How did the Commander find out? Who did know? Those fighting in the Bloodrose revolt—Opal, Devlen, Ari, Janco, Quinn, Kade, Heli, Nic and Eve. Quite the list. Who had opportunity? Anyone could have sent a message, but why would they? Only three people had been in Ixia since then: Ari, Janco and Kade.
“Not good enough, Valek.”
“You’re right.” He stood. “I’ll go collect—”
“Sit down.”
Valek resumed his seat.
The Commander studied Valek. The force of his gaze had broken many people, rendering them into a quivering mess as they begged forgiveness or confessed to every crime. It was impressive. And Valek suspected the Commander used a form of magic even though Valek had never felt it. To him, magic pushed against his skin like molasses. The stronger the power, the thicker the air around him. The Commander’s appraisal certainly held enough weight. The C-shaped scar on his chest burned in response.
“Why?” Ambrose asked.
Digging deep within himself, Valek considered the question. His immunity to magic was not only a part of him, but a protection. Years of practice had honed his fighting skills, and experience with spies, criminals and schemers had given him a sharp mind. To be trapped in a null-shield bubble and encased within an invisible force field of magic galled him. A silly thing to have such dire circumstances. But his weakness meant he could no longer be... What? Invincible? Did he have that huge of an ego? Or was it another thing altogether...?
“Fear,” Valek said into the silence. “That once you found out, you’d no longer need me. I am getting older, and Ari and Janco could—”
“Drive me insane. No, thank you. Do you really think I’d replace you because of one drawback? Actually, two.”
“Two?”
“Yelena.”
“I think she’s an asset.”
“Until her life is compromised. That would be the easiest way to hurt you. Or influence you.”
True. “I guess I just need more time to...adjust to my predicament.”
“Time is an excellent way to gain perspective. I trust this won’t happen again.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Commander pushed away from his desk and swiped a decanter of brandy before settling into the cerulean suede armchair. He waved Valek into the other chair and poured two drinks.
Valek sipped the spicy liquid. Blackberry. A pleasant warmth spread into his stomach and he smiled, remembering when he’d taught Yelena how to detect poisons in various flavors of brandy. She’d gotten drunk at the General’s brandy meeting and tried to seduce him. Talk about self-control. Valek had deposited her in her bedroom and bolted before he ravished her. Worry had trumped desire. She might have regretted it when she sobered, and he’d wanted more from her than a drunken one-night stand.
With the tension between him and the Commander gone, Valek asked how he’d found out about the null shields.
“Janco mentioned it before you arrived. He’d assumed I knew and I didn’t correct him. And during his monologue of prattle, he remarked that he has a certain sensitivity to magic. Is that true?”
“Yes, he’s pretty good at seeing through magical illusions.”
“Useful. What about Opal Cowan? After all that training, is she going to join your corps?”
“Not quite.” Valek swallowed a mouthful of brandy. “She offered to assist us if we need her.” He set his glass down. “And she sent you a present.”
“One of her glass animals?”
“No. She no longer is able to make her magical messengers, but what she can now do is far more useful to us.”
“Oh?”
“I’ll be right back.” Valek dashed across the hall and grabbed the package from his saddlebags that had been delivered as promised. He returned and handed it to the Commander.
Unwrapping the cloth, Ambrose uncovered a lifelike glass snow cat. He examined the hand-sized statue. “Her artistic skill has improved, but it doesn’t glow with an inner fire.” He raised a slender eyebrow, inviting Valek to explain.
“That fire was her magic trapped inside.” And only visible to magicians and the Commander. “What’s inside that snow cat is a bit of her immunity. What you’re holding is a magic detector. When a magician uses magic near that cat, it will flash with light, alerting you to its presence.”
“Clever. Is she mass-producing these for the Sitians?”
“The Councilors all have one for protection, and in case a rogue magician tries to use magic to influence them. Regarding mass production, I don’t know what Opal plans. The Sitian Council wishes to be in charge of the distribution, but Opal won’t give them control. I think she’s letting her father handle the allocation of the detectors.”
“Wise.” The Commander tapped a finger on the glass. “And our spies can purchase more of these for us, evening the playing field a little between Ixia and Sitia.”
“They still have those super messengers.”
Ambrose frowned. “Those put us at an extreme disadvantage.”
Valek agreed. The messenger was a glass cube with a magic-charged black diamond at its heart. The cube allowed magicians to communicate over vast distances instantly. An indispensable tool, and one that would give Sitia a big advantage during warfare.
“We can hire magicians and they would no longer have the upper hand,” Valek said despite the Commander’s deepening scowl. “You know how versatile magicians are and how many ways they could aid Ixia.”
“Better to stop the Sitians from making the super messengers. If we assassinate Quinn Bloodrose, Sitia couldn’t produce any more.”
The thought of killing Quinn didn’t sit well with Valek. “Not quite. They could still charge the blacks with magic and encase them in glass, but once the magic is gone, it’d be useless. Quinn’s the only one who can recharge them without cracking the diamond.”
“Then we need to steal the diamonds and sabotage their mining operations.”
Once they’d won their freedom, the Bloodrose Clan kept dredging the sand for the black diamonds, going deeper into the sea with each sweep. Soon they’d have to use boats.
“It would be difficult.” His stomach soured.
“Look into it after you find the new smuggling route.” The Commander finished his drink. “I need to write a note to General Rasmussen and have him check his beaches for black diamonds.” He returned to his desk.
Valek held up his glass. The light from the fire reflected off the amber liquid. An odd shuffle-step sounded behind him. He jumped to his feet, yanked out his dagger and spun in one fluid motion.
A figure dressed from head to toe in black pressed a knife to the Commander’s throat.