“While you’ve been off pouting, she’s been miserable. You should have seen the stricken look on her face when she found out I’ve been watching over her and not you.”
If Onora wished to make him feel worse, she’d succeeded. “You talked to her?”
“Yes. She stood in the small yard behind the inn where she’d been training and signaled that you should join her and all was well. I thought it might be a trick, but she was alone, and they hadn’t ever left her alone before. Still, I waited until Cahil left, then visited her room later that night.” Onora grinned. “Scared the hell out of her roommate.”
“Where is she now?”
“Setting up an ambush.”
Clamping down on his surprise, he said, “Explain.”
“Her father and sister-in-law were captured and are being escorted here. Yelena plans to rescue them before they reach the garrison.”
Not good. “By herself?”
“No. She has three of Cahil’s crew with her.”
“And Cahil?”
“Taking a hit for the team.”
He waited.
“Cahil remained in the garrison. Bruns arrived yesterday, and he’s playing host. He’s also unprotected. If Bruns’s magicians detect a null shield on him, the gig would be up. According to Yelena, Cahil’s pretty strong-willed and should be okay for a couple days.”
“So, Cahil has agreed to help us?”
“Yes, but he’s not happy about it.”
That wasn’t a surprise. Valek mulled over the information. “Where’s Leif?”
“He escaped when they grabbed Mara and Esau. No one’s seen him since.”
“He’s probably following the wagon.”
The server arrived with Valek’s order. She placed the steaming plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of him. His stomach growled with hunger, and he realized he hadn’t had a decent hot meal since leaving Yelena with Cahil. Valek dug into the food. Between bites, he asked about the ambush.
“They picked a nice little spot about four hours east of the garrison,” Onora said. “They figured by that point, the soldiers will have relaxed, thinking they are almost home. Plus it’s better than guessing where the group will stop for the night.”
“When are they expected to strike?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Think they’d welcome a couple extra helpers?”
“Oh, yes. I told them I’d be back, but no one was sure about you.”
Ah, hell. He had some major apologizing to do.
*
After he finished eating, he paid and reclaimed Onyx. The horse glanced at a stall with longing. But when Valek mentioned joining Kiki, Onyx’s ears perked up. Valek understood the feeling. The desire to see Yelena energized him, as well.
He mounted and headed west at a moderate pace. The number of buildings dwindled, and fields of corn plants stretched out on both sides of the road. Soon the drumming of hooves sounded behind him as Onora caught up. She rode an unfamiliar black-and-white piebald mare with a black mane. Janco had borrowed The Madam since he’d lent Beach Bunny to Reema.
“Who is this?” he asked.
“Horse.”
“Original.”
She grinned. “I figured the name would bug Janco.”
It would indeed.
They rode for a while in silence. After two hours of riding, the fields ended and they entered a forest. Valek worried about Yelena and hoped she’d forgive him. The upside to this whole mess was that the people who’d been under Bruns’s influence could be woken. The downside was that a person had to be Theobroma-free for a week—a dangerously long time. At least now they had Cahil’s cooperation. The General could begin to wake other high-ranking military officials and perhaps even the Sitian Council members. One could dream.
Onora slowed Horse to a walk as they reached the bottom of a small valley. Ahead the dirt road was rutted from a recent washout. A rustle sounded above Valek. He glanced up in time to spot a net of greenery falling toward him. Valek stopped Onyx right before the heavy blanket knocked him to the ground.
Valek landed hard on his left shoulder. He rolled onto his back and reached for his knives just as a person sat on top of him, pinning his arms, while a thin blade pierced the greenery and nicked his neck.
The blade disappeared, and Valek twisted his hips and bucked the person off. He shoved the net aside, jumped to his feet and yanked his knives. Two figures dressed in green camouflage backed away from him. Onora stood with two others—also camouflaged. She wiped dirt off her pants but appeared unhurt and unarmed. Odd.
Then the trees spun around him. The irresistible urge to sleep liquefied his muscles. He staggered and went down on one knee. His heavy knives slipped from his nerveless fingers. Valek touched his neck. A small drop of blood coated his finger. The blade must have been treated with sleeping potion.
Valek toppled. He’d congratulate them on getting the drop on him, but...
*
Valek woke but kept his eyes closed. Fuzzy memories of being ambushed swirled. His head ached from a sleeping potion hangover. A dull throb pulsed through his left shoulder. He smelled wood smoke. A fire crackled nearby.