LITMIR.BIZ

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trusted him.

      Nothing to be done about it now. Valek pushed off the wall and headed to HQ.

      * * *

      “Please tell me you’re kidding,” Fisk said.

      Valek wished. “No. You need to relocate the Stormdancers, my brother, my sister and Teegan to a secure place. Recall Ari and Janco. Ari is going to be your best bet for strategy and planning. When Leif, Mara and Esau return, have them go into hiding. And get your people out of the garrisons before they’re caught.”

      Fisk sat stunned. “Wow.”

      “Do you have any null shield pendants?”

      “Yes. Leif’s learned how to make them using wood.”

      “Please send one to Cahil with my compliments. And another for Yelena, just in case.”

      “Got it.”

      Valek left Fisk to absorb the bombshell he’d just dropped on him. When he arrived at their rooms, Valek paused. The smell of lavender—Yelena’s favorite scent—sucked away all his remaining energy. He sat on the edge of the bed and rested his head in his hands as exhaustion swept through him.

      Once Onora had returned with Yelena’s location, Valek had spent all last night planning her rescue, and that was after he’d used magic to heal his shoulder and hip. Chale hadn’t been strong enough to repair such extensive injuries. The fact that Valek managed to mend the damage and didn’t flame out and kill himself had been a source of pride.

      Summoning the strength to stand, he packed his and Yelena’s saddle bags. Then he carried them down the stairs and headed to the hidden stables behind the kitchen.

      Fisk chased him. “Where are you going?”

      “I need to leave so I don’t overhear your new strategies.”

      “Where do we find you if everything works out?”

      Valek considered. “The Cloverleaf Inn in Owl’s Hill. Do you know it?”

      “Yes.”

      “Good.” He continued past the ovens.

      “It’ll work out,” Fisk called.

      But Valek didn’t have the energy to reply. Onyx and Kiki greeted him with whickers, and they nosed his pockets for treats. Giving each a milk oat, he stroked their necks and checked their legs for hot spots. All black, Onyx was built for speed. Sleek and quiet, he matched Valek’s personality.

      Valek saddled both horses and secured Yelena’s bags and bo staff to Kiki’s saddle. Leading them outside, he turned to Kiki. White coated most of her face, except for a swirl of copper around her left eye. She had white socks, but the rest of her was copper. Her long ears pricked forward.

      He relaxed his mental shield, allowing Kiki’s thoughts to fill his mind—one of the perks to having magic. As a Sandseed horse, Kiki used a form of magic to communicate mentally with humans and other non-Sandseed horses like Onyx.

      Lavender Lady? she asked, using Yelena’s horse name.

      With Peppermint Man, he said. Go find Topaz. He’s at the Council’s stables. Lavender Lady needs you.

      Needs Ghost No More.

      He’d been Ghost, but since he was no longer immune to magic, Kiki had added the “No More” to his name. Not this time.

      She flicked him with her tail. Every time.

      He laughed without humor. Lavender Lady doesn’t agree with you. Besides, he trusted Onora to keep an eye on her.

      Smoke Girl part of herd. Kiki approved.

      Smoke?

      Unable to verbalize, Kiki sent images of Onora sitting quiet and still, blending in with her surroundings and moving with grace, like a wisp of smoke. Kiki hinted at something deeper within the girl. That a fire burned at her core, but she hid it beneath a smoke screen.

      A good analogy, Valek thought.

      Kiki smart.

      Yes, you are.

      Come.

      I will be there. I just need...time. To cool down? Time to think?

      Kiki’s blue-eyed gaze peered right through him. He remained still, even though the urge to squirm like a misbehaving child pressed on him.

      Come soon. She trotted away.

      He wondered how the Citadel’s citizens would react to a riderless horse, but then Valek remembered Kiki’s ability to stay hidden, despite being so large. Plus, unlike the other breed of horses, Sandseeds refused to wear horseshoes. No clip-clop of hooves on the cobblestones.

      Valek mounted Onyx, but he had no idea where to go, except to leave the Citadel. “Let’s get out of here, boy.”

      After they exited through the north gate, Valek let Onyx pick the direction. The steady rhythm of the horse underneath him combined with his exhaustion and it numbed him. His thoughts stilled. His emotions drained. A cool breeze fanned his face. The moist scent of earth and grass filled the air as trees and bushes blurred past, their green buds and blue sky the only colors.

      Whenever Onyx stopped, Valek fed and watered his horse. He rested and ate stale travel rations until Onyx indicated it was time to go. The sun set and rose. Twice.

      Onyx slowed as the light faded for the third time. Valek roused in preparation to care for his horse. But instead of halting in a clearing, Onyx approached a building. He had his dagger in hand before Valek recognized the cottage he and Yelena had purchased. It was located in the Featherstone lands, near the border with Ixia. Onyx headed to the tiny stable, pushing the door open with his head.

      Valek dismounted. “Did Kiki tell you to come here?”

      His horse blew a hot breath scented with grain in Valek’s face as if to say, Snap out of it, man!

      Removing Onyx’s saddle and tack, Valek groomed, fed and watered his horse before shuffling toward the dark, cold cottage. Horsehair stuck to his sweat-slicked skin and coated his clothes. The warm season should be renamed the shedding season.

      He paused in the threshold. It’d been three and a half months since he’d been here with Yelena. This was where their child had been conceived. Memories threatened to push through the fog in his head. Maybe he’d sleep in the stable. No, he was being silly. He entered. The empty rooms held no warmth. A light film of dust coated the furniture. Not bothering to light a fire or heat up the bathwater, Valek washed quickly. The little cottage had been perfect for them. A washroom and kitchen occupied the right side of the ground floor. A large living area filled the left side, and a huge stone hearth sat in the middle, heating all the rooms. The second story loft covered half the building and contained their bedroom.

      After trudging up the steps, Valek shook out the blankets on the bed. Yelena’s scent slapped him in the face, and he collapsed onto the mattress. All his anger drained away in one gush of misery. Yelena had gone with the enemy, taking all his hopes and dreams with her. Ten days was enough time for Bruns to learn of her presence in the garrison. An intelligent businessman, he’d have informers in all the garrisons. Cahil had been brainwashed like all the rest. There was no way Cahil could protect her, no matter what he promised.

      So what the hell was Valek doing here? Pouting. He should be arranging another rescue. Except he’d given his word to Cahil that he wouldn’t do that, and Yelena would never break hers. Until things went sideways with Bruns, Valek’s hands were tied.

      He breathed in the clean scent of lavender. As he lay on the bed they’d once shared, a realization came to him slowly. He’d been so furious at her for not trusting him that he was doing the same thing—not trusting her. Yelena had been confident of Cahil’s ability to see reason, and she’d escaped plenty of tight spots before. And if the null shield pendant was taken from her, the baby created some kind of void, which protected her from magic.

      Her

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