“A few. Not as many as there were before the other gates were closed.”
Good to know. “How many guild members are still free?”
“No. We’re not going to endanger them any further,” Yelena said. “They’ve risked their lives for us already. Phelan, you and your friends are to find a safe spot to hide in until this is all over.”
He glanced at Valek, then Yelena, and recognition shone in his gaze. “Lovely Yelena, we are not going to hide. There are only a dozen of us, but we already have shifts of people watching the gate, the market and the Council Hall. How can we help?”
Yelena huffed in frustration. Valek understood her desire to keep them safe, but if they were determined to help, then he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Unable to remain seated, he stood. “How’s the market? We need provisions.”
“Let us shop for you. There are too many soldiers in the market, and they are all looking for new faces.”
“All right.” Valek paced. It helped him think. “What is the status of the Council Hall?”
“Guards inside and outside all entrances. Shift changes every four hours around the clock.”
“Where does Bruns sleep at night?”
“The Council Hall.”
Valek clamped down on a curse. So much for targeting the man between locations. He mulled over the information from Phelan and developed a plan for the next couple of days. Giving the boy a few coins, Valek listed the items and food they needed.
After Phelan left, Valek sent Onora to observe the Council Hall. “I’ll relieve you later tonight. While there, watch for Zitora.”
“Yes, sir.” Onora prepared to leave.
“Aren’t you going to eat first?” Yelena asked.
“I’ll get something on the way.”
“But Phelan said—”
“No one will see me. Queen of blending in, remember?” She swept her arms wide in a dramatic fashion.
Yelena laughed—one of Valek’s favorite sounds. “Just wait until I tell that to Janco.”
“Go ahead. He’ll just argue with you that he’s the queen,” Onora shot back.
“Don’t you mean king?”
“Janco doesn’t worry about the details.”
“True. He’ll just wave it off and say it’s all royalty.”
The girls shared a smile.
When Onora left, Yelena asked, “What’s my task?”
He hesitated, knowing if he ordered her to eat and rest, she’d probably punch him. “I need you to go to the Keep’s library to search for information about those Harman trees and find Ellis Moon’s notes. But...”
She leaned forward. “But what?” Her tone held an edge.
“I’d like to check the security at the Keep first.” No response. “Please,” he added. “You can go in the morning.”
Yelena relaxed back on the couch. “On one condition.”
His heart paused in mid-beat. “And that is?”
“That you tuck me into bed properly before you leave tonight.” Heat burned in her gaze.
Desire shot through him. “As my lady wishes.” He bowed. “Perhaps you’d like to retire early? Like right now?”
“Nice try, but food first.”
Undaunted, he settled next to her on the couch. “Phelan will be a while.” Valek cupped her cheek, turning her face toward him. He ran his thumb over her lips. “Let me distract you from your hunger.”
“When you put it that way, how can I resist?” she teased.
He pulled her close and kissed her with the full depth of his love. It was a long time before he broke away. “Still hungry?”
A pink flush spread over her skin as she gasped for air. “Oh, yes. But not for food.” Yelena laced her fingers behind his head and claimed his lips.
They never made it to the bedroom.
*
Yelena was curled up asleep on the couch when Phelan returned with the supplies late that afternoon. However, the spicy scent of the still-warm meat pies woke her.
She wolfed down two while Valek questioned the boy. “Do you know where General Cahil’s headquarters is located?”
“No. Why?”
“I want you to assign a few people to keep an eye on it and let me know when the general is there.”
“All right.”
Valek told him the address of Cahil’s safe house. After Phelan left, Valek ate and then tucked Yelena into bed. The lack of sleep caught up to him, and he curled around his wife and slept for a few hours.
It was full dark by the time he reached the Council Hall. Onora signaled him with a faint whistle. Blending in a hidden corner, she was impossible to see. The lamplighters had finished their duties, and the air smelled of lantern oil. Heat pulsed from the buildings as the air cooled.
“What do you think of their security?” he asked, staring at the Hall’s front entrance. The large square structure had multiple tiers and resembled a wedding cake. Constructed from the same green-streaked white marble as the city walls, it also sported jade columns at the grand entrance on the first floor. No windows or doors had been installed on the ground floor, and steps led up to the well-guarded double doors.
“It’s tight.”
“Can you get in?”