** Yelena POV **
I sat on the couch in Valek's suit reading one of his books without actually taking in any of the words, when a knock came from the door and jarred me from my day dream.
I rose and strode to the door, opening the various locks and peered around the edge of the door to see who was behind it: a messenger.
"Yes?" I questioned.
"The Commander requests your attendance in the war room." I nodded in confirmation and left the room, relocking the door behind myself.
I soon arrived at the Commander's war room, weaving around the multitude of workspaces to reach the door at the back leading to his study.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked him.
"Yes but I think we should wait for Valek before I begin." We waited less than a minute and Valek strode in, taking his place standing alongside me as our eyes met across the room.
"I have called you both here today because I have received disturbing reports of rebellions breaking out in a few corners of Ixia: MD's 1, 3, 5 and 7. The worst being MD1 and 7. I have had reports saying that the leader of these outbursts is currently in MD7, which is where I plan to send you, Valek. However, I have also heard rumours saying he may be in MD1. I do not wish to leave either area vulnerable which is why I intend to send you there." He purposefully directed his eyes towards me.
"What of MD3 and 5, sir?" Valek questioned.
"I plan to have your seconds, Ari, Janco and Maren, put in charge of aiding the generals in those areas. I fear the generals alone may not have the resources to round up the miscreants in charge of all this mayhem so they will also be taking a portion of soldiers to each area as well. I want you two to do like-wise."
"And how many men would you have us take to each area?"
"I will have the details of the extent of this issue forwarded to you. You can review them later but I will expect your opinion on the supplies needed to counter each of the uprisings by tomorrow morning at the latest."
"Of course."
"Does my liaison have any qualms with my plan?" the Commander asked, directing his gaze at me.
Thinking of no reason to refuse the Commander, I agreed to go to MD1 and left the throne room with Valek. We then parted ways when he said he needed to stop by his office and agreed to meet back at the suit.
When I got back to our rooms I began making preparation for our trips; collecting together all the necessary essentials and placing them in a pile in the spare room – my old room.
I was mostly done when Valek crept in and snuck up behind me, placing his hands on my waist. I probably would have taken a swing at the person had I not had confidence that even if someone could pick Valek's locks, they probably wouldn't be coming in and be touching me so nonchalantly so, instead I spun around and buried my head in his chest, inhaling his scent.
"Are you alright?" Valek asked.
"I don't like this."
"Don't like what?" I looked up at his face and found his ice blue eyes studying me carefully; searching my face for any and all emotions.
"The letter I got from Irys, these rebellions; they are too close together to be coincidental." I had gotten a letter from Irys a few days ago. She had written to tell me of the strange things happening in Sitia; starting with vanishings without an explanation or signs of a struggle. At first she had been worried that someone had uncovered the secrets of blood magic but then the missing people were being spotted leagues away from their homes and refusing to return. They might drop comments such as 'I cannot' or 'I have realised the truth' but they were always cryptic and would refuse to say anymore before disappearing again.
The news had disturbed me and I had been planning to travel back to the citadel until the Commander had revealed Ixia's own strange happenings, and although I wanted to go back to Sitia to deal with its problems, I knew Ixia's were more urgent and I had a feeling that the two might be somehow linked.
A hint of thought crossed Valek's face before he replied. "I'm not sure, but I do think there is something happening. Something that none of us know about." A line appeared between his eyebrows and I felt the need to smooth it out, to make him smile the smile that made everything in the world seem right.
I stretched up on my toes and brushed his lips with mine and when I set myself back on the floor he kissed my forehead in kind. "We should finish our preparations." Valek said brusquely, turning to the pile I had made.
"I think I've got everything." He quickly reeled off a list of his favourite weapons as well as other necessities such as bed rolls and water canisters. When he finished he looked at me with raised eyebrows, a smile tugging at his lips. "What?" I asked putting my hands on my hips and leaning my weight onto one leg.
He answered, "I can't think of anything to add." I pushed him playfully and left the room to collapse on the sofa.
Valek gracefully sat next to me and I curled into him, resting my head in the hollow of his shoulder. "Have you made your decisions for the Commander?"
"I still need to finish reading the reports but I have doubts that anything more than what the Commander told us will come up. But yes, I've chosen the numbers for each of our missions."
"And how many soldiers will I have chasing me?" I asked, looking up at him, smiling.
"Oh just an odd ten…" he replied dismissively.
"I suppose it isn't too bad then."
"I have the utmost confidence in your abilities, Love" he kissed the top of my head and I sank deeper into him, relaxing.
Our conversation diverted to more pleasant things after that, but, with the anticipation of our departures, it did not seem long before the sun was low and the night sky had rolled over the horizon and Valek left the suit to deliver his report to the Commander.