Page 129 of The Study of Poisons
“Now?”
“No, an hour ago.”
He cursed. “Do you know what he wants?”
She just stared at him.
“Yes, I know. Stupid question.” Valek worried the Commander had changed his mind about Yelena’s execution order. Perhaps if he waited to report to Ambrose, it would give Yelena more time to reach the Sitian border. “All right, thanks.”
She didn’t move. “I’m supposed to escort you.”
That was interesting. Did the Commander believe Valek would disobey his summons? No use wasting any more time trying to second guess the Commander, Valek walked with Dema to his office. She chatted about the various tasks that still needed to be completed.
“I’m digging through fifteen years’ worth of data. I’ll probably have a massive headache when I’m done,” she said.
The Commander dismissed her as soon as they entered, which didn’t bode well for Valek. He stood stiffly at attention in front of the oversized desk.
“Have a seat, Valek.”
“I prefer to stand.”
“Sit down, you idiot.”
Caught off guard, Valek stared for a moment before perching on the edge of the chair.
“That execution order needed to be signed. I cannot allow a magician to live in Ixia. You were supposed to take the order—”
He jumped to his feet. “She’s an Ixian hero!”
“I’m well aware. Are you going to let me finish?”
Valek returned to his seat.
“You were supposed to take the order, read it, tuck it into your pocket, and escort Yelena to the dungeon. Where, with the help of the master magician and that set of lock picks she wears in her hair, she would escape from her cell and then flee to Sitia.”
Too stunned to form coherent words, Valek gaped at the Commander. An unprecedented occurrence.
“Only one prisoner a season gets executed. I didn’t want you to pull your knife and kill her right there. You would normally have remembered that important fact and not caused a scene.” The Commander leaned back. “At least, I now know the depth of your love for her.” He gazed at Valek. “And the depth of your loyalty to me.”
“Iaman idiot.” Valek sagged in his seat.
Ambrose smiled. “Are you going with Yelena?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Was that a trick question? He had sworn an oath to the Commander. “She needs time to discover the extent of her magical powers. Discover who she is away from here. Away from me.”
“And then?”
“I swore—”
“You’re allowed to have a life, Valek. You’re allowed to take time off. You’re even allowed to retire…eventually.” The Commander held up a finger. “Like in one or two,” a second finger went up, “Decades.”
Valek laughed.
“I’m happy you found someone. I was beginning to worry you’d never get over me.”
