Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2)

by B. T. Narro

  When Kataleya practiced casting Water, the water she created out of her mana was spherical and about a third the volume as Leon’s spell in front of us. But Leon didn’t even seem strained as he checked to make sure I was watching.

  “You see how much denser the water is than usual?”

  “I do. That’s just because you added uD to the spell?”

  “Not only because of that. The density also has to do with the power I’ve put into it, but just like with your healing spell, the power I can put into it greatly depends on the notes of mana I use. By adding Upper D, I don’t have to work as hard because the mana already knows to form a dense wall. That’s how we know uD is part of the water school. The same experiment has been done with fire, but obviously I’m not going to show you that. Now look down to make sure there’s no one below before I drop this.”

  I leaned out the window and saw my friend leaning against the wall of the great hall, taking one of his many breaks.

  “Michael!” I called down. “Move out of—”

  The sudden falling water startled me. Michael was just starting to look up as it crashed down onto his face. He was knocked onto his back as the water drenched him.

  He spat water out of his mouth. “What the hell!” he yelled as he sat up.

  Leon leaned out of the window beside me. “Get back to training!” he yelled down. Then he pulled me back into the room and closed the window. “Given that same logic, one might say that uD, which is already in the core of dvinia, is a requirement for energy from mana to become hard enough for the spell of dvinia to work.”

  It was hard to follow his words because of how quickly he’d transitioned back into the lesson. Also, I could still hear Michael loudly complaining.

  “Is dvinia hard, Jon, or soft?” Leon tested me.

  “It’s somewhat soft, like a cushion.”

  “Normally a learned sorcerer would try adding uD to Expel to harden the energy, but like I just said, it’s already there. You cannot cast Expel without uD. But what happens if you had another D? Let’s say Middle D?”

  “Ah, that would be interesting.”

  “Now are you starting to see the right way to learn mana?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised,” he chided me.

  “It’s just that I haven’t had any real lessons from you yet.”

  “Because you haven’t been good enough for any of them to help you. Now you finally are.”

  I supposed he had a point. I wouldn’t have been able to use any of this knowledge a week or two ago.

  “So you’re telling me to experiment with various fifth notes and see how it changes my spell? And depending on how the notes change my spell, it will teach me what the notes do individually?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. And that concludes the lesson.” He surprised me by starting to leave. Just we were finally getting somewhere.

  “But you also told me that a sorcerer could injure himself through experimentation!” I said to stop him.

  He kept on going. “So what? You can heal yourself now.” He did turn around, at least. “Before I forget, I’m taking you to a healer after lunch for you to carry out two hours of your new ‘punishment.’ That’s why I have to run. I need time to figure out which healer to take you to.”

  “Aliana’s mother is a healer. I could speak to her about the possibility of visiting her mother.”

  “Yes, do that at lunch.”

  “So that means you can stay and help me train.”

  “I need to have a word with Michael. I heard a few phrases spoken in my name that need to be addressed.”

  Yeah, I had heard them, too, after Leon had closed the window, but I was hoping they might’ve passed by Leon’s ears.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  When it was time for lunch, I couldn’t leave the library book in my room because I wasn’t allowed to visit my quarters. I didn’t want to leave it unattended either, so I took it with me and set it down near my plate as I ate beside Michael.

  He was dry now and didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about whatever Leon had said to him. But I had to say something.

  “Leon figured it out on his own.”

  “He told me, along with a few other things.”

  “I do really appreciate you helping me sneak in some sleep.”

  “You’d do the same for me.”

  Reuben and Charlie soon joined us. All the sorcerers sat at the same enormously long table, but there was plenty of space between the group of boys and the group of girls, so we didn’t overhear each other’s conversations. Closer to the girls’ side of the table was the royal table, where King Nykal and his wife and daughter sat. Theirs was perched on a dais, facing all of us as our table ran perpendicular to theirs. But the king didn’t always show up at lunch. Often it was just Callie and her mother. I knew nothing about the queen. I didn’t even know her name and didn’t find myself curious, as I had too much to wonder about already.

  Charlie stared at the book sitting facedown near my plate. “Is that Understanding Mana by J. Krover?”

  “You can recognize it just by its back?” I flipped it over.

  “Yes. I spent enough time reading it to memorize how it looks. It’s the information in that book that led me to certain theories that I still want you to test. Are you finally ready to help me experiment?”

  Reuben eyed Charlie. “Why do you need Jon?”

  “He has the widest range of mana and the most skill with it.”

  Reuben glanced at me for a moment as if considering putting it to a debate, then returned his focus to his food.

  “I’m not going to be ready until things calm down more,” I told Charlie.

  “Why not?” He sounded very young when he whined.

  “Because there are more important uses of my time, for now. I will be able to help soon.”

  “How soon?”

  “I don’t know exactly.”

  Charlie always made the same face when he refused to accept something. He pouted his lips and squinted his blue-gray eyes. His mop of blond hair bounced as he shook; no, it vibrated.

  “Charlie, wait.” I tried to stop him before he threw a tantrum.

  “This is important not just for me but for everyone! I have to understand mana better so everyone else can understand mana better. You are the only person who can help me with these tests!”

  So it turned out I wasn’t the only one who felt responsible for others here. I couldn’t blame him for that. I knew what it was like to feel helpless. I wanted to fix that, and he might have something useful to teach me after all.

  “All right, you convinced me.”

  “I did?”

  “Yes. But I’m not sure I can today. I’m going out of the castle for a while. If I have time when I come back, we can test out your theories with some experiments. If not, we will do it tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Where are you going?” Reuben asked.

  “A tavern for a little while. Then I’m off to a healer.”

  Michael laughed, then looked confused. “I don’t get it.”

  “It’s not a joke. Actually, Reuben, if you came with me to the tavern, I bet we could finish what I need to do in a few moments.”

  A line creased his forehead. “Why would I want to help you with some nefarious deed in a common tavern?”

  “Because it’s not just any tavern.”

  I went on to describe Red’s Tavern and what I had seen there. I watched his countenance soften as he heard what the young woman was going through, then brighten as I described how beautiful she was. I left out Aliana’s experience there, as I wasn’t sure she wanted others knowing.

  “What do you propose we do?” Reuben asked.

  “I will tell you on the way. After lunch, change into the most elegant and expensive robes you have and meet me by the portcullis. Make sure to wear your best jewelry. I have to speak to Aliana about my other task. I might be visitin
g her mother, a healer, to carry out the rest of my punishment by helping heal people.”

  “No more losing sleep?” Michael asked.

  “Leon said he’s ordering me to alter the punishment to this, and he’ll deal with the king…so I’m still not entirely sure it will be the case.”

  “Yeah, good luck,” Michael said.

  I walked over to the girls’ side of the long table. “Aliana, could I speak to you?”

  “Sure.”

  She left Eden, Kataleya, and Remi and stood with me out of earshot of everyone. Aliana had striking dark eyes that always seemed ready for bad news. It was that look in her eyes that made me want to bring a smile to her lips. Her brown hair was a bit wild, as if she hadn’t run a comb through it, or perhaps she’d decided it was better not to try.

  I had forgiven her for treating me so coldly the first few days after we’d met. She was no doubt beautiful, but she no longer gave me that spark she once had before she’d made so many incorrect assumptions about me.

  “After lunch, I’m going out to do two things,” I explained.

  “How are you by the way?”

  “Oh.” I felt bad for not even thinking to ask. “Fine. And yourself?”

  She chuckled a bit. “I’m fine. Go ahead.”

  “First, I’m going to take Reuben to see Red at his tavern. I told Reuben what happened last night, and he’s willing to help me. I didn’t mention anything about you.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “Would you like to come?”

  She put her hand on the back of her neck. “No.” She started to say something else but stopped. “No, just tell me what happens later.”

  I nodded. “All right. The other thing is that Leon has changed my punishment. He wants me to spend two hours each day healing the sick and injured instead of staying up at night.”

  “You can heal the sick now?”

  “That’s one of the things I hope to find out.”

  “I see…and you remembered that my mother works with a healer.”

  “Yes. Leon was going to search the city for one who would take me, but I mentioned your mother. She’s the only healer we know.”

  Aliana’s expression was as if this was a bad idea. “I don’t know.”

  “What are you worried about?”

  “It’s just strange is all, you meeting my mother.”

  “Oh. I don’t imagine we’ll be doing much talking about anything personal.”

  “I guess it’s fine. What’s going to happen with payment? Are you still going to charge people to help them? If so, who’s it going to go to?”

  “I figured we would charge the same that your mother and the other healer usually charge, and the coin would still go to them.”

  She started to nod. “All right, yeah.”

  “Where does she work?”

  “On Birch Street.”

  “Where is that?” I asked.

  “It’s a small street south of here. It turns into Exeter North after Market.”

  “Oh, I know that.” That was the street I took to get to Greda’s Enchanted Devices shop. “I’m still learning the city. Is there even an Exeter South?”

  She laughed. “Yes. I should really take you around one day. There’s a lot to see.”

  “Like what?”

  “The various mansions, if you’re interested.”

  I didn’t understand the appeal. “The people of Newhaven walk around to look at the mansions of rich families?”

  “If they’ve never seen them before,” she said with a bit of offense. “We don’t just spend our leisure time looking at mansions, though. In fact, most of us don’t even have leisure time. It’s difficult to live in Newhaven for most people. It’s crowded. Jobs are hard to come by, and they are demanding. Many people live outside the walls and travel into the city to work. Having a look at a luxurious mansion is a nice change from the hardship.”

  To me, the mansion would just remind me of what I would never have. Right now, however, I didn’t care either way.

  “I didn’t mean to offend,” I told her. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” She didn’t smile.

  I guess her offer to take me around the city was probably rescinded. That was fine with me.

  Leon came up to join us. “So is it decided then?”

  “Yes, but I have to take care of something with Reuben first,” I explained.

  “How long?”

  “Less than an hour.”

  “I’ll be here. Aliana, what’s your mother’s name?”

  Aliana eyed him suspiciously. “Gwen,” she said hesitantly.

  “God, what’s with that look?”

  “I’m just…defensive about her a bit, I guess. You will be kind, right? Kinder than you are to the rest of us?”

  “Why? Is she a cripple or something?”

  “See, that’s what I’m worried about! Both my mother and I have dealt with enough rude men in our lives. I don’t want you coming in and getting her flustered.”

  “I will be a gentleman, as I always am to people who have not pissed me off.”

  “Maybe I should go with the two of you.”

  “And waste your time? Forget that. You need to train.”

  “All I do is train!”

  “And look how much you’ve improved because of that.”

  I wondered if I was the only one who wished I had even more time to train. Michael, and now Aliana, seemed desperate for a break that extended longer than a meal.

  “You’re staying here,” Leon concluded. “Jon, go finish whatever you need to do, but be quick.”

  I hurried off. I wondered if I should take a concealed dagger. I wasn’t concerned about Red; but Cason? Was he bold enough to confront me in broad daylight? I feared news of my healed ankle had reached him. He might figure out I was the one who had healed it, and he wouldn’t let me go next time.

  *****

  Reuben turned many heads on our way to the tavern, and there were a few different reactions. The people who seemed surprised by Reuben’s silk cloak and gold rings stared the longest. Those who appeared less surprised cast their gaze downward. But it was the curious ones I found most entertaining. Their gazes bounced to me for a moment, and they always showed confusion, probably because of the contrast between Reuben and me.

  I no longer wore the clothes of a common worker. I had wisely used the coin I’d earned to upgrade my robes to a level of decency that I felt comfortable donning around the city. It was in no way a display of wealth, but I was certainly not poor, either. I couldn’t guess what they thought my relationship was with this rich young man at my side, but it certainly didn’t look right. It reminded me of the first time I’d met Reuben, when he’d told me to walk behind him so as not to embarrass him, and I had refused. I was a little worried he might mention it again, but thankfully that side of him had toned down ever since I’d saved his life.

  Reuben, to some, probably looked like a fool wanting to be robbed. To others, his display of arrogance did not demonstrate stupidity but supreme power. I figured Red would see Reuben as the latter. And if he didn’t, well, there were plenty of things we could do to jolt him in the right direction without getting in trouble for it. We were sorcerers of the king, after all. It was about time we started taking advantage of our standing.

  As we traveled farther from the castle and deeper down streets where wealth was a rare sighting, we started to attract the attention of children. First, there were two kids who began trailing us. A third joined soon after, then two more to make five. One was called away by his mother, but two girls took the little boy’s place.

  Then a drunken fool headed right toward Reuben. “Ey, ya un grab battler rick a ring, rich boy.”

  I had no idea what he’d said, but he seemed too drunk to be dangerous.

  Coming toward us from the other direction, the drunk had to stop and turn around to stay with us as we passed. Well, he tried, but he fell over and some of the children laug
hed. Another referred to him as grandpa and helped him up.

  This was starting to become a little sad, but there was no other route to the tavern.

  Reuben and I marched onward, and eventually the children let us go. Reuben had a look on his face as if no one else existed except the man we would soon confront. I didn’t want to break his trance, so I spoke no words.

  When we arrived at the place, he started toward the door as if he might break it down. I was a little worried he might.

  He pounded on it instead. “Open this door right now or you will face punishment!”

  We heard voices inside. The curtains on the windows were closed.

  “We’re not open!” I recognized Red’s voice.

  “Do I sound like I care if you’re open? Unlock this door or I will break it down. We will speak right now.”

  “What is this about?”

  “Open this door!” Reuben yelled furiously.

  If he was pretending to be angry, then he was deceiving me.

  I could faintly hear Red’s voice, “Stop Burda. You will not open—stop!”

  The lock slid. The door opened.

  In the light of day, Burda was even more beautiful, not that Reuben even saw her as he stomped past her on his way to a nervous Red standing in the middle of the dining room. The two other servers, both men older than us, were getting tables ready but froze as Reuben entered.

  “You are the tavernkeep of this establishment, correct?”

  “Who are you?” Red countered fearfully.

  “I’m Reuben Langston. My father might not own this building yet, but he will buy it for me just so I can double your rent if you allow the harassment of your servers to continue.”

  Red glared at Burda. “What lies did you tell—?” But he stopped himself as he noticed me standing near her. “You! Wait, what is this?”

  So it seemed that Burda hadn’t mentioned anything about me to Red. Good. Reuben should continue with our initial plan.

  “Pay attention!” Reuben ordered as he stepped in front of Red. “Unless you have the coin to purchase this large tavern, you’d better listen to me right now. This has gone on long enough. You will put an end to the verbal and physical harassment of your inappropriate customers or you will pay twice your rent. Three times if you really anger me!”