decided I would find a way to make the Council support an attack on Ixia to reclaim
the throne.” Cahil looked down at the sword in his hand. “You know what I did
after. I lost my way and swallowed every morsel of Roze’s lies.”
Cahil handed me his sword. It had been the King of Ixia’s sword. Rescued after
the King had been assassinated, the sword had been given to Cahil as part of the
ruse to make him believe he was the King’s nephew.
“Give it to the Commander for me,” Cahil said. “By rights, it should be his.”
“Have you given up your desire to rule Ixia?”
He looked at me and I saw a renewed sense of purpose in his soul. “No. I still
seek to free Ixia from the Commander’s strict rule. But I no longer feel I should
inherit the throne. I plan to earn the privilege.”
“Then that’s going to make for some interesting discussions between us.” I held
his gaze.
“You can count on it.”
The summons from Ambassador Signe came after a long soak in a hot bath. I
exchanged my damaged cape and smoky clothes for a clean pair of cotton pants and
shirt. My hair hadn’t grown while I was in the underworld. The inch-long strands,
though, were long enough to lay flat on my head.
The Ambassador waited in the Keep’s administration building. She had the use of
a meeting room and an office during her stay. I hurried up the stairs and into the
marble building, hoping to see Valek there. My disappointment churned in my
stomach and I wondered if Valek was avoiding me.
Ambassador Signe greeted me warmly, inquiring about my health. I studied her
face. So similar to the Commander’s almost delicate features, yet missing the full
force of the powerful spark residing in his gold eyes. With my new vision, I saw the
two souls that struggled for dominance. They took turns, but I could see the red
spiral of conflict within.
“Irys Jewelrose informed me you wish to resume your duties as Liaison. Is this
true?”
“Yes. Becoming an adviser to the Commander is very tempting, but I feel my
skills should serve both Ixia and Sitia by keeping relations open and fostering an
understanding between the two nations.”
“I see. Then your first order of business should be to negotiate a salary.”
“A salary?”
“You can not be paid by the magicians or the Council. You must receive equal
wages from Sitia and Ixia to maintain your neutrality.” She smiled. “For all that you
have done recently, I would suggest you barter for a considerable amount.”
“Obviously, there are many things I need to think about in my new role.”
“I trust, then, your education is complete?”
I laughed. “There will never be a time when it’s complete, but I’ve reached an
understanding with my abilities.”
“Good. I look forward to our negotiations.”
Before the Ambassador could dismiss me, I said, “I have something for the
Commander.”
She looked at me expectantly.
“It’s with your guard. He wouldn’t let me bring it in.”
Rising from her desk, she opened the door and returned with the King’s sword.
“May I speak to the Commander?” I asked.
The transformation from the Ambassador to the Commander happened in a
heartbeat. Even the physical features changed from a woman to a man. I had seen it
before, but this time I watched with my other sight. It revealed much.
“What is this for?” the Commander asked. He studied the weapon in his hand.
“Cahil is returning it to you. You won the right to wield it over seventeen years
ago.”
A thoughtful expression settled on his face as he placed the sword on the desk.
“Cahil. What should I do about him?”
I told the Commander about his plans. “He could cause trouble for you in the
future, although I hope my efforts will change his mind.”
“I know Valek would be happy to assassinate him.” He considered that scenario.
“But he might prove useful, especially in dealing with the younger generation.” He
saw my confused frown. “It’ll give them something to do.”
“Or give them someone to rally behind.”
“All part of the fun, I suppose. Is that all?”
“No.” I gave the Commander one of Opal’s glass animals.
He admired the tree leopard and thanked me for the gift.
“The glow you see is magic,” I said.
His gaze pierced me and I felt his sense of betrayal as if I poisoned him. He
placed the statue on the desk. I explained why he could view the fire.
“I can see two souls within your body. Your mother didn’t want to leave you
alone when she died so she stayed with you. Her magic lets you see the glow. And
it’s her fear of discovery that has made you afraid of magic in all its forms.”
Commander Ambrose held his body as if any movement would crack it into a
thousand pieces. “How do you know this?”
“I’m a Soulfinder. I find lost souls and send them to the sky. Does she want to
go? Do you want her to go?”
“I don’t know. I…”
“Think about it. You know where to find me. There’s no time limit.”
I glanced back before I left. He stared at the tree leopard, lost in his thoughts.
Night had fallen while I talked with the Commander. Walking across the silent
campus, I inhaled the warm breeze, soaking in the smells of life and the feel of air on
my skin. I scanned my surroundings, searching for some sign of Valek.
Irys had lit all the lanterns in her tower. Even though she had given me three
floors of the structure for my use, I found myself thinking about a salary, and my
mind drifted to Valek’s cottage in the Featherstone lands. It would be nice to be
close to Kiki and get away from the Council’s and Commander’s politics each night.
The cottage was near the Ixian border, too. It would be neutral territory.
A place of my own. I couldn’t claim any room, cell or dwelling as my own. It
would be the first time. My excitement grew.
I trudged up three floors of the tower to my bedroom. The sparse furnishings
and layer of dust made for an unwelcoming sight, although the bedding was fresh.
I opened the shutters to let in clean air and felt a presence behind me. Without
turning, I demanded, “What took you so long?”
Valek pressed against my back. His arms wrapped around my stomach. “I could
ask you the same thing.” He spun me to face him. “I didn’t want to share you, love.
We have a lot of catching up to do.”
He leaned in and kissed me. I drank in his essence, it soothed my soul.
Eventually, I pulled away, and laid my head on his chest, content to just feel his
heartbeat against my cheek.
“That’s the second time I lost you,” he said. “You would think it would be
easier, but I couldn’t douse the burning pain. I felt like my heart had been pierced by
a spit and was cooking over a fire.”
His arms tightened around me as if he worried I would slip from his grip. “I
would beg you to promise never to disappear again, but I know you won’t.”
“I can’t. Just like you can’t promise to stop being loyal to the Commander. We
both have other duties.”
He huffed with amusement. “We could retire.”
“From being a Liaison, but not a Soulfinder. There are many lost souls to guide.”
Ever the analyst, Valek drew back enough to study me. “How many? It’s been a
hundred-and-twenty-five years since Sitia crisped the last Soulfinder. Hundreds?”
“I don’t know. The Soulfinders documented in the history books were really
Soulstealers. Guyan could have been the only one in the last two thousand years.
Bain would delight in helping me with that assignment. But I will need to travel
around Sitia and Ixia to help them all. Do you want to come? It could be fun.”
“You, me and a couple thousand ghosts? Sounds crowded,” he teased. “At least
you already found one soul, love.”
“Moon Man’s?”
“Mine. And I trust you not to lose it.”
“The only magic to affect the infamous Valek.” It reminded me of a question I
had. While in the shadow world, I had had plenty of time to contemplate every single
facet of him. “How old were you when the King’s men killed your brothers?”
I ignored his questioning look. “How old?”
“Thirteen.” An old sorrow pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“That explains it!”
“Explains what?”
“Why you’re resistant to magic. Thirteen is around the age when people can
access the power source. The trauma of seeing your brothers killed probably caused
you to pull so much power you formed a null shield. A shield so impenetrable you
can no longer access magic.”
“After a season in the underworld, you’re now an expert in all things magical?”
Although he was quick to dismiss the notion, the shock of the revelation was
evident in his wide eyes.
“I’m an expert in all things Valek.”
“Analyze this, love.” He drew me in and kissed me.
When his hands pulled at the fabric of my shirt, I stopped him. “Valek, as much
as I want you to stay, I need you to do a favor for me.”
“Anything, love.”
I smiled at his loyalty. He agreed without hesitation, without knowing what I
needed. “I want you to steal those glass prisons. Hide them in a safe place where no
one will find them. Don’t tell me or anyone else where you put them.”
“You don’t want to know. Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can still be corrupted by magic. And if I ever ask you for their location
you are not to tell me. No matter what. Promise.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.” I felt relieved.
“It may take me a few days or weeks. Where will you be?”
I told him about staying on as the Liaison. “I plan to commandeer a certain
cottage in the Featherstone lands and declare that parcel of land neutral territory.”
“Commandeer?” He smiled.
“Yes. Having safe houses for Ixian spies in Sitia is not very friendly. Spying on
each other is not conducive to the type of open dialogue I want between the two
nations.”
“You’ll need to rebuild the stable. Hire a lad,” Valek teased.
“Don’t worry. I already have a houseboy in mind. A loyal and handsome fellow,
who will be at my beck and call.”
Valek raised an eyebrow as desire danced in his eyes. “Indeed. I’m sure the boy
is most anxious to attend to his duties.”
He slid a hand under my shirt and along my skin. Warmth spread across my
stomach and chest. I tried to move away, but his other arm snaked behind my back.
“You need to finish one job before you begin another,” I said.
“The night has just begun.” He pulled my shirt off. “Plenty of time to take care of
my lady before I run her errand.”
His lips found mine, then he nuzzled my neck. “I must.” He paused to place a line
of kisses down my chest. “Help my lady.” He picked me up and laid me down. “To
bed.”
Then he removed the rest of my garments and all concerns about the glass
prisons disappeared as Valek’s caress took control of my senses. My entire being
focused on the musky smell and smooth feel of him. My lungs filled with Valek’s
breath. My heart pumped Valek’s blood. I thought his thoughts and shared his
pleasure.
The feelings of contentment, peace and joy flowed through our bodies. Locked
tight together, we owned a piece of the sky.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-1344-3
FIRE STUDY
Copyright © 2008 by Maria V. Snyder.
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