by B. T. Narro
“Shall I cast Waterwall again?”
“Actually, I have to try something first. I’ll be right back.”
“I could come with you.”
“Actually you can’t. I’ll be in the boys’ bathing quarters.”
“You…what?”
“It’s not a joke,” I specified.
“All right,” she said with a laugh. “Tell me after.”
It was empty when I arrived, steam in the air. I went to the same bathtub I had used that morning.
It just took a moment to cast the grabbing spell, which I was beginning to think should have a name. I found it intriguing to see the water ripple as I cupped my mana around the edges of it, sliding my mana in between the water and the sides of the tub.
The push of the water created pressure on my mana, and so on my mind as well. The spell called for my mana to join with itself, but there was too much water in the way.
I pushed my mana through the water at the base of the tub, a strenuous task that felt like sticking my arms into holes in the earth and pushing through the dirt until my hands met. Eventually, my mana was connected, though stretched.
I had felt this before, when Leon had thrown his boot for me to catch. It had broken through my mana, and his boot was a lot lighter than the water in this tub. This was not going to work, but I had to try anyway.
I slowly heaved upward. My mana suddenly ripped down the middle and shot out through the sides of the tub with great force, splashing water all around and soaking my boots as I tried to jump away.
Kataleya’s water had been easy to handle, yet this water felt nearly impossible to move. Could it be that Eslenda was just that much stronger than me? She was able to lift out all the water in a small pond, while I couldn’t even take out the water in this tub. It was possible, I supposed, but another answer seemed more likely.
There was probably something about elements made from mana that allowed my mana to manipulate these elements easier. Kataleya had told me, the first time we had really spoken, that the water she made was the same as natural water. I was starting to doubt that was the case. I assumed Eslenda had filled that pond with her own water and could lift the water easier because of this. She probably bathed there often.
Fortunately I had an extra pair of boots in my room. I went up to change with plans to return to the courtyard and share my results with Kataleya, but Remi appeared in my doorway as soon as I finished slipping on my dry boots.
With her small eyes narrowed and her light brown hair unkempt, she seemed to be looking at me in an almost sinister way. I suddenly realized I was vulnerable here, no escape, except past her. I wasn’t sure how my dvinia would hold up against her fire, but I didn’t want to find out.
“Are you all right?” I asked cautiously. She was close enough to me to envelop my whole body in flames before I even knew I was being attacked.
“The king has ordered me to go with you to see Cason. Why?” She seemed upset about this.
“He didn’t explain it?”
“No, he just sent Barrett to give me the order, and Barrett ran off after.”
I supposed the king and his councilman would be very busy for a while.
“I apologize if it’s not something you want to do, but I need your help to make sure Cason doesn’t try to kill me. Aliana will be there as well.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Leon still isn’t well enough to go?”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him.”
“Let’s get this over with, then.”
We found Aliana in the courtyard. She was leaning against the wall of the apartments, waiting for us. She had a different bow with her than her usual one, reminding me that Pearson had crushed her bow in my hands. This must be her spare.
“Ready?” she asked without enthusiasm.
I couldn’t say I was very enthusiastic about this, either. “Yes.”
I noticed Kataleya watching me. She showed me a curious expression, as if awaiting news from my experiment. I would tell her when I got back, which I hoped to convey with a nod and a lifted finger.
The entrance to the dungeon was just down a short hall from the main floor of the keep. I recognized the guard standing in front of the thick door, but as with the other guards, I hadn’t spoken with him or learned his name. I thanked him when he unlocked the door for us. I hoped he and the other guards knew how much I valued their service, but I had the feeling that most of them thought us young sorcerers to be arrogant, as most sorcerers were.
I found myself wanting to stop here and search Remi and Aliana, to make sure they had no daggers hidden. It seemed unlikely they would attempt to kill me right now if one was the traitor, but I was feeling farther removed from safety the deeper we descended into the dungeon. I decided not to, though. The chances they would act were extremely slim and the chance of offense was not.
We were greeted by the jailer, his windowless office near the base of the stairs. He took us through the dim, muggy tunnels. Occupied cells were on either side, the prisoners suffering quietly as seen by their expressions. Nykal was a good king, but his benevolence didn’t seem to extend down here.
The jailer eventually stopped just before we started down another tunnel, this one with seemingly empty cells. “He’s ahead,” said the jailer.
Aliana asked, “Can you take me to Luther’s cell?”
The jailer appeared disappointed. “I can’t, young lady, and I must inform the king that you asked. I received strict orders.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Aliana said.
“I’m afraid I do.”
She clicked her tongue as the jailer left. “Damn.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand,” I said.
“I just want to know…I’m not quite sure, actually. I guess I just want to see what excuse he has for never seeing me.”
“He doesn’t care,” Remi said coldly.
Aliana looked at her feet. “I know, but he’s my father. Shouldn’t that count for something?”
“It doesn’t.” Remi stared at Aliana until she looked at her. “Family might mean something to you, but family means something else to him. It’s an excuse to do whatever he wants with the expectation that you’ll still care for him. There’s nothing for you to hold onto if that’s how he chooses to behave. He’s as much your father as my father was to me. Imagine where I’d be now if I held onto the idea that I had to care about him. I would still be married, living in Granlo, abused. I don’t care if my father thinks I betrayed him and the rest of my family. They betrayed me first, just as your father has done to you by pretending you don’t exist.”
“Will you shut up?” Cason yelled from his cell ahead. “Airinold’s taint, whine about your fathers somewhere else.”
But Aliana ignored him, putting her hand on Remi’s shoulder. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “You’re right.”
I took the lead as the girls followed me to Cason’s cell.
“Oh god,” Cason complained, rolling his eyes as he saw us. “Do yourselves a favor and leave now before you get hurt.”
I was used to pain by now, and I had a feeling that Remi and Aliana didn’t shy away from it, either.
“It was my father who told you about Jon, wasn’t it?” Aliana asked.
“I warned you.” Cason motioned with his hand as dteria swarmed around Aliana. But I grabbed his energy as he tried to throw her, and she didn’t go very far. Unfortunately, the pressure on my mind was too intense for me to really notice what happened afterward as I put my hands against my temples and began to heal through the pain.
It wasn’t until I was done that I noticed Remi’s jet of fire. Cason screamed as he fell away from the bars between us. He made a wall of dteria, pushing the fire back, but Remi just added more mana to her spell, the flames threatening to wrap around the wall of dteria as it started to disintegrate.
But then Remi collapsed, and her spell came to an end. She had pushed herself too hard.
Cason appe
ared furious as he picked Remi up from the ground. She made a choking sound as her hands went to her neck. I was about to act, but Aliana spoke before me.
“Release her or die,” she threatened, an arrow aimed at his chest. “Now!”
Cason didn’t drop Remi. I was just starting to physically pry away the cushiony energy from her neck when Aliana shot.
“No!” I yelled.
The arrow went deep into Cason’s chest, just to the side of his heart. He gasped as he fell backward.
He grabbed the arrow and pulled it out, his blood gushing. He looked down at his wound as if still in disbelief that Aliana had really shot him.
Then Cason put his hands over the wound, gritted his teeth, and groaned painfully as he healed himself.
Soon he was done, the sounds of everyone’s heavy breaths filling the air.
“That was a warning,” Aliana said as she readied another arrow. “And I have plenty more warnings with me.” She gestured at the quiver full of arrows near her hip.
Cason had a few choice words for Aliana, but it didn’t seem to rattle her as she waited with arms folded.
“That’s all?” she asked when he was finished. “I’ve heard a lot worse than that.”
“What the hell do you want!” Cason yelled.
“Answer my question,” Aliana demanded. “Was it my father who told you about Jon’s wide range of mana soon after all of us came to the castle?”
“I’m not going to say shit to any of you.”
Aliana very calmly loaded another arrow onto her bow. Cason seemed to think she was bluffing, his face registering no surprise even as she smoothly drew back the string and let go.
He gasped as the arrow struck him deep in his stomach. He cursed a few more times as he struggled to pull this arrow out, the pain too intense for him. He left it for a moment, shared a few more expletives, then really pulled hard.
It was a disgusting sight, watching Cason attempt to keep his innards from coming out with the arrow, but neither Aliana nor Remi seemed to mind as we all watched him finally extract the arrow and begin to heal himself.
“I still have many more warnings,” Aliana said.
“I’m going to kill you when I get out of here.” He spoke in such a cold and calculated way that I worried it might actually happen.
“Answer my question, or I’ll put the next arrow between your legs.”
I was a little surprised by Aliana. I had expected to do the questioning, but this seemed to be working far better. Cason didn’t seem like the kind of person who could be reasoned with, as most people would’ve started talking after the first arrow nearly killed them.
I had to admit it felt good to see Cason suffer.
After Aliana’s latest threat, Cason stood and casually held his hand near his belt in a protective manner. “You want the truth? Fine. It might help you see how hopeless this is for you. Yes, it was your father who told us everything we wanted to know about Jon and the others, and it was your mother who told him, because you told her.”
I didn’t know why, but I believed him. I asked, “Who cursed Pamela?”
“I don’t even know who that is.”
“She owns the magic shop Enchanted Devices.”
He smirked. “Oh yes. That was him.”
“Pearson?” I asked.
“He’s not done here,” Cason said. “Shoot me all you want; it won’t matter. I will be freed. I will take revenge.”
“Revenge?” Remi spat. “You talk about taking revenge against us when it’s you who attempts to destroy your own kingdom. You could’ve joined us. We could’ve fought Rohaer together. The king would’ve granted you land and riches, more power than you could ever achieve by going against us.”
“Power is not land and riches. Power is truth, and it is life. You choose death. I do not. Don’t make this into something it’s not. If I cared about land and riches, I would not be in this prison cell right now. It’s all of you who have joined Nykal Lennox so ignorantly, hoping for land and riches. Real power is the ability to take what you want from anyone who stands in your way, even if they are a king.”
“No man should have that kind of power,” Aliana said.
“This world isn’t built on ‘should.’ It was shaped by the conflicts between the demigods. Man is destined to fight. A victor is to be decided, and it’s not up to you or even me to stop that. It’s only up to us to choose life or death, power or weakness, mastery or servitude.”
“If you believe victory is your destiny,” I said, “why try to corrupt me with dteria? You clearly don’t think you need any other help.”
“Corrupt you? I could laugh. I used to feel bad for all of you because you chose the wrong side before you even knew what you were getting into, but now I can see it wouldn’t have mattered. You are all too stupid to choose life. I was trying to help you. I would’ve done the same for all the sorcerers, but you were the only one who came to the king without having chosen a magical art.”
So that’s all it was? It had nothing to do with my personality or potential. I was merely the only one who could be influenced with dteria, the only one who’d visited Pamela’s shop and met Greda, who’d helped me with an essence.
I didn’t know why I was disappointed. I supposed I had hoped there might be something about me Cason had sensed, something I was yet to discover.
“Who is the traitor in the castle?” I asked.
“Those who are loyal to me are the only ones who will know the truth. Not you.”
Aliana lifted her bow and readied an arrow. “Answer him.”
Cason looked at her aggressively.
Remi lifted her palms. “I will burn you again if you touch her with dteria.”
Cason’s shoulders relaxed. “Did Nykal send you here?”
“Nope,” Aliana answered casually. “We are here by our own free will and won’t be leaving until we are satisfied.”
“Shoot, burn, I don’t care. The only thing I’ll tell you is also the only thing you have to know. The demigods are real and more involved in this war than you seem to realize. There is no answer I can give you that will change your fate. The only reason I spoke at all is because I was bored, but now I’m getting tired of your ignorance. Leave me alone.”
He brushed his arm through the air, and all three of us were thrown sideways. Remi had her teeth showing as she started to march back after getting up, but I got my arm around her waist.
“There’s no point,” I said. “Making him suffer isn’t going to benefit us anymore.”
She stopped resisting, so I let her go.
I picked up Aliana’s quiver, which had come detached from her belt, and handed it to her.
There was one more thing I wanted to know that we hadn’t asked Cason, and I was sure he knew the answer. Why hadn’t Pearson killed anyone? If Cason had almost broken my neck, surely Pearson could’ve snapped the spine of many people. Instead, he just threw us out of his way.
Something was preventing him from killing us outright, though he did throw a couple of guards off the third-floor stairway in the keep, and one had died. Callie had mentioned the threat of Gourfist, but was that right? Cason wouldn’t tell me, though. He was done talking.
I thought of someone who seemed to know the most about this, the girl I wanted to speak with anyway.
“I’m going to look for my father’s cell,” Aliana stated on our way out.
“Aliana…” Remi put her hands on her hips. “I thought you agreed with me?”
“I do, but I can’t help it. I have to speak with him at least one time, and I’d like to do it alone. Please don’t tell the king. Please, as my friends.”
I was hesitant, mostly because of what I’d seen Aliana do to Cason. She still had her bow with her. She had proven that she was more than comfortable with using it to get what she wanted, and I didn’t think Luther could heal himself like Cason could.
“May I take your bow back up?” I offered.
She looked at the
weapon in her hands as if she didn’t want to part with it, but eventually she handed it over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Remi and I exited the dungeons. It was a short walk to the ground floor of the keep and then to the courtyard, but I stopped before opening the door. Remi had been quiet since we departed from Aliana. I still wasn’t sure if she, or any of my peers, could have plans to stab me in the back, but I couldn’t keep living every day pretending I didn’t care about these people. I did.
“Remi.”
I wasn’t sure what to say as she looked at me and waited. But I found understanding in her expression as she stared into my eyes.
“I know, Jon. I’m going to be fine. I mean, I am fine. I really am.” She sounded surer of herself by the time she finished.
“I’m very glad to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
I opened the door for her, then followed her into the courtyard. Kataleya and Michael were training on opposite sides of the large courtyard. Dust-filled gusts of wind encircled Michael as a dense wall of water hovered in front of Kataleya.
All of my peers had increased their mastery, but it didn’t seem as if any had learned a new magical art. I supposed it was rare to go from one to another instead of sticking with one and learning new spells in that same magical art, like Kataleya had done by learning Waterwall instead of Fire. But I didn’t have an option to learn another dvinia spell, as I had desired. Only one was known. I had been forced to learn how mana works first in order to figure out what else I might do with dvinia.
Now I knew how to catch myself. It would only be a matter of practicing.
Remi took her spot near the portcullis and made a large ball of fire, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I made my way over to Kataleya, near the well. She let her spell of water fall into it as she noticed me. I thought she looked even more beautiful aglow from her sweat.
“Did you actually get him to talk?” she asked.
“Aliana and Remi did without any help from me. Most of it was expletives, however. Especially after Aliana shot him in the gut.”
Kataleya snorted, then covered her mouth. “He is alive still, yes?”
