Page 38 of The Study of Fire
A castle guard entered. He carried a small wooden crate. Red ribbon had been wrapped around it. The bow held a scroll the size of a cigar. “This came for the Commander.”
“From whom?”
“The man said it was given to him by a Sitian merchant at the exchange. He was told it’s from the Sitian Council.”
Valek straightened. Ever since relations had deteriorated with the Sitians, the merchant caravans have been exchanging goods at the border. Ixian merchandise heading to Sitia was given to Sitian caravans at the border and vice versa.
“Set it on the table please.” Kenda thanked the guard, dismissing him.
Screening of all packages addressed to the Commander was the standard safety procedure prior to delivery. After the man left, Valek and Kenda approached the crate.
He held a hand over the crate, seeking the sticky strands of magic. Finding none, he touched it. “No magic.” Pulling the scroll from the bow, Valek broke the seal and read the letter. “It’s from the Sitian Council. They are apologizing for the way Ambassador Signe’s visit ended. And they’d like to reestablish diplomatic communications. The crate is a peace offering.”
“Is it legit?”
“The paper is expensive, and the words are written with authoritative strokes.”
She put her hands on her hips. “How can you tell that?”
“There are no hitches. The letters flow together, and it’s obviously written by a person who does this for a living.”
“If you say so. Since it’s from the Sitian Council, maybe we should let the Commander open it?”
“No exceptions, Kenda.” Valek studied the crate. Except, for the thin gaps between boards, it was well constructed. “The top is nailed down. I’ll go get a crowbar.”
He strode down the hallway to their weapons cache, which was a fancy word for the medium sized storage room that had been converted into an armory for Valek’s corps. A variety of swords, knives, crossbows, blow pipes, darts, bo staffs, and sais had been arranged so they were easy to find and grab when in a hurry. Other tools and manacles hung on the back wall. Valek found the stack of crowbars. They came in handy for a smash and grab operation or a raid. When there was no time for picking locks, just break the windows and force open the doors.
Kenda was studying the scroll in the patch of sunlight that streamed through her hexagonal window. “Do you find it odd that the signature is just ‘The Sitian Council?’ I thought all the eleven clan members and four master magicians had to sign a document to make it legal.”
“They do for official documents like laws and treaties. But I don’t think it’s required for a friendly letter. Otherwise, they’d have to sign everything and that would be tedious and a logistical nightmare in tracking down all fifteen people.”
Valek shoved the thin end of the crowbar underneath the crate’s lid. “Hold the bottom, please.”
Kenda grabbed it as he levered the crowbar up. The nails creaked as the lid parted. Then it popped off, landing on the floor with a bang. Green coils filled the inside of the crate.
It took a couple heartbeats for Valek to recognize the shape rising slowly from the box.
“Snake!” he yelled.
Kenda jumped back just as it lunged for her arm. The creature reared for another strike. Valek pulled his dagger and leapt onto the table. It swiveled and bit into his leather boots. Before it could disengage, Valek swooped down and cut its head off.
“For the love of mischief, did someone just try to assassinate the Commander?” Kenda had retreated to the other side of her desk.
“It depends.” Careful to avoid its fangs, he pulled the creature’s head from his boot and tossed it on top of the body. Then he eased off the table. “If the person who sent it knows about our safety protocols, they wouldn’t expect the snake to reach the Commander. In that case, they’re sending either a warning or trying to cause trouble between Ixia and Sitia.” He cleaned the ichor from his blade.
“And if they didn’t know that we open all packages for the Commander, then it was an assassination attempt.” Kenda stood as far away from the dead snake as possible.
“Yes, with the Sitian Council implicated.” Except, he didn’t think the council would try to assassinate the Commander. “It could be from Cahil, the Wannabe King. He might be trying to provoke the Commander into retaliating against the council, which would aid in his we-should-attack-Ixia-before-they-attack-us campaign.”
“And if it was from the council?”
“That would be a declaration of war.” Valek covered the crate with the lid. “I need to find out what type of snake this is. It might not be venomous.”
“Why would anyone send a nonvenomous snake?”
Valek shrugged. “Perhaps as a gift. Maybe sending a snake is a Sitian gesture of good faith or something. I’m not going to jump to conclusions until I know more.”
“You’re taking that thing with you, right?”
