Eventually we slowed as the tight rows of factories broke into single dwellings and dwindled into farms, stopping only when we reached the relative safety of the forest.
I dropped my saddlebags and collapsed onto the ground, panting for breath.
Janco sat next to me. “We should wait a few hours before returning for the horses.”
“Guarded, remember?”
“Oh yes. I can’t forget that. It’s what started this whole adventure in the first place.”
“Your miscalculation?”
“Unfortunately. I went to check on Moonlight and Quartz and make sure no one had come around asking questions about them. Two Sandseed horses in the same stable—heck, in the same town—is a rare occurrence. In fact, I thought it was rather stupid of us to stable them together and I wanted to correct our mistake.” Janco lay on his back, staring at the sky. Stars dotted the blackness. No moon. “I hate it when I’m right in a bad way. Even though I circled the stable a few times, two of the town’s guards had found a perfect place to wait.”
“Perfect?”
“A sweet blind spot with a clear view of the stable. The game was up the second they marked me. Good thing I’m fast.”
“How are we going to get the horses? Won’t the guards wait in that same place again?” I asked.
“Heck no. They’ll probably confiscate the horses and stable them right next to their headquarters.”
“That helps us how?”
“It’s a better place for a distraction.”
“Do I want to know what you’re planning?”
“No. It’s better you don’t.” He paused. “Do those Greenblade bees of yours have to sting?”
I crouched in a shadow. Exhaustion clung to me and I wished Carleen’s soft pillows surrounded me instead of my glass bees. Torches blazed near the station house, and activity teemed inside and outside the building despite the late hour. Janco had gone to fetch his distraction.
Dozing lightly, I woke to bawdy ballads.
“…she closed her knees, not one to please…” A drunken voice sang out loud and off-key.
The rumble of a team of horses shook the ground under me. Four horses, pulling a loaded wagon and an equally loaded driver, entered the bright torchlight. Livestock crates had been haphazardly piled inside the wagon, but it was too dark to see what type of animal the crates contained.
The drunk’s horrible singing drew the soldier’s interest and a few of them stepped outside to investigate.
“…oh please go down on your knees and let me ease—”
“Hey, buddy,” one soldier called.
“Whoa!” The drunk stopped the horses.
“The harness isn’t secured,” the soldier said. “You’re going to lose your team.”
“Well, I’ll be a pile of sugar near an anthill!” The drunk muttered and tried to step down from the wagon. He slipped and ended up sprawling on the ground.
Only Janco could make a pratfall look graceful. He swayed to his feet and tried to fix the harness, making it worse.
“Sir, you shouldn’t be driving a team in your condition.” The soldier pulled the straps from Janco’s hands.
“Ah, hell, man. The horses drive themselves. I’m just here for entertainment. Hey, did you hear the song about the one-breasted woman finding love with a one-armed man?” Janco launched into the song as he retrieved the reins and attempted to secure the horses.
A significant look passed between two soldiers. They book-ended Janco and offered to help him, pulling him away from the team. He staggered over to lean on his wagon.
By this time, more soldiers had joined their colleagues. And it was my cue to circle around to the back of the wagon.
“Mighty decent of you fellows,” Janco said. “While you’re hooking them up, I’ll get you some of my home-brewed honey.”
“Are you a beekeeper?”
“Yep. The best of the best. No one has bees like me.” He giggled. “Bee like me. That rhymes.” Janco slapped his thigh.
The soldiers unhooked the team.
“We’ll guard your horses and goods,” a soldier said. “Lieutenant Hunter will escort you inside to sleep it off.”
“Mighty nice of you fellows, but I have a schedule to keep. Let me get you some of my honey. This stuff has quite the kick to it.”
When I reached my position, Janco climbed and fell into the wagon, crashing into one of the crates. It broke open underneath him.
“Whoops. That’s not good.”
I cracked open eight glass bees and instructed four of them to buzz by the horses’ ears and swing around the soldiers a few times without stinging anyone. The other four I sent inside the building to harass the soldiers within. I repeated the order that they do not sting.
As predicted, the horses panicked and the soldiers scattered. I crept toward the stables and sent a few more bees to chase out the ambush Janco said waited for us. Sure enough, three men bolted from various hiding spots.
Janco joined me as I opened Quartz and Moonlight’s stall doors. Unease twisted in my stomach as I mounted Quartz. I hadn’t ridden bareback before. Janco hopped on Moonlight and spurred him toward the back fence. The black horse leaped the barrier without trouble. I urged Quartz to follow. I hadn’t jumped a horse, either. Heck of a time to find out if I could do both together.
I held her mane and pressed my legs against her sides. The fence grew taller as we neared. I closed my eyes and let Quartz take control. She launched and we sailed. The landing almost jarred me loose, but she jigged to the side and I regained my balance.
We caught up to Janco and Moonlight. He was all smiles. “Never a dull moment with you, Opal. Did you see the size of those bees?” He whistled in appreciation. “I swear, one guy wet himself. And I never knew a man could scream at such a high pitch.”
While glad to have the horses back, I worried about our distraction. “You better hope no one was stung. Otherwise, a murder charge will be added to our arrest warrants.”
We returned to our makeshift camp to pick up our bags and headed north. With each stride, I knew the chances of finding Ulrick again diminished. He could be anywhere, and every city had been alerted to watch for us. After I’d paid for new saddles and tack with the last of my coins, I realized it was time to admit defeat.
“I could always steal—”
“No, Janco. We’re in enough trouble. It’s time for me to return home.”
For once, I wasn’t tempted to go through the Avibian Plains. I wanted to prolong our trip back to the Citadel.
After nine days on the road, sleeping on the ground and eating nothing but rabbits and berries, I was ready to return. I missed my friends, my sister, Zitora and working in the glass shop. I wished Kade could stand with me when I faced the Sitian Council.
We had no trouble sneaking into the Citadel even with two horses. Janco’s knowledge of the backstreets and shortcuts through the Citadel aided our ease of travel, but caused me to wonder.
“I thought Ixia stopped sending people to spy on us,” I said.
“Oh…well…I did spend a great deal of time here during the Warper Battle.” Janco’s grin widened.
“Uh-huh. That’s not very neighborly. Does Yelena know?” I asked. As the liaison between Ixia and Sitia, Yelena worked to keep the peace.
“Know what?” He feigned ignorance.
I let the subject drop. With plenty of time to contemplate my return to the Citadel, I had decided to go to the Magician’s Keep first and seek out Zitora before turning myself in to the Council. I wanted to explain if she’d allow me.
Constructed with green-veined white marble, the Citadel’s outer walls encased a complex maze of residences and businesses. It also housed the Sitian government buildings and the Magician’s Keep.
By the time we arrived within sight of the Keep’s main gate, it was well after midnight. I hoped Zitora was still awake.
Janco handed me Moonlight’s reins and hugged me tight. “I kept my promise to escort you home safely.”
“Aren’t you going to come in with me? I need you as a witness.”