Night Study

by Maria V. Snyder

  I tucked the blowpipe back in my tunic. It was a keeper. The rifling in its barrel had improved even my terrible aim. Take that, Janco!

  Grabbing the keys, I unlocked the inner doors. I stepped into the lantern light and everyone turned guarded and worried expressions on me.

  “You ready to get out of here?” I asked.

  Smiles all around and a whoop from Janco. I moved from cell to cell, freeing them. Valek pulled me into a tight embrace. I closed my eyes and allowed myself a moment of comfort in his arms.

  “How?” he whispered.

  “Later,” I promised. “Are you strong enough?”

  “Yes.” He released me.

  “Good.”

  “What’s the plan?” Janco asked.

  I pointed to the bucket of water, which remained upright, and to the basket, which had spilled, scattering clothes onto the floor. “Clean up and change quick. Leif, can you and Hale weave null shields into the uniforms?”

  “What about Mara?” Leif asked.

  “Janco will fetch her. Do his uniform first.”

  Janco stripped off his shirt. “Where is she?”

  I told him. “Tell her you’re taking her to Leif. That we’re all working for Bruns now and are leaving for an important and secret mission.”

  Leif found a uniform sized for Janco and concentrated on building a null shield on the shirt. Hale picked up another while Janco washed up. I turned my back when Janco yanked off his pants, giving them some privacy.

  They didn’t waste any time or energy asking me questions. Their unconditional trust that I had it all worked out warmed me and terrified me at the same time.

  Once Janco was dressed and ready, I said, “Meet us near the entrance of the main barracks. A platoon of soldiers are scheduled for nighttime maneuvers outside the garrison, and we need to join them before they leave.”

  “Got it.” Janco touched his hip. “Weapons?”

  “Take one of the guards’.”

  Janco stripped the men of their swords.

  “Give Ari, Leif and Dax the others.”

  “What about me, love?” Valek stepped into my view. He sponged grime off his neck and bare torso. Large bruises stained his skin. Bright red cuts oozed blood.

  Concentrating on the task at hand and not Valek’s battered body, I pulled Ben’s knife from my boot and gave it to him. His eyes gleamed as he appraised the quality of the blade.

  “And me?” Hale asked.

  “I hid a few more weapons near the barracks,” I said.

  Janco left to collect Mara.

  “We only need to put null shields on three uniforms,” Leif said. “Hale and I can erect ones around ourselves. Plus we can drop them just in case we need to use magic.”

  “Good, that will save time,” I said.

  “I need one,” Valek said in a tight voice.

  I spun around. Everyone stared at Valek.

  “Just do it,” he said to Leif. “I’ll explain later.”

  “Uh... Yelena,” Ari said.

  Oh. Half-naked men. Right. I turned, but my mind kept whirling. Why would Valek need a null shield? No logical answer formed, and soon the men were ready to go.

  I led them from the jail and along a route I’d scouted that kept us in the shadows. Except for the patrols, the garrison remained quiet. We stopped to grab the weapons before reaching our destination.

  Unlike the rest of the garrison, activity and light spilled from the main barracks as soldiers prepped for their training mission and gathered outside. We waited nearby. My heart tapped a fast rhythm in my chest, sending pulses of fear along my extremities. Where were Janco and Mara? If we were caught, there’d be no second chance to escape.

  Valek laced his fingers in mine. Comforted by the gesture, I squeezed his hand. But then I remembered what had happened with Ben. My touch had blocked Ben’s magic. Would it do the same to Valek and remove his null-shield protection? I let go and shook my head at his questioning glance. If we escaped, we had much to discuss.

  A commanding officer called the milling soldiers to order. They formed ranks. Come on, Janco. We needed to join the company soon. Very soon. What if they didn’t show? Would I be able to leave without them?

  Yes. For the baby, and for the others. This was the last opportunity for all of us.

  My stomach twisted with pain as I gestured for us to leave our hiding spot. Leif and Ari refused to move. Stubborn, sweet idiots.

  Then Leif faced the wrong direction. About to grab his arm, I stopped. Janco and Mara materialized from the shadows. Leif wrapped his wife in a bear hug.

  “Did you take the scenic route?” Ari growled at Janco in a low voice.

  While relief pumped through me, there was no time for explanations or hellos. I punched Leif’s shoulder and pointed at the company now marching away. We scrambled to join, lining up at the end of the ranks. None of the soldiers in front of us appeared to notice or care about the additional people. After all, we wore the standard Sitian military uniform. Mara appeared content to march next to Leif.

  My heart rate increased as we neared the gate. The guards had swung the barriers wide to allow the company to pass. Just a few more minutes and we’d be outside the garrison.

  When the head of the column approached the gate, the commanding officer shouted, “Round up.”

  The ranks split into two and broke into a run. One side peeled off to the left and the other the right, but neither crossed through the gate. Valek reacted first, drawing his knife as the others brandished their weapons. The soldiers looped back, forming a circle around us.

  Trapped.

  Surrounded.

  Ambushed.

  It didn’t matter what word I used to describe our current situation, or how Bruns had figured it out. No, what mattered was Bruns’s next move. And he was smart enough to conclude that only one option remained.

  Death.

  32

  VALEK

  Valek kept tight control of his emotions. He scanned the fifty soldiers surrounding them, assessing skills and searching for a spot where they might be able to break through to make a run for the garrison’s gate and freedom. Motioning to Ari, Janco and Leif to form a wedge, Valek pointed to the weak link—a trio of teenagers standing shoulder to shoulder. Must be friends.

  Just as he raised a hand to signal go, torches blazed to life, illuminating the area beyond their circle. More men flooded into the courtyard, cutting off their escape route. Ah, hell.

  He met Yelena’s gaze, and his heart lurched to see her so frightened. Something must have tipped Bruns off, and he’d been ready for them. If Valek hadn’t been thrown off balance by losing his immunity and gaining magic, he never would have been ambushed at Mara’s. Plus, it didn’t help that pain still clung to his ribs, chest and back, and the blows to his head clouded his thoughts.

  The ring of soldiers parted, and Bruns strode into view. He held a crossbow with a bolt already loaded. Pure fury radiated from every muscle of his body. This wouldn’t be pretty.

  “I don’t know how you managed to disobey my orders, but it stops now,” Bruns said to Yelena, aiming his weapon at her.

  Valek shifted his weight, preparing to push Yelena out of the bolt’s path. He’d gladly be skewered in her place.

  “Loopholes,” Yelena said with a calm voice.

  “What?” Bruns asked.

  “That’s how. Loopholes in your orders gave me plenty of freedom.”

  “And you think by telling me this, I won’t kill you?”

  “You need me. You know Owen will double-cross you.”

  “No. No more. You’d just find another way to sabotage my efforts.” Bruns wrapped his finger around the trigger and squeezed.

  Valek tackled Yelena as a sudden gust of wind blew through the garrison. Bruns’s shot flew wide and slammed into Dax’s chest. The tall man crumpled to the ground with a cry of pain. Yelena struggled to go to her friend, but Valek pinned her down, covering as much of her body as he could with his
own.

  “Stay put,” Valek said to her. “Bruns is reloading.”

  Another whirlwind hit, kicking up a large cloud of dust and extinguishing a number of torches. Lightning flashed, followed by a roar of thunder that shook the ground. A second blinding flash ripped through the air, sizzling. The main barracks caught fire.

  “Hold your positions,” Bruns ordered above the noise of the storm and the panicked yells of his men.

  They obeyed until the third bolt struck the administration building. The stone wall exploded and sharp pieces bombarded those standing below. Thunder announced the arrival of a deluge. Sheets of cold water rained down, soaking everything and everyone in seconds.

  Mass chaos ensued. It was a thing of beauty. One of the best distractions he’d ever seen. With no time to admire the results, Valek helped Yelena to her feet. She ran to Dax, kneeling by his side. Dax stared at the sky with dead eyes.

  Another flashing sizzle. A wooden shed burst into flames.

  Valek pulled Yelena away from her friend, despite her protests. If they didn’t move, there’d be six more dead. Seven, if he counted the baby.

  Leif had his left arm around Mara, holding her close while his right hand clutched a sword. Her confusion was clear, but it appeared her love for Leif overrode Bruns’s brainwashing. Ari and Janco crouched nearby, ready to fight off anyone who came too close. Hale had disappeared, but there was no time to search for him.

  “Arrow formation,” Valek ordered. “Head for the gate.”

  With Ari, Janco and Leif forming the V shape of an arrowhead, Mara, Valek and Yelena followed in a line. The three teenagers raced up to their group. Janco and Ari raised their swords, but the boys waved their hands, showing they were unarmed.

  “This way,” the middle one said. “Follow us.”

  Janco glanced at Valek.

  “Fisk sent us.”

  In that case... “Go, go, go!”

  The trio led them to a ribbon of calm. It was a narrow trail where the rain did not pound and the lightning bolts did not penetrate. It snaked through the chaos and Valek wondered if they followed the ribbon or if it matched their movements. Either way, they drew closer to the exit.

  Unlike the others in the garrison, the line of guards at the gate held their positions despite the storm. They braced against the now-closed wooden barrier and each one was armed with a crossbow.

  Still unnoticed, their group slowed. Yelena pulled out a blowpipe. That would help, but it wouldn’t be enough to incapacitate them all.

  One of the teen guides yelled, “These guys don’t have the balls to stop us!”

  Janco rounded on the boy, ready to berate him for giving away their position, but a loud wet splat sounded nearby. It took Valek a moment to decipher the scene in front of him. Huge balls of water flew through the air and slammed into the guards at the gate, flattening each one.

  It clicked. Zohav! His siblings and Fisk were rescuing them! Zethan controlled the storm, and a Stormdancer must be responsible for the calm.

  Soon the gate was cleared of defenders and they sprinted from the garrison. They had to get as far away as possible and find a safe spot to hide. As they ran through the dark woods, Valek searched his memory for possible locations, but the effort needed to stay on his feet drained all his energy.

  So used to being in charge, it didn’t dawn on Valek that the teens continued to lead them.

  The night turned into one long slog. Cold seeped into his bones as his wet clothes clung to his skin. At one point, Valek realized Ari’s arm was around his shoulders, supporting him. Near dawn, they entered a cave and they all dropped to the ground in exhaustion. Soon after, Fisk arrived with Zohav, Zethan, Heli the Stormdancer and Teegan.

  Smiles, hugs and slaps on the back were exchanged. Then introductions were made. Yelena shot him a shocked and questioning look when his relationship to Zohav and Zethan was revealed. He mouthed, Later.

  “You saved our lives,” Valek said to Fisk. “Thank you.”

  “Except for the jailbreak, it was a combination of a couple of the options we discussed with you back at the Citadel. Plus, I had lots of help,” Fisk said, gesturing to the twins, Teegan and Heli.

  “How did you know we needed you tonight?”

  “My helpers infiltrated the garrison. They wore null-shield pendants to protect them from the magic. They noticed that Bruns had a man following Yelena, so they followed the man. By his behavior, we suspected something was going down tonight, so we prepared to launch the plan.”

  Yelena made a disgusted noise. “And here I thought I was being clever.”

  “You freed us from the cells,” Leif said.

  “And led you right into an ambush.”

  “It worked out,” Janco said.

  “Not for Dax.” Yelena’s voice quavered. “Or Hale.”

  Valek pulled her close.

  Janco ducked his head. “Ah, I’m sorry, Yelena. I liked Dax. He was a good guy. And we’ll find a way to rescue Hale.”

  The silence stretched as they remembered Dax.

  “It’s been a hard night for everyone,” Fisk said. “There are bedrolls, blankets and supplies in another cavern.”

  They set up a camp. Valek tried to help, but Janco pushed him down on a bedroll. “Relax, boss. You look half-dead.”

  “But—”

  “It’s an improvement from almost dead, but ya still have a long way to go.”

  Yelena arrived, and all his protests died as she lay next to him, spreading a blanket over them. She rested her head on his shoulder and he hooked his arm around her.

  “We have lots to catch up on,” she said. “Are there any more surprises you’re hiding?”

  “Yes, but I’m not hiding them. I just don’t have the energy to explain right now.”

  “All right.” She snuggled in closer. “We’ll discuss it after we’re rested.”

  But Valek wouldn’t be able to truly relax unless... “Janco,” he called as Janco hustled past. “We need to set up a watch schedule.”

  “Already on it, boss.”

  “Good.” But Valek’s mind still whirled with all that had happened. And this problem with Bruns and the Sitian takeover was far from over. Oh, no. It was just the beginning, and he had no idea how to stop it.

  Despite his dark thoughts, Valek eventually drifted to sleep.

  * * *

  Cries of alarm jolted him awake. Valek jumped to his feet with a knife in his hand before he even deciphered the trouble. Armed soldiers streamed into the cave. Their hiding spot had been discovered.

  Yelena stood next to him. She muttered a curse and pulled a blowpipe from her tunic. Ari and Janco met the charge head-on. Their swords cut down the first couple of soldiers. Zohav and Zethan retreated to the back of the cave, along with Heli and Teegan. It would be difficult for them to use their magical powers in the confined space of the cavern.

  Fisk engaged the enemy, fighting beside Ari and Janco. Mara huddled by the fire while Fisk’s three helpers threw rocks at the soldiers. The melee appeared to be evenly matched, until more of the enemy arrived.

  Swiping a sword from a fallen man, Valek moved to intercept the new arrivals. He wondered who’d been on watch and realized Leif wasn’t in the cave. A part of him worried about his brother-in-law, but once he reached striking distance, all his energy focused on the matter at hand.

  With his first opponent, he sidestepped the man’s sword thrust, shuffled in close and stabbed him in the stomach. No time for finesse in this fight. Valek moved to the next soldier without waiting for the first to fall. A successful attack combined surprise, speed and intensity. Valek kept up the pace, but a part of him knew his injuries would eventually slow him down.

  The clang of metal, cries of pain and smell of blood soon dominated all his senses, and the fights blurred into one unending skirmish.

  Minutes...hours later, it appeared they had the upper hand. And that was when he spotted Yelena and Loris. When had that bastard arrived? And how
did he get to her? Fury and fear mixed into a lethal combination and he stalked toward them, stepping over fallen bodies.

  Loris held a knife to her throat and was retreating from the cave. He must have also figured out that the surprise attack would eventually fail.

  “Don’t come any closer, or I’ll slit her throat,” Loris ordered Valek. He stood behind Yelena, using her to shield his body.

  Valek wondered why Yelena hadn’t disarmed him. That move had been a part of her training. She even clutched something in her hands. The answer dawned on him when he met Yelena’s gaze. Anger and helplessness blazed in her eyes. He stopped.

  “Smart,” Loris said. “Too bad you weren’t smart enough to protect her with a null shield.”

  Ah, hell.

  “Don’t let him leave,” Yelena said. “He’s going to kill me regardless.”

  “Shut up,” Loris said. He backed up a couple more steps.

  Valek scanned the cave. Ari and Janco waited nearby. He lifted his eyebrows just a fraction. Then he returned his attention to Loris.

  Tapping a finger on the hilt of the sword, Valek gauged the distance to the man.

  “You’re not getting out of here alive, puppy dog,” Janco shouted.

  Loris glanced at Janco. In that split second, Valek flipped his knife over and threw it at Loris. The tip of the blade pierced the man’s left eye. He screamed and flailed. Valek shuffled close and disarmed Loris, freeing Yelena.

  But before he could finish the man off, Loris tackled Valek to the ground and yelled, “Drink it.”

  As Valek struggled to push Loris off, Janco cried out. Yelena tipped the glass vial filled with amethyst to her lips.

  “Don’t!” Desperate, Valek finally broke away, lunged and knocked the bottle from her hands, but purple stained her lips. He’d been too slow. His world shattered.

  Yelena’s face creased in disgust. “Yuck.”

  How could she be so—

  “I never liked grape jam.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Valek almost fainted with relief. “Was that one of the things we need to discuss?”

  “Yes.”