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When he finished checking the obvious locations, he tried to think like Leif The or security forces would be keeping an eye out for him But what about Leif’s horse? Valek visited every stable in town, seeking Rusalka Hours after the sun set, he’d exhausted all his ideas and was starving Valek entered the Pig Pen for asupper at his favorite eatery in Fulgor

The Pig Pen was crowded like usual; however, an undercurrent of tension buzzed through the place Valek spotted the source of the apprehension Four soldiers sat at the bar The stools of Opal’s soldier friends, Nic and Eve, were empty, just like their apartments had been Valek found a table away from the bar and ordered the beef stew and an ale froulars kept giving Valek the once-over, but he ignored them

When the server returned with his order, she slipped a note into his hand Valek glanced up and aze for a briefthe bar

With a sick tightness ruining his appetite, Valek unfolded the parchment The note informed him that Leif, Devlen and Reearrison’s stockade And that Nic, Eve and Opal were away on a mission

Ah, hell

Since he’d proer options Fisk’s people had been recalled, and Valek hadn’t replaced his own agents A few of Nic and Eve’s colleagues in the security forces ht help him, but he doubted they would without Nic and Eve around to vouch for him Guess it would a one-man operation for now

Valek spent the next three days watching the garrison and learning the delivery schedule Each night, handfuls of soldiers headed to town for a few hours before stuht, Valek donned a stolen uniforuards at the gate waved theician stationed there barely scanned their thoughts before returning to sleep

Since this was a reconnaissancea feel for the place In thehall He munched on apples to avoid the foods laced with Theobro faces for Devlen or Leif, Valek wondered if they’d been here long enough to have been assimilated, or if they reuys, but when they headed to the training yard, he peeled off and uards watched the single-story building, which meant someone important was inside

He’d bet a dozen gold coins it was Leif, and that the Cartel planned to use hi a rescue Would they expect one so soon? Valek considered Getting into the base wouldn’t be difficult It would be leaving with Leif and Devlen, who o, that would be almost impossible Valek needed time to think and plan He searched for a spot to hide for the rest of the day

While checking out the stables for possible locations to wait, one of the kids running errands paused next to hiht," whispered the girl

Valek glanced at her Relief warred with concern "Reeh a warren of buildings She entered one of the s the door, she lit a lantern and scowled at him "Don’t you know they’ve set a trap for you? You need to leave"

Heon Why are--"

"All right I guess you can’t leave until dark anyway Sit down" Reeestured to a couple barrels next to a small table She pulled her cap off, and her blond corkscrew curls sprang free Drawing in a breath, she said, "My dad and I were arrested a few days after my mom left He was locked in the stockade, but they didn’t think I--" she held up her hands and curled her fingers in mock quotes "--posed a threat They put or to run errands"

"Conscripted?"