Page 86 of The Study of Magic
“I’ll have a chat with them.”
“Oh no,” Janco said. “We want that rematch. No one, and I meanno one,calls us cheaters and gets away with it.”
Valek said, “Perhaps next time, I’ll mix up the teams.”
“Why, for the love of sand, would you dothat?” Janco sounded mortified.
“Because sometimes puppy dogs need to learn how to behave from the big dogs.”
“Big dogs! I like!” Janco barked and howled at the trees.
Ari sighed as his partner bounded through the woods. “I hope you know that if we don’t get a rematch, those pups will go missing and you’ll find them tied to the trees.”
“Noted.”
* * *
“Medic Channa didn’t give me all the details. She seemed perplexed about your relapse, but pleased with your recovery,” the Commander said, by way of inviting Valek to explain.
All he wanted to do was crawl into his bed, but he owed Ambrose an explanation. He took a fortifying gulp of the fire whiskey before relating his disturbing dream and about helping Yelena.
“She must be a rather powerful magician to reach you from the Magician’s Keep. But I’m worried about your immunity. I assumed it was permanent.”
With nothing to do but recover over the last couple days, Valek had considered his immunity as well. “When she’s with me, she’s…in my heart.” He tapped his chest. “It’s hard to describe. But I think there must be a hole or an opening in my immunity that’s just for her.” He remembered telling her that she had slipped under his skin, invaded his blood, and seized his heart. Perhaps with that confession, he’d given her permission to bypass his immunity. To him, it really didn’t matter why. He was so very glad that she could reach out to him, and he could provide aid.
“Let’s hope that is indeed the case. In the meantime, I’ve some good news,” Ambrose said.
“Oh?” Valek relaxed back.
“I sent a message to the Sitian Council requesting a meeting and they’ve agreed.”
“But it’s too dangerous for you to go.”
“I know. I’m sending my ambassador.”
“You have an ambassador?”
“I do now. I’m promoting my cousin Signe.”
Ah, Signe. Valek had met her a few times over the years. She supposedly lived in MD-3, close to where Ambrose grew up. But in truth she was the Commander’s alter ego. From time to time, the Commander allowed Signe to takeover his body. Valek wondered if the Commander realized that Valek knew about the Commander’s alter ego. How could Valek not? But, then again, Ambrose had given him that measuring look when Valek said he kept his secrets.
“She’ll need protection,” Valek said. but his statement sounded more like an imploring, hopeful plea.
“It’s too dangerous for you to go, but I know you’ll go anyway.” He smiled. “It’s been almost a year since you last saw Yelena.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to hunt sand spiders in MD-8. I’m due for a vacation.”
Only the Commander considered hunting the giant arachnids fun. “By yourself?”
“No. Everyone will think that you are with me, until I send you on a secret mission to MD-1. My father is coming along. He’s traveling with Signe.”
Valek liked the Commander’s father very much. Caleb had been an integral part of the takeover but hadn’t wanted to be a general or an adviser. He had returned to MD-3 to work the family’s diamond mine instead, and to ensure the new safety protocols were being implemented in all the mining operations in Ixia.
“Who are you assigning to Signe’s entourage?” Valek asked.
“Adviser Ilom and half my elite squad will escort her to Sitia. The other half will come with me to MD-3 because I know you’ll squawk if they don’t.”
