Page 2 of The Study of Magic
“No.”
“Great. That’s your new home. Once you arrive, go to twenty-five Squall Lane and tell them you’re part of Valek’s protection program. The password is waterspout. They’ll get you and Ruby settled in a new place and find you a job.”
“But that’s so far away.”
He bit back a groan of frustration. Valek had hoped to put Ziva and Ruby on their horse and send them on their way. But if he did that, they’d probably be captured right away. The Commander would be annoyed at Valek’s delay in returning to Ixia, but he couldn’t do a poor job even if it added two weeks to his trip. To avoid that, he’d send them to one of his safe houses.
Part of his duties as Ixia’s Chief of Security was to keep an eye on the country of Sitia, their neighbor. One of the ways he kept track of the political climate in Sitia was by sending members of his corps to collect intelligence. These agents lived in safe houses that Valek frequently used when he was traveling in Sitia. Twenty-five Squall Lane was one such house.
When darkness settled over the valley, Valek watched until all the lantern lights in the manor house extinguished. Then he remained by their small fire for a couple more hours, ensuring that the occupants inside had enough time for their slumber to deepen. Patience was critical in his line of work. Hours and hours of preparation would often be followed by a short burst of activity.
Ziva paced around their campsite, burning off her nervous energy. Before he left, he gave her a list of instructions.
“Once the horses are ready to go, wait for us,” he said. “Do not approach the house. Understand?”
She bit her lip but nodded.
Careful not to trod on any crunchy broken stalks, Valek headed toward the house. The half-moon cast just enough light to reveal the path. His outfit comprised of a simple midnight-blue tunic and pants, Hidden in the various folds of the fabric were darts filled with sleeping potion, a set of lock picks, and his daggers. His broadsword was too long and cumbersome for this type of operation. It was sheathed on his horse’s saddle along with his pack.
When he reached the house, he looped around to the back door and picked the lock. It sprung easily. Entering the kitchen, he closed it behind him but left it unlocked for a quick getaway. He stopped and listened for any sounds of movement. It was dark and quiet. The fire in the hearth had been banked for the evening, but the smell of roasted meat lingered on the air, making his stomach grumble. Travel rations were a poor substitute for a home-cooked meal.
Following Ziva’s instructions, he crept through the house. His heart kept a steady pace despite the situation. This was familiar territory for him; working as an assassin all those years ago had inured him to the danger. However, he kept alert. He might be confident but he wasn’t stupid.
Ruby’s room was at the end of the hallway on the second floor. To avoid any creaky stairs, Valek shimmied up the banister. The door next to Ruby’s was ajar—her nursemaid’s quarters. Pausing by the gap, he listened to the woman’s steady breathing. Then he entered Ruby’s room.
Dolls lined the shelves and a pile of stuffed animals sat in the corner. Her small bed was low to the ground. The blankets were rumpled, but there was no sign of Ruby. Valek searched the rest of the room. No luck. Had someone tipped Dothan off?
The girl’s pillow was dented, and a faint warmth lingered on the sheets. Remembering the nursemaid’s open door, Valek checked, hoping the girl sought comfort from her nanny. The woman slept alone. Biting back a curse, Valek retreated.
The household staff and farm hands all slept on the third floor. Would the girl go to one of them? There was another possibility, but Valek was loath to consider it.
At the other end of the long hall stood a set of grand double doors. Dothan’s room. As Valek approached, he noticed they hadn’t been closed properly. He peered through the small gap. Sure enough, Ruby slept curled up next to her father. Also on the bed was a puppy. It stared quizzically at the door.
He had seconds before all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER2
Valek yanked out a handful of darts filled with sleeping potion, but he had to widen the crack in the doors to get a good shot. As soon as he moved it, the puppy bounded off the bed with an excited yip.
Dothan sprang out of bed with a dagger in his big hand. “Ruby, get behind me,” he ordered his daughter.
The girl scampered behind her father. So much for a quick snatch and dash. Valek had hoped to avoid any additional trauma for the little girl.
He flicked his hands out to show Dothan he was unarmed. The gesture was an attempt to distract the man as Valek launched two darts. The one aimed at Dothan’s throat stopped in mid-air as the man’s magic swelled. The dart dropped to the floor. Now the power pressed against Valek’s skin. Good thing Valek remained immune to magic’s effect. He wondered what defensive countermeasures the magician was attempting.
Reluctant to draw his knife, Valek waited for Dothan to make the next move. The puppy who had been sniffing Valek’s boots staggered and flopped to the floor.
“He killed Pawl!” Ruby cried, darting to the dog.
“Ruby, don’t.” Her father tried to grab her arm, but she slipped past.
Ruby sat down inches from Valek. She scooped Pawl into her lap. Hugging him tight, she bawled.
“No. Please.” Dothan’s voice shook with anguish. He carefully placed his weapon on the bed. “Please don’t hurt her.”
The raw grief on Dothan’s square face was not the reaction Valek expected. Or rather, not the response Ziva had warned him about. Valek crouched down to the girl’s eye level. “Pawl’s not dead, Ruby. He’s sleeping.”
She glared at him. “He’s not waking up.”
