Page 51 of The Study of Magic
“Nothing written down, but I can refuse a challenge.”
“Wewon’t issue a challenge unless it’s a fair fight,” Ari declared.
Ignoring Ari’s comment, Janco asked, “Would you refuse if I challenged you right now?”
“Yes. These challenges are staged where everyone can witness them. No one would accept you as my second-in-command if I fought you while injured. You’d have the title, but not the respect or loyalty or cooperation of the other soldiers, my network, the Commander, the?—”
“I get it,” Janco said. “And I wasn’t going to challenge you. I was just curious.”
“Cat, Janco. Remember the cat,” Ari said.
Janco grinned. “I still have four lives left.”
Valek knew not to ask for an explanation or they’d be here all night. Instead, he dismissed them. They had helped in reminding him to be very careful who he confided in. The only mind Alea couldn’t read was his, but he suspected she wouldn’t read the minds of every single person in the castle. Too time consuming, and it would drain her energy. He had no doubt that she was already somewhere inside the castle complex.
It was easy enough to get inside without magic. All she needed was a uniform for one of the invisible members of the household, like a housekeeper or kitchen server, to blend in. Valek had done it countless times. Too bad he couldn’t send Janco to go around the barracks, kitchen, and castle to see if anyone made him twitchy. He needed someone who was good at reading people but was relatively unknown.
Valek considered his corps, the advisers, the officers, but thought most of them would be…too obvious. Needing to move, he prowled around his cluttered office. He picked up one of the gray rocks he transformed into his sculptures. Perhaps a session in his carving studio would help him focus. But he wouldn’t be able to tolerate the noise of the grinding wheel.
Setting the rock down, he spotted Sven’s dagger. Grief filled his heart. Sven had died working undercover, attempting to stop the black market dealers. Valek planned to give the black blade to his son, Adrik, when he graduated from spy training. Valek smiled, thinking of Ari and Janco learning with a bunch of younger— Trevar!
Sven’s best baiter was also training to become a part of Valek’s corps. Trevar had an uncanny ability to read people and had hooked many customers for Sven’s fake black market shop. He’d be perfect.
As he wrote the message requesting Trevar’s presence, Valek thought of someone else who could help and wrote a second note.
* * *
Trevar arrived soon after. He paused in the doorway when he spotted Valek’s bruised face but didn’t comment. Instead, he said, “I hope this meeting is what I’ve been waiting for.” His blue eyes flashed with excitement.
Valek led him to his desk and gestured for Trevar to sit down. “What have you been waiting for?”
“A mission. A challenge. Graduation. Take your pick. I’m bored stiff.”
“You’ve only been in training for six months. You need a year at least.”
Trevar sagged in his seat and ran a hand through his sandy-blond hair. “But it’s all…repetition. Day in and day out. The. Same. Thing.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
“Yeah, yeah. Muscle memory and being able to react automatically while under stress. It’s no longer a challenge.”
“I can confer with your teachers and see about accelerating your training.”
“But Iknoweverything.”
Valek laughed. “Really? Wow, I’m impressed. I don’t even know everything. If I did, I wouldn’t be this bruised.” He gently touched his cheek.
“Sorry, I’m just bored.”
“So you said.” Perhaps having Ari and Janco to train with would make it more interesting for Trevar. “How about a mission?”
Trevar sat up. All the angst disappeared from his handsome face. “Yes! I’ll do anything! Please!”
Valek explained what he needed Trevar to do.
The poor guy deflated. “Be friendly with the newbies? How is that important?”
“It’s very important. You have all the uniforms?”
