First Poison Study fic, hooray! I've wanted to put these thoughts onto paper for a little while, but they didn't really fit together, but I've fixed them up and here they are! Please review!
Valek rubbed his face with both hands in an attempt to clear his thoughts. He couldn't think, his mind was blurred.
It didn't make sense. Ever since Yelena arrived, nothing had made sense. Valek tapped his desk with the end of his quill, more had happened that night in the forest than Yelena let on.
He strongly doubted a master magician would run from him, leaving Yelena. Valek knew that his reputation had spread to the furthest corners of the districts, but powerful magicians were cocky.
Why hadn't the magician murdered Yelena? No one would have known what happened, a nice clean murder. Magic left no trace, and even if the Magician was unable to dispatch of Yelena, why not just take her with them? A hostage might have come in handy.
Although after a second of thought, he understood why the magician hadn't carried out that particular motion. Nobody would exchange anything for a mere food taster.
Except Me.
Valek gritted his teeth in annoyance and banished all personal thoughts from his mind. He had to concentrate.
If the magician wanted Yelena dead, then Yelena wouldn't have had a chance. Unless she had managed to fight the Sitian off. An impossible prospect, Valek disregarded it offhand.
Although, he had underestimated Yelena before. Valek recovered the thought and slotted it at the back of his mind, then removed it again. Judging by what he managed to decipher, the magician he was dealing with powerful, and not just powerful, but intelligent.
He blew a thin stream of air through his teeth, and stared at a file in front of him. Though his eyes were unobservant of the writing, he needed something, anything, to inspire him.
The file didn't seem willing to share any incredible ideas.
In one smooth movement, Valek stood up, grabbed two of the small rocks always kept on his desk, and began to pace. Throwing the rocks from hand to hand, the smooth contours and natural solidarity calmed him. Why was the magician after Yelena in the first place? It didn't add up. Unless Brazell had hired him.
Magicians for hire. That was a new one. He smirked at his own weak joke.
He considered a new theory. Perhaps the magician was hiding in the castle, but that wouldn't explain-
"I can't think." Valek growled. He spun round and hurled one rock at the wall, it struck with a bang. Unknowingly scaring away a young boy trying to muster up the courage to knock on his door.
One word wouldn't be dislodged from Valek's mind. It refused to be dismissed. It clouded every other thought.
Magician.
Valek's legs jarred, he abruptly stopped his repetitive walk as realisation hit him. He grabbed the side of his desk for support. His rock fell to the floor, a vibration washed through the floorboards. Valek didn't even notice. It didn't even remotely compare to the shivers running through his veins.
The magician wasn't here to kill Yelena, as almost everyone else was, No. A hoarse, furious laugh escaped Valek's throat. He gripped the desk corner tighter as the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place.
Yelena was a magician. She was being taken to Sitia. Supposedly under Valek's radar. He scowled. He'd see about that. He threw open his office door, and nearly bowled over a little boy. He cowered away when he saw Valek's face.
"What are you doing here?" Valek said, his words tipped with ice cold daggers. The boy looked up at him, his eyes were wide and his chest rose and fell rapidly, the young boy had been running, and running fast. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a shout from down the corridor. Before Valek or the boy could react, a group of around 13 soldiers ran around the corner. They too, were panting heavily.
The boy gave a yelp, sprinted between Valek's legs and hid behind him. Valek automatically scanned the men, he didn't recognise their uniforms. The Front soldier observed the boy, and then his eyes travelled up Valek's torso until they reached his face. The soldier smiled predatorily.
"Please sir, you have to help me... oh god-" The child buried his face in the fabric of Valek's trouser leg.
"We've finally got the little rat!" The leading soldier shouted, and made a grab at the petrified child. Valek blocked the soldier's hand. The man looked at Valek as if he had only just noted his existence. Valek gave him a cold look.
"Hand him over." The man glared at the man blocking the path between him and his prey. Though Valek saw a glint of uncertainty in the soldier's eyes, the man wasn't sure of Valek's motives in protecting the child, or how far he was willing to go.
"What's the boys' crime?" Valek asked, reaching behind him to lay a protective hand on the child's back.
"That devil of a child has been accused of stealing and using magic." The soldier glared at the child, the boy watched him, his muscles tense, ready to run.
"Thirteen of you onto one boy? This is evidently too much for you to handle." A smile tugged at Valek's lips. He waved his arm, His smirk barely supressed. "Get along with you."
One of the soldier's standing in the small crowd snarled and pushed to the front. "Who the hell do you think you are?" He yelled, spittle flying out of his mouth.
The boys grip tightened. Valek gave the man a bored look.
The leader exhaled in a rush of Smokey air, pushing the other soldier out of his way. "Stand aside and my men will not harm you."
Valek smiled humourlessly.
"You obviously didn't hear what I said." The man stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His face held a horrible scowl. "This is none of your business, surrender the boy before you get hurt."
Valek narrowed his eyes. "You obviously don't know who I am. I won't tell you again. Get out of here."
The man pulled his sword from his belt. "You stand with the criminal?"
Valek didn't say anything. The boy looked at him with pleading eyes. Valek ignored him.
"Very well." The soldier shrugged. "You will die first." He pointed a gloved finger at Valek's chest.
"Kill him."
Two soldiers advanced on Valek. Without taking his eyes off his challengers, Valek pried the boy off his leg and pushed the child behind him. Valek watched the men, one held a knife and the other a sword. They circled him. Valek rolled his eyes.
Suddenly one lunged at Valek, his knife held out in front of him.
Valek whirled round, grabbed the soldier's wrist and twisted it around until the man flipped, knocking his companion over, unbalanced, the soldier slashed wildly. Valek caught the sword and neatly slit his first opponent's throat.
He then ducked to avoid a lash from the other man's knife. Valek whirled around, stabbing the soldier straight through the chest. Valek kicked the dying man and his body slipped off Valek's sword. More men ran forward to take their friends places, and they kept coming. One by one, Valek dispatched them.
Valek was engaged in a sword fight with the remaining soldiers, when a terrified scream echoed throughout the corridor. Valek weaved out of the soldiers range and turned his attention to the direction of the scream.
One soldier that Valek hadn't noticed was proceeding to injure the boy with his knife so he would be easier to grab. The boy was much younger and faster, but even then he dodged the knife narrowly. The soldier swiped and stabbed, but the boy was faster. Valek turned back to quickly get rid of the last of the soldiers, he was fighting the last one when he again glanced over his shoulder to check the boy. The soldier nearly had the boy, a minute at most and he would be dead.
Valek took a step towards the offending soldier, reaching into his secret pocket for a Knife. Then, without warning, a sword whipped through the air where he had just been standing, slashing his arm. Valek jumped back as his attacker swiped again. Dammit. Concentrate. Valek told himself as he eluded more attempts at his throat. It wasn't long before Valek disarmed the man and hit him on the temple with his sword hilt. Valek turned back to the boy.
The child ducked and ran to the left, his eyes on his pursuer. He hadn't noticed the second man, Valek opened his mouth to warn him, but his warning never passed his lips, the man swiped at the boy and the knife hit him in the chest. With a cry, the boy fell to the ground, his arms wrapped around his bleeding torso.
With a shout of rage Valek hurled a knife at the soldier, he knelt over, dead. He then leapt on the other one, plunging another dart into his neck. He fell at Valek's feet.
Valek kicked him out of the way and scooped the boy into his arms. He then turned and ran towards the medic. He burst through the infirmary's doors and looked around for the medic. She came bustling out of her office.
"What's happened now Valek? What have you done to your arm this time? I'll get you a bandage." Her hawklike gaze shifted to the limp child in Valek's arms. "And who's this boy; he'd better not be carrying disease-"
Valek pulled his hand away from the boy's chest, it was sticky with blood. The Medic gasped when she saw the puncture mark.
"Alright give him here. Hurry up!" The medic took the boy into her arms and started yelling at her staff. They scurried off in various directions to get stiches, antiseptic, and sleeping draught. All thoughts of Valek's arm forgotten.
The boy smiled weakly at Valek before he was whisked away by the medic. Valek watched as he disappeared from sight.
Valek strode through the castle, towards Ambrose's office. When he reached it, he didn't bother knocking; he opened the door, swept soundlessly into the room and leant on Ambrose's desk with a scowl on his face.
"Would you like to tell me why there are new soldiers strutting around assuming my duties?" He snapped.
"It's nice to see you too, Valek." The Commander said.
Valek straightened.
"I'm not in the mood, Ambrose. Corrupt is the most favourable thing I could say about them. Tell me who they are."
"Precautionary measures." The Commander answered.
"Precautionary?" Valek said, fury stained his words. "You hire trained killers and call it precautionary?"
"Precautionary has a wider berth now, Valek." The Commander said, the tone of his voice suggested The Commander thought Valek knew what he was referring too.
Valek crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. Ambrose glanced at Valek's cut arm, dripping blood on his carpet, but he didn't comment.
"It hasn't escaped my attention that Yelena has vanished, Valek." The Commander tensed. Probably being smuggled through Sitia's borders as we speak."
"The butterfly's dust-"
"Will most likely be counteracted with Sitian medicine." The Commander interrupted.
"I already knew about Yelena, sir. I was on my way to inform you." Valek fumed.
"That doesn't sound like you. You never report anything till after you've done it." The Commander said. "What took you so long?" He added as an afterthought.
"I was detained." Valek didn't appear eager to expand his answer.
"How so?"
Valek shot the commander a venomous look. "By your precautions." Valek spat. The Commander opened his mouth to answer, but Valek had already stalked out of the room, closing the door with a soft click behind him.
Did you like it? Any ideas for my next chapter? Tell me by reviewing :D Thank you!