Page 11 of The Study of Fire
“Yes. Who on the housekeeping staff is totally trustworthy?”
Kenda glanced around his dust-covered office. “They’re all vetted when hired.”
“We both know not everyone is loyal.”
“I can ask Inrick to test them out, see who’s willing to sell information and who gets upset.”
“That would be great. And the sooner the better.”
“You mean you’re not intentionally letting this place resemble a dungeon to intimidate your visitors? That cobweb in the window grows bigger by the day. It’s seriously impressive, and I can’t wait to get a glimpse of the spider. He must be massive.”
“Your sarcasm has improved. Clearly, you’ve been hanging around Janco too long. Maybe I should send him and Ari to MD-1 to check if General Kitvivan is hunting snow cats this season.”
Kenda’s snarky smile died. “I hope he isn’t. I’ll let you know right away when I receive a message from our agents in MD-1.”
“Thanks.”
When she left, Valek turned around to study the square window behind his desk. Sunlight streamed in and glinted along the silky strands of the web. Some spy master. He’d failed to notice the growing net. He searched for the occupant. A black spider the size of a gold coin crouched in a shadow, waiting for his next meal. With the temperatures cooling daily, food would become scarce.
Careful not to disturb the web, Valek cracked the window open a notch. Hopefully a juicy moth or two would be attracted by the lantern light in his office and fly into the trap. As a fellow hunter, Valek respected spiders. They were intelligent, skilled, and patient. Too bad he couldn’t recruit them. But he could ask his new housekeeper to leave the web alone until Mr. Spider left.
Valek returned to reading the reports that had been piled on his desk. It wasn’t long before the silence was interrupted by a knock on his door. He called for the person to enter.
The door flew open, and Trevar rushed into his office with his weapon drawn. Valek hopped to his feet, but Trevar stopped and spun in a circle with his left hand out. His right hand clutched a dagger, which he kept tucked close to his chest. A textbook entry when a person suspected there might be an intruder or ambusher waiting inside a room. Once Trevar was satisfied no one would jump out at him, he relaxed and sheathed his knife.
He straightened. “Sorry, sir. I thought this might be a test.”
Ah. Valek studied the young man. About twenty-three years old, he had sandy-blond hair and blue eyes. Normally, a handsome and affable fellow who tended to be cocky, the poor boy standing in front of him appeared haggard. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. Trevar’s tousled hair was dull and looked as if he had scraped his hands through it in agitation. Two shades paler than normal, Trevar practically swayed on his feet.
“Come, sit down,” Valek ordered.
Before sitting, Trevar picked up the chair and inspected it. Then he pressed his hands on the seat, testing that the legs wouldn’t buckle. Or so Valek guessed. He settled his weight, only relaxing once nothing happened.
Valek grabbed his pitcher of water and filled a glass. “Drink this.”
Trevar took the tumbler cautiously, sniffed at the water, sipped, and finally downed it.
Kenda had said she’d increased the intensity level of Trevar’s training. However, she wasn’t cruel. Mild sleep deprivation was one thing, but the poor boy was well beyond that and into the realm of paranoia. Something was going on.
“Where’s Adrik?” Valek asked.
“He’s…ah.” Trevar blinked. “Shopping, I think. This is our day off.” Another blink. “I think.”
Valek muttered a curse. “How’s your training going?”
Trevar flinched. “Ah…okay. I’m no longer bored.” His laugh held a hysterical edge.
“Tell me what’s been going on.” Valek’s flat tone belied the anger growing inside him.
“Ah… I’m being tested.” He gestured vaguely. “All the time.”
“By whom?”
“Ah…Everyone?”
That was the paranoia talking. “Kenda said?—”
“Oh, no. She’s… Well, yeah… She’s done some… But she’s grand.”
