Page 44 of The Study of Fire
He moved to follow, but the Commander called him back. “I think they’re going to work out. Well done, Valek.”
“Thank you.”
When he exited the office, both Ari and Janco fell into step with him.
“What did he say?” Janco asked anxiously. “I should have kept my mouth shut like we planned. Did I overstep?”
“If you did, he would have told you.” Valek waited until they were away from the throne room and in a quieter part of the castle. Then he stopped and turned to them. “The Commander doesn’t say ‘well done’ very often. When he does, it means he’s very pleased. You did an excellent job, and you’ll have to tell me exactly how you managed to capture all the hunters.”
“Caught that omission, did you?” A gleam shone in Janco’s eyes.
“That’s because the hunters triggered the traps when they entered to remove the fake snow cats,” Ari said. “They were so angry about the ruse, they forgot.”
“Aww, Ari. You can’t just tell him everything. We could have bargained for that information.”
“No, you technically can’t,” Valek said. “But how about I buy you both an ale at the pub tonight to celebrate your successful mission?”
Janco pressed both his hands to his heart. “Best boss ever!”
* * *
Worry gnawed on Valek’s thoughts. Kenda had just delivered a combination of good and bad news. Trevar and Adrik had been successfully recruited by Star and their first mission for her was to find out who was supplying illegal goods to the black market dealers, which was also what Valek needed to know. The bad was the continuing silence from his agents sent to the Daviian Plateau.
Valek knew from experience that not all missions went as planned. In fact, most didn’t. So, he’d waited an extra week for them to report in. But now it was the fourteenth day of the cold season and still no word. He debated whether he should send Ari and Janco to investigate or not.
A knock in the late afternoon interrupted his thoughts. “Come in.”
Agent Gabor entered. The spy should be down in the Sitian Citadel, keeping an eye on the council and Yelena. And not here with snowflakes melting on the short strands of his black hair and the shoulders of his cloak.
Fear immediately coiled around Valek’s heart. “Yelena?”
“As far as I know, Yelena’s fine,” Gabor said.
That brought Valek no comfort. “Why are you here?”
“Because I couldn’t trustthisnews to a messenger.”
“That bad?”
“Yes, andthatsensitive, which is why I came straight to you.”
Valek cursed. It had to be about the Sitian Council. “Let’s go. You can report it to both me and the Commander.”
As they hurried to the Commander’s office, Valek asked about the missing agents. “Have you seen any of our corps in the Citadel?”
“No one has come through recently. Why?”
He explained. Now Gabor cursed, but he just shook his head at Valek’s questioning glance.
The Commander was having a meeting with three of his advisers. But he took one look at Valek’s expression and Gabor’s presence and dismissed the trio.
“This better be important,” the Commander said once the others left.
“I assure you, sir, it is of the upmost importance,” Gabor said.
“Well then, report.”
“The Sitian Council has been very quiet about the status of the criminal named Ferde Daviian. According to all my sources, the man was locked in the special holding cells for magicians in the bowels of the Council Hall. I’ve learned that Ferde has not only escaped, but Cahil Ixia aided him.”
