“Both.”
“And you think our soldiers need this more specialized training?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I was asking Captain Geffers, to see if we should consider it.”
Bruns tapped his fingers on his thigh—a gesture I’d learned meant he was deep in thought. “Do you think Valek would train our units?”
“Yes.”
“But can I trust him?”
“Yes. He’d do anything to keep us safe.”
“That’s what worries me. With his immunity, he won’t be influenced by the Theobroma.”
“He gave his word to cooperate. That is more binding than magical coercion.”
Bruns studied my expression. “Good to know.”
He appeared satisfied with my answers, and I relaxed. When we reached his office, my fear returned in a rush. Ben Moon lounged on the visitor chair, waiting for us.
“I thought Owen ordered you to kill her,” Ben said.
Ah, confirmation that Bruns was working with Owen. Being right didn’t make me feel any better. In fact, my hopes of stopping the Sitian takeover plunged. Even if we escaped, we didn’t have enough people or resources.
Bruns scowled at Ben. “I don’t take orders from Owen.” Then he glanced at me. “Are you surprised about Owen?”
“No.”
“What tipped you off?”
“When I overheard your conversation with General Cahil.”
“But Cahil believes we’re preparing for a war.”
“Exactly, and I know the Commander well enough to know he’d rather come in and take over Sitia the same way he conquered Ixia. There had to be a reason he didn’t execute Owen.”
“And that’s why I didn’t kill her.” Bruns jabbed a finger at me. “She’s been an invaluable resource.”
“I wouldn’t trust her,” Ben said.
“She’s under my control.”
“Yeah, well, Owen thought the same thing, and look what happened.”
“Owen didn’t take away all her supporters. Besides, he’s doing pretty good for a dead man, and soon he’ll be in charge of Ixia.”
“For sand’s sake, Bruns, why don’t you just tell her everything? That’s another reason she needs to die. We’ve been successful with this plan because only three of us know what’s really going on.”
“No. I need her and Valek.”
“Valek’s alive, too? How stupid can—”
“That’s enough, Ben. They are my guarantee that you and your brother won’t double-cross me.”
“Why would we do that?”
“To have Ixia and Sitia to yourselves.”
Ben waved it off. “I don’t want either. Too much work.”
“That’s fine, but in case you change your mind, I have two very capable people to send after you.”
Ben huffed in amusement. “And they’ll obey you? Yeah, right. As soon as they’re out of your sight, they’d be gone.”
“Yelena, tell him.”
I met Ben’s dubious gaze with the flat killer stare I’d learned from Valek. In a cold, emotionless voice, I said, “Bruns, it would be our pleasure to assassinate Ben and Owen Moon for you.” This time, the truth tasted as sweet as my favorite breakfast.
Fear flashed in his eyes for an instant, then Ben grunted and faced Bruns. “Just remember who told you to kill them both. Is this why you wanted to meet? To gloat that you’ve captured them?”
“No. Valek agreed to cooperate, and I thought you should hear his information firsthand. It should be very helpful.”
“If we can trust him.”
“We can.”
Explaining about the amethyst, Bruns ordered me to show Ben the bottle. I held it up. Then the three of us trekked down to the jail to interrogate Valek. Ben fussed about the stench until Bruns glared at him.
Valek answered every question. The information he provided, while true, omitted quite a bit. Impressive, considering the battered state of his body and mind. The session ended two hours later when Valek passed out. I worried that Valek wouldn’t be physically able to escape later tonight, but I couldn’t wait for him to recover. Even with Ben’s presence at the garrison complicating things, I had to risk it.
Bruns kept me by his side as he played host to Ben that evening. I endured a long supper, an even longer discussion on how they would use Valek’s information and then was sent to bed like a child while the “adults” conversed about important matters.
Glad to be released, I lay in bed and reviewed my plan, seeking gaps in the logic and other possible problems. My imagination had compiled quite the list of things-that-could-go-wrong by the time Bruns and Ben finished their conversation and retired for the evening.
I waited a couple more hours. Near midnight, I slipped from my room and crossed Bruns’s dark office. I grabbed the doorknob.
“Bruns really is an idiot.” Ben’s voice pierced the darkness.
My breath locked as fear coiled around my body. I turned. “I was just—”