Jen strode down the hall toward her father’s office in The Citadel, the hard soles of her boots tapping on the stone floor. He’d summoned her earlier and she hoped he had a new mission planned for her and her squad. The war had ended after Damien blasted that dragon and while the feast and all the compliments had been nice, she wanted to get back out in the field. Maybe he’d send them out to hunt down some stray ogres, that would be a good workout.

She reached back and brushed the hilt of her new sword where it jutted up over her shoulder. It still felt warm from the remnants of her brother’s soul force. She shook her head. Some of the things Damien had done boggled her mind, and crafting the sword was the least of them.

Her little brother had grown strong. Jen went back and forth between pride in all that he’d accomplished and sadness that he no longer seemed to need her.

The cadets were all in class or outside training and the empty halls agreed with Jen. It seemed like she couldn’t take a step out of her room without attracting stares. The boys had always stared, of course, she’d made peace with that years ago.

But since the war, the stares had a different quality. The desire was still there, but now there was a little awe and fear mixed in. She didn’t really understand it since her brother had done most of the extraordinary stuff, but she’d been there and survived, so maybe that was enough.

Damien told her how people at The Tower avoided him after the demon incident and she wondered if she was going through something similar. Whatever it was she’d be glad to get out of The Citadel for a while.

Her father’s office door had a golden shield nailed to it, a replica of the badge of office he wore pinned to his uniform. She knocked and pushed the door open. The spartan room matched Dad’s personality. He sat at a simple oak desk in a hard, straight-backed chair. A stand for the demon sword—she’d never gotten comfortable with Damien calling it by its nickname—rested at his right hand. She knew Dad could have the blade out and at a person’s throat faster than she could blink. A three-shelf bookcase filled with military manuals along with a pair of chairs for guests completed the furnishings.

Jen ignored the two empty chairs in front of the desk and stood with her hands clasped behind her back. “Reporting as ordered, sir.”

Dad looked up for the first time. “Jennifer, sit down. I have your next mission.”

Eager now, Jen slid into the left-hand chair. “Yes, sir.”

He steepled his fingers and looked at her through the gaps. “What I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. Unfortunately a number of people know already, but I’d just as soon not spread the information any faster than necessary. An attempt was made on the king’s life two days ago.”

Jen’s breath caught in her throat.

“Andy’s fine,” her father hastened to add. “Your brother was there and he captured the assassin. The report I received says he saved a lot of lives. If they didn’t want to keep it quiet I suspect he’d be up for another medal.”

Jen caught the barest hint of pride in her father’s voice. Maybe he and Damien would finally become a little closer. “That’s a relief. Do you want my squad to track down whoever hired him?”

“Her, not him, and no, I don’t. The interrogators persuaded the assassin to talk. They know who hired her. Your brother’s looking into that end.”

Jen frowned. If Dad didn’t want them to track down whoever hired the killer, what was their mission?

“Are you familiar with a merchant prince named Dominic Santen?”

“Of course, anyone that’s spent any time in Port Valcane knows the Santen family. They own a third of all the businesses in the city and rumor is they control another third indirectly. Why?”

Dad drummed his fingers together. “The assassin used an illusion of Dominic Santen to sneak into the throne room and now, according to the Valcane watch, Dominic is missing. Your job is to find him and determine if he’s collaborating with the assassin or if he’s a victim.”

“Why us? The Valcane watch is competent, never mind that their captain is a pig. Surely they can track down a missing merchant.”

Dad nodded. “I’m sure they could. The problem is we have no idea how many of them have divided loyalties. Since the Santen family controls so much of the city we can assume they have more than a few watchmen in their pockets.”

“And if they’re working with whoever hired the assassin we can’t count on the watch’s loyalty.” Jen saw it clearly now. “I understand. It’ll take us a month to ride to the coast.”

“No, it won’t. You remember Master Shen?”

Jen nodded. The good-natured sorcerer had taught her class the basics of surviving an encounter with a sorcerer. Run the other way as fast as you can.

“Master Shen will fly your team to the city then remain there in case you need sorcerous backup. The assassin they hired was a sorcerer after all. Questions?”

“No, sir.” Jen stood. “Dead or alive, we’ll find him.”

Dad nodded. “Be careful. I have no idea what sort of mess you’re walking into.”