When the door banged, I yelled, “Null shield!” without bothering to see if it was Zebb.
Two things happened at once. The onslaught stopped, and Zebb’s magic pushed me away from Tama. I staggered and dropped to the floor, panting with relief.
“What the hell was that?” Zebb asked.
I let the guards explain. “This is exactly why I need to be near the Councilor at all times,” Zebb said. “I knew you’d endanger her.”
He continued to rant about her safety, but I tuned him out. I wondered again if the magician had been after her or me.
When I felt stronger, I climbed to my feet. “Zebb, shut up.” I resisted smirking when he listened to me. See? I could be mature. “Can you sense another magician nearby?”
“No, but I was on the first floor.”
“How about when you entered the room?”
He shook his head.
I sighed. “Help me out here. Where would a magician need to be to reach her?”
“It depends on how strong he is.”
I noted his pronoun choice. Habit or did he know more than he was telling me? “Can we narrow it down to inside or outside the building?” I asked in exasperation.
“Outside. No one with powers can get by me.”
Ignoring his boast, I asked, “Can you take a few guards out to search?”
He sneered. “I know you’re used to hanging out with the Master Magicians and the Soulfinder. They can walk the streets and sniff out any magicians. The rest of us can’t.”
“But you just said—”
“Line of sight. Everyone coming into the Council Hall has to pass by me. If I can reach their thoughts, they don’t have any power.”
I thought it through. “Then the magician who attacked the Councilor is stronger than average. He didn’t need line of sight.”
His lips parted in surprise. “But he would have to know she was in her office.”
We both turned to the picture window at the end of her office. Sunlight streamed through the large pane of glass. Tama had located her U-shaped desk close enough to it so she could enjoy the view while she worked.
I moved closer, looking outside. Her first-floor office was a mere twelve feet above the street. Below, townspeople strolled or hustled by either on horseback or on foot. Wagons bounced along the cobblestones. From this distance, I could see clearly. No one seemed interested in the window. No one lurked in the shadows. At least not now.
Zebb joined me.
“Would curtains help protect her?” I asked.
“To some extent. The magician would have to guess if the Councilor was here. Or risk alerting me by sweeping the building. We could move her desk to make it harder for him.”
“No curtains,” Tama said. Her first words since the incident. A touch of color had returned to her pallid cheeks.
“But—”
She cut Zebb off. “I understand your concerns. How about a compromise?” She swiped the hair sticking to her face. “No curtains and I’ll let Zebb and his null shield stay with me.”
“Finally,” Zebb said. “It’s what I’ve wanted from the beginning!”
Not a diplomatic response and uncertainty filled her eyes.
“You’ve made a smart decision,” I said. “Zebb may be a pompous ass, but he’s trustworthy.” The background check on him hadn’t found anything.
Faith rushed in before he could retort.
“Tama, are you all right?” She gathered the Councilor in her arms. Tama leaned into her.
“What happened?” Faith demanded.
I let Zebb handle the explanation while I mulled over a possible reason for the attack.
When he finished addressing all her questions, I asked Tama about her enemies. “Any other relatives that might be trying to usurp you?”
Faith answered for her. “No. Akako is her only sister. Her parents died years ago and she has one aunt and a couple of cousins on her father’s side. They live in the Krystal lands and she’s never even met them.”
Tama pulled away. “My father was from the Krystal Clan. He met my mother while here on business.” Her colorless lips formed a wan smile. “He claimed love at first sight, but it took him a few seasons to convince her. The clan wasn’t happy about their heir marrying an outsider. But he won them over just like he did with my mother. Everyone loved my father.”
A sweet story, but no help for our current problem. “Can you think of anyone who might be after you? Or a reason someone wanted to control you?” I asked.
“Perhaps we missed one of Akako’s people,” Faith said. “Only Tama can release Akako from prison.”
“Then why did he force me to arrest Opal?” the Councilor asked. “I was convinced she was a spy and I’d only be safe once she was secured in Wirral.”
“Basic strategy,” Zebb said. “Eliminate the person’s supporters so no one protests when the person changes her behavior.”
A logical argument, yet an uneasy chill swirled. Being incarcerated in Wirral would be a waking nightmare.
For now, at least the null shield protected Tama, and I had my immunity. Faith declared she would go over Akako’s files, searching for any insurgents who may have been missed.
I returned to my desk and the thick file on the hotshots in the SMU. Perhaps Akako had managed to bribe one of them or one could already be loyal to her. I would have laughed at the irony if I had the energy. The creative reasoning that netted me the file in the first place might lead to an answer and to something to prove to the warden that his prison wasn’t perfect.
I read through the files until I was cross-eyed with fatigue. After spending the entire afternoon studying the information on the hotshots, I had nothing to show for it. Finn’s matched his story. Complete background checks with confirmations from two different sources had been attached to each CO’s dossier. Even the rookie Lamar’s papers had been included. His letter of recommendation from the Iolite Prison’s warden had been verified twice.
When the words swam together, I stopped for the day. Tama had retreated to her suite for the night, but Faith remained in her office. I debated. Should I skip supper and get a few extra hours of sleep or go to the Pig Pen for a bowl of stew?
Preoccupied, I left the Hall and paused. The black sky meant I had missed the late-afternoon training again. Nic and Eve would harass me about it.
“Working late?” a voice asked from behind me.
I drew my sais, whipping around. Finn leaned on the Councilor’s Hall. He spread his hands. “Easy there.”
“Sorry.” I slid my weapons back under my cloak.
“Are you always this jumpy?” he asked.
“No. It’s been a long day.” I gathered my scattered wits. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.”
“Why?” The question popped out without censure.
Finn laughed. A nice rumble. “I enjoyed our conversation the other day and wanted to continue it.”
“Oh.” My tired brain finally caught up. This was good. Right? I wanted to get closer to him and find out more about the prison. Kade would understand. I was working undercover. But what if our roles were reversed? How would I feel if he had to seduce another woman? Horrible. I shook my head. Ridiculous speculation. I didn’t plan to seduce Finn.
“Would you like to have dinner with me?” he asked in an uncertain tone.
“Of course. I’m sorry. I’m tired and—”
“We can go another time then.”
“I didn’t mean that. I’m famished. How about I pick the place this time? I know a tavern with the best stew in town.”
He flashed me his slanted smile. “Any angry officers?”
“We shouldn’t need a distraction in order to leave.”
He swept his arm out. “Lead on.”
The jumble of voices reached us before we entered the Pig Pen. Nic’s brother served drinks, and Nic and Eve sat at their usual places. Not good. I thought they were on duty. Fulgor soldiers filled every
table and people crowded the bar. I was about to retreat to another tavern when Ian waved me over. He snapped his fingers a few times and two stools next to my friends emptied. So much for a quiet conversation.
Finn whistled. “Wow. You must be a good customer.” He nodded to a couple of people as we claimed the stools. I made sure to sit between Finn and Nic.
“Have you been here before?” I asked him.
“No, but I know a few of Fulgor’s security forces. All part of the job.”
Hoping Nic and Eve wouldn’t blow my cover by mentioning Kade, I introduced them to Finn. Nic sized him up and gave me a questioning look before Eve elbowed him in the ribs. If Finn noticed he didn’t react. Two bowls of stew appeared in front of us, and I turned Finn’s attention to Ian. When Finn made the connection between the brothers, I felt a strange sense of pride.
“Is he the reason you’ve missed four training sessions?” Nic asked me.
“I’ve been busy with work.”
“No excuses,” Nic said. “It’s too important. Does Kad—Ow!”
“Time to go,” Eve said, standing. She pulled Nic off the stool. “Nice meeting you, Finn. We’d love to stay and chat, but we’re on duty tonight. Opal, we’ll see you in the morning.” Her pointed gaze warned me she would question me thoroughly.
Eve hustled Nic out the door. Confusion creased his face, but he followed his partner.
Finn and I ate our stew. He pushed his empty bowl aside and drank his ale. “You’re right. It is the best in town.”
The food revived me, and cleared my mind. “It’s better than my mother’s, but don’t tell anyone I said that or she’ll disown me.”
“Your secret is safe with me. Although I could blackmail you with it.”
I smiled at his teasing tone. “You could try.”
“You never did answer my question.”
“Which one?”
“If you think you can beat me with those sais of yours?” He touched my arm, resting his warm fingers on my forearm. “Think about it. You did miss a few training sessions.”
“How much training have you had?” I asked.
“Ten years.”
I had gotten serious about improving my own skills only a year ago. “I doubt I could win a match against you.” Unless I cheated and used those pressure points Devlen had inadvertently taught me.
“You may surprise yourself. From what I hear, you’re rather resourceful.”
“What have you heard?”
“There wasn’t much information in the gossip loop, and you didn’t give me a whole lot, either.”
“I hardly know you.” Yet I didn’t pull my arm away.
“True. But you’re in a powerful position, working so close with the Councilor and the First Adviser.”
I couldn’t argue with him without telling him why I took the job. “And?”
“And I knew someone in security had to know something.” He leaned his elbow on the bar with a smug casualness.
“Who ratted me out?”
“Do you know a Captain Alden?” He gestured to the still-empty stools. “Your friends’ boss?”
“I’ve met him once or twice.” Nic and Eve had reported everything they witnessed in Hubal to him. Their report had lacked a few important details. “How do you know him?”
“Friend of a friend.”
“Are you proud of yourself?”
“Of course. Plus I feel better knowing you are with the Councilor, and I can tell the warden good things about you.”
“The warden asks you because…?”
“I know everyone in town.”
“You didn’t know Alden.”
“Miss Logical. I see you’re going to keep me on my toes. I didn’t know Alden personally, but if I passed him on the street, I could tell you his name, rank and his position on Fulgor’s security force.”
We talked about random things until I steered the conversation to the SMU and the hotshots.
Finn leaned close. “I know why you’re so interested in them.”
“You do?” My mouth felt dry, and I resisted the urge to gulp my ale.
“No one is escaping from the SMU, Opal. No one. Stop worrying. Those men who stole your magic won’t hurt you ever again.”
Covering my face with the mug of ale, I tipped it up and took a long drink. Did he know about the file on my desk? I decided to tone down my focus on the hotshots in Finn’s presence for now, and pretend he had guessed everything right.
I placed my hand over his and gave it a light squeeze. “Thanks.”
Our conversation returned to more mundane topics. When I couldn’t stifle a yawn, Finn stood. “Time to go. I have an early day tomorrow.”
“Me, too.” I grimaced. Nic would be extra hard on me and Eve would pepper me with questions. Ugh.
Finn grasped my hand when we reached the street. Our footsteps echoed along the empty road. I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten.
“The day after tomorrow is my day off,” he said. “Would you like to go riding with me?”
I hesitated. Quartz would love the exercise, and I hadn’t taken any time off since I arrived.
“There’s a pretty little waterfall in the forest north of the city,” he said.
“Sounds fun.” But guilt welled. I tried to rationalize my actions by reminding myself of my goal—finding my blood. If Finn’s feelings were hurt in the process then I would apologize and move on.
“Great. I’ll meet you at the inn’s stables after your morning training.”
That would make Nic happy. Finn escorted me home, but I started to worry when we drew closer to the inn. Would he want a kiss good-night? What would I do? Being undercover was harder than I’d thought.
The kissing issue turned out to be a needless concern.
One block from the inn, magic brushed my shoulder, warning me a split second before four armed men surrounded us.
7
MY HANDS GRASPED THE HANDLES OF MY SAIS, BUT I didn’t pull them. Not yet. I studied the men. Ordinary in appearance, wearing nondescript dark clothing and lacking any distinguishing features, the four men could easily blend into a crowd—except for the short swords and daggers in their hands.
Finn stepped in front of me. “Do you gentlemen have a problem?”
“Not with you,” the man in the middle said. “We’d like a word with your companion.”
Why wasn’t I surprised? Firing those guards was about to get me killed. I flexed my muscles. Four against one, suicide for me, but with Finn, we’d have a better chance.
“In private,” Middle Man said.
“Not happening.” Finn drew his sword. Before his blade cleared his scabbard, two of the goons rushed him.
I yanked my sais free of my cloak. Middle Man and the remaining goon advanced. I managed to land a few bruising blows, but they disarmed me in seconds. Stronger than they looked, two of them clamped onto my upper arms and countered my attempts to kick them. A suspicion that these men weren’t the average goons for hire rose along with the bile in my throat.
Finn lasted longer than I did, but the scuffle ended when one of the men struck Finn’s temple with the hilt of his dagger. He collapsed to the ground.
Middle Man glanced up and down the street. “This way.”
Leaving Finn, they dragged me a number of blocks south then west until we stopped in a small side street without lanterns. With a surge of fear-induced energy, I broke their hold. The snick of a switchblade sounded before I even stepped away. Cold steel pressed against my throat. I froze. An arm snaked around my chest, pulling me close to the owner of the knife.
“Relax,” Middle Man said. “We just want to ask you a few questions.”
“Make an appointment,” I said, but he ignored me.
“Why are you in Fulgor?” he asked.
I considered a smart remark, but the sharp blade convinced me not to be too hasty. “To find a job.”
“Why here?”
“The people are so friendly.
” I couldn’t resist the sarcasm, but I regretted it as soon as the words left my mouth.
Middle Man’s gaze cut to his buddy standing on my right. Motion registered a second before pain exploded in my ribs. I slammed into the man behind me. He kept me on my feet. The switchblade remained in his hand, but it no longer touched my throat. Progress.
They waited for me to recover. Nice of them.
“Why here?” Middle Man asked again.
Time to name drop. “I have friends here. Guards on Fulgor’s security force.”
“You’re close to the Councilor. Who sent you to cozy up to her?”
“No one.”
Even anticipating the blow, I still couldn’t block it. This one landed higher, causing a sharp jab of pain with every breath.
“Who are you working for?”
“Councilor Moon.” I puffed.
Buddy moved to my left and now both sides of my lower rib cage burned.
“Are you working for the Master Magicians?”
“No.”
Another blow. My sides felt tenderized. Time for a cookout.
“Did the Council send you?”
“No.”
“Harder,” Middle Man ordered.
“I’m telling the truth!”
Didn’t seem to matter. Another two rounds of “who are you working for” were followed by precision blows. Hard enough to hurt, but not break my bones.
Before Buddy could land another, Finn appeared. He latched onto the wrist holding the switchblade, yanking the weapon down. They fought for control as the other three tried to pull Finn away. Boots pounded on the street and strident voices ordered the men to stop.
Middle Man said, “Security.” And they bolted.
By the time the guards reached us, the men were out of sight, but they chased after them. Finn’s opponent had abandoned his switchblade. I leaned against the wall. The muscles in my legs trembled and I slid to the ground.
Finn knelt next to me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I held still and tried not to breathe in too deep. “How about you?” Blood oozed from a small gash on his temple.
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