Page 8 of The Study of Magic
Valek looked at Ari.
“The medic released him for duty,” Ari said.
That didn’t help. “Riding long hours is hard on the body, Janco. Are you sure your stomach and back muscles can handle the motion?”
“Yep!”
Valek jabbed Janco directly on his injury.
Janco jumped back in surprise. “What was that for?”
“Any pain?” He studied Janco’s expression.
“No.”
“We might run into trouble, and you might need to fight multiple opponents.”
Janco’s dark eyes lit up. “Promise?”
Suppressing a sigh, Valek turned to Ari. “I’m askingyou, not the medic, if he’s cleared for duty.”
“Janco on a bad day is still better than these other soldiers on their good days.”
Janco puffed out his chest and beamed.
“You know a yes would have sufficed,” Valek grumbled.
“I know.”
“All right. Meet me at the stables at dawn.”
“Dawn,” Janco cried. He wrapped his arms around his stomach and hunched over in mock pain. “I’m not feeling so good.”
Shaking his head, Valek left the men to prepare for the trip. After a quick stop to talk to the Stable Master, he hurried to the baths for that long awaited hot soak.
* * *
Thirty minutes before dawn, the Commander handed Valek the official promotion papers for Colonel Ute. The scroll was sealed and wrapped in wax paper to keep it dry. Valek looked forward to handing it to Ute. Much of his job dealt with criminals, liars, murderers, death, and blood; it was a nice change of pace to bring someone joy.
“I’ve removed Yelena’s execution order from your saddlebags,” the Commander said. “It’s in a secure location. You don’t need to worry about anyone else finding the order and targeting her. As long as she remains in Sitia, she’s safe.”
The apprehension that had settled in his chest like a bad cold dissipated. “Thank you, sir.”
“Make this a quick trip, Valek. I’m ready to go home.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Valek strode to the stables, he considered his home. He’d lived in the castle for the last sixteen years, but the thought of returning to his suite of rooms without Yelena held no appeal. While she had lived in his quarters, they’d been colleagues simply sharing a space. They discussed cases, talked about fighting techniques, and other odd topics that had come up during their days. Nothing exciting nor romantic, but he treasured their time together, and had rushed back every night to work in his apartment instead of his office just because Yelena would be curled up on the couch reading.
Keeping busy would be the key to surviving these next eleven months without Yelena. Perhaps he should request the time off well in advance, so the Commander had ample time to prepare for when Valek was away. He had never asked for a day off since they’d met. He hadn’t a reason.
A sudden sobering thought occurred to him. What if, after a year, Yelena no longer wished to be with him? What if she met someone else? They had a mere week together as a couple, it wouldn’t be a surprise if her feelings changed. Just the thought of her rejection caused a painful contraction right where he’d stuffed his emotions. Best not to dwell onwhat ifs. Especially ones he had no control over.
The black sky lightened slowly, as if being scrubbed away layer by layer. Happy that the rain had stopped, Valek avoided the puddles at the entrance to the stables.
Onyx and three horses stood in the center aisle. They were saddled and ready to go as requested.
“…truly think I’m allergic to dawn,” Janco said to his partner as they arrived. He sneezed. Probably to prove his point. Or perhaps due to the dust-laced air. An unavoidable aspect of a building full of horses, straw, and grain.
