Page 88 of The Study of Magic
“And I carved these for you.” He handed a statue to Ari. “A horse, because you’re strong and fast.”
He gave another one to Janco. “A fox, because you’re quick and clever.”
The last statue went to Maren “A cat, because you’re quiet and deadly.”
They stared at their gifts in astonishment, then they thanked him. He waited, and Janco didn’t disappoint him.
“Aww, you’re a kitty cat,” he teased Maren. “All purry and soft. Ow!”
“And I have claws.”
* * *
In preparation for the trip, Valek cut his hair to match Ilom’s length. Then he packed Sitian clothes, his kit of disguises, and plenty of hidden weapons. He’d blend in with the soldiers on the way south, then switch places with Ilom for the initial contact with the Sitians. That would be the time of greatest danger to Signe and Valek. Hopefully, no one would recognize them. Not even Ari and Janco.
When the Ixian delegation left in the morning, Valek sulked nearby. Adviser Ilom rode Onyx and the soldiers walked. Ambassador Signe sat on Diamond Whiskey—the strongest horse in the castle’s stable. Signe had long, straight hair that used to be black but was now a dark gray. Wearing a tailored black adviser’s uniform, she had real diamonds on her collar—a sign of her position as ambassador. The only family resemblance to Ambrose was her almond-shaped eyes and golden eye color.
Valek marveled at the transformation from the Commander into Signe. He’d call it magical, but Ambrose had no magical abilities. Unless turning into his alter ego was a one-trick power, meaning it was the only thing he could do. Most people with one-trick skills were unaware they even used magic. Since Valek was never with the Commander when he transformed into Signe, he’d no idea if magic was involved.
Once the Ambassador’s entourage left the complex, Valek joined the other assembled group. Caleb looked uncomfortable on his horse. And sitting on the Commander’s horse was… Well, Valek had no idea. Because the person wore a cloak with the hood up. The morning was chilly, and the Commander did occasionally put up his hood. Valek shouldered his pack and joined them.
He traveled with them for a few hours until the “Commander” paused next to Valek.
“Time for you to disappear,” he said.
Valek glimpsed the man’s face. His resemblance to Ambrose was striking.
“Another cousin?” Valek whispered.
“Twin brother.” He winked. “Only when needed.”
Ah. The Commander had found a doppelgänger. It appeared that Valek didn’t knowallof the Commander’s secrets. However, if the Commander had switched places with his fake twin before, ithadto be when Valek was traveling. No way he’d be fooled. The Commander’s presence always held a weight that Valek felt deep in his heart.
* * *
Once Valek joined the Ambassador’s retinue, the time it took to reach the Citadel in Sitia moved like the thickest syrup on the coldest day. The night before their official arrival, Valek just barely resisted the temptation to go find Yelena, despite the fact he couldn’t sleep. Not at all.
A few hours before sunrise, he and Ilom switched tents and changed uniforms. Valek spent the next hour applying a fake nose, straightening his hair, and rubbing some grease into it to make it appear limp. The weak chin was the hardest to fabricate. Valek had to pad his cheeks to soften his jawline.
The first test of his disguise came with the sunrise. The soldiers bustled about, cooking breakfast, and breaking down the tents. No one said a word to him. Signe nodded when he joined her for the meal. She went over the agenda for the day. He half-listened as he watched Ilom blend in, helping the others pack their gear. Ilom’s hair was tucked under a knit cap, and he wore glasses. No one looked at him twice.
When Valek approached Onyx to saddle him, the horse licked the side of his head and nudged his arm for treats. Guess he couldn’t fool his horse. Or was it the smell of the treats in his pocket?
The Citadel’s white marble walls shone in the morning sunlight. The high walls contained a small city inside along with the Magician’s Keep. Once they neared the structure, Valek spotted green veins streaking the marble. The slick stone would be impossible to climb without a rope. Probably the reason it was chosen to safeguard Sitia’s heart.
Signe and Valek led the procession through the north gate. With the soldiers following, they continued south down a long, curved road lined with factories and businesses. When they reached the mid-point of the Citadel, they turned left toward the southeast corner, where all the government buildings and officials resided.
The Council Hall was a square-shaped building and had multiple levels. Each level was smaller than the one below, so it resembled a multi-tiered cake. Valek gazed at the Magician’s Keep that occupied the entire northeast corner of the Citadel. Was Yelena inside? Perhaps sitting at a desk, listening to some magician lecturing about magic. Did she even know an Ixian delegation was visiting? It took all his strength to not turn Onyx, race over to the keep, and jump the gate.
Instead, he dismounted with Signe. Their horses were led to the stables, and they were invited inside the building.
Valek followed Ambassador Signe right into the heart of their enemies’ lair. Well,lairmight be a bit of an exaggeration. Might. He would see how this visit played out first.
A row of trumpets played a welcoming blast as the Ixians entered the great hall. The Commander would consider the music pretentious, but Valek thought the Commander deserved a little pomp. Of course, the Sitians had no idea the Ambassador was the Commander’s alter ego.
As the Ixian delegation neared the line of people waiting for them, Valek scanned the room. The great hall was three stories tall and decorated with fifteen colorful banners. They hung between the long thin windows, which let in the bright afternoon sunlight. Overall, an impressive space and appropriate for receiving them.
All the members of the Sitian Council stood in a half-circle. Valek noted the eleven Sitian councilors, each representing one of the clans. They all wore formal silk robes with silver embroidery. The four master magicians, who governed all magicians, were hard to miss. They wore ceremonial robes and animal masks. Valek was already familiar with the hawk mask that Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose wore.
