by B. T. Narro
“I need a heal.”
Remi whistled. “That’s a nice smooth hide, Charlie Spayker. Eden!” she screamed. “Come look at Charlie’s ass! Where are you?”
He didn’t seem to hear Remi as he was making awkward eye contact with me from over his shoulder. “Heal it, Jon. Make it better.”
“Don’t forget to kiss it first,” Remi added, then kissed the air a few times. She laughed so hard she was gasping for breath. “Fucking hell, where is Eden. Eden!”
“Pull your pants up, Charlie. I don’t want to look at your strangely smooth ass. I can heal it just fine through fabric.”
“Oh yeah!” He laughed as he pulled his pants up.
I knew what to do to heal, but I just couldn’t get my mind in the right place as I tried to focus on my mana.
It didn’t seem to matter. Soon Remi was pulling Charlie up, and he seemed to think I had done a fine job as he thanked me with an enthusiastic handshake.
“I like you, Jon,” he then told me.
“Thank you. Did you know, Charlie, that there’s something different about you?”
“I do know that.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. Do you?”
“I don’t, but I think it’s what makes you so lovable. I love you like a friend, Charlie. Did you know that?”
“No! I think I like hearing that, but I’m not sure I understand what it means. Maybe I love you too, but it’s different from the way I love Remi.”
I suddenly noticed Remi was leaning really close to both of us with a gaping mouth, clearly listening intently.
Suddenly she snapped out of it. “Charlie, you love me?”
“I think I do, but not the way I love Jon.”
“How do you love Jon?” she asked.
“I don’t want to kiss Jon.”
“You want to kiss me?”
“Yes, can I?”
“Yes,” Remi said. “I’d like that.”
I realized then that I was now the one leaning close and listening as if my life depended on it.
As I watched Remi and Charlie awkwardly lock lips, I had a sudden revelation. “There was something in the ale!” I shouted. “There was something in the ale!”
I wasn’t sure either of them heard me, as they were too busy with each other.
Remi pulled away eventually. “That was fun, Charlie. We should do that more often.”
“We should!”
Remi seemed to notice me again, as if she’d forgotten I was here. “Oh, Jon. You are burning hot handsome. Do you want to kiss me also?”
Charlie screamed, “I don’t want him to kiss you!”
“I don’t want to upset Charlie,” I said. Frankly, I wouldn’t mind locking lips with Remi right now, except I was pretty sure I could see some of Charlie’s saliva lingering on her, but the statement I’d made was true anyway.
“I have a suspicion that I want to investigate,” I admitted. “Goodbye for now.”
“Good luck with your investigation,” Remi said.
“I want to watch you dance again!” Charlie announced.
“Yes!” she replied. “Help me up on the table, but don’t touch my ass.”
Looking for the king, I passed by Michael and Eden dancing…or maybe grinding together was a better way to describe it. Michael held her very close to him as she swayed back and forth, her rear end pressed up against his crotch.
“I’m glad they’re having a good time,” I commented to no one, happy just to share something.
I felt like a little child wanting to explore the world. I was completely confident now that the king had put something in our ale. Everyone in the large dining room, the older folks included, all seemed to be having too much fun. I noticed exaggerated pointing, laughing, and shouting over each other to be heard.
I needed to find the king. It was important to me to hear the truth from him. He had done this to us on purpose. He had wanted us to reveal something.
I gasped as I realized the answer. This was how he planned to weed out the traitor. Had I told him I would’ve been able to hide this plan from my friends, he would’ve told me to abstain from drinking tonight.
But I was glad I hadn’t. I was having a blast, and there were a few people I wanted to hear from. I wanted to say a few things to them as well.
First was Michael, my closest friend. But I figured the last thing he wanted right now was to be interrupted for a heart-to-heart, so I let him be.
I walked around for a little while before I found Reuben off against the wall, close with a beautiful woman I didn’t recognize at first, for she wasn’t in her worker’s clothing but a nice dress.
Reuben seemed very happy as he spoke with Burda. I didn’t want to interrupt them, but this was an opportunity that likely would never come again.
“Reuben!” I announced excitedly.
“Jon!” He seemed happy to see me as he threw his arms up. “Did you know I used to be jealous of you?”
“I had a suspicion, but I never knew why.”
“Because you had everyone’s attention, but you deserve it. You deserve it, Jon! I don’t. But I don’t care. I have all the attention I want with Burda here. Isn’t she the most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen?”
“You’re too nice to me, Reuben,” she said with the same large smile that all of us wore. “I don’t deserve it.”
“You deserve so much more! I’m going to buy you everything you could possibly want.”
She touched his shoulder as she leaned in, but even though she was close she wouldn’t stop shouting. “You’re lucky I don’t want a lot!”
“I am! I’m the luckiest man in the world. You are so beautiful!”
“Thank you. I like when you say that.”
“I’m glad, because you’re going to hear it a lot.”
“Good!”
“Have you been with any other men?” Reuben asked.
“I don’t want to answer that,” she said, holding her wide smile.
“That must mean yes.”
“Yes.”
“That’s all right. I was just curious. I don’t care.”
“Oh that’s good! Have you been with other women?”
I found myself leaning in. I wasn’t sure if they were aware of me still, but I didn’t care. I was completely interested in Reuben’s answers.
“Two others,” he said.
“Did you buy them a lot of things first?” Burda asked.
“Yes, and I know I shouldn’t admit that, but I don’t care. I want to tell you everything.”
“I want to tell you everything!”
“Reuben,” I interjected. I had to tell him something. “You are my friend!”
“You are my friend, Jon.”
“I love you like a friend,” I said.
“That’s a little too much for me right now,” Reuben said as he put his hand on my shoulder.
I put mine on his. “That’s all right.”
“No wait. It’s not. I also love you like a friend.”
I laughed. “What the hell was in that ale!”
“I don’t know! And I don’t care!” Reuben gasped. “Sire!” He bowed deeply.
“Your majesty!” Burda lowered her head as well.
“That’s not necessary,” said the king as he entered our close circle. “Reuben, I have to ask you something. Will you promise to be honest?”
“I promise. Ask me anything.”
“Are you the traitor who has been working against us? It’s all right to tell me the truth. Everything will be fine.”
“I’m not the traitor! I would never do anything to hurt you or anyone else here, unless they hurt Burda. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Do you have any idea who it might be?” asked Nykal.
“Who who might be?”
“The traitor.”
“Oh! I think it’s one of the girls. It’s just a feeling. I don’t know why I feel it.”
“All right. Enjoy yourselves.”
T
he king left.
I told Reuben and Burda, “I’m going to follow him around and listen. I think he’s using this as an opportunity to question people, and I want to hear what they say.”
I don’t think Reuben was still listening by the time I finished talking, as he was again telling Burda that she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
I watched as the king approached Michael and Eden, who didn’t seem to notice that there was anyone else in the room but them and the music.
“Eden!” the king said.
She seemed surprised as she located him right nearby. She and Michael immediately stopped swaying and parted.
“Sire. How are you this fine evening?”
“Thank you for the ale!” Michael said. “And for the food. For the music. Hell, for everything!”
“You’re welcome, Michael. Eden, I want to ask you something. You know you can be completely honest with me, right?”
“I know I can, but I do have secrets.”
“Do any of these secrets have something to do with the person who has been working against us?”
“Not at all. One is about Michael.”
“What is it?” Michael asked.
“I think I’m starting to like him, which is a shame.”
“Why is that a shame?” he asked.
“Because I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“I don’t have to be, either.”
“But you are.”
“Yes.”
The king put his hands up to stop them, but they seemed to have forgotten he was there. He had to speak up.
“Eden Ledell.”
“Oh, yes, sire?”
“Have you any idea how the callring ended up in Kataleya’s room?”
“I have no idea. I thought she put it there, but now I’m not so sure.”
“What about the attack on Grufaeragar?” the king asked. “Do you know anything about how our enemies were signaled to come when the castle was nearly empty?”
“I don’t know!”
“You can be honest. I promise everything will be fine.”
“I am honest! I promise I would never do anything to hurt you or anyone here. I’ve never been happier in my life!”
“I feel the same way,” Michael agreed. He lifted his finger in the king’s face. “I know what you’re doing. You’re questioning everyone because you put something in the ale that makes us want to say everything on our minds. That’s very clever, sire!”
“I think it’s a curse,” Eden said.
I gasped. “Is it really, sire?”
He pushed out a palm. “It is as much a curse as ale is poison. It’s just a simple concoction that tends to bring out the truth. The right dosage will do no harm.”
“But how do you know we aren’t going to overdo the dosage by drinking too much?” Eden asked.
“Because it was in your supper, not the ale.”
“Oh shit!” Michael gave his leg a hardy slap. “Now that is clever!”
“Michael, is there anything you know about the traitor that you haven’t told me?”
“Wait,” Eden said, giving a glance around. “But the rich people look like they’re cursed as well, and they came after supper.”
“It was put in the wine served to guests,” the king answered. “I did not fear they would overdo it like I did for you young sorcerers. Now Michael—”
“I’ve been sneaking into the kitchens for snacks after supper, sometimes some ale also. I think your wife is very beautiful, but almost too beautiful, you know? It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Also, sometimes I’m only pretending to practice when I’m really just making whooshing sounds as I move my arms around. Other times I forget what I was talking about, so I just start rambling until I remem—”
“You don’t need to tell me every secret,” the king interrupted. “What do you know about the traitor?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Can someone be sure that they know nothing?”
“Yes…” the king said, a bit confused.
“Really?”
“Yes, Michael.”
“Are you sure?” he asked in retort.
“Yes! Now are you sure you know nothing about the traitor?”
“Oh, you’re right. Yes, I’m sure.”
“You may return to your…dancing or whatever one might call that.”
“Thank you!” Eden said. “I love you sire! I wish you were my father instead of my idiot real father!”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said as he walked away.
They went back to it as if they’d never been interrupted.
I soon followed the king as he walked off. He seemed to be looking around for someone in particular. I was enthralled; I needed to know who he would question next.
He seemed to have his sights on Aliana as she spoke with a tall man elegantly dressed who somehow brought anger out of me, even though I didn’t remember how I knew him.
I had my eyes on him as the king suddenly stopped in front of me. I bumped into his back.
The king spun angrily. “Jon, why are you following me?”
“I want to hear your interrogations. Oh, and tell me something. Why didn’t you stop me from drinking the ale?”
“Let me ask you something instead. Are you having fun tonight?”
“So much.”
“There’s your answer.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “You needed this. I’m sure you wouldn’t have been able to relax as much if I’d told you what was happening and I didn’t include you. Just make sure you don’t drink anymore tonight.”
“I won’t.”
“Kataleya doesn’t seem to be in the dining hall. I need you to look for her while I question Aliana and Trevor.”
“Who is Trevor? He looks familiar.”
“Kataleya sent an invite for him. His family is very powerful.”
“Oh!” That’s right. He was the man I’d seen Kataleya with earlier. “Ohhh,” I muttered again as I realized how strange it was for him to be speaking with Aliana, smiles on their faces, the two of them leaning close. “But I want to hear what they say to your questions.”
“Jon, you’re going to have to respect their privacy.”
“Will you at least tell me if they like each other?”
“That doesn’t concern you. Just go look for Kataleya and bring her here if you find her.”
“But it does concern me.”
“Jon, go.”
“All right.”
If this man, Trevor, was here and she wasn’t, I gleefully hoped something had happened between them and she was off sulking in the apartments, in need of comfort.
I ran out of the dining hall, came out into the courtyard, and I was about to enter the apartments when it suddenly hit me.
“Whoa.”
Shame washed over me. While being completely honest, I was an ass.
I stopped to give myself time to think. Did I really wish harm on her?
No, it wasn’t that. I wanted her to be happy, but I also wanted to be the one who made her that way.
Giving myself a bit of a break, I continued through the apartments, up the stairs, and down the hall containing the rooms of my peers.
Everyone’s door was closed. I ran past all of them until I reached Kataleya’s room. I didn’t know why I felt certain that she would be there, but I was.
I knocked.
“Who is it?” she asked from within.
“Jon. Can I come in?”
“I don’t want you to, but I also do want you to. Yes, come in.”
I opened her door. She was sitting up in the middle of her bed, her palms flat down. She craned her neck toward me, but she seemed wary about moving her body, as if she might topple over.
“How did you know I was here? Close the door.”
I closed it. How did I know she would be here? I had forgotten.
“You look beautiful,” I said.
�
�Did you have much of the ale?”
“Yes. You?”
“Yes.”
I walked up to her bed, climbed onto it with a bit of difficulty, and sat in front of her with my legs crossed.
“Is Trevor gone?” she asked as she took my hands.
“No. He was talking with Aliana when I left. What happened?”
“Oh no.” Kataleya let go and put her hands over her face as she fell backward.
“Why are you in here and not out there?” I asked as I lay down beside her and put my hand on her shoulder.
“When I realized his majesty put truth serum in the ale, I told Trevor I wasn’t feeling well and needed to lie down.”
“Do I understand this correctly? You knew before it really took hold of you and were able to escape to here?”
“Exactly. I could feel the urge to divulge everything.” She took her hands off her face. “Including, but not limited to, what we did in your room.”
“Oh.” I tried not to smile, but I couldn’t help it. “By the way, it was in our food, not our drinks.”
“Oh, clever.”
“So what happened when you started to feel it?” I asked.
“I knew I had to run.”
“How are you always one step ahead of the rest of us? I only figured out what was going on recently.”
“I am older,” she said as an excuse.
“Two years isn’t much.”
“It isn’t nothing, either.”
“What would you have said if you’d stayed with Trevor?” I asked.
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” She spoke as if this was an inconvenience. “I’m worried because I want you again.”
“I want to kiss you right now,” I said, barely able to hear her words as I stared at her lips.
“See! This is what I’m talking about.” She clumsily rolled away from me. “Stay back!”
But I had to lunge forward and grab her arm so she wouldn’t roll off the bed. “Careful!”
“Thank you,” she said when she realized how close to the edge she’d gone. Then she motioned for me to give her space.
I reluctantly backed off.
“I want you to kiss me right now,” she said, “but I will eventually want Trevor to kiss me. Do you hear how wrong that sounds? Even right now I can tell that it is inappropriate. I don’t like to be this person.”
“So be the person you like to be.”
“I always try, but recently I don’t know who I want to be. My mother and father will disown me if they find out I’ve slept with you, a boy with whom I had no prior romantic involvement, and that I initiated it! It would shame our whole family and ruin our relationship with many nobles. And yet, I continue to have strong feelings for you. Oh god. Did I say earlier that I’m worried because I want you again?” She put her hands over her face. “I shouldn’t be saying any of this to you! Please leave, Jon. No wait, don’t.” She suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand. “I would like your company, but please let’s only talk.”
