Page 26 of The Study of Magic
“What are you delivering?”
The merchant shrugged and gestured to the pantry. “Probably ingredients or something. I’ve no idea. I just transport it.”
“Where are your papers?”
He fished into his pocket and removed a folded parchment. “Here ya go.”
Silas set the lantern on the seat of the wagon and opened the shutter. A beam of light illuminated the paper.
While he read, Valek said to the man, “Rather late for a delivery.”
“I know, but we’ve a schedule to keep.”
“Oh? Where are you headed?”
The man pointed his long chin at the burlap sacks. “They’re full of wool for the clothing factory in MD-3.”
Valek watched the unloading for a moment. “I can get you some extra helpers so you’re not here all night.”
“That’s okay. We’re almost done.”
“Just the two wagons?”
“Yeah.”
Valek stilled. There had been three empty wagons. Did that mean they had already delivered Criollo to other locations? And where were the last three going? He refrained from asking the man. Too many questions would raise his suspicions.
“Everything looks good,” Captain Silas said, handing the papers back to the man. He tucked them into his pocket.
Valek followed Silas. When they were out of sight, Silas stopped. “General Brazell signed the papers.”
“And who ordered the delivery?”
“No one. It’s a gift from General Brazell. According to the papers, he sent what he calls ‘the brandy dessert, as promised’ to Generals Tesso and Franis. One wagon to the manor house and two to the garrison in each district.” Silas paused. “Does that make sense to you?”
Valek recalled the Commander’s brandy meeting, where each general brought a bottle of their finest brandy to share. When it had been Brazell’s turn, he sent around a square of Criollo filled with strawberry brandy. It’d been well received, and Brazell offered to send the recipe to the other generals. None of them knew Criollo was used to break down a person’s will so they become very susceptible to magical suggestions. The Commander had ordered everyone who did know about Criollo’s abilities to keep it a secret.
“Some. There are three empty wagons. I assume the cargo of one of them went to Tesso’s manor, but what happened to the other two?”
“Perhaps the garrison in MD-5.” Silas suggested.
That didn’t make sense. Brazell wouldn’t want to influence his own soldiers. They were already loyal to him.
But they weren’t loyal to Mogkan. The magician hadn’t been upset when he’d thought Brazell was dead and had mentioned finding another way to takeover Ixia right before Valek killed him. It was possible that Mogkan sent the wagons before he’d died.
Valek considered. Even with traveling during the cold season, the caravan would have delivered the Criollo weeks ago. Unless this was the last one to go out. Or the tail end of the deliveries.
The thought of all the soldiers in Ixia ingesting Criollo caused panic to simmer in Valek’s chest. What if Sitian magicians sensed the army was compromised and decide to attack? “Did the papers indicate when they started their journey?”
“I didn’t see a date.”
Valek needed more information.
“How would you like to proceed, sir?” Silas asked.
“Arrest all the drivers. Confiscate the boxes and don’t let a soul near them. Bring the leader to me in the interrogation room.”
“Yes, sir.”
