Page 73 of The Study of Fire
Valek strode to the desk and pulled out their emergency funds. He handed the pouch to Janco. “Make sure they promise to leave the Citadel.”
Janco peered into the pouch and then gaped at Valek. “Aww, you old softie.”
“Just go.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
In the end, Gabor and Brigi requested to stay in the Citadel. They argued Valek would need them to keep collecting information. And that they would be in a good position when he returned with reinforcements. He reminded them about the agents he’d assigned to watch the Daviians, who had most likely been captured and killed. They countered that they had well-established identities, and Gabor would not stay out too late. “I’m sensing they might enact a curfew,” he said.
Valek relented, giving them strict orders to run if they felt unsafe or if their covers were compromised. They agreed.
After dinner, Valek, Ari, and Janco headed to Horses on Mane Street to pick up Onyx and the others. They mounted and walked the horses to the north gate. Valek hadn’t wanted to waste time by looping around from another exit. Besides, if the guards at the gate tried to stop them, they would fight their way through. Stealth no longer mattered.
Aside from a barrage of questions about their reasons for leaving, the guards eventually let them pass. They spurred their horses into a gallop. No one said much as they traveled north.
At dawn, Valek turned off the road and found a place to stop and rest the horses. Ari built a campfire while Janco scouted the area, ensuring they wouldn’t be discovered.
Breakfast entailed hot tea and travel rations. Valek asked Ari and Janco what they thought of their first undercover mission. He braced for Janco’s list of complaints about the weather, and the lack of food and sleep.
They were quiet at first, then Ari said, “It wasn’t what I expected. I mean, it was. I knew I’d have to lie and pretend and establish a false identity, but I didn’t know I would care.”
“Care?” Janco asked.
“I really liked Healer Hayes and some of the medics. I liked helping the patients. I felt bad leaving. I left a note saying my mother was sick, but they’ll wonder what happened to me when I don’t show up.”
“I felt bad, too. I get to go back to my comfy bed, to three meals a day, and to warm fires. And I…” Janco ducked his head.
Valek waited, but when Janco didn’t say anything more, he prompted, “You?”
He met Valek’s gaze and said in a defiant tone, “I told them to use the money we gave them to come to Ixia. To tell the border guards that Adviser Janco gave them permission to enter, and then for them to come find me at the Commander’s castle.”
Valek grappled with a response.
“If any of them are captured by the Daviians, they’ll tell them about you,” Ari said.
Janco huffed. “I doubt it. Half of them laughed, told me I was crazy, but they thanked me for the coins.”
“And the other half?” Valek asked.
“Also thanked me and said they would leave the Citadel, but not to go to Ixia. They think the Commander is a tyrant and are terrified. I didn’t have enough time to change their minds.”
“You won’t ever change their minds, Janco,” Valek said. “It’s a belief based on fear and not on facts.”
They finished their meal and set a watch schedule. By mid-afternoon, they were back on the road. The rest of the trip to Ixia was uneventful and they reached the castle complex late the night before the thirtieth day of the cold season. Officially, the coldest day of the year.
Since they had forgone sleep in order to shorten their trip, Valek sent Ari and Janco to bed when they finished rubbing down the horses. After being welcomed home by the guards, Valek tapped lightly on the Commander’s door. No noises sounded on the other side, so Valek turned but paused when the lock clicked open.
The Commander stood in the entry. He wore a set of flannel pajamas and thick wool socks. But his expression was icy.
“Did I wake you?” Valek asked.
“I’d just retired but wasn’t asleep. What are you doing here?”
“To report?—”
“Valek, you’re supposed to be taking care of a very large problem in Sitia.”
