Page 77 of The Study of Fire
“Can they?”
“No.”
* * *
Valek searched for Yelena with no luck. He’d see her at the meeting, which reminded him to inform Ari and Janco that their presence was required. Janco was still sleeping, but Ari said they would be there. Valek then went to his office, took one look at the stacks of reports on his desk, and almost turned around. He built a fire in the brazier and noted Mr. Spider’s absence. It was the middle of the cold season, and the freezing temperatures must have killed all the insects.
With a sigh, Valek settled behind his desk. Instead of reading through the files, he stared out the window. The Fire Warper had to be stopped. Despite Moon Man’s pessimism, there had to be a way to counter him. If the Fire Warper grew stronger with each soul he acquired, perhaps Yelena could take the souls away from him. She had done something similar to Ferde when he’d performed the Efe ritual. Yelena had pulled the souls of Ferde’s victims from him and sent them to the sky. Except for Gelsi’s; she’d returned her soul to her body.
Once the Fire Warper was no longer a threat, they only had to deal with all the Daviian Warpers. If they eliminated the Fire Warper before the Daviians killed all the master magicians, then the masters could stop the rest of the warpers. A big if. As the most powerful magicians, the masters were probably going to be sacrificed first.
A knock on the door interrupted Valek’s dire thoughts. Brede poked his head inside the room and he gestured him closer.
“I heard a rumor you were back,” Brede said. “I’m just checking if you need anything.”
“No, thanks. And I won’t be here long. I’ve unfinished business in Sitia.”
“Too bad. You’ve missed out on… Nothing. It’s been rather boring around here. Well, except for the arrival of the Sitians. Everyone is abuzz with speculation.”
“I’m sure the rumors are outrageous.”
“I hope so. Dull rumors are no fun.” Brede smiled. “Are you sure you don’t have a snake from Sitia for me to study? Preferably one that is still alive. I’ve been learning a lot about them. Did you know they have these necklace snakes in the Illiais Jungle that strangle their prey?”
“I’ve heard. Sorry, no critters. Not that I’ve seen any with this cold weather.”
“That reminds me. I’m sorry to say Mr. Spider has passed on to the big cobweb in the sky. But there’s good news!”
“Really?”
“Mr. Spider was really Mrs. Spider. And she left a sac of spiderlings. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Not if they hatch in my office.”
“I’ll take the sac outside when it’s ready to hatch so they’ll be born where they belong. Well, except one. You’ll need a Mr. Spider Junior to carry on the family tradition.”
Valek laughed. “You really have been bored.”
“That obvious?”
“Yes.” Valek considered. “Ask Kenda if there is anything she needs to be organized. She loves organization, but she’s been extra busy while I’ve been gone.”
“Perfect. Thanks!” Brede dashed out the door.
Valek stood to follow, but the fabric of his pants caught on a nail sticking from his chair and ripped. He cursed. They were his favorite pair, and he’d been meaning to fix that nail for ages. He hurried to his suite to change and took the pants to the seamstress.
Dilana sat at her workstation near the windows. Her curly blond hair shone like gold in the sunlight. Bits of cloth peppered the floor around her. Bolts of mostly black fabric leaned against the wall. Piles of uniform shirts, pants, and skirts littered the floor. When he approached, she cut a thread with her teeth then looked up. With her heart-shaped face and long eyelashes framing honey-colored eyes, she was beautiful.
“You just missed her,” Dilana said.
“Her?”
“Oh, come on, Valek. We all know about you and Yelena.”
Lovely. “Yelena was here?”
Dilana stood and shook out a pair of black pants before folding them. “She needed an adviser’s uniform. I just finished the alterations. Can you give them to her when you see her.” She leered.
Lovely times two. “If you can fix my pants.” He showed her the rip.
