Night Study Page 27

  Now that Valek had an idea of what that curved blade could do, he changed the line of his attack from head-on to an angled approach. Jibben was strong like Ari, but also surprisingly quick. Not as quick as Janco, but only a few could make that claim.

  This time, when Valek parried Jibben’s sword, he deflected the blade down. The tip of the curved sword missed him and Valek was able to cut into Jibben’s arm. When he blocked Jibben’s blade, knocking it high, Valek nicked the man’s thick leg. Each near miss increased Jibben’s frustration, causing him to make small but critical mistakes. Blood soon soaked the brute’s sleeves and pants. The man swayed.

  Valek tried his takedown again, spinning and hooking his heel. Jibben landed with an oomph and Valek pricked him with a dart filled with sleeping potion. When the brute relaxed, Valek stood and surveyed the scene.

  Most of the soldiers held their own, but a few struggled with their opponents. Valek helped those in need as they advanced inland. The sun rose and the trees cast long shadows. He engaged in a couple fights that ended in a few moves. Jibben should have trained his crew better. Weaving in and out of the other matches, Valek pricked the pirates with darts.

  The last pirate fell not long after the sun’s arrival. Endre searched the buildings, while Mikus compiled a list of the stolen goods they found. Two other soldiers interviewed the young teens, who had been smart enough to keep away from the fighting.

  Annika pointed to Valek’s shirt. “You’re bleeding.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  She pulled a first-aid kit from her pack. “Sit.”

  He recognized that tone. It meant business. He sat on the steps leading up to the door of one of the island’s cottages. All the structures but one had been built atop tall pylons, probably in case the island was swamped with water. It would take a fierce storm for the tide to reach the living areas of the buildings.

  Annika inspected his wound and decided it needed to be sealed. She pulled his shirt off before he could stop her. If she noticed his still-healing heart-shaped scar, she didn’t say a word. Instead, she concentrated on her task by cleaning the cut and applying Rand’s glue.

  To distract himself from the pain, he studied the structures the pirates had built. Arranged in a circle around a giant fire pit, the one-story cottages appeared to be for housing and storage. One oversize building had a ramp leading up to the first floor—probably for the livestock. All the surfaces had been painted with gray, green and brown paint in a camouflage pattern that blended in with the surroundings. The color combination would probably work during all seasons. Further proof that Jibben was no fool.

  The island’s trees had been cleared farther out to make room for the crops. Small green shoots poked through the newly plowed dirt.

  Valek spotted Endre and waved him over for a report.

  “We defeated all the pirates, sir,” he said. “The kids have corroborated Zohav’s story. There’s another ship docked on the back side of the island. It’s the Sea Serpent.”

  Ah, the other one that had been lost at sea. “Secure the criminals in the Starfish’s hold. And get the names of all the survivors. We’ll match them to the manifest and ensure none of the pirates are pretending to be a victim. And find Zethan—he’s Zohav’s brother and should be among the teens.”

  “Yes, sir. We also found a few older teens locked in a jail, but we couldn’t find a key and the lock is...complex.”

  “Once Annika is done, I’ll open it. Have the soldiers load the stolen goods onto the other ship. Also find a crew for both ships. We’ll set sail as soon as possible.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  By the time Annika finished, the cut throbbed. “Thanks,” he said, donning his ripped shirt.

  “What should I do now?” she asked.

  “Check the others. Make sure no one else is wounded.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Valek found the jail. It was on the ground floor of the only building not set atop tall pylons. The pirates hadn’t cared if the occupants drowned during a storm. Inside, four grubby boys stood on the other side of a row of bars. The rest of the cell had been constructed with thick wooden planks.

  Purple bruises marked the prisoners’ faces. Their shirts had been torn, and dried blood stained the fabric, as well.

  “I take it you’re the troublemakers?”

  “Who wants to know?” a tall boy with black hair and blue eyes demanded.

  The boy resembled Zohav and must be her brother, Zethan.

  “The person who is rescuing you,” Valek said. He pulled his various lock picks from hidden pockets and worked on the complicated mechanism. After a few minutes, it popped open and he swung the door wide, letting them free. “Give your names to the sergeant. We could also use crew for the ships, if you’d like to help all of us get home.”

  Three of the boys grinned and took off, but Zethan remained.

  “Where is my sister?” he demanded.

  Magic swelled around him, pushing against Valek. He held his ground. “She’s safe.”

  “I want to see her. Now.”

  “You’re not in the position to be demanding anything, Zethan.”

  Zethan jerked back. “How did—”

  “Zohav told me. She was worried that I’d kill you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of that magic you’re gathering around you right now.”

  Recognition was followed by fear. The power disappeared. His control was impressive.

  “Are you...?” Zethan asked. His voice barely a whisper.

  “Going to kill you?”

  He nodded.

  “No, and don’t call me a liar. I’ve already been accused of that by your sister. Trust me or not, just keep it to yourself, along with your abilities. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  Valek waited.

  “Uh...yes, sir.”

  He led Zethan to the Starfish. Jibben remained on the dock, but his throat gaped open and blood pooled around him. The pirate’s curved sword lay next to him, covered with the bright red liquid. Someone had slit Jibben’s throat with his own weapon while Valek was busy. He had wanted to interrogate the pirate, but other than that, he wouldn’t mourn the man’s death. Perhaps the girl with the bony arms had taken matters into her own hands, meting out justice for her sister.

  They boarded, and Valek escorted Zethan below. When they reached the Captain’s quarters, the teen gasped and rushed to Zohav’s side.

  “What did you do to her?” he asked Valek.

  “Relax, she’s sleeping. Stay with her until I come for you. And if I feel any magic, no matter how small, you’ll be joining her. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Valek paused at the threshold. With the siblings side by side, he realized they must be very close in age. “Are you twins?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you have any other siblings?”

  “An older brother.”

  “Does he have magic?”

  “No, nor do our parents. We’re the only ones.”

  Unlikely, but he’d go along with it for now.

  * * *

  They arrived at the port in Gandrel by midafternoon. Anxious to get on the road, Valek put Endre in charge. “Interrogate everyone and have the pirates processed by the security office in Gandrel. Once all the goods are distributed to the rightful owners, you and Annika are to report to the Castle to be reassigned, since your covers here have been blown.”

  “Yes, sir.” Endre gave Valek what Janco would describe as the sad-puppy-dog look.

  He suppressed a sigh. “Because you and Annika work so well together, I’ll find a post that needs two agents.” He’d either gotten soft, or it was just the idea of seeing Yelena soon that made him...nice. Bah.

  Endre grinned. “Are you leaving now?”

  “Yes. I’m taking the magicians to the Castle.”

  “Are you going to visit their parents first?”

  Annoyed, Valek snapped, “W
hy would I do that?”

  “They believe their children were lost at sea. I’d think it would be a kindness to stop by and let them see their kids for a couple hours.”

  A refusal pushed up Valek’s throat, but he swallowed it down. Endre was right. Valek went to collect the twins, who had remained in the Starfish as ordered. Zohav had woken. She leaned against her brother, who had his arm around her shoulders. Good. They could leave right away. He questioned them on the location of their home.

  “Our family knows nothing!” Zohav cried. “They have no magic. Leave them alone.”

  Her fear of him was growing tedious. “Fine. We won’t visit them, then. Guess you don’t wish to say goodbye.”

  “We live up near the northern ice sheet in MD-1,” Zethan said.

  Zohav yanked away and glared at her brother.

  At least their home was close to the garrison. “Say goodbye to your friends. We’re leaving in ten minutes. I’ll meet you on the dock.” Valek left.

  Instead of going to the dock, he stayed on deck, drew his blowpipe and a couple darts from his pocket, and leaned over the rail opposite the pier. Sure enough, the large porthole in the Captain’s quarter’s below swung open, and Zohav glanced out. Magic thickened the air around him. Then the water next to the ship flattened and hardened. Interesting.

  Valek watched as Zohav then Zethan climbed from the window and stood on the flat water. Impressive. At their age, that level of control was unheard-of. The Master Magicians were going to be thrilled.

  “Where are you going?” Valek asked.

  Zohav gasped and clutched Zethan’s arm as he looked up at Valek. The boy’s face creased in chagrin. Valek brandished the blowpipe. “Unless you wish to drown, come up here. Now.”

  Zethan said something to Zohav. She shook her head. Valek loaded a dart into the pipe and pressed the weapon to his lips. He aimed for the boy. If he shot her, they’d drown for sure. Zohav noticed the motion. She scowled at Valek. At least it was better than terror.

  Then the flat water rose, lifting the siblings to the deck. Valek extended his hand and helped Zohav onto the ship as Zethan hopped down lightly next to her.

  “Any more escape attempts, and I will knock both of you unconscious and transport you to the Citadel like two sacks of flour. Understand?”

  “Citadel?” Zethan asked.

  “Yes. I told Zohav I would escort you both there.”

  “He’s lying. He’s going to take us to his Commander so he can publicly execute us.”

  This was going to be a long trip. “Let’s go. I want to reach the garrison before dark.”

  Valek stayed a step behind the siblings. They glanced at him from time to time, but kept quiet. They didn’t arrive at MD-1’s garrison until well after supper.

  Colonel Ransley welcomed him back with a hot meal and an offer to give the siblings their own rooms.

  “No, thank you, they stay with me,” Valek said. Then he filled him in on how the Storm Thieves were apprehended, but didn’t mention Zethan’s and Zohav’s magic.

  “We haven’t had a problem with pirates in decades,” Ransley said. “No wonder the coastal security forces had a difficult time locating them.”

  Exhausted from staying up two nights with little sleep, Valek declined drinks with the Colonel. “We’re leaving early in the morning. Let the stable boys know I’ll need Onyx and another horse saddled and ready to go.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  In the large guest quarters, Valek dragged one of the four beds over to the door, blocking it. “I’m a very light sleeper,” he warned the twins. “Sounds, movement or magic will wake me.” Valek drew two daggers, one for each hand, and stretched out on the bed. “I’d suggest you get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

  As he closed his eyes, he wondered if Yelena waited for him at the rendezvous location. Valek calculated how long it would take them to reach it, including the fact that the twins would slow him down. Ten days if he was being optimistic, twelve if he wasn’t.

  A whispered argument woke him in the middle of the night.

  “...not being nice. You’re putting our family at risk, Zee.”

  “Don’t you want to see Mother, Father and Zeb? When we were captured by Jibben, I thought I’d never see any of them again.”

  “Of course I do. But they think we were lost at sea. Isn’t that better than knowing we’re going to be executed?”

  “He said—”

  “Don’t be a fool. The law is clear. Plus he has executed hundreds of magicians. Why would we be the exception?”

  Normally Valek encouraged such exaggerations—fear was a powerful motivator—but this time, it irked him. He pushed up on one elbow. “I’ve killed twenty-three magicians, and if you two don’t shut up and go to sleep, I’ll add two more to my total.”

  He lay back down. The number had been an estimate. When he’d been dispatched to investigate reports of a teen with powers, he’d arrived and soon after, the person with magic disappeared. However, no one knew he’d arranged for him or her to escape across the border. Everyone believed he’d killed the teen. Even the Commander.

  Hedda and Arbon had both accused him of blind loyalty. And while he’d been loyal to the Commander all these years, he hadn’t been as blind nor as completely obedient as everyone assumed.

  * * *

  When Valek arrived in the stable the next morning, Onyx and a gray horse named Smoke were saddled and ready for travel. Zohav and Zethan kept their distance while the stable boy tied on their bags. They’d acquired fresh uniforms and a few personal items from the garrison’s commissary.

  Valek petted Onyx’s neck, then checked his legs for hot spots. His coat gleamed and the black horse appeared healthy. “Tell Smoke to follow you,” he said to Onyx before mounting. “Zethan, you’ll ride Smoke, and Zohav, you’re with me.”

  The girl frowned, but she listened to the stable boy’s instructions and soon settled behind Valek. Zethan also received a quick lesson on how to mount and steer the horse. The boy grinned in anticipation. Just like Valek’s older twin brothers—Victor had been cautious and protective, while Viliam had rushed headlong into any adventure.

  Valek turned to Zohav. “Which way?”

  She pressed her lips together, but then told him to follow the road that headed northeast.

  Eager for the exercise, Onyx set a fast pace. Valek glanced at Zethan, who bounced in the saddle, but appeared to be enjoying the speed.

  When Onyx finally slowed, Valek rode beside Smoke. “How did you end up on the coast?” he asked Zethan.

  Zethan glanced at his sister, as if seeking permission to speak. After a brief hesitation, he said, “After we turned fourteen, it became obvious that we both had magic. Our father searched for a teacher to help us learn how to control it before anyone found out. Nell...” He paused and swallowed, staring at his hands, gripping the reins much harder than necessary. “Nell taught us these last two years. She has...had the ability to call the wind, and she used it when sailing or to beat all the other fishing boats to the prime spots.”

  “What are your abilities?” Valek asked.

  “Zee,” Zohav warned.

  “It doesn’t matter now, Zo. Besides, he rescued us from the pirates.”

  “We’re still prisoners.”

  “She has a point,” Valek said. “You should never tell your enemy the extent of your powers, or he’ll find ways to counter them.” Like trapping you in a null shield, Valek thought sourly.

  “I guess,” Zethan agreed. “Although I don’t know how someone could counter a storm. I can call them and then direct their paths.”

  “Zee!”

  Valek suppressed a smile. “Actually, Stormdancers could turn your storm into a gentle rain.”

  “Really? What are Stormdancers?”

  Valek explained the magicians to Zethan. “The Commander has even allowed Kade Stormdance to harvest the energy from the blizzards sweeping down from the northern ice sheet.”
>
  Zethan groaned. “Great. The one year I don’t have to shovel snow, and I’m trapped on some island in the middle of the Sunset Ocean.”

  “I don’t believe the Commander would let a magician into Ixia,” Zohav said.

  Valek twisted in his seat. “That’s three. Call me a liar one more time, and you’ll be turned into cargo. I also expect an apology when you finally understand.”

  Zohav stared at him, not backing down an inch. Almost all of her fear of him had been transformed into anger. In the sunlight, the blue in her eyes sparkled like sapphires. He suspected if he flattened his gaze into his killer’s demeanor, she’d become frightened once more. But he’d rather have her angry than scared. He faced forward, and their conversation became limited to directions to their town.

  They stopped briefly at noon for a quick dinner. The Colonel had provided full travel rations for the three of them.

  Zethan couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, “What other types of magicians are there?”

  Valek explained about the Master Magicians and the various magical abilities of the others. “Some people have what’s called a One-Trick, which is one ability that is more instinctive than learned. They don’t have to worry about flaming out or being influenced by other, more powerful magicians.”

  “Flaming out? Should we be worried?” Zethan asked.

  “No. You’re in control of your powers, and you have Nell to thank for that. Otherwise, you would have grabbed more and more power until it overwhelmed you. By that point, the Master Magicians in Sitia would have sensed your presence and dispatched an...assassin to end your life before you flamed out. When a flameout happens, you not only kill yourself, but you ruin the power blanket for the other magicians.”

  Zethan rocked back on his heels. “Wow.”

  “You know an awful lot about magic and magicians. Is that so you can counter them?” Zohav asked.

  “Knowing your enemy is always important, but I learned most of this from my heart mate, who has magic.”

  Zohav gaped at him. “You have a heart mate?”

  “Who has magic, Zo. Magic! He’s not going to kill us or she’ll get mad at him. Right?”