A sneer formed on Bane’s face. “I don’t need a lecture from you. What the hell do you know about me?”
“Not much. But enough to know that you’re self-destructive. I can see that as clear as day. You’re constantly trying to prove how good you are, while all the time you really believe you’re not worth a damn. Look how you talked just now about your father and Max. You should be so lucky as to end up like either one of them. At least they know who they are.” He noticed a dim glow radiating from Bane’s hands. “Right there. You see? No self-control whatsoever.”
Bane jumped to his feet. “You’ve got a damn nerve preaching to me about self-control. You know perfectly well how this thing must end. Yet you still continue to pursue Lenora as if the two of you have the rest of your lives together.”
This struck hard and deep. “What’s between Lenora and me is our own business.”
“No. It’s mine as well. You are not the only one who loves her.”
The two men glared at one another, tension crackling between them. It was Drake who finally allowed himself to give a little ground.
He held up a calming hand. “Look, I’m sorry. I was out of line. Whatever our differences, we both care deeply for Lenora. That’s understood. And we’ve a long road to travel together if we’re going to make sure she’s safe. It’s no good for us to be at each other’s throats.”
Very gradually, Bane released his mana and nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I apologize too. When you spend as much time alone as I do, you tend to forget about other people’s feelings.”
Drake smiled. “I know what you mean. We just have to remember that neither of us are hawkers anymore.”
“Yes. And at least that should please Father.” He gave a short laugh. “I suppose, in a funny kind of way, we’re both royal guards now. Imagine that.”
Drake smiled. “I suppose we are.”
Bane turned to the door. “I should go speak with her.”
He paused at the doorway and looked over his shoulder. “I did mean what I said. I won’t try to stand in your way. But I do hope you’ll leave whatever was between the two of you in the past.”
Drake considered this after he was gone. Did he have the strength to resist being selfish? Because right now, that was precisely what he was being. No answer to this disturbing question was forthcoming, even though he wanted to believe that he would always act solely out of care for Lenora’s feelings and the security of her future.
He wanted to do what was right...but still wasn’t sure if he would have the willpower to do so.
Lenora and Bane returned a short while later, both smiling. Lenora had always been the forgiving sort, though too often people mistook her kindness for weakness; a mistake many learned to regret. She could be as hard as stone and fierce as mana fire when the need arose.
Bane was the first to retire, leaving Drake and Lenora alone – though he did flash Drake a warning look on his way out. They talked for a time, mostly about when they were children, with Drake taking great care to avoid making any mention whatsoever of Salazar.
Finally, a reflective silence developed. After a minute or so of this, a change seemed to come over Lenora. No longer was she simply reminiscing over past times; her mind was now very much on the present. Rising to her feet, she crossed over to where he was seated, her hand outstretched. Every movement she made was slow and seductive, and the fire of passion in her eyes was an open invitation. Suddenly, Drake felt his willpower being tested to the full.
Before he knew what he was doing, he was on his feet and being led to the spare bedroom. It was if his desires and love were carrying him along rather than his legs. It was only when they reached the bedroom door that he somehow managed to stop.
“I…I think we should wait.”
Even after the words were out, he still wasn’t sure if they had actually passed his lips or if they were mere thoughts in his head.
Turning to face him, she draped her arms over his shoulders. “Wait? I have waited. I’ve waited nine years for this.”
“I know. So have I.” His will was crumbling. The scent of her perfume and the intimate closeness of her lips were almost overwhelming.
“Then why must we wait any longer?” She moved in even closer, brushing those tantalizing lips lightly over his ear and cheek. “All I know is that tomorrow could be our last day. Who can tell what will happen once we meet with Exodus?”
He took a step back. “You know that I love you, Lenora. I always will. But I just can’t do this. I’m so sorry.”
He fully expected to see a look of hurt and rejection appear on her face. Even anger. But instead...astonishingly...all he saw was gentle understanding.
She touched his cheek. “It’s all right.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” he added quickly and rather awkwardly. “It’s just…”
He wanted to explain; he yearned to tell her that he simply couldn’t bear the pain of losing her once this was over. If this happened between them now, how could he ever let her go? He knew what she would say to reassure him. And if he heard those words, he would surely give in.
She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Don’t think about it. It’s my fault.” She cast an eye over their surroundings and let out a soft laugh. “Besides, this isn’t exactly how I pictured our first night together after so long, anyway.”
Drake smiled back. “Me either.”
With a sigh, she slipped her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. “You know, I never imagined I would be happy again. And with all the terrible things that have happened, I know it’s not right for me to be. But I am anyway.”
Drake kissed the top of her head. “So am I.”
They stood there locked together for some time before Lenora reluctantly backed away. A wistful smile then formed, and she simply said: “Good night, Drake.”
The pain in his heart was almost unbearable as she slowly closed the bedroom door. He wanted to scream out at the top of his voice. That...or to smash something into a million pieces. Most of all, he just wanted to burst into the room and ignore what his mind was telling him.
He walked outside onto the porch, all the time cursing himself for being a fool. The woman he loved, who still clearly loved him in return, was not a dozen yards away from where he was standing. “And what do you do about it?” he muttered. “Not a damn thing.”
He stood there staring into the night, watching the mana streams overhead as they delivered both lifesaving power and life-draining sickness to the whole of Vale.
He tried to think about the immediate future. They would be meeting with Exodus soon, but would they really be able to help? He doubted it. The group was likely no more able to rid Vale of the new king and the high mages than he was. If their interrogation of Salazar had yielded something that could turn the tide, surely they would have made use of it already. He had a sinking feeling that this had all been for nothing. They would continue to run until they were either caught or forced into a suicidal attempt to re-enter Troi and kill Salazar.
He imagined his former friend at the coronation, the crown atop his brow bought with the blood of his father. And all the while, Xavier would be hiding in the shadows, a smug expression on his wretched face. Drake wasn’t sure which one of them he despised the most.
Eventually he returned inside and lay on the sofa. It was late, and tomorrow would come soon. If he were to protect Lenora, he would need to be at his best.
***
A sharp bang startled him awake. He scrambled up, eyes searching for his P37. Then he remembered that it was in the bedroom. Urgent voices carried in from down the hall, followed by a woman’s scream.
“Lenora!”
Barely had he called her name when two men dressed in black kicked in the front door. Both carried large caliber rifles that were pointing directly at him. These were not magistrate officers, nor were they royal guard.
“Don’t move!” barked one of the men.
From
where he was standing he could see down the hallway to where Bane had been sleeping. Three men were already leading him out, weapons pressed to his head.
“On your knees,” the man ordered.
There was nothing he could do but comply. He dropped down as instructed, with arms raised. While one man kept his weapon trained, the other quickly cuffed his hands behind his back and then pulled him to his feet.
“Where is Lenora?” he demanded.
“Do as you’re told and she’ll be fine.”
Drake was led through the house and onto the back porch. Bane and Lenora were already there, their hands cuffed as well. A perfectly timed raid, he thought. In all, he counted a dozen men. A truck was being backed into the yard in front of Cal, and a windowless van was parked a few yards beyond.
Lenora was in her nightgown, her face expressionless as she glanced over to Drake.
By contrast, Bane was bright red with fury. “Where is Max?” he shouted. “What have you done to him?”
No answer was given. They were pushed roughly from the porch and over to the van. After being bundled into the back, they were chained individually to bench seats fixed along either side – Drake and Bane to the left, and Lenora on the right.
The door closed, and the vehicle instantly lurched forward. The entire operation had taken less than a minute. These guys were no amateurs. They knew what they were doing.
“Do you think Max betrayed us?” he whispered.
Bane shook his head. “No! Max wouldn’t do that.”
“Are you sure?” he pressed. “I know he’s your friend, but –”
“I said he wouldn’t do that.”
Drake could see that Bane was boiling over with fury. He’d expressed his admiration for the old mage on several occasions, telling them that Max had been the only professor to defend him when he’d been expelled from the college.
“Can you get free?” he asked the other two.
Both of them shook their heads.
“The cuffs have mana suppressors,” Bane told him.
He looked over to Lenora. “Are you all right?”
She forced a smile. “Well, I was hoping for a more cordial introduction. But I’m fine.”
If this was just an introduction, Drake considered. On the positive side, if Exodus really wanted them dead, it was unlikely they would have gone through all this trouble to capture them, particularly considering the fact that they would have known all three could be highly dangerous in a fight. If he hadn’t been so foolish as to leave his weapon in the other room, things might have gone very differently indeed.
They rode on for hours, making a few turns from time to time. He guessed that they were headed north. Bane tried to find out how long it would be before they arrived, but the two men in the front were unwilling to speak. This only served to fuel his anger.
By the time they pulled up, Drake was both sore and hungry, and he knew the other two would be feeling the same way. After several minutes, the back doors opened, and they were unshackled from the bench by a young woman wearing gray coveralls. Six men stood immediately outside, all of them holding rifles.
“If you’ll be patient, this will all be over soon,” said the girl, in a friendly voice.
“Where are you taking us?” Drake asked.
“To see Zara,” she replied.
He recognized the name from the briefing in the magistrate’s office – she was the purported leader of Exodus.
The girl helped Lenora from the van first. “If you will come with me,” she said. “I’m sure you would all like something to eat.”
Two men leaned in to pull Drake and Bane outside. They were in an empty field surrounded by thin pines on all sides. Even so, Drake could feel the ground vibrating through his boots. Another underground facility, he told himself.
This was confirmed when he heard a thin hiss, and a thick steel door rose up from within the grass. A long flight of stairs leading down ended in a series of corridors. The walls were bare and dull gray, and every door along the way was shut, though he could hear voices coming from inside the rooms as they passed.
They were taken to a large chamber that, judging from the numerous tables scattered about, looked to be a dining hall.
“Just so you know,” the girl said. “This entire wing is rigged to release gas into the corridors. So please behave. No one here has any intention of hurting you.”
“And what about Max?” Bane asked.
“The mage from the college? He’s here. Don’t worry; we’re not animals. We wouldn’t hurt an old man, and we’ll be taking him home soon. All the same, he’s not too pleased with us right now. He thought it would be better if we simply asked you to come.”
“Why didn’t you?” asked Drake.
“After what you did to our refinery, I’m afraid that was a risk we weren’t prepared to take.”
It was at that moment he noticed a slight twitch at the corner of the girl’s mouth. She was hiding something.
“At the time, I didn’t know the truth,” he explained. “I was only doing what I thought I had to do.”
“Yes. I’m sure.” The girl turned to Lenora. “Once I uncuff you, I advise you not to try anything. Even were you to kill me and all the men here, the halls will be filled with gas before you can make it more than fifty yards.”
“We did not come to fight,” Lenora assured her. “We need your help.”
The girl’s eyes darted over to Drake. “Yes. That’s what we’ve been told.”
She uncuffed each of them. Just as she was finishing, three guards entered carrying trays and glasses filled with water. These were placed on one of the tables.
“Once you’ve eaten, you’ll be taken to where you can freshen up a bit before seeing Zara,” the girl said. She then exited along with all but two of the guards.
The trio sat down, each taking a plate filled with beans and a small portion of stewed meat. “Not exactly palace food,” Lenora remarked, grinning. “But it will do for now.”
“I don’t like this,” remarked Bane. “There’s something going here.”
Drake didn’t like it much either, particularly the way the girl had looked at him. However, not wanting to alarm Lenora any more than necessary, he kept this to himself.
“At least we know Max is all right,” he said.
“I’ll know that when I get to see him,” Bane retorted.
Lenora picked up her spoon. “Well, given the fact that we are prisoners, I say we eat our food and make the best of it. I really don’t think they would go to all this trouble just to kill us.”
“Agreed,” Bane said. “They could have simply blown up the house or come in shooting.”
Or they could be getting ready to torture us for information, Drake reflected. This was another thought he felt best kept to himself.
After they finished their meal, the two guards led them out and along yet more hallways. The same girl was waiting for them in front of an open door.
“Your Highness,” she said. “If you would step this way? I’m sure you would like a bit of privacy.” She nodded over to another door opposite. “You two can bathe and change in there.”
Although loath to be separated, Drake could hardly take issue with this arrangement.
Inside their room were two bunks and a metal table, while off to the right were a bathroom and a small closet. On opening this, they found their belongings had been brought.
“That was considerate,” said Bane, showing the first flicker of a smile since their abduction had started. “Walking around in my night shirt and pants was becoming a bit awkward.”
“Too bad they didn’t leave my P37 as well,” Drake responded, trying to further lighten the mood.
“If what she said about the gas is true, I doubt it would do us much good.” Bane held up his finger and a tiny flame danced on the tip. “But if it comes to it, I think I will not go alone.”
Drake flashed him a stern look. “Don’t do anything like that unless I do
it first. Understand?”
The flame vanished and Bane paused for a moment before speaking. “If they hurt Lenora –”
“They won’t,” Drake said, cutting him off. He paused a moment before adding: “Me, on the other hand...”
“Yes, I saw how that girl looked at you. She’s holding a grudge about something, that’s for sure.” Like Drake, Bane’s experience as a hawker gave him an exceptional eye for reading emotions.
“Nothing to be done about it now. If she tries to kill me, I guess I’ll just have to deal with it then.”
They both showered and changed into their clothes. After about three hours of waiting, Drake was becoming restless, and he could tell that Bane was feeling the same way. Both of them sat on their cots, eyes fixed on the door.
Another half hour passed. An exasperated Drake was on the verge of leaving the room to check on Lenora for himself when their door swung open. The girl entered, with Lenora walking just behind her. She had a worried look.
“What’s wrong?” Drake asked.
She forced a smile. “Nothing. Teri here is taking us to see Zara now.”
Drake and Bane followed her through the corridor and down another stairway. After a few more turns he showed them to a small office. The door to this was guarded by two men; inside, at the far end, an olive-skinned woman of about forty was sitting behind a desk. Her black hair fell loosely about her shoulders. She was wearing a simple green cotton blouse and a set of diamond earrings. Her dark eyes bore down on them for a long moment before dismissing the girl and the guards with a brief wave of her hand.
She gestured to the chairs against the wall. Drake grabbed two of these, pulling them up in front of the desk, and Bane took a third. Once all were seated, the woman looked them over one by one.
“So you are Drake Sharazi,” she said finally. “The man who rescued Prince Salazar.”
“At the time –”
“I’m not finished,” she snapped. “By rescuing him, you not only destroyed a key facility, you also killed more than four hundred innocent men and women.”
The Vale: Behind The Vale Page 25
