Chapter Six

Valek was in his element. After a quick swipe to the backs of his opponent's knees, he managed to fall the man without much effort. Putting aside the bow, he looked around the training yard. It was a few days after a horde of soldiers had "graduated" from basic training and he was lacking in partners. Everyone on the field either already seemed to be sparring with one another, or discussing tactics. Valek sighed.

He looked up as a thin, tall soldier approached him. He had dark brown hair, with a goatee covering a small portion of his chin and part of his ear appeared to be missing. Ah yes, this was one of the more advanced soldiers. When Valek had sparred with him, he had held his own, although Valek had won in the end, of course. Frowning, Valek recalled that during their fight, the soldier had been muttering without end and didn't seem to notice.

As the soldier came closer, Valek recalled his name. Janco, yes, that was it. Searching through his mental files, he remembered that Janco had been a young, petty criminal that was given the choice of joining the army or prison. He had a mother that had despaired over his mischievousness but his father had died of hypothermia when he travelled to the north on a trading route.

"Mind if I join you?" Janco asked.

Valek shrugged and leaned against the railing of the fence. He put his hand in his pocket and felt for the letter from his correspondent to make sure it was still there. The parchment was now crumpled, torn and stained, signs of all the times that he had read her words, again and again.

"So..." Janco choked up, as if his words had been caught in his throat.

Valek glanced over at him inquiringly. What was he doing?

"This is for you, Nutty," Janco muttered under his breath before he began again. He wondered briefly if Valek would kill him for asking a personal question. Probably, he decided, but he still had to arise to the challenge no matter what.

"You've been acting different lately," Janco stated and paused as if to judge Valek's reaction.

Valek merely raised his eyebrows. "Is that so?"

Janco made a visible effort to straighten his posture by throwing his shoulders back and looked Valek directly in the eye. "Yes, you've been smiling more and staring at that sheet of wrinkled paper you always carry around."

Valek felt two things after Janco's brave statement. One, he was feeling panicked (just slightly) at the thought of anyone noticing his interest in the letter. But then, why would Janco care? For all he knew, it could have just been a sheet of paper with nothing but useful business contacts on it. As for the second thing, well, Valek was feeling surprised, extremely so. He hadn't noticed how much he depended on hearing from his correspondent. How a short missive from her would make his life just a bit brighter. How her words lent him strength to continue during a long day of espionage.

"It's just some business contacts," Valek lied smoothly, amazed at himself for even bothering to provide an explanation to a question that was really none of the soldier's business.

"Oh really? Then why are you grinning at it all the time?" Janco challenged, while cringing inside. Why couldn't he resist a challenge thrown at him? And it had to be this challenge, to question the most terrifying man in the castle and issued out by someone he hadn't even met. If Ari knew, he would have chided some sense into him. As it was, Ari would probably have to come in and sweep up his remains after Valek was finished with him.

Meanwhile, Valek was amazed, to say the least. Why would this soldier dare to question him like this? Usually they all shied away from him, as if he was a starving snow cat on the hunt. His reputation had been painstakingly built and he was not about to let a single letter bring it apart.

Luckily, an aide of the Commander's came to fetch Valek before he could answer Janco. When Valek left to see what the Commander wanted, Janco leaned against the fence and sighed in relief while berating himself for not being able to weasel out a confession yet. He would just write Nutty and tell her that Valek had proven to be inpenetrable like a stone wall and that while he had tried very hard, the only thing that he had gotten Valek to say was that the paper included business information. Which Janco was inclined to think was a lie.

Dear Nutty,

I think you're right. Something is going on with him. The only thing that I could get him to tell me about the letter was that the paper held business information. And I know that that's a lie. Who looks at business contacts and grins over them all day?

I'm one of the soldiers that got selected to go with the Commander to Sitia for a diplomatic visit soon. If it's possible for you, let's meet in the Citadel somewhere so I can finally meet you. I wouldn't have taken up that intimidating challenge for just anyone, you know...

Janco went on to describe the thick-headed idiot in response to Nutty's inquiry.

Sorry I haven't update for a while! Exams are in a few days and I have to cram! :)