“Yes, but I couldn’t get anyone out.”
“Have you seen anyone significant?”
“There’s a fair amount of traffic, but I haven’t recognized anyone.”
“All right. Go get some sleep. Tomorrow night we’ll take a peek inside.”
She grinned. “I’ll let you tell Yelena.”
“Chicken.”
Onora gave him a wave before ducking out of sight. Valek remained in place for another hour, but it appeared as if the Hall was closed for the night. Ghosting north to the Magician’s Keep, he checked for watchers and found a couple stationed near the main entrance, which was the only way in if you weren’t aware of the underground passage. A wall also surrounded the Keep, and four towers, one at each corner, rose high into the air.
Satisfied that no one else lurked nearby, he traveled to the west side of the Keep. He slipped down a narrow alley and counted doors. The third one on the left was unremarkable. Valek pulled his lock picks from their hidden pocket and opened the door. Bracing for an attack, he entered the darkness.
Nothing. All remained quiet. He drew in a breath. The dry scent of dust tickled his nose. Closing the door, Valek then groped for the torches and flint that had been set on a nearby table. With a quick strike, a spark flew, igniting the torch. The light burned his vision for a moment. When his eyes adjusted, he descended the stairs and used the tunnel to cross under the Keep’s wall. The passage ended in the basement of Second Magician Irys Jewelrose’s tower.
Once Valek ensured the tower remained empty, he left the torch in a holder near the tunnel and did a sweep of the campus. It had been abandoned only about three months ago, but a cold, lifeless feeling permeated the air. After the Cartel had managed to position their cook in the Keep’s dining room, they laced most of the food with Theobroma. When all the students, staff and magicians had ingested enough of the drug, Bruns’s loyal magicians brainwashed everyone into believing that Ixia was going to invade Sitia. Determined to stop the Commander, the Keep’s personnel traveled to the garrisons and joined the Cartel. Valek had to admit it was a brilliant plan.
Valek stopped in the library. It appeared as deserted as the rest of campus, but he searched for an ambush just in case. Happy to see it remained as desolate as the rest, Valek hurried to the exit tunnel.
Back at the quiet Council Hall, Valek considered his options. Built to withstand invaders, the building had few places to enter. The tall, narrow glass windows of the great hall stretched three stories high but didn’t open. Valek wondered if a magical alarm had been attached to the slick marble walls. Only one way to find out.
Looping around to the back, Valek stood close to the hall and lowered his mental barrier. No magic buzzed, other than from the power blanket around him. He pressed his palm to the cool stone.
Nothing. Or so he thought. A...consciousness sought him, as if drawn by his magic. Valek quickly raised his shield, but distant shouts cut through the quiet night, and the unmistakable sound of drumming boots echoed. He cursed.
18
HELI
When they arrived at the gate, Heli halted Thunder. “Are you sure your grandparents won’t mind?” she asked Teegan, who stopped beside her. “There are four of us.”
“For the twenty-third time, no. My grandparents will be thrilled.” Teegan dismounted to unlock the gate.
“Until you tell them we’re being hunted by the Cartel,” Zohav muttered darkly.
Everyone ignored her. Zohav had an annoying tendency to exaggerate the direness of every situation, and Heli was too hot and tired to correct her. Yes, the Cartel sought them, but the Cartel had no idea where they were—unless they’d intercepted the message to Fisk, informing him of their new location. Which she doubted, since Fisk’s people were ignored by most adults. No, the missive would have reached Fisk by now.
It had taken them forever to reach Teegan’s grandparents’ home in Booruby. They had traveled a circuitous route to ensure no one followed them, which added more time to the trip, so they reached the city on the fourth day of the heating season. And it was confirmed that Thunder was the slowest horse in Sitia. The cream-colored horse in the Stormdancer’s stable turned out to be Teegan’s mount—a sweet mare named Caramel. Plus Smoke showed no signs of fatigue, even with the twins riding together. Meanwhile, Heli could have walked behind and pushed her horse faster.
The hinges squealed as Teegan swung the gate wide. He led them up to the large stone farmhouse. Instead of a farm, there was a glass factory, a few sheds and a small stable that looked new. Puffs of light gray smoke blew from a chimney atop the factory. The Avibian Plains surrounded the small complex on three sides, leaving only one direction open for an attack. Heli approved.