“His fault?”
I nodded.
“Asking for help isn’t the problem. It never is. Janco should have brought your message to my attention, and we should have decided on the best course of action. Instead, he left without permission and without telling us where he went. Plus he made an illegal border crossing.”
“But…”
Valek waited.
“I hope you didn’t demote him.”
“What happened to him in Hubal was punishment enough. That blood magic is extremely potent. Yelena explained how it works, but I don’t fully understand why Ulrick and Tricky needed your blood.”
I glanced at him. Was he pretending to be confused? No way to tell. The man had the best poker face in the world.
“When I had my glass magic, if a magician attacked me, I could transform his magic into glass. Even if he didn’t attack, I could siphon…steal all his powers if I so desired. But Tricky discovered that I couldn’t drain him because he used my blood to increase his powers.”
“So your blood protected them from your siphoning magic?”
“Yes. At first, but when Zitora was dying and I was desperate, I realized my blood tattooed in their skin connected us. To draw off all their powers, I had to drain my own, as well.” I rubbed the scars on my arms. Not completely healed, the vertical ridges pulsed with an angry reddish-purple color, and resembled rungs on a ladder that climbed up the inside of my arms. A souvenir from Hubal.
“How much blood did they take from you?”
An odd question. And Mr. Stone Face only showed polite interest. “I don’t know. I lost track of the days. But I know they came every day with a suction device. Most of the time, I passed out before they were done.”
“According to Janco’s report, they held you for six days.” Valek’s comment seemed for his benefit instead of mine.
We walked for a while in silence. “At least one good thing came from your sacrifice. No more nightmares. And since you can no longer hear the souls in the glass prisons, it would be prudent for me to collect them, and rehide them so you won’t be in danger any longer.”
Surprised, I said, “You’d do that? Just for me?”
“Of course, you’re practically family.” He smiled. “Besides, my decision to spread them all over Sitia and Ixia was poor. With them together, I can monitor the prisons better.”
I gasped in mock horror. “You? Make a bad decision?”
He laughed. “All the time. Why do you think I’m so adept at escaping sticky situations? It’s because I constantly find myself in them.”
He was adept at so much more. I envied his skill and confidence. “The best decision you’ve made is hiding Gede’s prison in the snow cats’ den. No one is brave or stupid enough to go in there.”
Valek snorted with amusement. “So which one am I? Brave or stupid?”
“I didn’t mean—”
“No worries, Opal. Actually it was easy to place that one in the den. I left a fresh-killed steer a half mile upwind and waited for the cats to leave.” He crossed his arms and tapped a finger. “I’ll need a better location for all seven prisons.”
I tried to imagine the perfect hiding spot, but couldn’t think of one. Our aimless route led us into the Avibian Plains, and I scanned the area for Quartz.
“Let’s get back to our original subject,” Valek said. “Why Yelena sent me. Any ideas?”
Logic warned me not to tell him, yet my heart yearned to trust him. “I think Yelena sent you here to help me make a decision.”
“Emerald green.”
“What?”
“You should wear an emerald-green-colored dress for your sister’s wedding.”
“Valek, I’m serious.”
“So am I. With your dark hair and eyes, you would look stunning in that color.”
We had traveled far enough into the plains to trigger the Sandseeds’ magical protection.
Valek studied me as the power swelled then died. I hadn’t decided what I should tell him, but it seemed my unconscious mind chose for me.
He waited. When the magic didn’t cause me to panic and insist we were lost, he asked, “Are you related to the Sandseed Clan?”
“Not yet.” Once Mara married Leif, a distant cousin to the Sandseeds, I would be connected to them if they considered marriage a legitimate relationship. Or perhaps not. In that case and with enough time, everyone in Sitia would be allowed to roam the plains at will. “I don’t think so.”
He chased the logic. “Do you have special permission to travel the plains?”
“Without Quartz, no.”
“I see.” His gaze turned inward. “Does the Sitian Council know?”
“Nope.”
Understanding flashed on his face. “Ah…the reason for Yelena’s request. Who else knows?”
“Zitora, Leif and Kade.”
“My advice, don’t tell the Council about your immunity. Instead, come work for me.”
Chapter Three
WORK FOR VALEK? A COMPLETE SHOCK AND NOT a course of action I had ever considered. Stunned silence built, but I couldn’t form a coherent response. He remained serious and he seemed in no hurry for a reply.
My emotions thawed from surprised to flattered that he had asked me to be a part of his corp. Curious, I asked, “What would I do for you? Spy on Sitia?”
“No. That’s my job.” He grinned. “I would like you to protect the Commander from magical attacks when I’m away. And to help with any incidents that are tainted with magic.”
“That’s rather vague.”
He shrugged. “Dealing with magic is unpredictable, and each time it’s been an…education. It also doesn’t match my schedule, so magical problems tend to arrive when I’m out of town, leaving Ari and Janco to handle them.”
I laughed at Valek’s queasy grimace. Janco hated anything magical. I became his new best friend the minute I could no longer access the blanket of power that surrounded our world and gave magicians their abilities.
“Is the Commander attacked often?” I asked.
“No. He hasn’t been in years, but I still worry. And you know the old cliché. Better safe…”
Than sorry. A good motto. One I should heed more often. While Valek’s offer tempted me, I knew deep down in my heart my new immunity should benefit Sitia. My home. And despite my troubles with the Council, their goals to keep Sitia safe matched mine.
Valek watched me. “You’ve made a decision.”
“I’m honored for the invitation, but will have to decline.”
He nodded as if expecting my answer. “If you change your mind, let me know. There is no time limit.”
Good to know. “Thank you.”
“What are you going to do then?”
“Tell Master Bloodgood and see what he recommends.”
“He’ll inform the Council and it could go one of two ways,” Valek said. “They’ll debate for seasons or they’ll quickly figure out how useful you are and put you right to work. Either way—” mischief danced in his