Page 33 of The Study of Magic
“It was too easy,” Valek said. “It’s been a number of years since the Commander and I have visited the manors and garrisons in Ixia. When I’m there, I test their defenses.”
“How does that help?” Ari asked.
“They’re informed that there will be a test. Even knowing to be extra vigilant, I usually get through. After I bypass their defenses, they pay more attention when I hold extra training sessions. It appears that they’re long overdue for a refresher course.”
“Yeah, but, you’reValek. The best of the best couldn’t stop you.” Janco said.
“I’m cocky, but not that cocky. Everyone gets caught eventually.” Valek still made mistakes. His capture in Sitia was one recent example.
“It’s a good thing they’re out of practice or we’d have been chased tonight, and you might have gotten stuck in the garrison,” Janco said.
“Well, I don’t teach themallmy tricks.”
“Nice.”
Valek, Ute, and Ari mounted their horses and Janco followed them south. They stopped before a bend in the road would expose them to the border guards. Ari melted into the forest around them to scout ahead.
When Ari returned, he reported, “There are six soldiers waiting in ambush at the border, three on each side of the road. You’re right, they need a refresher.”
“What would you do differently?” Valek asked.
“I would have them lying in wait right about a hundred yards before this bend and not at the border.”
“It doesn’t matter where they are,” Janco said. “We’re not getting this wagon past them.” He fingered the hilt of his sword. “I could do with a little exercise after all this sneaking around.”
“We’re not smuggling the wagon passed them,” Valek said. “Unhitch Lovey.”
“Oh.” Janco hurried to unhook all the straps, and then he saddled her.
Once he finished, he and Ari mounted and walked their horses into the forest on the left side of the road. Ute mounted Clever and took Onyx into the right side. When they were in position, Valek took a swig of the whiskey he’d swiped from Tesso’s kitchen before pouring it over the boxes. Then he set the wagon on fire, signaling the others to move away.
Valek ran to catch up to Ute. He joined her just as the flames reached the whiskey. A loudwhoomphsounded, rattling the trees. The invisible energy wave that followed pushed on Valek’s shoulders. They waited. Seconds after the explosion, six figures raced up the road toward the burning wagon.
They urged their horses onto the path, joined Ari and Janco, and trotted into MD-5.
“Now,that’sclout,” Janco said.
* * *
Valek and Ute reported to the Commander right after they settled the horses in the stables. It was late, but the Commander was still in what would soon be General Ute’s office. They stood in front of the desk and took turns recounting all their adventures. The Commander listened without interrupting or reacting, which Valek had learned was a sign of anger. The Commander hadn’t so much as twitched—another dangerous indicator. And his knuckles slowly turned white during the report.
When they were finished, the Commander dismissed Ute, telling her to get some rest and that they would start working on the transition in the morning. His pleasant, welcoming tone, gave her no indication of his fury. After all, it wasn’t her fault the generals had behaved so badly. Not Valek’s either, but he braced for the fire to reach the proverbial whiskey.
“I don’t care how many people you need, find all of that damn Criollo and destroy it.” His tone was ice cold. “Then find whoever is responsible for shipping it and kill them.Allof them.”
Whoomph.
“I’ve also changed my mind regarding Brazell,” the Commander said. “Let’s drag him to the castle and hang him. We’ll invite all the generals to watch. They can see what a real hasty, emotional, and illogical decision looks like. And let’s see if they still consider me not in my right mind to make big decisions.”
Valek went to the sideboard and poured them both a drink. He set the Commander’s glass on the desk before settling in a chair. “I’ve a better idea.”
“Do tell.”
“While it’s very tempting, instead of hanging Brazell, we visit all the generals and garrisons. We haven’t done it in years, and they need to see you being you.”
“I want to go home, Valek. Not go on a parade. I’m in no mood to play nice.”
“It’s going to take me a while to find out who sent the Criollo and if there are more caravans. Once Ute is settled, which shouldn’t take long, you can go home, and we’ll start our tour in the beginning of the warm season.”
