Dawn Study

by Maria V. Snyder

  “So, what do we do with you now?” Owen asked no one in particular. “You are wanted for treason. I say we arrest you and then publicly execute you.”

  “That won’t work,” the Commander said. “He’ll escape the dungeon. It’s best to take care of him now. We can display his dead body so his loyal corps will understand who is in charge.”

  Even though Valek knew Owen controlled the Commander, the comment still stabbed right through him like a hot poker. Owen frowned at the suggestion. Probably because the Commander didn’t immediately agree with him.

  “Tyen, what do you think?” Owen asked.

  The broad-shouldered magician was the same age as Owen. They had attended the Magician’s Keep together. “I think we should finish what we started two months ago and push him out the window.”

  Tyen’s ability to move objects would make that easy for him to do. And Valek couldn’t use his darts to defend himself, because Tyen would knock them aside with his magic. Fear coiled in his stomach.

  Owen grinned. “I agree. And this time, he doesn’t have any friends to come to his rescue.” He straightened his arm, spread his fingers and thrust his palm toward Valek.

  Valek reacted as if a force had slammed into him. He shuffled backward until his legs hit the windowsill. Blood slammed in his heart. He met Owen’s triumphant gaze.

  “Goodbye, Valek,” he said, once again extending his arm.

  Seeing no other way to escape, Valek fell back through the window. Twisting at the last moment, he hooked a hand on the ledge to slow his momentum and swing his body close to the wall. But his fingers slipped off. Butterflies spun in his stomach as he hung suspended in midair for a fraction of a second before gravity pulled him down.

  Air roared in his ears as he fell. Then the unmistakable thwack of a crossbow sounded a second before an iron bolt slammed into the stone right next to him. When a second bolt appeared on the opposite side, Valek realized the significance. He grabbed the shaft as he slid past, slowing his descent. Another bolt materialized, and he seized it with both hands. With a jerk that sent a throb of pain through his arms and shoulders, Valek stopped his fall. He dangled two stories above the ground.

  A couple more bolts arrived below him, and he quickly used them to reach safety. The guard assigned to watch the wall must have recognized him. Valek waved a thank-you and then dashed away before Owen could retaliate. Valek hoped the man or woman had a believable story to tell Owen about why he or she shot the bolts.

  * * *

  After Valek reached Onyx in the Snake Forest, the day-long trip to the cottage was easy in comparison. As he groomed and cared for Onyx, his mind whirled with the information he’d gained from Signe. Owen had an ace up his sleeve, and it was vital that the resistance discover what it was. Valek needed to check the Keep’s library for Ellis Moon’s notebooks. Ideally there would be a mention of something that was more powerful than Theobroma.

  Valek had two days until his meeting with Onora near the Featherstone garrison. And then... Valek would either be a prisoner, or he and Yelena would be free to rejoin Fisk and the efforts to stop the Cartel. If the worst happened, he’d give the intel about Ellis Moon to Onora before surrendering.

  Exhausted from two nights without sleep, Valek trudged up to bed. After a day of rest, he’d travel to the garrison and find out if Yelena’s gamble had worked or not.

  * * *

  The morning of the ninth day since Yelena made her deal with Cahil dawned clear and cool. Onyx trotted into the main district of Starling’s Egg a few hours after sunrise and headed for the market. Onora was probably hidden among the stalls, waiting for Valek. He slowed Onyx to a walk once they reached the busy heart of the small town. Sure enough, Onora appeared next to them within a few minutes.

  “Report,” he said.

  She scanned the shoppers. “Not here. Meet me at the Lucky Duck Inn on Cherry Street.” Onora disappeared.

  Dressed in dark brown pants and a light tan tunic to blend in, Valek dismounted and asked a local where Cherry was located. The woman barely glanced at him as she pointed to the northeast. He led Onyx through the streets, letting the horse cool down. He wondered if Onora had been staying at the Lucky Duck while keeping an eye on Yelena. Had his wife spent the last seven days locked in the stockade? Valek hoped not but wouldn’t be surprised if she had.

  He found the inn on Cherry and approved of its unremarkable appearance and out-of-the-way location. Onyx headed straight to the small stables behind the building. Valek left his horse with the stable boy but instructed him to leave the saddle on, just in case he needed to make a quick exit.

  Onora waited for him at one of the tables in the back corner of the common room. It was a typical inn, with a tavern on the ground floor and rooms on the higher stories. He scanned the other occupants—two men and an older woman. The sweet scent of molasses lingered on the air. When he’d left the cottage yesterday, he hadn’t had much of an appetite. The prospect of turning himself over to Cahil had soured his stomach.

  Valek joined Onora. A young server appeared and he ordered breakfast, despite still having no desire to eat. He’d need energy to deal with the next step. When the girl left, he asked, “Yelena?”

  “She’s perfectly fine. She was staying here until yesterday,” Onora said.

  He straightened. “Not what I expected.”

  “Me, neither, but it was smart.” Onora filled him in on what had happened. “It took Cahil and his crew a week to wake up, but they all came around, just like Yelena predicted.”

  Yelena had done it. The crushing pressure around his chest eased.

  “You owe her an apology,” Onora said.

  He owed her much more than a mere apology. While Fisk and Onora had faith in her, Valek had believed her agreement with Cahil had been yet another betrayal and bound to fail.

  “While you’ve been off pouting, she’s been miserable. You should have seen the stricken look on her face when she found out I’ve been watching over her and not you.”

  If Onora wished to make him feel worse, she’d succeeded. “You talked to her?”

  “Yes. She stood in the small yard behind the inn where she’d been training and signaled that you should join her and all was well. I thought it might be a trick, but she was alone, and they hadn’t ever left her alone before. Still, I waited until Cahil left, then visited her room later that night.” Onora grinned. “Scared the hell out of her roommate.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “Setting up an ambush.”

  Clamping down on his surprise, he said, “Explain.”

  “Her father and sister-in-law were captured and are being escorted here. Yelena plans to rescue them before they reach the garrison.”

  Not good. “By herself?”

  “No. She has three of Cahil’s crew with her.”

  “And Cahil?”

  “Taking a hit for the team.”

  He waited.

  “Cahil remained in the garrison. Bruns arrived yesterday, and he’s playing host. He’s also unprotected. If Bruns’s magicians detect a null shield on him, the gig would be up. According to Yelena, Cahil’s pretty strong-willed and should be okay for a couple days.”

  “So, Cahil has agreed to help us?”

  “Yes, but he’s not happy about it.”

  That wasn’t a surprise. Valek mulled over the information. “Where’s Leif?”

  “He escaped when they grabbed Mara and Esau. No one’s seen him since.”

  “He’s probably following the wagon.”

  The server arrived with Valek’s order. She placed the steaming plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of him. His stomach growled with hunger, and he realized he hadn’t had a decent hot meal since leaving Yelena with Cahil. Valek dug into the food. Between bites, he asked about the ambush.
>
  “They picked a nice little spot about four hours east of the garrison,” Onora said. “They figured by that point, the soldiers will have relaxed, thinking they are almost home. Plus it’s better than guessing where the group will stop for the night.”

  “When are they expected to strike?”

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “Think they’d welcome a couple extra helpers?”

  “Oh, yes. I told them I’d be back, but no one was sure about you.”

  Ah, hell. He had some major apologizing to do.

  * * *

  After he finished eating, he paid and reclaimed Onyx. The horse glanced at a stall with longing. But when Valek mentioned joining Kiki, Onyx’s ears perked up. Valek understood the feeling. The desire to see Yelena energized him, as well.

  He mounted and headed west at a moderate pace. The number of buildings dwindled, and fields of corn plants stretched out on both sides of the road. Soon the drumming of hooves sounded behind him as Onora caught up. She rode an unfamiliar black-and-white piebald mare with a black mane. Janco had borrowed The Madam since he’d lent Beach Bunny to Reema.

  “Who is this?” he asked.

  “Horse.”

  “Original.”

  She grinned. “I figured the name would bug Janco.”

  It would indeed.

  They rode for a while in silence. After two hours of riding, the fields ended and they entered a forest. Valek worried about Yelena and hoped she’d forgive him. The upside to this whole mess was that the people who’d been under Bruns’s influence could be woken. The downside was that a person had to be Theobroma-free for a week—a dangerously long time. At least now they had Cahil’s cooperation. The General could begin to wake other high-ranking military officials and perhaps even the Sitian Council members. One could dream.

  Onora slowed Horse to a walk as they reached the bottom of a small valley. Ahead the dirt road was rutted from a recent washout. A rustle sounded above Valek. He glanced up in time to spot a net of greenery falling toward him. Valek stopped Onyx right before the heavy blanket knocked him to the ground.

  Valek landed hard on his left shoulder. He rolled onto his back and reached for his knives just as a person sat on top of him, pinning his arms, while a thin blade pierced the greenery and nicked his neck.

  The blade disappeared, and Valek twisted his hips and bucked the person off. He shoved the net aside, jumped to his feet and yanked his knives. Two figures dressed in green camouflage backed away from him. Onora stood with two others—also camouflaged. She wiped dirt off her pants but appeared unhurt and unarmed. Odd.

  Then the trees spun around him. The irresistible urge to sleep liquefied his muscles. He staggered and went down on one knee. His heavy knives slipped from his nerveless fingers. Valek touched his neck. A small drop of blood coated his finger. The blade must have been treated with sleeping potion.

  Valek toppled. He’d congratulate them on getting the drop on him, but...

  * * *

  Valek woke but kept his eyes closed. Fuzzy memories of being ambushed swirled. His head ached from a sleeping potion hangover. A dull throb pulsed through his left shoulder. He smelled wood smoke. A fire crackled nearby.

  “...too slow. We should use Curare instead. It’s faster,” a woman said.

  “But it won’t work. Everyone’s been eating Theobroma for months. It neutralizes the Curare. And next time, remember to use a dart and not your knife, Hanni,” Onora said. “You have more control and can keep your distance. You saw how quickly Valek freed himself from the net. He could have killed you before the sleeping potion kicked in.”

  Onora? Was she working for the Cartel now?

  “I’m sorry. I panicked. Do you think he’s going to be mad we did a test run on him?” the woman—Hanni—asked.

  No answer, but it explained quite a bit.

  “Just don’t panic tomorrow,” Onora said.

  “No problem. Tomorrow I won’t be jumping Valek,” Hanni muttered.

  “As long as you all remember that the goal is to rescue my sister-in-law and father without killing the guards. Incapacitate only,” Yelena said.

  Her voice soothed his soul. Valek opened his eyes. He lay on a bedroll with a blanket over him. Nearby, Yelena and Onora sat around a campfire with two men and Hanni. Darkness surrounded them. He waited. It didn’t take long for Yelena’s gaze to find his.

  She tensed. Even though he deserved it, her reaction stabbed him right in the heart. The others sensed her concern and turned. He sat up. The men and Hanni hopped to their feet. Their hands hovered near weapons. Skittish lot. Valek would have been amused, but Yelena still hadn’t relaxed.

  “Onyx?” he asked her.

  “Fine. He’s with Kiki.”

  Onora poured him a cup of water and brought it over. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” He downed it in one gulp. “Test run?”

  “Yeah. They’re young and needed the practice,” Onora said.

  “We’re older than you,” one of the men said in protest.

  “Sorry. They’re inexperienced.”

  That didn’t go over any better.

  Valek touched his neck. A dart would have left a smaller injury, but the cut had already stopped bleeding. “Were the darts loaded with sleeping potion as well?”

  Onora smiled. “Of course. Although I’m surprised you didn’t spot the ambush sooner.”

  He met Yelena’s gaze again. “I was distracted.”

  “Bad form, old man. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the Commander.” Onora refilled his cup.

  “Good, because he believes this old man—” Valek tapped his chest “—killed you.”

  “Oh?” She stilled.

  He glanced at the three others. “I’ll tell you about it later.” He stood. Cahil’s crew stepped back and grabbed the hilts of their weapons.

  “Relax,” he said. “I’m not upset about the ambush. Onora and Yelena know I encourage training and preparation. Kudos to you for a successful test run.” He held his hand out to his wife. “Yelena, a word in private?”

  Her hesitation hurt worse than his head. But she slipped her hand in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Valek led her well away from the others. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, the shapes of Onyx, Kiki and Horse formed. They grazed in a small clearing. Weak moonlight outlined them in silver.

  “Valek, I’m—”

  “No.” He pulled her into a tight hug. Surprised, she stiffened, then relaxed against him. He breathed in her scent. “I’m so, so sorry. I overreacted. I didn’t trust you. And I threw a tantrum and stormed off to sulk like a child. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

  “Only if you can forgive me.”

  “For what?”

  She leaned back. “I believed Cahil and thought Onora had killed you, not trusting that you might have worked out an arrangement with her. I should have just trusted you. And I endangered our child.”

  “You were right about Cahil. Now we have a powerful ally.”

  “But I should have believed in you.”

  “All right, you’re forgiven.”

  “So are you.”

  Relieved, he kissed her long and hard. When they broke apart, they were both panting. He drew her close and wished they were alone. Maybe if they went—

  “Why does the Commander think Onora is dead?” Yelena asked.

  “I paid him a visit.”

  “Are you insane?” She broke away and punched him on his sore shoulder.

  He grunted in pain, but she failed to look contrite as he rubbed the sore spot.

  “Talk,” she ordered.

  “Like you, I took a gamble.” Valek told her about his visit and what he’d learned. “I hope we can find Ellis’s notes in the Keep’s Libra
ry.”

  “If they’re still there.” Then she scowled. “And if we’re successful tomorrow.”

  He glanced at the horses. “Speaking of tomorrow, why aren’t there more horses?”

  “Hanni and Sladen will commandeer a couple from the guards, and Faxon will drive the wagon.”

  “Any word from Leif?”

  “No. We hope he’s following the wagon, but Cahil said they were captured near Fulgor.”

  Valek considered. “He might have gone to Fulgor instead, thinking to get there ahead of them.”

  “That’s what I thought, too. I hope he wasn’t arrested.” Concern deepened her voice.

  “Would Cahil know Leif’s status?”

  “Eventually.”

  “How are you going to communicate with him without the Cartel finding out?”

  She peered up at him. “One of his loyal crew will get a message to a member of Fisk’s guild.”

  Not the best situation, but there weren’t any other options. “Too bad we don’t have any glass messengers.”

  “That might give us away. The Cartel has a group of loyal magicians who have not been ingesting the Theobroma. The drug makes it too hard for them to concentrate. So they’re seeking others who are using magic, and they’ve been using those glass super messengers to communicate between the garrisons.”

  Another bit of unwelcome news. If the resistance tried anything at one garrison, all the others would be notified right away.

  “What else did you have planned for Cahil?” she asked.

  “I hoped he could wake the other military leaders and then the Councilors.”

  “That would be impossible for him to do without tipping the Cartel off.” She explained about the frequent null shield sweeps.

  He almost growled in frustration. “We need an...anti-Theobroma. A substance that works faster.”

  “I agree. Something that works as quickly as Curare would be ideal.”

  “Now you’re dreaming, love. I’d be happy with something that shortens the time to mere days instead of a week.”

  But her brows crinkled in thought, and she was no longer listening to him. He kept quiet, letting her mull over whatever it was that had snagged her attention. Content to hold her close, he relaxed for the first time in ten long days. She had forgiven him, and right now, that was all that mattered.