s hurt. We need to get the medic,” she panted.
Valek didn’t think it was possible, but he found a modicum of energy. They roused the sleeping medic, who resisted until Valek brandished his knife, forcing the man to grab his bag and follow them to Reyad’s wing.
The hallway in the east wing resembled a battlefield. Blood splattered the walls and pooled on the ground. Dead soldiers slumped on the floor along with a number of severed limbs. It was a quick and brutal way to neutralize an opponent. After all, they couldn’t attack you without arms. Considering Ari and Janco had been outnumbered, Valek approved.
The medic tried to stop at the first fallen man, but Valek yanked him to his feet. The man was clearly dead, and they didn’t have time. They wove through the carnage and entered the room with the mindless people.
Janco lay on his side with his head in Ari’s lap. Good thing the man was unconscious, as a sword’s tip protruded from his back. Looking grim with blood splashed on his face, Ari nodded at Valek. Irys sat in the middle of the wheel. Sweat beaded her brow and she gazed into the distance. He’d thank her for saving their lives later.
The medic tutted over Janco and declared there was nothing he could do for him here. Valek helped Ari pick Janco up. The big man carried his partner as they raced to the infirmary. He gently set him on an examination table as the medic gathered a bunch of supplies.
“If the sword has pierced any of his internal organs or if there is internal bleeding, he will die,” the medic said.
Valek and Ari helped the medic remove the sword. Blood gushed from the wounds. The medic worked fast, cleaning and sealing them. Once he was finished bandaging Janco’s torso, they carried him to a clean bed. Now they just had to wait.
The medic tended to Yelena’s laceration and, when done, she immediately went to sit by Janco’s bedside. Ari refused all medical attention as he claimed the other seat next to his partner. They planned to keep vigil until he woke.
When it was Valek’s turn for care, he stared at the S-shaped slash along his right forearm. It throbbed but the bleeding had stopped. A minor injury considering how close he’d come to dying. How close they’d all come, and Janco’s life still hung in the balance.
Exhaustion settled deep into his bones, but Valek couldn’t rest. Not until he ensured the Commander’s safety. Returning to the guest suite, Valek checked on him. No change in his demeanor. He’d have to ask Irys how long it would take for the magic to wear off.
Brazell remained sprawled unconscious on the floor. He’d been cuffed to the heavy bed. Yelena had resisted killing the brute.Well done, love.Valek considered ending the man’s life, but the resulting political uproar would be a mess. Instead, he grabbed a second pair of cuffs and rearranged the general’s limbs so he was more secure. Bonus that being hogtied resulted in killer cramps.
Then Valek woke up the Commander’s advisers. At first, they stared at him blankly and he wondered if he should toss some cold water on their faces. However, without Mogkan’s magic, and since they only recently started consuming Criollo, they regained their senses rather quick.
He explained the situation. Because this was an emergency, he outranked them all. “Collect all the Criollo you can find in the manor. Pile it in the soldiers’ fire pit and burn it,” he ordered Tocara and Chelle. “Guard the Commander’s suite,” he told Dema and Felo. “Don’t let anyone in or out. Unless it’s the Commander.”
They hurried to carry out his orders while he searched for Brazell’s other advisers. He found one. An older man with bushy gray hair that was wild and tousled from sleep.
“The general hasn’t sought my advice in years,” said Adviser Kirwin. “Not since Mogkan arrived.”
“Where are his other advisers?”
