Page 89 of The Study of Poisons
He never should have allowed her to eat the extra Criollo. If Brazell and Mogkan were using the substance to influence the Commander, it might have made Yelena more susceptible to Mogkan’s magic. If. Maybe. Might. How he hated those three words.
“She’s awake, but I ordered her to rest,” Valek said to Ari and Janco. “If she listens, she’ll stay in her room until it’s time to taste the Commander’s lunch.”
“Who wants to bet she comes out right after Valek leaves?” Janco asked.
Apparently, no one.
* * *
After checkingthe Commander’s suite and ensuring no one hid inside, Valek stopped by Kenda’s to make a copy of the generals’ meeting schedule before he arrived at the Commander’s office.
“What are you doing here, Valek? I’ve an appointment—”
“In ten minutes.” He waved the sheet of paper. “I know. I’m going to attend all your remaining meetings with the generals.”
The Commander studied him. “Does this have to do with your ridiculous claim about Adviser Mogkan?”
Valek wanted to point out the Commander had never thought his claims ridiculous before. “Does it matter? I’m your Chief of Security and I’ve determined that you need extra security.”
“Then post more guards outside my door.”
“That would be ineffective, sir.”
“It’s a waste of your time.”
“I disagree, sir.”
“What about the security measures for the Sitian delegation?”
“Covered.”
“And this season’s execution?”
“Taken care of.” Mostly.
“I can order you to leave.”
He could. “Humor me, please. I promise to stay out of the way and not offer my opinion on anything unless asked.”
The Commander sighed. “I’m not happy about it.”
“Clearly.”
“But you’ve earned the right to be paranoid. Didn’t I give you a medal for that once?”
“You did.” A rare event where Valek had been more suspicious than the Commander and had saved him from an assassin. Back in the early days, right after the takeover.
The Commander grinned evilly. “All right, you can stay, but you’ll have to wear your dress uniform when the delegation arrives and again during the feast.”
Nasty. “An honor.” Valek’s tone indicated the opposite.
“That’s the spirit.”
Valek had won the round but standing behind the Commander as he conducted meeting after meeting with the various generals and their advisers didn’t feel like winning. The discussions were bloody boring. And annoying, he had no idea how the Commander endured such banality. There was so much talking over minor concerns that had easy solutions if everyone just put their egos aside.
After two and a half days of it, Valek decided he’d rather be tortured. At least, no one used magic and Brazell and Mogkan canceled their last meeting with the Commander, giving them both a break. The generals were due to leave in the morning, thank fate, and Valek had his own work to do.
He escorted the Commander to his suite for an early night.
