“Oh.” Mikus’s voice squeaked. “And...would you change your plan then?”
“Depends. If Endre’s reason had merit, then yes. If I didn’t agree with him, then no.” And that had been the same relationship the Commander and Valek had shared until recently. Perhaps Yelena had been on the right track regarding the Commander’s unusual behavior. Had Valek missed vital clues from Ambrose? It was something to consider after he dealt with the Storm Thieves.
They reached the overgrown path. Valek signaled for silence, then he motioned for them to wait while he checked the barn. Keeping close to the trees, Valek approached the structure and looked through the window. The teens hadn’t moved. He fetched Endre and Mikus.
When they drew close to the door, Valek mouthed, Go! The two men yanked their swords and barged into the barn, yelling at the teens to get against the wall. Valek remained outside as shouts and cries sounded. A clang of metal followed a curse.
One young man darted out. Valek tripped him. He sprawled in the dirt, but not for long. He scrambled to his feet and by the time Valek neared, he’d spun with a dagger in his hand. Quick little scamp.
The scamp brandished the weapon. “Don’t come any—”
Valek kicked the boy’s wrist, sending the knife flying through the air. He pounced, grabbed the scamp’s arm and twisted it behind his back. Valek grasped his shoulder to steady the boy.
“Keep still,” he ordered his prisoner, “or I’ll break your arm.” Valek tugged it higher to emphasis his threat.
The scamp gasped in pain.
When the noise from inside the barn subsided, Valek pushed the boy ahead of him. “Move.”
They entered. The other four knelt with Endre and Mikus standing behind them. The Storm Thieves’ faces whitened another shade when they spotted their friend.
“You missed one,” Valek said.
“Sorry, boss.” Endre strode over, snapped the manacles on the scamp and dragged him to join his associates.
Valek gazed at the five with what Yelena called his cold killer expression. “Congratulations, your antics during the last couple seasons have caught my attention.” He waited a beat. “Do you know who I am?”
They kept quiet.
“Endre, tell them.”
“You are Adviser Valek. The Commander’s assassin and right-hand man.”
His name had the desired effect on all but one. Panic flared in four sets of eyes, but the scamp glared—a challenge.
Valek said, “Tell me the plan for tonight.”
They glanced at the scamp.
“Don’t say a word,” he ordered them.
Ah. The scamp was in charge. Valek drew one of his knives from his sleeve with his right hand while palming a dart with his left. He grabbed the closest thief by her arm and yanked her upright, pricking her with the dart. She squealed in fear.
Placing his blade on her neck, he said, “Tell me the plan for tonight.”
“You’re bluffing,” the scamp said. “It isn’t a crime to sleep in an abandoned building. You got nothing on us.”
Valek stared at him a moment before returning his attention to the girl. “What’s your name?”
“Sa...Sadzi.” Her eyes glazed.
“You should have picked better friends, Sadzi.” He turned and stepped in front of her so he blocked her from the others. Drawing his knife arm back, he stabbed at her, sending the blade into the gap between her arm and side. The other girl screamed. Sadzi buckled as the sleeping potion kicked in. Valek grasped her shoulders, trapping the knife and keeping her upright as he muscled her out the door. He dumped her to the side, but her motionless boots remained visible to those inside.
Valek pulled a bloodstained handkerchief from his pocket. He pretended to wipe blood from his hands when he returned to the others. Mikus’s mouth gaped, as shocked as the Storm Thieves.
He waved the cloth at the door dismissively. “She soiled herself. Quite the stink.” Valek studied them one by one. The other girl burst into tears under his scrutiny. Yelena’s voice sounded in his mind, admonishing him for being mean.
Sliding another knife from his pocket, Valek said, “Tell me the plan for tonight.”
Terrified, they started talking at once, rushing to explain the plans.
*
Back at the station, they processed the thieves. The security officers searched them and gave them coveralls to wear before locking them in the cells.
The scamp scowled at Valek when Endre laid the still-sleeping Sadzi on a bunk. “I knew you were bluffing.”
Valek didn’t bother to reply. Instead, he checked on the preparations. Annika had arrived with the supplies and a seamstress. The older woman tsked and rubbed the knuckles on her right hand as he explained what he needed.
“I don’t know if it’ll work,” she said.
“That’s for me to worry about. Can you do it by supper?”
“Yes.” She unrolled the bolt of black fabric on the conference room’s table.
Captain Tahnee showed Valek what her staff had found. “They don’t look authentic.”