the destruction, Valek headed back to Irys’s tower, cutting through the center of the campus. He stopped at the Fire Memorial. It had been carved from stone to resemble a campfire’s flames. Valek almost lost Yelena during the battle with the Fire Warper. Many people had died in the fight, and their names had been etched onto a plaque on the front side of the memorial. On another side was a list of the names of those who prevented the Warpers from taking control of Sitia. Valek’s name was among them. The one on the back only had two names—Yelena’s and Opal’s. Without them, the Fire Warper would still be a threat.
Valek touched Yelena’s name with a fingertip. Stay strong, love. I’m coming.
When he returned to Irys’s tower, an impulse to visit Yelena’s rooms flared in his chest. Instead of heading down to the tunnel, he climbed up to the third story. And stopped.
A ribbon of yellow light glowed from underneath the door. He pulled a dagger and a small mirror from his pockets. The long, thin handle of the mirror allowed him to peek under the door without tipping off the person or persons inside.
The scent of wood smoke wafted out as he bent to insert the mirror. From this angle, he caught sight of a small fire burning in the hearth and a single pair of boots in front of the couch.
Too curious to leave, Valek straightened, returned the mirror and tested the doorknob. Unlocked. Bracing for an attack, he entered the room. A dark figure stood next to the couch, looking in Valek’s direction, but a wavy translucent shimmer hung between them and made it impossible for Valek to identify the person.
“Uncle Valek?” a young male voice asked. “How did you... Oh!”
The veil dropped.
Teegan rushed to him, throwing his arms around Valek for a quick hug. “I’m so glad to see you!”
“What are you doing here?” Valek asked his not-quite-nephew.
“Waiting for you or Aunt Yelena to show up.”
“Why? And how?”
“Long story.” Teegan raced around and packed up his meager belongings. “Tell you on the way.”
“The way?”
“Yeah. On the way to wherever you’re hiding.”
Valek glanced around, spotting evidence that Teegan had been living here for at least a week. A pile of books teetered near the couch. He couldn’t leave Teegan here, even though it was probably safer than the inn. “Tell me when we get there. We need to keep quiet.”
“Okay.” Teegan poured a bucket of water onto the fire, dousing the flames. Thick smoke boiled up the chimney. Teegan followed Valek’s gaze. “It’s too dark to see it.”
“But not to smell it,” Valek said.
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Remember it for next time. Let’s go.”
Many questions rose in his mind as Valek escorted Teegan through the tunnel and during the circuitous route around the Citadel. Only when Valek was satisfied no one followed them did he head to the inn.
Teegan stayed with the horses while Valek checked the rooms. His agent waited inside Valek’s.
“Report,” Valek ordered.
“All quiet. No trouble,” the man said.
“Good. Get some sleep. We’re meeting in the dining room in the morning. Tell the others.”
“Yes, sir.”
Valek fetched Teegan. Once the boy was comfortable, he said, “Tell me why you were alone in Irys’s tower and spare no details.”
“Do you know about the Theobroma in the Keep’s food?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know why everyone went basically crazy, believing the Commander is going to attack Sitia and they had to help fight. Convinced of the danger, groups of magician and students took off for the garrisons until only a few support staff remained. I didn’t feel this compulsion, and I thought it was because I’m a student of Master Irys and she must be protecting me. But when I surprised her by showing up for a morning lesson, she determined that I must be strong enough to resist the magic, even with Theobroma in my body. Just like her and Master Bain.”
Valek jumped on that bit of news. “Masters Irys and Bain aren’t affected?”
“No.”
“Then why did they follow Bruns’s orders?”
“Because they didn’t have anyone else but me to help them. Because they thought it better to pretend to be influenced and gather information until you and Aunt Yelena planned a way to stop Bruns’s Cartel.”
Such trust. Valek hoped not to disappoint them, but his main goal—rescuing Yelena—would come first. And then it hit him. “You have master-level powers!”
Teegan grinned. “I have to take the test first, but this kind of confirmed it.”
Great news, except Teegan was only fourteen