Page 94 of The Study of Fire
Yelena should be done grooming the horses by now.
“…clueless border guards…”
It was getting dark.
“…and then there was Leif going on and on about how much better…”
It was getting cold.
“…Moon Man telling me I have a complex relationship with my…”
Valek glanced out the window. Yelena worked on the pasture’s fence, trying to repair it by pounding on a post with a rock. She was certainly dedicated to avoiding her brother and friends. He left the house. Joining her, he grabbed her arm and removed the rock from her hand.
“Come inside, love. We have plans to discuss.”
Reluctance shone in her gaze, but she followed him. The living room conversation died the moment they entered. She sat next to the hearth’s fire, warming her frozen and bleeding fingers. She averted her gaze as everyone stared at her, waiting.
Ari and Janco jumped to their feet.
“Did I pass your test?” she asked. “By not diving into the flames.”
“That’s not it,” Janco said. “You have a rather ugly bat clinging to your arm.”
Valek had missed the small hand-sized bat hanging from her upper left arm. Yelena offered him an alternative perch and he transferred to the edge of her right hand. She carried the bat outside, but despite shaking her hand multiple times, the creature refused to leave. Instead, it settled on her shoulder. She shrugged and returned inside.
Leif peered at the bat with a thoughtful purse to his lips. Yelena glanced at them. While uncertainty and fear shone in her eyes, determination also emanated.
“Leif,” she said.
He jumped as if bitten.
“I want you and Moon Man to get into the Council Hall’s library and find everything you can about a tunnel into the Keep.” She told them about Bain’s information. “Moon Man can disguise himself as a Daviian, and hopefully you won’t be caught. Do not use magic at all from now on. It will only draw them to you.”
Moon Man and Leif nodded. Valek smiled. His love had returned from her self-imposed exile. The Daviians wouldn’t know what hit them.
“Marrok?” she asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you able to fight?”
“Ready, willing andable, sir.”
She swallowed, taken aback by his pledge. But she recovered quickly. “Good. Marrok and Tauno will accompany Valek and me. We’ll go south to rescue the hostages.”
“What hostages?” Marrok asked.
Yelena explained about the councilors’ families.
Ari cleared his throat as if he wanted to interject.
“I haven’t forgotten about you two. I need you to go into the Citadel and help organize the resistance.”
“Resistance?” Valek asked, thinking about Fisk. “I hadn’t heard.”
“I put an idea into a merchant’s head, and I think if Ari and Janco disguised themselves as traders, they could move about the Citadel. Ari will have to dye his hair. Oh, and find a boy named Fisk. Tell him you’re my friends and he’ll help you make contacts.”
“And when and where, oh mighty Yelena, do we resist?” Janco asked.
