“Why didn’t you...”
“Arrest him?”
She nodded.
“And split up a highly effective team? No. You’ll need loyal people working with you if you’re going to take over my job.”
The prospect of being promoted failed to crack her serious demeanor. Perhaps she’d learned enough about his position to realize the danger and constant headaches.
Valek and Onora rejoined the others. The Stable Master had brought The Madam and a thick-chested dark brown horse with a white diamond on its forehead.
“Is it okay to send The Madam along with Kiki?” he asked Onora.
“Yes. She’ll help Janco get through his lonely nights without his beloved Beach Bunny.”
Janco made a rude gesture at her. As Ari and Janco saddled their horses, Valek warned Maren and Onora to keep away from Owen. He also reminded them of the various operations in progress. “And select an agent for the undercover job. Ari and Janco will be sending you more information.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Maren said. “We won’t burn the house down or invite our friends over for a brew party while you’re gone.”
“We’ll probably be at the rendezvous point before you, so message us if you need backup,” Ari said to Valek.
“Yeah, feel free to share the fun,” Janco added.
“I’ll be on the coast,” Valek replied.
“Ugh. Forget it. That’s not fun.”
“I’ll bring you back a souvenir. A bag of sand, perhaps?” he teased.
“That would be fabulous. Then I can dump it into Ari’s bed so he can experience the joy of coastal living—the unique sensation of sand in your sheets.”
“Would it help me understand why you named your horse Beach Bunny?” Ari asked.
“Shut up.”
While they finished packing their saddlebags, Valek drew Yelena away from the others. He put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her with the full depth of his love, wishing to communicate the vast extent of his passion and his desire. He’d have gladly given her his magical immunity if it were possible to keep her and their baby safe.
When they broke apart, Yelena gasped for breath. Her green eyes shone. “A few more kisses like that and I might agree to be locked in a tower.”
“Then expect many more when you return.” He traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “Hurry back, love.”
“I will.”
*
Mounting Onyx, Valek exchanged one last smile with Yelena, then spurred his horse forward. He’d already lost more than half the day, and he planned to be at the first travel shelter by sunset. As the distance from the castle grew, the warmth from his kiss with Yelena drained away. Dread, worry and an emptiness rushed in its place.
Instead of brooding, he concentrated on making up time. Traveling in Ixia was different than in Sitia. In the south, even small towns had inns, and the population sprawled from one city to the next. In Ixia, the farmers lived in town and walked to their fields every morning. The town borders were more defined to make it easier for security to patrol the perimeter and ensure everyone remained where they should.
Instead of inns, travel shelters had been built in Ixia when the distance between cities required travelers to stop for the night. Security patrols frequently checked them for unauthorized people. As an adviser to the Commander on horseback, he shouldn’t be questioned as much.
Valek headed northwest. As soon as he’d passed the outer wall of the castle, he was officially in MD-6. The Commander governed all of Ixia, but he directly controlled the complex and Castletown. Both were located in the southern point of MD-6, which was ruled by General Hazal.
It would take Valek approximately nine days to reach the coast of MD-1. He’d have to cross the northeastern section of MD-8 to get there. The reports about where the Storm Thieves had hit listed many of the towns along the northern section—a place Valek knew well. He’d learned the assassin arts at the School of Night and Shadows. The complex had been built on top of a cliff facing the Sunset Ocean and near the most northwestern point in MD-1. The terrain to the south smoothed into gentle dunes, allowing fishermen to trap crabs and hook sea cod. A few miles inland, farmers raised herds of bison that thrived in the colder climate.