Page 107 of The Study of Fire
“Then here’s a way for me to prove my loyalty. I’ll tell you what’s been going on and will help you get inside. Agreed?”
Valek and Yelena exchanged a glance.Could they trust him or not?
“Do I still get to kill him?” Valek asked, hopeful.
“At the first sign of betrayal, yes,” Yelena said.
“What about after this is all over?”
“Then it’s your call.”
He grinned. Valek never took pleasure in killing, but Cahil’s death might be the first.
Cahil stared at them. “Hold on. I’m risking my life to help you. I’d like some guarantees.”
“We’ve come to a point where there are no guarantees. For any of us,” she said.
“That’s not very encouraging,” Cahil said.
“It’s not supposed to be. You should know what happens when you play with fire, Cahil. Eventually, you’ll get burned. Now, tell us what you know,” she ordered.
Valek removed his knife from Cahil’s throat and stepped back. Cahil scanned the area. They had attracted quite the crowd, but there were no Daviians among them.
“Where are all the warpers?” Yelena had made the same observation.
He gave her a sardonic smile. “They’re all at the Keep. Roze plans a massive Kirakawa ritual using all the magicians she has captured to empower all her favorite warpers in one sweep. And you’re to be the coup de grâce.”
Ah, so Roze was the Daviians’ leader. Valek had suspected she was working with the Daviians, but now that he knew her real role as their leader, it made sense. Kudos to her for keeping it a secret for so long.
Yelena paled. “Roze?”
A superior expression settled on Cahil’s face. “Yes, Roze Featherstone, First Magician. Also known as Jalila Daviian, First Warper and founder of the Daviian Clan.”
All color drained from Leif’s face. “But how? Why?”
Valek remembered Yelena’s brother worked with Roze on criminal cases. Poor guy had just received a massive blow. Betrayal seemed to be the theme for this mission. First Star, then Tauno, and now Roze. Valek wondered how long she’d been planning this coup.
“I had no idea until Ferde was caught,” Cahil said. “She asked me to rescue him in exchange for the council’s support to invade Ixia. I thought it was an undercover mission to learn who else was behind his bid for power. Though, when I discovered the truth about Roze and the other warpers, I must admit it didn’t bother me at the time. She promised to attack Ixia and make me king.”
“How many warpers are inside and who are the victims for the ritual?” Yelena asked.
“Six very powerful warpers, including Roze and Gede. They have been very careful about who they allow to increase their powers, keeping crucial information about the Kirakawa ritual to a select few. There are fifty Daviian soldiers and ten medium powered warpers. Two of those warpers are scheduled to be given master-level powers during the massive ritual. The victims for this ritual will be the three other masters—who are incarcerated in the Keep’s cells—Moon Man and the councilors.”
Sixty-six against seven. Perhaps they should recruit a few dozen people. Too bad, they had no time.
“What about the students?” Yelena asked.
“The older apprentices have been put in the cells. The younger ones obey out of fear.”
“How does Roze plan to control the master magicians?”
“She has the power, but I think she does plan to prick them with Curare to save her energy. Once they are tied down, a dose of Theobroma will weaken their defenses.”
“They seem to have an unlimited supply of Curare,” Yelena said wryly.
“Gede Daviian has provided the drug for them. He also helped recruit dissatisfied Sandseeds to the Daviian Clan. And having a pet Fire Warper has made him the Daviians’ most valued member.”
Gede and Roze had to be Valek’s first targets. That was, if he could get close to them.
