Page 82 of The Study of Fire
Yelena yanked the dart out. “How?”
“Some great magician you are,” Star said. “Missing my own tiny talent.”
Star had always claimed to have magic, but he’d never felt nor seen it in action. Was the ability to hide from magic her talent? Valek eased closer to the women, debating his next move.
Yelena stumbled and Star caught her. “What?”
Star cradled Yelena in her arms. “Valek’s goo-goo juice. Relax, Yelena. Star’s going to takegoodcare of you.”
CHAPTER13
Star had stolen some of Valek’s goo-goo juice and used it to capture Yelena. Valek wondered if Star’s tiny magical talent included being able to give his agents the slip. How else could she have gotten the goo-goo juice?
The third goon picked Yelena up and carried her. If they had wanted to kill her, they wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble. Curious to see what they had planned, Valek followed the three of them. The streets were empty.
Two horses hitched to a wagon were parked in a dark corner two blocks away. Coffin shaped crates had been stacked inside. The other two goons waited for them. When the threesome neared, they opened the top crate. Yelena was dumped inside.
“Take them to our colleagues in Sitia,” Star ordered. “Make sure you prick them with the goo-goo juice every twelve hours until you reach the meeting point.”
Two of the goons hopped onto the driver’s bench. One grabbed the reins and clicked his tongue. The horses lurched forward.
“What about Porter?” Third Goon asked. “He’ll eventually figure out we kidnapped his kids.”
Watching the wagon trundle down the street, Star said, “He won’t be a problem. Porter can’t say or do anything to attract attention because Valek will kill him. Do you know the big oaf actually thought he was in charge of his rescue operation?” She laughed. “He tried to fire me. My people have been smuggling those kids out of Ixia for years.”
“He paid you well.”
“Yeah, and it was a nice feel good operation until I got a better offer.”
They walked in the opposite direction of the wagon, keeping to the shadows.
Valek would bet that better offer was why Porter’s ducklings began disappearing. But who was Star selling the young magicians to? He’d bet a year’s pay it was the Daviian Warpers, but there was a chance he could be wrong.
Star’s goons were taking Yelena to Sitia. They had already planned to go there so Valek decided he’d follow the wagon, find out who the buyer was, and then rescue Yelena and the girls.
In the past, Yelena had understood his tactics. She had even forgiven him for duping her about Butterfly’s Dust. She’d understand his decision. Right? He fervently hoped she would.
He raced back to the castle. Grabbing his pack, he shoved in a few more warm layers of clothing, then he ran over to Kenda’s office. She was working late as usual.
“Something happen?” she asked.
He updated her.
“I knew we should have killed Star right away. What should I do when she shows up?”
“Arrest her. Only allow her out of her cell to taste the Commander’s meals. I’ll deal with Star when I return. Find out if Trevar and Adrik’s covers have been blown. If not, have them continue their undercover mission. Can you tell the Commander where I’m going?”
“I can, but you owe me a big favor in return. That is, if I survive.”
“Add it to the list.” He waved and dashed to the stables.
Once again, he appealed to Kiki. She had a magical bond with Yelena. “I need your help. Yelena’s been taken and we need to catch up with her captors.”
She glanced at her back as if to say, hop on.
“I can’t ride bareback this time. This is going to take us a few days. I’ll explain everything on the way.”
She snorted and pawed the ground. No doubt telling him to hurry up. He saddled her in record time. Then, he put a bridle and reins on Onyx. If, no,when, he caught up to and freed Yelena and the girls, he’d need another horse.
