Page 70 of The Study of Magic
General Ute was welcomed and praised for her quick actions during the attack. The generals didn’t bicker with each other. Overall, the group had a renewed sense of unity. Of working together against a common enemy. Valek wondered how long it would last.
The Commander called for a break at lunch. Kenda carried the Commander’s tray, but she gave Valek a pointed look that promised pain if he didn’t explain what had been happening. When he was dismissed that afternoon, Valek stopped in his suite before heading to her office.
“Hello, stranger,” she said when he entered. Despite her word choice, it wasn’t a friendly greeting.
“I had to keep a low profile, so I didn’t tip Alea off to what I planned,” he said in his defense.
“I get that, but what about the other challenges we are dealing with? Were you just working on trapping Alea and her friends all this time?”
Actually, he had. Combine a concussion with a complex problem and the need for daily naps… He took a sculpture from his pocket and handed it to her. “I carved this for you.”
“Bribery? You think that’ll work?” She examined it, turning the thumb-sized dahlia atop a curved stem and leaves. “How did you know dahlias are my favorite flower?”
“You stop to sniff them every time you see one. Even if we’re on a mission.”
She huffed. “The detail is exquisite. But I’m still annoyed with you.”
“I’d expect nothing less. And I did read through Star’s file. We don’t have enough evidence to put her on trial for murder.”
“I thought so. Too bad.”
“Butshedoesn’t need to know that.”
Kenda grinned. “I like the way you think.”
* * *
An hour later, a knock sounded on Valek’s office door. “Come in.”
The door opened and two dungeon guards escorted Star to his desk. She stood straight despite the chains linking her wrists and ankles, looking down her sharp nose at him. Her long red hair was snarled with knots and muck splattered her prison gown. Dungeon funk—a fetid odor that clung to all the prisoners—emanated from her. Her gaze shone with defiance. Thin lips were already pressed together, as if she wanted Valek to know he’d get no information from her.
He didn’t invite her to sit. “This won’t take long, Star.” Shuffling through a few papers in a file, he shut it with a snap and added it to a high pile of dossiers on the left side of his desk.
“This meeting is to inform you that you are being charged with murder. Your trial has been scheduled for the end of the cold season.” Which was nine months away. Valek glanced at the guards. “You can take her back to her cell.”
“Charged with murder?” Star asked. “Ihaven’t killed anyone. Plus, you haveno evidence. I’ve told younothing.”
“Oh, I know. You’ve been quite uncooperative.” He rested his hand on the large pile. “However, your colleagues have been helpful. Very helpful. We have everything we need. Unless you wish to confess, you’re irrelevant.” And since she craved attention, Valek guessed that comment would produce the most damage.
“You’ve got nothing. My people are loyal.” She sounded confident, but fear lurked in her gaze.
“If that will help you feel better, then you go ahead and believe it.” He waved to the guards. “Take her away, she’s stinking up my office.”
She lurched closer to his desk. “I can’t wait nine months. I’ll go crazy. Look, I’ve information they don’t have. Drop the murder charge and I’ll tell you everything.”
If he could trust her, it was a good deal. She’d still go to jail for a long time, but she wouldn’t be executed. Except, he’d be an idiot to expect her to tell the truth. “I already know everything. But…” He leaned back as if considering. “We do need a new food taster, and it’s a couple months before the next execution is scheduled…”
“I’ll do it.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I don’t care.”
“All right, I’ll check with the Commander. He doesn’t like it when one of his loyal people are at risk, and since you’ll be on death row eventually, it follows the Code of Behavior. I’ll let you know.”
This time Star didn’t protest when the guards pulled her away. Valek would let her stew for a few days before starting her training.
* * *
