Page 16 of The Study of Poisons
CHAPTER5
Valek stepped over the goons. They’d wake in a couple of hours with headaches. Yelena stood with her arms crossed. He gently took the injured one and inspected the cut near her elbow.
Relieved it wasn’t deep, he said, “Not as bad as it looks. You’ll live. We’ll see the Commander first, then the medic.”
He hurried to the Commander’s war room. Yelena lagged, but he didn’t ease his pace as the Commander was bound to be upset. And, sure enough, the man shot him an annoyed glare when they entered the spacious circular room located in the southeast tower of the castle. Long, thin stained-glass windows that striped three-quarters of the tower let in the afternoon sunlight. A beautiful room except General Brazell sat at the egg-shaped table in the middle of the chamber. The old goat glowered at Yelena, his square face turning red.
The Commander sat at the head, with a tray of untouched food nearby. General Tesso of MD-4 continued eating his lunch, while General Hazal of MD-6 gazed at Yelena and Valek with interest. The group had to have been discussing Brazell’s new factory. Any big projects planned within a Military District needed the Commander’s approval and he frequently consulted with the generals of the neighboring districts.
“Valek, you’re—”
“Late,” Valek finished for the Commander. “I know. There was a slight altercation.” He pulled Yelena closer.
“Altercation, Valek?” He sighed. “How many dead?”
“None. I couldn’t justify the disposal of soldiers merely following General Brazell’s orders to hunt down and kill our new food taster. Besides, they weren’t very smart. Seems she was on the verge of giving them the slip when she ran into me. Good thing though, or I might not have found out about the incident.”
The Commander studied Yelena before he turned to Brazell.
The general jumped to his feet. “She should be dead! I want her dead! She killed my son!”
Valek countered, “But the Code of Behavior—”
“Damn the Code. I’m a general. She killed ageneral’sson and here she is…” Emotion choked off Brazell’s words.
Valek wondered why the general hadn’t been this emotional at the execution. Why save it for now? Was it all an act? If so, it was a good one. The man’s fingers curled as if he’d like to strangle Yelena. Valek kept his hand near the hilt of his dagger.
“It’s a dishonor to me that she lives,” Brazell shouted. “An insult. Train another prisoner. I want her dead!”
With those four words vibrating in the air, Yelena stepped behind Valek. Out of the line of sight and of attack, he approved. It appeared the other generals agreed with Brazell, so her life could very well end in mere moments. A strange protective instinct rose in Valek’s chest, and he decided he would fight for her.
“He has a sound argument,” the Commander said into the tense silence.
“You have never deviated from what’s written in the Code of Behavior,” Valek argued. “Start now and you’ll begin a trend. Besides, you’ll be killing the brightest food taster we’ve ever had. She’s almost trained.” He gestured to the tray of cold food beside the Commander.
Brazell took a step toward the Commander. “She’s smart becauseIeducated her. I can’t believe you’re going to listen to this upstart, conniving, sneaky thief—” Brazell stopped.
Valek suppressed a smirk. The old goat had gone too far. Valek’s loyalty to the Commander was without fail, and Ambrose trusted his opinion.
“Brazell, leave my food taster alone.”
Yelena let out an audible breath. No surprise she’d been holding it in. Valek relaxed as well. He’d won this round, but he knew Brazell wouldn’t stop seeking his revenge.
Brazell tried to argue, but the Commander silenced him. “It’s an order. Go ahead and build your new factory. Consider your permit approved.”
Well played, Old Goat. But are you smart enough to take the carrot?
Silence followed. Brazell gave Yelena a look that promised future pain and death before he strode from the room without another word.
Once he was gone, Tesso and Hazal objected to the speed of the permit approval. They listed their reasons why the decision needed further discussion, but Valek knew they had been looking forward to spending more time at the castle. All the generals wished for one on one time with the Commander to gain his favor and hopefully be assigned as his successor.
Valek ceased to listen to their—what did Margg call it—caterwauling as he tasted the Commander’s cold food. Free of poisons, he pushed the plate closer to the Commander, who listened patiently until the generals finished their protestations.
“Your concerns are noted. My order stands,” the Commander said. He turned to Valek. “Your food taster had better live up to your endorsements. One slip and you’ll be training her replacement prior to your reassignment. You’re dismissed.”
Valek took Yelena’s arm and led her from the chamber. The Commander never made idle threats. While he knew Valek would do anything for him, including washing dishes or shoveling manure, without the need to reassign Valek, the Commander had just linked Yelena’s fate with Valek’s own. Why?
The Commander probably wanted him to be more invested in her training than Valek had been for the other tasters. Perhaps he thought she’d last longer than the others in that case. He stopped. “Yelena—”
