Page 47 of The Study of Poisons
He’d grown…soft? Perhaps. Or used to assigning his corps to do the leg work—the boring and tedious labor that consisted of the bulk of a spy’s job.
Valek dozed on and off throughout the chilly night. The men woke at sunrise, and, after a quick breakfast, continued east on the trail. Valek finished the other half of the jerky, stretched his stiff muscles, and jogged after the caravan. Not the worst night of his life and certainly similar to other nights he’d spent on missions. When his stomach rumbled, he remembered the time he stalked the King’s brother. The man had gone on an extensive hunting trip with a dozen guards. By the time Valek had the opportunity to assassinate the man, Valek had run out of food and hadn’t eaten for three days.
The good old days? No. Life was better after the takeover. And now…life had gotten even more interesting with the arrival of Yelena.
* * *
Late on thesecond day of the trip, the caravan was finally ambushed by a border patrol. They appeared on the road, blocking the wagons, while the rest of the unit came from the sides of the path, encircling the back of the caravan and effectively trapping it.
Valek had been far enough behind to avoid the unit. Blending in with the bushes, he moved deeper into the woods and crept closer to listen to the conversation.
“…be here?” the captain of the unit asked. A striking and tall woman, who had pulled her hair back into a knot.
“Of course,” the lead driver responded. He pulled a scroll from his pack and handed it to the captain. “Permission from General Brazell.”
The captain raised a slender eyebrow before unrolling and scanning the document. If the caravan wished to keep a low profile, forging papers from the general wouldn’t be the way to go.
After reading through, the captain asked, “Why are you traveling on a forest road and not on an approved trading route?”
The driver gestured to the contents of the wagons. “These are some of the ingredients for the general’s new feed mill. They grow in the forest.”
Still skeptical, the captain glanced into the wagons and opened one of the bags, exposing the beans. “What are these?”
“I dunno.” The driver shrugged. “I’m hired to transport them.”
Either he was a good actor, or he’d no clue. Valek leaned toward the latter.
The captain looked at her second.
“I don’t recognize them. They’re not on the list of illegal goods and substances,” he said.
“A new drug?” she asked him. “Or used to make alcohol?”
He stepped closer and grabbed a handful of the beans. Sniffing them, he took a bite and spat it out. “Unlikely. Is the signature forged?”
“Unlikely.”
He gave her a wry smile. “Then I’m of the opinion these are legit.”
Valek held his breath, would the captain agree? Or had she noticed the trader’s ill-fitting uniforms.
“Then you won’t mind escorting the caravan and ensuring it arrives safely at its destination.”
Nice. Valek approved.
“Yes, sir.”
“Take Rodgers and Elithia with you. You can catch up with us at the barracks,” the captain ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
The driver shrugged, appearing unconcerned by his new escorts. “Suit yourselves.” He clicked at the mules. They lurched forward.
The trio of guards followed in the caravan’s wake. The captain watched the wagons as they disappeared around a bend.
“Something wrong, Cap?” one of the guards asked.
“Maybe. They had all the right answers, but…it just seemed odd.” Then she grinned. “I’m sure if it’s a wild goose chase, Lieutenant Mell will let me know multiple times.”
