Page 97 of The Study of Fire
She pushed his arm away. “Tired,” she mumbled.
“Yes, weallare. But it’s your turn,” Valek said.
She blinked at him with heavy eyelids.
He almost relented and let her sleep, but he needed to rest as well. And Tauno was out scouting, so they were down one man. “There’s a pot of tea on the fire.”
When she didn’t move, he pushed her off the mat. Curling in her place, he drew the covers over his shoulder. “Ahh. Still warm.”
“You’re evil,” she said, but he feigned sleep.
However, it didn’t take long for it not to be feigned.
Tauno woke them in the morning. He reported that there were no signs of activity along their path to the Jewelrose border. “There is a good site to camp about two miles south of the border,” he said. “I will join you there.” He left.
Valek watched him go. The last couple days, Valek had been getting a strange vibe from the scout. Perhaps it was due to the stress of being on his own. Or due to a lack of sleep.
They packed up the campsite and followed Tauno’s trail. He’d been right, they encountered nothing concerning, and they found the camping site Tauno had mentioned.
While they were setting up, Tauno reappeared with dinner hanging from his belt.
“I discovered the location of the barn,” he said, while butchering the rabbits. “It is four miles west of here in a little hollow.”
Valek quizzed him for the details. “We’ll have to strike in the dark,” he said. “We’ll go after midnight, leave the horses in the trees, and then attack.”
Tauno agreed. He cubed the meat and dropped it into the pot. “I will sleep, then.”
While Marrok stirred the stew, Valek prepped the reed plants, making blowpipes for everyone. Yelena saddled the tired horses. Garnet sighed when she cinched his straps tight.
“It’s not far,” she said to the horse. “Then you can rest.”
When she finished, she joined them by the fire. Valek ate a few mouthfuls of the stew as Yelena filled a bowl for herself. The stew had a strange yet familiar flavor. He stopped eating. What was that taste?
“This is good,” Yelena said to Marrok. “I think you’re getting the hang of it. What did you add?”
“A new ingredient. Can you tell what it is?”
She took another spoonful, and rolled the liquid around her mouth like Valek had taught her. She swallowed and asked, “Ginger?”
No. The ingredient’s name popped into Valek’s head. And he knew exactly what symptoms it caused. He dropped his stew. He jumped to his feet and stumbled.
“Butter root!” he cried out in horror.
“Poison?”
“No.” He sank to his knees. “Sleeping draft.”
CHAPTER15
Yelena stared at Valek in horror as he dramatically collapsed onto the ground. He winked at her before closing his eyes and pretending to be unconscious. No doubt there was a watcher hiding nearby, waiting for Valek and the others to fall asleep.
Butter Root was similar to the plant he used for his sleeping potion and had the same effect. He wished he’d recognized the taste sooner. Valek fought the waves of drowsiness that threatened to knock him out.
Next to him, Yelena’s bowl clattered to the ground as she slumped over. She had eaten less than him, so he hoped she was awake. Had Marrok spiked the stew? Valek peeked. The captain was sprawled on the ground sound asleep. That left— The horses whinnied in alarm.
Ah, the culprit’s friends have arrived.
“So easy! All the talk about the Soulfinder and the Ghost Warrior and look at them! Sleeping like babies,” a masculine voice said.
