Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2)

by B. T. Narro

  “Sire, you can’t possibly think—” Leon began.

  “Leon!” The king shot a look over his shoulder. “I don’t want to ask these questions, but it must be done. Kataleya, answer my questions right away. Don’t hesitate.”

  Her eyes, wide in alarm, were gray with a hint of green. The wind blew a thick lock of her blonde hair in front of her face. “No, I didn’t speak to anyone about that until after everything was done!” she said, her tone showing her insult. “No one in my family, not even my father, knew about us leaving the castle. I did tell him what happened later, but he had already found out from you, sire! I don’t see what the point is of these questions. You can’t possibly suspect my family of acting against you. The Yorns have been nothing but loyal to you and your family, even before you were king.”

  “Search her room,” the king told his councilman. “Feel for anything enchanted.”

  Barrett showed indifference as he nodded and hurried off to the apartments.

  “I swear I haven’t done anything wrong, and I’m sure my father hasn’t, either!” Kataleya protested. “You know him very well, sire. He cares about our cause. If he didn’t, he never would’ve allowed me to risk my life for you. I promised I would not allow harm to come to you. I signed a binding contract. How could I do anything like you suggest? I don’t understand what you’ve heard to make you think it was my family.”

  “No harm has come my way,” Nykal intoned. “But my enemies used information about us in an attempt to corrupt Jon and kill Grufaeragar. Anyone who took an oath to protect me could’ve aided these attempts without breaking the oath.”

  “I promise I didn’t,” Kataleya said.

  Barrett returned to the courtyard. He’d been too fast to do a thorough search of her entire quarters, which meant he must’ve found something. Barrett approached the king and whispered into his ear.

  The king listened for just a moment before he leaned away from Barrett. “Show me.”

  Barrett reluctantly took a dark ring out of his pocket to give to the king. Nykal held it in front of his eyes and looked closely. Then he took two callrings out of his pocket for comparison. Eden had enchanted them after Charlie had molded them from a special type of metal. Nykal looked at the three rings on his palm. The one found in Kataleya’s room was of a different shade.

  Nykal turned his attention back to Kataleya, as did everyone else. Her mouth slowly fell open. She pointed at the ring the king held.

  “That is a callring?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “And it was found in my room?”

  He nodded again.

  Kataleya’s face went white. “That is not mine! I’ve never even seen it before!”

  “You used this to notify my enemies that the castle would be unguarded,” Nykal said. “By keeping it in your room you clearly planned to use it again. What for? What’s Cason’s next step? I promise that if you cooperate your punishment will be much less severe.”

  “Sire, please believe me,” Kataleya said. “I have never seen that ring before. Someone could’ve put it in my room. As you know, we don’t have keys. We can only lock our doors from the inside.” Her gaze darted at Barrett. “But Barrett has a key to all our rooms. For all I know, he could’ve planted the ring there. Or it could have been anyone else in the castle!”

  Nykal appeared annoyed. “I have known Barrett Edgar my whole life. He would never betray me, and we have already investigated everyone else who works here.”

  “Well, my family wouldn’t betray you, either!” Kataleya spoke with balled fists. “Somebody put that ring in my room. They want you to suspect me.” She glared at all of us. “Which one of you did this? And why me?”

  “Hold on.” Leon stepped into the makeshift circle with the king and Barrett. “What did I miss that led you to accuse Kataleya?”

  “He hasn’t told any of us,” Kataleya said. “And I have no idea what it could be.”

  “Have all of you forgotten that we captured a few dark mages from Rohaer after the battle in Curdith Forest?” Nykal accused.

  “And one finally spoke?” Leon asked.

  “More than one has been speaking for some time now, but nothing they’ve given us has made much sense. Until now.”

  “Are they being tortured, sire?” I asked cautiously. I knew these men had come here to kill and pillage, but I still hoped there was a better way to get them to talk.

  “No, Jon. Torture is more likely to get a false answer than a true one. I reason with them. None of these men want to remain in the dungeon for years, but none are quick to betray Cason, either. They are scared of him and of their own king’s retribution if they speak. Considering it takes a lot to frighten a man who has been corrupted by dteria, I would assume Cason and King Frederick’s threats against their own men are very real. One has agreed to assist us in exchange for freedom and a bit of coin when this is all over. The information he gave us seems to be accurate so far.” Nykal glanced at Kataleya.

  “He claimed my father is working for Cason?” she asked.

  “No, he explained what Cason’s plan used to be before we took out his army in the forest. Those one hundred troops had come from Rohaer, and they were to take Koluk, like Cason had told Jennava. They would force all men in Koluk to join them or kill those who didn’t. Correct, Jennava?”

  “Yes,” she said. “He didn’t tell me what would happen after he built up a quick army in Koluk.”

  “We thought he might have planned to attack Tryn or the capital,” Nykal said, “but this doesn’t seem to be the case. His plan was a lot more devious than that.”

  “Oh, he would use the threat,” Jennava said. “I see it now.”

  “Yes,” Nykal agreed.

  The rest of us seemed confused, however.

  “Explain,” Leon said.

  “Once his army was a threat to Tryn or Newhaven,” Nykal gestured at himself, “I would be forced to gather my army in case he marched. Coin would be needed to pay these men.”

  “Oh,” Leon said, and I was beginning to understand as well.

  Kataleya broke in. “There are other families besides mine who could be involved in this plot, sire!”

  “One other,” he said with a lifted finger. “And his family will be investigated as well, but we found a callring in your room.”

  “But it isn’t mine,” she growled in restraint. “Someone set me up. Whoever this other family is, I’m sure it was them.”

  “None of them have been in the castle, Kataleya. They couldn’t possibly have snuck a callring into your room.”

  “Then someone here is helping them!”

  “I don’t understand,” Charlie exclaimed. “How does the king needing to pay for an army mean a noble family betrayed us?”

  “I will explain,” the king said. “But before that, there is more this dark mage shared that all of you need to know.”

  “You’re not worried about Kataleya telling her father?” Charlie asked, confused.

  “Charlie, I didn’t do this!” she said.

  He looked at her nervously before glancing back at the king.

  “What I’m going to do with Kataleya will make it impossible for her to tell her family anything until we get all of this sorted out.”

  She shot a look at the open portcullis across the courtyard.

  “If you run, it will be an admission of guilt,” Nykal warned.

  A tear ran down her cheek. “Please, sire. I promise you I’ve never seen that callring before. Bind me to a contract to tell the truth.”

  “I’m sure you’re aware that the truth cannot be forced out through binding contracts. They can only incite or prevent actions.”

  “Then bind me with a contract in any way you see fit. I promise I have not done anything like you accuse, and I’m willing to prove it however you wish.”

  Barrett stepped in. “Kataleya, you know better than anyone how ordia works. Leon explained that you were the most knowledgeable when you came here. Con
tracts cannot force anyone to tell the truth no matter how we might phrase them.”

  “I don’t know how ordia works.” She wiped another tear. “Leon? What did you say?”

  I was having difficulty watching this go on, but I couldn’t look away.

  Leon scowled at the king’s councilman. “Kataleya never gave me the impression she knows about all that ordia sh—rules. I never said she did.” He turned his attention to the king. “I don’t think she did this, sire.”

  “Then who do you think did?”

  He put his hand on his chin. “I want to know more about this other noble family.”

  “I already told you none of them could have put a callring in Kataleya’s room.”

  Leon looked at Barrett. “I know you say you trust him, sire, but I’m not so sure.”

  Barrett appeared so offended I wondered if it was an act. He took a breath and glanced at the king.

  “Sire, Nykal…”

  Nykal put up his hand. “I know it’s not you, Barrett. Leon, how much does Kataleya actually know about ordia?”

  “I don’t know. We never spoke about it. Jennava?”

  Jennava looked at Kataleya, who shrugged in frustration as another tear fell down her cheek.

  “We haven’t spoken about it,” Jennava told the king.

  “I’ve mostly studied mana in the range of fire and water,” Kataleya said, some hope in her tone. “I’ve heard of binding contracts and enchants, but never callrings before Charlie and Eden brought them up.” She paused. “What can I do to prove this? There must be something.”

  “You are to do nothing right now,” Nykal said. “Barrett take her to her room and finish the search for anything else that might be enchanted. I will explain the rest to the other sorcerers.”

  “Please, sire!” Kataleya pleaded. “There has to be some way to prove my innocence! I never would do anything to hurt you…or anyone here! Aliana, Eden…” She held her gaze on them.

  Eden opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. Aliana looked down.

  “Reuben!” Kataleya said, her head swinging to him.

  “I don’t know you that well, Kataleya,” Reuben said nervously.

  “She’s been a good friend,” Aliana said.

  “She has,” Eden added, then put her hand over the back of her neck. “I trusted…I trust her, I mean.”

  I also felt like I trusted her. Kataleya had always been open and straightforward with me. She’d taught me about mana before Leon had. She’d explained how water and other elements could be made from mana. She’d complimented my looks and defended me against Reuben, when he’d been quite a bother before I’d saved his life. I’d always enjoyed the time I’d spent with Kataleya.

  She didn’t seem so dumb as to leave a callring in her room, but was my heart speaking for me in this matter? It hurt to see her beautiful face contorted in pain. It didn’t seem that Nykal allowed pity to take a role in his decision, and I wasn’t sure it should for the rest of us, either. Someone was a traitor. Someone might bring great harm to us. We needed to find out who.

  “This is not about her being a good friend,” Nykal said. “Cason and Jennava were once good friends. It proves nothing. Kataleya, go willingly with Barrett and you will be heard again. Refuse, and you will be held in the dungeon instead of your room.”

  Barrett gestured for her to walk ahead of him as he turned.

  She huffed out in anger, then stomped off, Barrett close behind.

  “Now will you explain?” Charlie complained to the king.

  Charlie hadn’t even waited until Kataleya was out of earshot, but I’m sure everyone knew he didn’t mean to offend.

  “Yes, Charlie.” The king let out his breath as he watched Kataleya enter the apartments. “If Cason had gathered an army in Koluk, I would’ve needed coin to support an army to stand against him. Coin that I do not have.”

  “So what would you do?” Charlie asked.

  “I would have to impose a crisis tax on the kingdom. I would send out tax collectors to gather the necessary coin to pay for this army. I had figured this might be necessary one day soon, and I had figured Cason would’ve been aware of the tax collectors. I had assumed he would try to take the capital or Tryn before I could pay enough men to squash his rebellion. He would still lose in the end, however. Even if he did take a city, eventually he would be defeated. Unless, of course, more troops from Rohaer came to his aid, but the snow prevents large numbers of them from traveling. Are all of you following?”

  We nodded.

  Nykal continued, “However, according to one of the dark mages from Rohaer, Cason never planned to take any other city besides Koluk. He was only to use the threat of attacking so I would collect a crisis tax. His true plan was to strike the tax collectors after they had gathered coin. To do this, he would have to know how many there were, where they were, and what kind of protection was with them. Only two men besides myself would know this information. One is Luther Prigg and the other is Whitley Yorn, Kataleya’s father. They know because they must. The tax collectors would be traveling through land that the two men oversee. I require their support to offer my collectors aid. If one of them was working with Cason, you might see how easy it would be to ensure maximum coin is taken.”

  “Oh, I understand,” Charlie said. “And you think it’s Kataleya’s father and not Luther Prigg because it has to be someone who has already been getting information about us to Cason.”

  “Yes, and the callring, of course. I’m holding the other two callrings you made. This other was brought into the castle or even made here in order to signal something to my enemies.”

  “This Luther Prigg could be setting up Kataleya,” Leon said.

  “I have told you too many times that no one associated with him has been to the castle in weeks!”

  “So it’s someone you don’t know is associated with him!” Leon argued.

  “Leon, you will be quiet and listen to my plan. Then I will take your input.”

  Leon seemed to be holding his breath before he nodded.

  “Can I ask something?” I tried.

  “Certainly, Jon.”

  “What was Cason going to do with all this coin? It might give us a hint as to what he plans now.”

  We still hadn’t informed the king what had occurred just a few streets away from here. Neither Leon nor I had a callring with us. Apparently, we both figured there was no need for one, but now I didn’t see myself leaving the castle without one.

  “Yes, I was getting to that. The dark mage claims that the plan was for Cason and the others to take this coin back to Rohaer.”

  A silence passed.

  “They were just going to leave?” Charlie asked.

  Michael answered. “Oh, they would be back, Charlie. And with all their friends.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Michael’s right,” Nykal said. “This coin is needed by the king of Rohaer to support the army he’s training.”

  “So this is good news.” I said. “He’ll lose much of his army.”

  “Only if Cason doesn’t find another way to get coin to the king he’s clearly allegiant to. Unfortunately, we don’t know how he’s planning to get it, but clearly he’s involved with one of the two noble families. Both the Priggs and the Yorns have helped the kingdom immensely with the training and supplying of both soldiers and weaponry. It is difficult to believe either of them would also be helping Cason, but it does explain everything…unless any of you has any evidence you would like to submit?”

  We looked around at each other.

  The king asked, “Charlie, did you mention Jon’s range of mana to anyone. Perhaps the blacksmith?”

  “I didn’t until after Leon sent us off to train in solitude.”

  I had accepted the essence of dteria from the illusionist before that.

  “Did anyone else mention it to anyone before solitude?”

  “I told my mother,” Aliana said. “But she promised she wouldn’t sp
eak of it to anyone. I’m sorry if that was wrong.”

  “Did you also inform your mother that everyone was leaving the castle, before it came under attack?”

  “No.”

  “Sire…” Barrett began.

  “I know someone could’ve seen everyone leaving and informed the dark mages,” Nykal said. “But it’s still important to ask. Aliana, what else did you mention to her about Jon?”

  “Um.” She glanced at me shyly for a moment. “Just about his personality and such.”

  Seeing as how she didn’t say what it was, she’d probably told her mother I was arrogant and didn’t care about others. It was the assumption she had about me when we were first getting to know each other. I was glad when she finally admitted that I didn’t seem to be the person she had assumed I was, but I hadn’t spoken with Aliana much since then. We had both been quite busy except when eating, but I never sat with her. I didn’t know how her perception of me might’ve shifted. Perhaps her opinion had reverted to how it used to be.

  “Nothing about him being a bladedancer?” the king asked. “The dark mages who attacked Jon identified him as one.”

  “No.”

  “I mentioned to my mother that he was a battle wizard,” Eden said.

  The king let out a sigh. “All right, when?”

  “A while ago. I don’t remember exactly.”

  “This is becoming messy, sire,” Barrett said. “Perhaps we should conduct separate interviews with each sorcerer?”

  “No. We will finish this promptly now. Who else mentioned this to someone?”

  Michael put down his head as he raised his hand with what seemed to be embarrassment.

  “To whom?” the king asked.

  “A woman at a tavern. I…uh, never got her name.”

  “And you were telling her about Jon?” the king asked incredulously.

  “I just told her that I train with a number of sorcerers, and I listed some of them. An enchanter, a fire mage, a ranger, and a bladedancer. I thought it was fine to discuss this since our enemies were already aware of us.”

  Eden commented, “And you thought it might help you get in her pants.”

  “Hey.” Michael pointed at Eden. “I was only in there looking for corruption. I had to have a drink to blend in.”