*
As I predicted, Irys arrived with our breakfast. My appetite disappeared when her harsh demeanor failed to soften after the guards left. She stood on the other side of the bars and studied me. Deep lines of worry scoured her forehead and dark circles ringed her emerald-colored eyes. Wearing her official purple silk magician’s robe, she had pulled her long once-black-but-now-painted-with-gray hair into a neat bun.
“Yelena, why didn’t you message me you were coming?” she finally asked.
“I didn’t have time.” I tapped my ear and gave her a questioning look.
“No one can hear us. I’ve made certain of that. Now will you tell me the real reason you tried to sneak into the Citadel last night?”
“I wasn’t sneaking. I just wanted to avoid a confrontation with the Council before I had a chance to talk to you.”
“I see. And how did that work out for you?”
“Wowzers,” Janco said in awe. “That’s some impressive sarcasm!”
“Zip it, Janco,” Ari growled.
“Yes, I realize I made a big mistake,” I said. “But Owen Moon is in Ixia, and we need help.”
“You mean like the help I needed to convince the Sitian Council of a few impossible things, like Owen being alive despite the Commander’s assurance to the contrary, and that the Commander funded an illegal Curare manufacturing facility in Sitia and now has barrels of the drug at his disposal? Like the help I could have used to explain why our Liaison headed to Ixia along with every person who could have enlightened the Council about what had happened in Lapeer? That type of help?”
Her words cut right through me. And the fact they were true gave them a sharper edge. Red-hot guilt welled from the wounds. “I’m sorry, Irys. After the encounter with Owen I...” I tucked my tail between my legs and bolted, yipping in fear. “I felt safer with Valek. I’m sorry I didn’t return sooner.”
Her anger lessened. “And I must also apologize. The last three weeks have been a nightmare.”
No kidding. The formidable Master Magician appeared as if she stood on a crumbling foundation. “Aside from the obvious problems with the Council, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“While the Council has been debating how to respond to the Commander’s allegedly bold moves with Curare and Owen, the antimagician sentiment, which had been simmering in the background for the past couple of seasons, has now boiled over. Councilor Jewelrose has proposed a new system of keeping track of magicians and overseeing what they can and can’t do and when. It’s similar to a military structure, but more restrictive.” Agitated, Irys paced. “The Councilor claims magicians are dangerous and that we need to be regulated and controlled by the Council.”
I glanced at Janco through the bars. If anyone would be happy about keeping a leash on magicians, it would be him. He mouthed, Too easy.
Irys continued, “Bain and I and a few other Councilors had enough votes to veto the idea, but...” She stopped. “However, I’m pretty sure another group has decided to implement it. I’ve been hearing rumors about a cartel.”
My relief over the veto disappeared in a heartbeat. “What do you mean?”
She yanked at the sleeves of her robe and smoothed the fabric. I’d known her for eight years and recognized her delay tactic.
“It must be bad,” I said.
Lifting her gaze, she met mine. “In the last six weeks, four magicians have been assassinated, and twelve are missing.”
The horror of her words hit me with such force that I groped for the bed as my legs lost the strength to hold me up.
“Assassinated how?” Ari asked her.
“Puncture wound to the jugular. We suspect The Mosquito. But the assassin could be using his signature move in order to throw us off.”
“Where are the attacks happening?”
“All over Sitia. There’s no pattern that we can discern.”
I shot to my feet in terror. “Leif?”
“He’s fine. I communicated with him two days ago. He’s on his way to the Citadel.” She relayed Leif’s information about my father’s discoveries and Owen’s whereabouts. “Leif planned to recruit a rescue party to save you from Owen, Yelena.” Irys laughed. It was a dry, humorless sound. “I never thought I’d ever say this, but our magicians might be safer in Ixia.”
“Only if they join Owen,” Janco said. “Probably not a bad idea, since he’s gonna be our Overlord.”
“Your faith is heartwarming,” Ari said drily. “Have there been any incidents inside the Citadel, Second Magician?”
“No. And we have sent messages to all our magicians, ordering them back to the Keep.”
“That could be exactly what this group wants you to do,” I said. What was that old cliché...something about fish in a barrel?