Night Study

by Maria V. Snyder

  “No. Owen will spin a tale about how I tried to sneak into his rooms.”

  “But we saw—”

  “What, exactly?” Valek asked.

  Janco recalled the scene in the guest suite. “He had his hands on your shoulders.”

  “He’ll claim he was trying to help me. You didn’t witness my abduction. All you had to go on was a creepy feeling in a dark hallway. No. It would be pointless to report the incident to the Commander.”

  “How did he manage to capture you?” Maren asked.

  Valek exchanged a look with Ari. The big guy nodded and Valek explained to Maren about the null shields.

  It didn’t take her long to understand the danger. “So that means he can trap you at any time?”

  “Unfortunately. And he can also suffocate me with that blasted shield.” Valek increased his pace.

  Janco wished he’d brought the bottle of whiskey along as they checked the washroom, then their apartment, where they found Reema curled up in a chair fast asleep. They searched the stables, the kennels and visited Yelena’s friend Dilana, the seamstress. With every stop, Janco’s alarm grew twofold.

  They visited Valek’s office, just in case. Valek’s knife remained in the hallway. He picked it up and a murderous expression settled on his face. If Owen had been standing there, no doubt Valek would have rammed the blade into his black heart.

  While there were plenty of places left to look, there was no logical reason Yelena would visit them.

  “Owen must have her,” Valek said in a deadly tone. “I’ll kill him.”

  13

  YELENA

  Blue. The liquid in Medic Mommy’s vial was blue. Blue for baby. I navigated the hallways of the castle without any thoughts on my destination. Lanterns glowed, painting blue shadows on gray stone walls. I clutched a list of foods and drinks that would aid in the baby’s healthy growth. The words had been written in blue ink.

  Deep down, the news wasn’t a shock, but rather a confirmation. Yet the part of me that wanted to automatically dismiss the idea had been a loudmouth, shouting over the quiet knowledge.

  Bad time or not, I wasn’t able to change the past. Based on my calculations and Medic Mommy’s experience, I was about six weeks along, which meant I had a few months before my body revealed the truth to others. The baby was due in seven and a half months and right in the middle of the cooling season. Hopefully by that time, Owen would be turned into a memory. A “remember when” that had a happy ending.

  What a crazy day. I wondered if Valek would still consider my news a cause for celebration. So much had happened since I first suspected.

  A baby.

  I imagined a little boy with bright blue eyes and black hair. The scamp would be causing trouble at every turn. Janco would soon be the favorite uncle, and Junior would probably learn how to throw a knife before he learned how to dress himself. Or perhaps a little girl with curly black hair. She’d be in the midst of trouble and have Valek wrapped around her finger. Ari would spoil her rotten. And she’d learn how to pick a lock before she could read.

  I arrived at the kitchen. Laughter and the clatter of dishes vibrated through the double doors. A spicy roasted meat aroma enticed me onward. Steam puffed from buckets of water as the staff scrubbed pots. I’d missed supper while visiting the medic.

  Sammy, the head chef, spotted me hovering near the door and waved me over to his workstation. It gleamed, but his all-white uniform sported a number of gravy splotches and other stains.

  “Did you stop by to say hello or to scrounge for food?” he asked.

  “Both. And to thank you for the delicious sweet cakes. The best you’ve ever made. You added something new, didn’t you?” I sat on one of the stools.

  “Yup. Guess what it is.” A devilish grin spanned Sammy’s youthful face.

  At age twenty, he was the youngest person ever assigned as head chef for the Commander. A pang of grief pressed on my heart for the previous chef, Rand. A friend who had betrayed me, and then saved me.

  “Lemon juice?”

  “Aww, you’re no fun.” He pretended to pout.

  “Then you should ask someone who wasn’t trained as a food taster. Why did you add it?”

  “The lemon juice reacts with the baking powder, causing the batter to bubble, and it makes the sweet cakes lighter and fluffier.”

  “And yummier.” I smiled. “Speaking of food, is there anything left over from supper?”

  He opened one of the ovens built into the stones above the huge hearth that dominated the center of the kitchen. Grabbing a protective mitt, he pulled a pan out along with the mouthwatering scent of braised beef.

  Sammy picked up an oversize metal spoon, ladled two heaping servings and slid one over to me along with a fork. “Nice to have company while I eat.”

  “Thanks. Do you always wait this late?”

  “Yup. This way I know everyone’s fed and no one’s gonna interrupt me.”

  The meat just fell apart and melted in my mouth. Sammy chuckled at my unladylike moans.

  “This is fantastic. What’s the occasion?”

  Sammy sobered. “The Commander’s guests requested it.”

  Figured Owen wouldn’t be happy with standard fare. And this was the perfect opportunity to learn what the gossip network had discovered. “Does the Commander usually let his guests decide?”

  “No. Usually, he lets me plan the menu unless there’s a special occasion. Then he orders the meal. But these three have been a giant pain in my ass since they’ve arrived.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. They complain about everything. The meat’s too hot. It’s too cold. Too much bread. Not enough cheese. They also have the poor housekeepers in a tizzy.”

  “Why?”

  “They’ve taken over the entire guest wing and refuse to let the housekeepers into certain rooms. And they fuss if their beds aren’t made early enough and if the chamber pots aren’t immediately emptied.”

  “Has any of the staff complained to the Commander?” I asked.

  “No. The Commander gave orders that we were to ensure that their every need was met, no matter what. And no, he’s never said that before. Not even when the Generals are visiting.”

  Not too surprising, if Owen had somehow managed to influence the Commander despite the null shield woven into his uniforms. How long ago did Leif provide the protection? Could Owen have done it four and a half years ago, when he’d first been captured in Ixia? I’d have to ask Leif. But would his answer come in time? Before, I’d contact him through a super messenger and have instant communication. Now it would take a week at least. If my magic ever returned, I’d never take it for granted again.

  “Anything else strange going on with them?” I asked.

  Sammy chewed thoughtfully. “Yup. They took a bunch of the housekeepers’ buckets and filled them with dirt. And they’ve been burning lots of wood. But not in their rooms, ’cause there’s not enough ash.”

  “Buckets of dirt?”

  He shrugged. “Probably in the rooms they blocked from the staff.”

  Sammy’s gossip confirmed that Owen had brought along a few of those Harman saplings and were growing them inside. It made sense if the tree was used to the warmer Sitian climate. Plus, it would take a few weeks for Owen to build a glass hothouse.

  As Sammy prattled on about the various hookups among the servants, I wondered if Valek could sneak into the guest suite and steal one of those saplings. Eventually Sammy finished his stories and started yawning. His day started hours before dawn. I bid him a good-night and headed to Valek’s suite.

  Only a few people traveled the corridors. It was later than I’d thought. By the time I reached the turn into the shortcut through the servant’s wing, the halls were deserted.

  “Yelena!” Valek called from behind me. He sounded relieved.

  I turned.

  He ran up to me. “Where have you been?”

  “In the kitchen, talking to Sammy. Why? Is somethi
ng wrong?”

  “I’ve been searching all over for you.”

  Not quite an answer. “Aren’t you supposed to be guarding the Commander?”

  “He refused the extra protection.”

  “Then what—”

  “Come on.” He grabbed my wrist, tugging me the opposite way. “Janco and Ari found something interesting in the guest wing and want you to look at it.”

  “Is it a tree growing in a bucket of dirt?”

  Valek’s grip tightened. “How did you know?”

  He sounded accusatory rather than impressed. Strange. “The gossip network. Why else do you think I was in the kitchen?”

  “Oh. Well, now you’ll get a chance to see it up close.”

  He hurried through the hallways, dragging me along and going the long way. I stumbled and his nails dug into my skin as he yanked me upright. “Ow. Valek, slow down.”

  “No time.”

  I glanced at my arm to see if he broke the skin and I almost tripped again. The long thin fingers clutching my wrist were not Valek’s, but a woman’s. Yet when I focused on the rest of the body, it appeared to be Valek, which meant...

  An illusion! And only one person in Ixia had that ability. Rika.

  After a brief moment of panic, I settled my nerves. Illusions couldn’t harm me. As long as she didn’t have any surprise talents, I wasn’t about to let her haul me to her cohorts, where I’d be outnumbered. I dug in my heels, slowing our progress.

  “Come on,” she said.

  Recalling my self-defense lessons, I broke her grip. Then I kicked her in the ribs with a side kick. Rika flew back, and I took off. She yelled, but I ignored her. However, at the end of the corridor, Owen and Tyen stepped into view, blocking my escape. Oh no. My pulse jumped in my throat as fear zinged through me.

  I glanced over my shoulder. Rika clutched her side, but she stared in my direction. They wouldn’t get me without a fight. Increasing my speed, I aimed for the space between the men, hoping my momentum would allow me to break through.

  Except they were also an illusion. I sailed right by them and slammed into the far wall. Pain spiked my shoulder, but I didn’t bother to slow or to look back as I ran all the way to the main entrance of Valek’s and the Commander’s suites. Valek’s rooms were the safest place for me.

  The guards reached for their weapons when they spotted me. I stopped and gasped for breath. It had been a while since I’d had to run for my life. Guess I’d need to add that to my training schedule.

  When no one appeared behind me, I explained about the illusions. “Even if it looks and sounds just like Valek or the Commander, don’t let them pass unless you inspect their key for the diamond insignia. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And the same goes for me.” I dug my key from my pocket and showed the row of diamond shapes etched into the round, flat section. The Commander’s paranoia came in handy from time to time and I doubted Rika would know about the symbols.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Has the Commander retired for the evening?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Is Valek with him?”

  “No.”

  “Have you seen Valek tonight?”

  “Yes. He was here briefly with his second-in-commands. But he hasn’t been back since.”

  “Thanks.” I debated if I should search for him, but decided it’d be too dangerous. He’d return to his suite eventually.

  When I entered, I spotted four empty glasses and a bottle of whiskey. I considered pouring myself a large portion, but Medic Mommy advised me to avoid alcohol. Too bad.

  Instead, I stirred the fire to life and filled the teapot with water. Waiting for Valek proved difficult, so I rummaged through his piles of books for something to distract me. I found one titled The Art of the Lie, by Hedda Bhavsar, that instructed readers how to lie convincingly and how to spot liars. Useful information.

  Once I had a steaming mug of tea in hand and the book in the other, I settled into a comfortable position on the couch and used my cloak as a blanket. Since it was longer and heavier than she was used to, Reema had been happy to return it to me. She liked the new one I’d purchased, and it fit her much better.

  Despite the fascinating subject, I didn’t read too long before my eyelids gained weight and the words blurred together on the page. Head nods came next. Giving up, I set the book down and stretched out. After all, Medic Mommy had lectured me on getting the proper rest. I’d finish reading later.

  A shuffle woke me, sending fear zipping down my spine. Valek wouldn’t be so noisy. Under the cover of my cloak, I reached for the switchblade strapped to my leg and grasped the handle. I peered between slitted eyelids. Embers glowed from the dying fire. I’d been asleep a couple of hours. No other sounds disturbed the quiet. I waited for an attack, but nothing happened.

  Unable to remain still any longer, I jumped to my feet, brandishing my weapon. The room was empty. Or so I thought.

  Valek sighed my name. He stood by the door, blending in with the dark wood. He hurried over to me, but I backed up and assumed a defensive stance. His expression of relief transformed into confusion and he stopped a few feet away.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “What shape did you make with the napkins for Leif’s wedding?” I asked.

  “Are you—”

  “Just answer the question.”

  Understanding smoothed his features. “Swans, but I can make flowers, as well. Which would you prefer for our wedding?”

  I sagged with relief. Closing my switchblade, I stepped into his arms. He hugged me tight. And for a long moment, he said nothing.

  “Did they try to trick you with an illusion?” Valek finally asked, releasing me.

  “Yes.” I explained about the incident with Rika.

  “Thank fate you escaped. Seems we were wrong to assume Owen’d wait to attack us.”

  Alarmed, I asked, “Us?”

  “Yes, I had my own run-in with him.” Valek detailed his ambush and near-death experience.

  “Run-in? He almost killed you!”

  Valek didn’t deny it or dismiss it with his usual bravado, which worried me even more. “Is that why you were standing by the door? Did you think I was another trap?”

  “No.” He paused. “I needed...a moment. The guards said you were in here, but I didn’t quite believe them until I saw you. And then...” Valek pulled me close. “We searched half the castle. I thought Owen had you.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t go after him.” And glad.

  “I wanted to, but Ari stopped me.”

  “Did he sit on you?” I teased. That earned me a smile.

  “No. He used logic.”

  “Yay for logic.”

  “I better go and tell them you’re safe. They’re waiting with the guards.”

  “The guards?”

  “Yes, I insisted they remain there. It was difficult since Ari and Janco won’t let me go anywhere on my own.”

  “That’s good. Stronger together, remember?”

  He hesitated for a second, then said, “I need to tell Ari he was right.”

  “It could be worse.”

  Valek waited.

  “It could be Janco who was right.”

  “Ah, yes. That would be worse.”

  * * *

  Ari and Janco were happy to see me and I gave them each an extra hug for saving Valek.

  Maren refused to hug me. “Save that mushy stuff for your boyfriend.”

  Much to Janco’s disgust, Ari limited his gloating. “It’s wasted, just wasted on you!”

  Ignoring his partner, Ari said, “We’ll be back at dawn to escort you to your meeting with the Commander. Then we’ll stay with you until you and Yelena leave.”

  “We’re leaving?” I asked Valek in an icy tone.

  “Didn’t he tell you?” Janco asked.

  “There wasn’t time.” Valek frowned at him.

  “That’s our cue to say goo
d-night,” Janco said, pulling Ari and Maren with him as they left.

  I stared at Valek, waiting.

  “We’re leaving tomorrow.”

  “Why? What else happened?” The now-familiar throb of fear pulsed in my chest.

  “The Commander has given you a choice,” Valek explained.

  “That isn’t really a choice.” I couldn’t cut all ties with Sitia and my family to be the Commander’s Sitian Adviser.

  “And since Owen has made his intentions clear, you’re safer with me. So you’re coming with me to investigate those Storm Thieves.”

  I drew breath to speak, but Valek interrupted me with a kiss.

  “Let’s just go to sleep. It’s been a hell of a long day,” he said.

  “That bad?”

  He pressed his hand over my heart. “Except for this joy. Yes.”

  I put my hands over his and then pulled it down so his palm rested on my abdomen. “How about this?”

  He stared at me. “Are you sure?”

  “Medic Mommy confirmed it.”

  He beamed. “I’ve changed my mind. This is the best day of my life! When?”

  “Middle of the cooling season.”

  Valek swept me up in his arms, spun me around, laughing. “We’re going to be a family!”

  * * *

  Snuggled together in bed, we exchanged information about what we’d discovered that day and discussed the Commander’s orders.

  I mulled everything over and found a few troubling inconsistencies. “If Owen is controlling the Commander, then why would he send you to the coast and ensure I’d return to Sitia? Owen wants us both dead. It’d be easier if we remain in the castle.”

  “But Owen’s attempts to kill us failed. Maybe he wants us out of the way so he can work on his plans without us interfering.” Valek stifled a yawn.

  “You received your orders from the Commander before Owen’s ambush.”

  Valek pushed up on his elbow. “That’s right. Are you thinking Owen isn’t influencing the Commander?”

  “No. The Commander has been acting too erratic. Yet...” I struggled to grasp the significance. He’d been horrible to Valek, almost as if he wanted to drive him away. “Did you tell him about the Storm Thieves?”

  “Yes.”

  And that gave the Commander a reason to send Valek away! “I think he’s trying to protect us.”