“At ease, men,” Bavol said in a commanding tone that promised pain if disobeyed. Impressive.
“You don’t give orders,” one man protested.
“I am Councilman Bavol Cacao Zaltana. This is Councilwoman Shaba Greenblade. We do indeed give the orders. Stand down. Now.”
The tips of their weapons wavered.
“Fetch Bruns Jewelrose,” Bavol ordered. “Tell him we await his immediate presence in my office.” Bavol strode into the Council Hall without waiting for an acknowledgment.
Shaba and I followed him. We made it as far as the middle of the lobby. Bruns stood on the stairs amid an impressive array of armed soldiers, Cilly Cloud Mist and a few other magicians. A sly smile spread on Bruns’s face.
I sucked in a breath. Showtime.
Cilly met my gaze. She pressed her lips together, and I sensed a light touch of magic in my mind before it was swallowed by the baby. Confusion creased her expression before she smoothed it out.
Baby, one. Cilly, zero.
“Ah, there you are, Bruns,” Bavol said.
“Bavol, what a...surprise. You shouldn’t have come. It’s much too dangerous for you here.”
So he was going to act civilized. At least, for now.
“Nonsense. This is where I and the rest of the Sitian Council should be. Don’t you agree?”
“No. The Commander has spies and assassins everywhere.”
“We accepted that risk when we were voted by our people to oversee Sitian affairs and protect our citizens. Thanks for stepping in, Bruns, but you’re dismissed. Councilwoman Greenblade and I will take it from here until the others arrive.” Bavol swept a hand out, indicating the crowd. “Everyone, report back to your stations until further notice.”
No one moved.
Bruns clapped. “Bravo. A very convincing performance. However, you don’t know your audience very well. All of them are loyal to me. No Theobroma needed.”
It made sense, but we’d hoped at least a few had been coerced and were beginning to wake up. Time for plan B. Glancing over my shoulder, I confirmed that all the guards were focused on the action happening inside the hall. Then I reached under my tunic and withdrew a glass storm orb. My baby bump diminished by half the size.
Holding it high above my head in both hands, I said, “Surrender now, or I’ll blow us all to bits!”
Many of the soldiers took a step back, but Bruns said, “She’s bluffing. She wouldn’t kill herself or her baby. This is truly pathetic, Yelena. What do you hope to accomplish?”
“Aww, shucks, Bruns, you saw right though me. You’re right. I’m not going to kill us all. I just wanted to distract you.” I tossed the orb at the staircase and grinned when they all flinched.
It shattered and released a thick white fog. The smoke swirled without direction for a second, but then raced up and down the steps with enough force to knock people down as they tried to flee. Heli stood near the door. She focused on controlling the air while Fisk and his helpers entered.
“The gas won’t last long,” I said over the roar of the wind. “Prick them with the Curare. It should work.”
The kids moved like scavengers over the bodies. But there were two missing—Bruns and Cilly.
They hadn’t come down, so they must have gone up to one of the upper floors.
“Bavol, stay here with Shaba. When the reinforcements arrive, you need to convince them you’re in charge,” I said. “Heli and Fisk, come with me.”
Fisk pulled his knives, and I loaded my blowpipe. We sprinted up the steps, being careful not to step on anyone.
“How do you want to do this?” he asked. “Room by room?”
“Is there another exit?” Heli asked.
“The Masters’ entrance,” I said.
“This way!” Fisk cut down an empty hallway.
Why was I surprised Fisk knew about it? Little scamp enjoyed ferreting out little-known facts like that. At the end of the hall was a stairway to the ground floor. I paused a moment to listen. Not a sound. Not even the pounding of boots. Good or bad?
“Are you sure they went this way?” Heli asked me.
“No. But they can’t escape, so if they didn’t, they’re still in the building.”
We descended two stories. The stairwell ended in a large room where the Masters changed into their formal robes before attending Council meetings. The expensive silk material swayed in the breeze blowing in from the open door.
Fisk cursed and crossed the room at a run with Heli on his heels. Magic brushed my thoughts.
“I see them!” Fisk pointed outside.
“There they are,” Heli said.
Before I could stop them, they raced into the empty street. The door slammed shut behind them, plunging the room into darkness.
I yanked my switchblade but wasn’t quick enough. A knife poked my stomach with its sharp tip. I froze.
“Drop it,” Bruns said on my left.
Could he see in the dark? I released my blowpipe. It clattered to the floor.
“And the knife.”
Damn. I let go of that as well.
“I’d love to gut you right now, but I need you. Later,” he promised. “Cilly, search her for weapons.”
The woman was quite thorough. Too bad she didn’t prick her finger on one of my darts. Once she’d collected most of them, Bruns instructed her to lead the way.
He grabbed my upper arm, but his knife remained in place. “Move.” He pushed me up the stairs.