Maria Snyder - Dawn Study

That time I’d been ambushed in the woods. Cahil had believed I was an Ixian traitor and planned to deliver me to the Sitian Council in chains. We’d gone on to become friends, then enemies, and finally called a cease-fire when he was promoted to be a general in the Sitian army and I was named Liaison. However, the last time I saw Cahil, he was taking orders from the Cartel. Was he still under Bruns’s influence?

“And I escaped.”

“True. But you had your magic then.”

He had a point. I studied him. Was Cahil aware that the Commander’s invasion was just a ruse to give control of the garrisons to the Cartel? That Bruns planned to use the Sitian military to take over Sitia without ever going to war? That Owen Moon practically ruled Ixia?

Now might not be the best time to broach the subject.

“What? No smart comment?”

I shrugged. “Too easy.”

He laughed. “Some things never change.”

Tired of the game, I asked, “Can we skip all this? What do you want, Cahil?”

Cahil gestured to the wall. “Secure her,” he ordered his people.

Resisting netted me a number of bruises, but I managed to knee one of the guys in the groin and kick another in the shin—a small victory, considering they chained my wrists to the rough stones with my arms spread wide. My ankles were manacled together and secured to the wall, as well.

While my situation had gone from bad to worse, I just couldn’t contain my amusement. “Are you that scared of me, Cahil?”

His cheeks turned red, and he ordered the others out of his office. Closing the door, he turned to me with a dangerous expression. “I know you, Yelena. I know what you’re capable of. What situations you’ve escaped from. This—” he swept his hand at me “—is excessive for a normal person, but you’re far from normal.”

“Is that a compliment, Cahil?”

“If it makes you feel better, then yes. It is.”

“Good to know you wish me to feel better. I was beginning to worry that you meant me harm, Cahil.” I kept using his name to remind him of the time when we were once friends. A trick Valek had taught me.

He rubbed his hand over his jaw and leaned on the desk, as if suddenly tired. A haunted emptiness clouded his expression, and for the first time since seeing Cahil, I feared for my life.

“What do you want, Cahil?”

“To talk with you.”

I bit back a sarcastic comment about having to work on his invitation skills. “I’m willing to talk to you, Cahil, but am I talking to you or to Bruns?”

“That doesn’t make any sense. I report to Bruns.”

“Does Bruns know you’re here?”

“Of course.”

Not good. “What is this place?”

“My base of operations.” He quirked a smile. “I never felt secure in the one they assigned me in the Council Hall, so I constructed my own. And I took a page from Valek’s spy book and recruited a group of loyal people.”

“And you used this network to help Bruns and the rest of the Cartel.”

“Yes. They wanted to protect Sitia, and the Council refused to see the need.”

Old news. “And now?”

“Why are you fighting the Cartel? Don’t you want to see Sitia safe for your child?”

A loaded question. “I’m fighting Bruns to keep Sitia safe.”

“Yet another statement that doesn’t make sense.”

“And I won’t be able to explain it to you, Cahil.”

“Why not?”

“You won’t believe me. You’ve been indoctrinated.”

He paced in agitation. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that since you’ve been ingesting Theobroma for seasons, you’re all under his control. None of you can think for yourselves any longer.”

Cahil shook his head, stopping in front of me. “No. The Commander is a threat to Sitia. And Bruns is a genius. He’s combined our resources, and we finally have an advantage over the Commander’s army. We don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“I agree, he’s innovative. But what happens if the Commander doesn’t invade Sitia?”

“Our intel says he’s planning to attack soon after the fire festival.”

“Which Bruns learned from Valek.”

Cahil frowned.

“And why did he order you to the Citadel to find me? Aren’t you supposed to be leading the Sitian army against a major attack in four months?”

“Because he knew I’d get the job done. You can’t argue about that.” He gestured to my chains.

“Fair point. But couldn’t you have told someone else how to trap me? I’m sure you have more important things to do.”

“It doesn’t work that way. Can you just tell someone how to find souls?”

Score another for Cahil. I changed tactics. “What happens if the Commander doesn’t wage war?” I asked again.

A mulish look settled on his face.

“Nothing happens, right? If the Commander is such a threat to Sitia’s safety, then why doesn’t Bruns plan to invade Ixia and take care of that threat once and for all?”

“We’re not like the Ixians. We value life. As long as we’re ready, the Commander won’t invade.”

I sagged against the wall. He’d been fully brainwashed. Nothing I could say would change his mind. “When is Bruns coming to kill me and the baby?”

Cahil stilled. “I haven’t told him you’re here.”

Oh? I waited.

“The Commander’s new assassin is in town. She and Valek were spotted having quite the battle on the rooftops and, I’m not sorry to say, your husband wasn’t doing very well.”

I kept my expression neutral despite the pain squeezing my heart into pulp.

“Our intel says that after she kills Valek, she’ll be coming after you next.”

Not a surprise, but still it felt like a kick to my stomach. “You’re going to let an Ixian do your dirty work?”

“Yes. You see, despite your current efforts to undermine Bruns, Sitians like you. If Bruns or I were to execute you, it wouldn’t be well received. But if the Commander is responsible for your death, the people will be upset and continue to support our efforts.”

Ah, hell. A smart move, although I was surprised Bruns agreed. Or had he? “Bruns doesn’t know what you plan to do.”

“Bruns had his chance to kill you, and he screwed it up because he wanted you as a showpiece.”

“What if Valek kills Onora?”

“Then I let one of the assassins in town score fifty golds. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve work to do.” He headed for the door.

“Cahil.”

He paused without looking at me.

“If Onora comes for me, can you free me from these chains and return my switchblade?”

“You won’t beat her.”

“I’d rather die fighting than chained to this wall.”

He met my gaze. “All right.”

* * *

Waiting was never fun. However, when I considered what I was waiting for... I forced my thoughts away, but of course they just circled right back around. If Valek won the fight with Onora, I might emerge from this situation alive. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t. Unless Fisk’s people moved in before Onora could. My emotions flipped from optimistic hope to fatalistic numbness and back again.

In order to remain sane, I focused on how I could protect the baby. I concentrated on what I could do. Me, and not any what-if scenarios about being rescued. But after looking at every possibility, I conceded that my chance of survival was close to zero.

Time limped along, and one of Cahil’s agents came by to feed me a handful of grapes. The voices in the other room eventually died, and the lanterns were turned down. They must be stopping for the night.

The thought of a night spent chained to the wall produced mixed feelings. The longer I remained alive, the greater the hope of rescue. Besides, stiff muscles and discomfort were a mere inconvenience if it meant Valek lived.