Page 32 of The Study of Magic
“Did you find out where that caravan went?” Ari asked.
A team effort to distract him. Nice. “I did, I’ll fill you in on the way.”
“To where?” Ute asked.
“General Tesso’s manor house.”
Janco made a strangled sound. Everyone looked at him. “Of course, we’re going to the manor house,” he said. “I’d forgotten we were invited to high tea with the General.” He patted his pockets. “Hmm, I must have misplaced my invitation.”
* * *
“Please don’t tell me this is a typical mission for you,” Janco whispered to Valek as they crouched in a dark shadow. “If so, I really have to consider if I want to continue hero worshipping you or not.”
“Consider it a test of your patience,” Valek replied.
“You assume too much,” Ari said. “Janco doesn’t have any patience.”
“Are they always this chatty during a mission?” Ute asked.
He had no idea. “Let’s stay focused.” Valek detailed the plan to everyone again.
They waited until late into the night. When the occupants of the manor house were deep asleep, Valek signaled, and they broke into pairs to head in different directions. Ari and Valek toward the manor’s pantry, and Janco accompanied Ute to the stables.
Sneaking into the house reminded Valek of when he and Yelena had broken in to Brazell’s. They’d hunted for the source of Mogkan’s extra power, hoping it would free the Commander from his magical control. The horrors they’d discovered still haunted him. Mogkan had siphoned the souls from the children he’d kidnapped from Sitia to amplify his power.
Yelena had impressed Valek by not running away screaming when she entered the place where she’d been tortured and raped as Brazell’s son, Reyad, and Mogkan tried to steal her soul. Her inner strength and courage amazed him. A sharp pang squeezed his heart over the reminder of her absence.
Ari followed him on silent feet. They reached the kitchen without encountering anyone. Warmth embraced them as they entered. The fires in the ovens had been banked, but the sweet aroma of apple pie still scented the air. They had a four-hour window of opportunity between when the cleaning crew finished for the day and the pastry chef woke to start baking.
Jars had already been filled with Criollo and set on the shelves within reach of the dessert chef. Ari collected them while Valek swiped a bottle of whiskey and shoved it into his pocket. Then he unlocked the door to the pantry. The locks popped easily. Too bad the hinges squeaked as he pulled it open. He and Ari froze.
If he had the time to do this properly, he would have spent a few days learning all the quirks of the kitchen and staff so there would be no surprises.
When no candlelight shone under the door of the chef’s quarters, Valek and Ari entered. The shelves in the main room were loaded with sacks of flour, grain, rice, and other staples. In the far corner were the stairs that led down to the cold storage. Valek took the lantern that hung nearby and lit it. Ari mimed shutting the pantry door and pointed to his ear.
Should they risk another squeak or leave it open? If the door was discovered ajar in the morning, it would cause an immediate investigation. Valek motioned to close it and braced for the noise.
Ari examined the hinges for a moment then set the jars on a shelf. He lifted the door slightly before pulling it closed without a sound. Impressive.
He picked up the jars and joined Valek at the top of the stairs. He whispered, “I learned that trick from Janco.”
Figured. Valek shook his head and continued into the cellar. The boxes of Criollo had been stacked along the left side. Smoked meat hung from hooks along the right side and wheels of cheese had been piled underneath. At the far end was a set of stone stairs that led up to the outside. While Ari counted boxes, Valek hurried up them. At the top of the steps was a set of metal doors that could only be opened from the inside. A large padlock kept them clamped together.
The lock proved to be more complicated to open than Valek expected. Was Tesso worried about people stealing food? Once he removed it, he pushed opened the doors. On the other side, Janco grabbed them and pulled them wide.
In the weak moonlight, Valek spotted Lovey hitched to a wagon. “Any trouble?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Good. Let’s hurry.”
The three of them loaded the boxes and jars of Criollo into the wagon. When they’d taken every bit, Janco jumped into the driver’s seat, while Valek and Ari sat in the back.
This was the most dangerous part of the mission. An exposed target, the three of them scanned the area for guards. They glanced at the windows, seeking people peering out who might raise an alarm. They hoped no one would spot the wooden wagon or hear it creaking over the cobblestones.
No one breathed until they reached the woods east of the manor house. Ute waited for them with the rest of the horses.
“Is it just me or did that seem too easy?” Janco asked.
