Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2)

by B. T. Narro

  She was short with me, irritated, completely not understanding. I stopped trying to reach out to her for emotional support because she just made me feel worse whenever I did. It was my father who usually helped me through tough times, and he still did, even while he was sick. He constantly reassured me he would be fine, but we both could plainly see he was getting worse. It was only near the end that he changed his tone and started preparing me to be alone.

  After he passed away, the news spread quickly around the small town, so I was certain Joanne had heard it from someone. I expected her to show up and apologize for her behavior, but she never did. We never resumed our physical relationship.

  It was a year after his passing, when I’d made the decision to leave permanently, that I thought to inform her of my decision. I was completely shocked when she responded with anger. She even threw a fork at my head while I was standing in her kitchen. She must’ve expected us to get married because there was no one else close to either of us in age.

  I thought through all of this as I sat on my stump. I felt bad about how everything turned out. Both of us should’ve been clearer from the start. But as difficult as that year was for me, I’d still had it much better than Remi had. Like me, she had been paired with someone only because her options were limited. But her partner was so much worse than mine turned out to be.

  It wasn’t long after my confusing interaction with Kataleya that the hunting group returned with a few large sacks that seemed to contain various animal parts. Eden spoke for the group.

  “Jon, we’ve decided we’re going back. We know you probably want to stay here another day to get the most out of your practice, but—”

  “No, I want to return for supper.”

  “Oh good.”

  Everyone started to gather their belongings.

  Michael seemed concerned as he approached me. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Just tired,” I admitted. “I still have many hours to go before I can cast anything with ordia, but it shouldn’t be much longer afterward that I can make my first illusion.”

  “Must be exciting. I’ve always wondered what it feels like to make an illusion.”

  I was surprised I hadn’t wondered that. It was exciting. I really should try to take more time to enjoy this.

  I had spent too long worrying without appreciating anything. It was like I was waiting to appreciate my life when all of this was over. What was the point of that?

  “I assume hunting paid off?” I asked, pushing down my sour attitude.

  “Certainly did.” Michael looked over at Eden, who didn’t see him as she went for her horse.

  I grinned as I noticed the look in his eye.

  I glanced at Kataleya. She was already looking at me. She gave a slight nod. I returned the gesture.

  I still wondered if this could all be an act on her part. If so, she could be the best liar in the world.

  “I’m starving,” Michael said, bringing me out of my little reverie.

  “So am I.”

  I was glad Michael was with us as well. This whole experience might’ve felt downright lonely if I hadn’t had his company. I hoped whatever he wanted with Eden was what Eden wanted with him.

  Now if only I could figure out what Kataleya wanted with me.

  *****

  I was eager to eat when I returned to the castle, but I was more eager to bathe first. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even do that. The king met us in the courtyard and had Kataleya escorted away—into the great hall, not the keep where the dungeons were located—and then told me to come speak with him.

  I followed him into the keep, where the three hearths burned hot on the ground floor. I supposed I had become accustomed to the extravagance of not only the keep but every structure within the castle. I didn’t know when I had stopped appreciating it all, but it had happened. I wanted to change that right now, but I was too dirty and hungry to care about anything but bathing and eating.

  I followed the king up the stairs as I forced myself to notice the tapestry and paintings adorning the walls. Then I came across the spot of the painting that had been replaced since I had broken it. I had used the old painting as a shield to defend myself against Scarlett, a dark mage who posed as a sorcerer on our side. She was dead now, like many other dark mages.

  I was so very tired as well, but the king took me all the way to the third floor before he chose a hallway to lead me down, three armed guards following us the whole way. Eventually, he led me into a meeting room with a long table and another hearth with a lit fire. I had already gotten hot in the keep, even though the winter air was cold outside. I just wanted to be out of here. It might’ve been the first time I was not eager to resume my training, my spirits dampened.

  The king motioned for me to sit at the head of the long, empty table. He took the chair next to me.

  “I would expect something came out between you and the other sorcerers,” he said in a near whisper, his guards outside the closed door where they could not hear.

  “You assumed correctly, but nothing was determined. We only came to the conclusion that any of us could be working with Cason except for me and Charlie, only because of what has happened to us and what each of us has done.”

  “Yes, Barrett and I have come to the same conclusion. Everyone will be watched. Charlie would be part of this conversation as well, if I thought I could trust his discretion.”

  “Sire, I appreciate your trust, but if you are going to share some plan with me right now, I’d rather I didn’t know.”

  He seemed concerned as he leaned away. “Why is that?”

  “I know one of my peers could be working against us, but the rest of them are my friends. This has been very difficult for me.”

  “This? What exactly?”

  It was hard to be anything but vague when I was this tired. “Everything. I did not come here expecting to fight. I didn’t want to be involved in a war. That’s why I waited for the rebellion to end before I left Bhode.” Your rebellion, I refrained from saying. I didn’t know why I was letting all of this out, but I couldn’t stop myself. “I just wanted to learn about sorcery, but I see now why my father wanted me to stay in Bhode, even if it meant never reaching my potential.”

  I worried about the expression the king was showing, as if now he was wondering if he’d made a mistake recruiting me. I had a breath and forced myself to correct the situation.

  “I am glad I’m here, sire. There’s nowhere else I should be.” All of this was true. “I’m just trying to say that things seem to be getting more difficult, not easier. With all of my responsibilities, I’m not sure how well I can handle keeping secrets. If it’s not required, I would prefer I didn’t know rather than have to hide it.”

  “I see.” He paused, then began to nod. “All right. You won’t have to hide anything. Now tell me everything that was discussed with the other sorcerers, with the elf, and how you are progressing with learning an illusion.”

  “Must it be everything?”

  “Yes, be quick and to the point.”

  Given the order, I didn’t know what else I could do but begin.

  *****

  I was glad to be back in the apartments as I prepared for my bath. I would wash quickly and then see about obtaining another meal. The king had brought in food while we’d spoken, fortunately, most likely sensing my low spirit and figuring I needed subsistence. I hardly remembered eating, and I was still hungry.

  I had told the king everything I could remember from the long conversations in the forest, all the while feeling as though I was betraying my friends. I tried to improve my mood by telling myself they must’ve assumed I would be asked to share everything with the king, and it did help to remember that the king already knew of everyone’s past. I just wished it was someone else who the king could confide in besides me. Like Charlie, just for an evening. I needed a break.

  After I was done, the king told me that I would be visiting The Pearl in the morning to spe
ak with the same innkeeper who I’d met weeks ago. I had followed a dark mage into the large inn and watched this innkeeper give the dark mage a pouch of what I had assumed to be coins. After speaking with the scared man soon after, I found out this dark mage was extorting the innkeeper and that the head guard of the city was in on it.

  It was this information that led the king to remove the head guard—a cousin of Kataleya’s—from the position, and replace him with Byron Lawson. I had been surprised that the king would do this just from what I had heard about the head guard, but he’d assured me at the time that this was not the first evidence they’d collected against the man.

  Now I was to meet the innkeeper in The Pearl again to find out if dark mages had continued to extort him, something the king hoped to be true. He wanted me to find out when they tended to come in so we could prepare a trap. We needed to capture at least one other dark mage who plotted against us to find out about Cason’s new plan.

  The king also assured me that he was worried about this innkeeper, though I wasn’t sure how much he really did fear for the man’s safety if he hadn’t told Byron to send protection. My concern was proven wrong, however, when Nykal said that they had found out this innkeeper’s name, Mathew Plumb, and that he’d been watched to see if he’d had more visitors. None had been seen, but Byron Lawson didn’t have enough guards available to watch all businesses all the time. It was likely that dark mages could be waiting until there were no guards around to extort Mathew Plumb.

  I had promised Mathew that no one would find out he was the one who’d told me about the extortion. I had only spoken of it to the king, Barrett, and Leon. If something had happened to Mathew, it might be a sign that Barrett could be working against us.

  Before sending me off, the king had handed me my new identification papers with an official signet near his signature. On my new papers was my name, birthdate, place of birth—everything that had been there before. But now a line had been added at the bottom saying that I was a sorcerer of the kingdom.

  Nykal had explained that this permitted me to carry a weapon openly, to arrest anyone—even guards—and to enter private premises at will. Of course, he expected I wouldn’t abuse any of these new privileges, or he would take them away as quickly as he had granted them to me. I had assured him he had nothing to worry about in that regard.

  The king was clearly taking more proactive measures to stop these dark mages than he had before. He’d said I would be leaving with a callring and even instructed me how to send different signals depending on how urgently I needed assistance and how much I might require. It wasn’t a very scientific method, for we didn’t have many ways to use the callring. The urgency simply depended on the speed and rate with which I used the ring.

  Through numerous tests, the king had discovered that the most efficient way to send a vibration from one callring to another was by flicking it. It was an almost silly notion, desperately and rapidly flicking the ring on my finger if I came into trouble.

  “Jon? Jon?”

  I was startled as I realized I had fallen asleep while resting in the warm bathtub. Then I had a real scare as I realized that a woman’s voice was asking for me, right nearby.

  My body was submerged under the water. My head had been resting against the top of the tub, just above the water. A curtain surrounded the tub and the small table nearby with my towel and clothes, painting the princess as a growing shadow against it as she edged closer.

  “Jon?” she said again.

  “Uh, yes, princess?”

  “Oh, I was worried! Are you all right?”

  “I am in the boys’ bathing quarters, right?” I had been so tired, I had to make sure.

  “Yes, I know I’m not allowed in, but I was scared you might’ve fallen and hurt yourself or something of that nature. Everyone else has already bathed and finished eating, but I didn’t see you in the dining hall.”

  “I’m fine. I just fell asleep.”

  “All right, I’m leaving in just a moment. I only need to tell you that I’ll have supper recooked for you, but it’s too late to leave your plate in the hall outside your room. We can’t have rats, you know. You have to eat in the dining hall and put it in the washing tub in the kitchen when you’re done.” I could hear her walking out as she spoke. “That’s all. I’m glad you’re all right!”

  It took a moment to realize how nice that was of her. Fortunately, I came to my senses just before she left.

  “Wait, please!”

  I didn’t hear anything.

  “Callie?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Thank you so much,” I said, but I still didn’t feel like it was enough. She had always been so kind to me, and I was beginning to think that she now realized there would be no romance in our relationship, so it would be even easier to be her friend. “If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know.”

  “Oh, of course you don’t have to do anything more than you’re already doing, healing the sick and defending the city. I just want to do what I can to help, which isn’t much.”

  “Well, I really appreciate it.”

  “I’m glad.”

  She left, and I hurried to finish my bath. I didn’t know what time it was, but I figured many of my peers were already in bed. I didn’t think any of us had slept very well in the forest last night.

  I entered the great hall hesitantly, as it was near pitch black. There was just one candle lit near a lonely plate at my usual place.

  It was eerie to eat alone in the dark, so quiet. Normally, I wouldn’t be frightened by the situation, but I had real enemies out there past the wall, and possibly one in here.

  I ate quickly.

  Eventually I heard movement in the dining hall, but I couldn’t see anything in the thick dark that enclosed me.

  “Who’s there?” There was a tinge of fear in my voice.

  “Jonnnnnnnn!” an ominous voice reverberated. “I’m the ghost of digestion! I’m here to haunt you because you always eat too faaaast!”

  I grinned as I recognized Michael’s voice. “Very funny!” I called into the darkness.

  I heard his footsteps. Then he came close enough for me to make him out from the surrounding darkness.

  “Need some company?” he asked.

  I chuckled as I saw what he was wearing.

  “What?” He sounded offended as he looked down at himself. “You don’t like my nighttime attire?”

  He wore a silly white coif on his head, the straps holding tight under his chin. His robe was open at the front, showing white shorts and a thin shirt of the same color. He closed his robe petulantly.

  “Some friend you are!” he said. “As soon as I heard you were still up, I hurried over here because I know how scary the dining hall can be at night.”

  “I’m sorry. Yes, please, I would love some company.” I gestured at the bench on the other side of the table.

  He sat down across from me. “I get cold at night, all right?” he said, pointing at the coif.

  “That’s no problem,” I answered with a laugh. “How did you know I was here?”

  “I asked the princess if she had seen you. She usually seems to know where you are.” He gave a wink. “Anyway, she said you fell asleep in the bathing quarters. But that’s all she told me. I’ve been wondering how she found out?” He held a smirk, the shadows from the candle making him look sinister.

  “She didn’t see anything. So how did you know the dining hall was scary at night?”

  “Fine, I will let you change the subject,” he said with a lifted finger. “Because we are good friends, but I would hope that, as the good friends that we are, you would tell me if something happened between you and any girl here, including but not limited to the princess.”

  “I would. And I will tell you right now that nothing will happen between me and her.”

  “That’s probably wise. Speaking of wise.” He stood and looked as if he would say something else, but then he just star
ted walking off.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “You asked me how I knew what the dining hall was like at night. The answer is from snooping. It’s the same reason I know about this.”

  “What?”

  “Just wait there.”

  Michael traversed the long room. But as soon as he disappeared into the darkness, I heard him slam into something.

  “Ow! Good god, my shin! I’m fine, don’t worry!”

  “You sure you don’t need the candle?”

  “No, there are windows in the kitchen and the moon is bright. I just need to—” I heard him run into something else. “Dammit! The same shin!”

  I picked up the candle and walked over. As the light bathed him, I saw him hunched over near a bench, nursing his shin.

  “Thanks,” he grumbled and exited through the door to the kitchen.

  Sometimes I didn’t know if Michael looked foolish on purpose, just for the sake of entertainment, or if he was just being himself. Either way, my meal had become a lot more enjoyable since he’d arrived, and I was going to start appreciating things like that from now on.

  “Don’t come in!” he called from the kitchen. “It’s a surprise.”

  I waited outside the door for some time. I was not surprised when he came back later with two mugs filled with what I assumed to be ale.

  “I shouldn’t,” I told him, even though I appreciated the gesture.

  “Just one drink,” Michael said, walking past me back toward our table. “The ghost of digestion says you shouldn’t sleep right after eating anyway. One drink,” he repeated.

  “All right,” I gave in. The last time I had any ale was when I had met Scarlett, in Tryn. It was a short meeting, Barrett arriving soon after and convincing me to go with him to the castle. I was very glad he had, but I had to admit to myself now that even he could be working against us.

  “What’s with the face?” Michael asked as we sat down across from each other again.