Page 72 of The Study of Poisons
“He’s probably long gone by now. I’ll send someone to the barracks.” Because he didn’t trust himself not to kill the man on sight.
“He won’t be there.”
“Why not?” Valek waited.
“If he’s not in the storeroom, he won’t have gotten far. You might want to send a couple of men.”
“I see.” Valek paused. Ari had said she’d a fierce side. And she’d been learning self-defense from the best soldiers in the Commander’s army. “So, your training has been progressing to your satisfaction?”
“Better than expected.”
No kidding. Impressed and proud, Valek hurried from the infirmary and almost bumped into Kenda, who’d been waiting in the hallway.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“She’s fine. I’ll explain on the way.”
He led her to the empty training room, and then counted storerooms. A weak, yellow glow shone through the half open door of the fourth one on the left. Curses and murmurs emanated, indicating Nix was conscious. Valek drew his knife and slowly pushed the door wider.
An almost bald man sat on the floor cradling his right arm to his chest. He wore a lieutenant’s uniform. The air stank of sweat and blood ran from his nose. His left knee appeared swollen. Noting the empty sheath at Nix’s waist, Valek scanned the area for the missing weapon, ensuring it wasn’t within Nix’s reach.
“Wow,” Kenda whispered. “She did a number on him. Go her.”
Nix spotted them in the doorway. “Figures the bitch squealed.”
A cold fury welled. Valek returned his weapon to its holder before he could gut the man and strangle him with his own intestines. “We’ll need a few more agents to help carry him out,” he said to Kenda.
“But it looks like he can walk?”
Valek gave her a tight smile. “Not for long.”
“Oh. Okay, I’ll be back.” Kenda left.
As Valek approached, Nix said, “The bitch attacked me.”
Valek grabbed his injured arm and Nix screamed. Ah, she’d broken his elbow. Good. He released it just as fast and snatched up Nix’s uninjured arm. “Tell me why you attacked my food taster, or I’ll snap this one in half.”
“Orders from General Brazell.” Nix spat. “Shouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Orders to kill or scare her?”
“Scare. Harass. Humiliate. Anything to make her life miserable.”
“Why not kill?”
“He wants that pleasure—argh!”
Twisting Nix’s arm, Valek asked, “When?”
“I don’t know. Ahhh!”
The clear snap of the man’s shoulder dislocating momentarily appeased Valek. “What is he planning?”
“Don’t know!”
Valek pressed his foot on Nix’s injured knee. “Who else is working for him?”
“Don’t know that either!”
