Awaken (The Mortal Mage Book 1)

by B. T. Narro

  Desil desperately needed some time to plan with Leida and Adriya. But first, the memory.

  Beatrix shifted her focus to Leida. “I know you must have some method of contacting your father. Tell me what it is.”

  She didn’t answer.

  “The longer we wait, the farther Basen could get,” Beatrix said. “Remember the first day on the boat? Do you want another brawl?”

  Kirnich took out his sword, which caused Adriya to draw her staff.

  Desil could see exhaustion on everyone’s face except Kirnich’s, but even he was bleeding like the rest of them. He had a gash down his shoulder, his shirt ripped open. Leida had a hole in the back of her cloak near her right shoulder. It probably went all the way through her clothes and skin. Adriya had blood on the back of her neck as if her head had been punctured somewhere. Desil’s neck was in the same condition, and he had numerous scratches down his arms. Beatrix had a rip across the collar of her tunic and a bloody scratch down her cheek.

  It seemed absurd for them to fight each other, but Desil wasn’t about to reveal anything. If Beatrix found out about the memory communications, she’d also be alerted to the memory they’d passed. They would head back right now as a group, experience the memory, and they might even find Basen in the next few hours. There would be no chance to separate without killing Beatrix, Kirnich, or both, which was not yet an option in Desil’s mind. He could tell neither of them had the same murderous thought. They probably realized that as soon as someone did, there would be no stopping a fight to the death.

  But how was Desil supposed to prevent such a brawl? Beatrix threatened Leida again.

  “Speak or fight. What’s your choice?”

  “There’s no point in fighting,” Desil argued. “It won’t get you any information.”

  “I disagree!” Beatrix reached out and put her hand on Leida’s head.

  Leida collapsed in obvious anguish. “Stop!” she yelled.

  “The pain will stop once you speak!”

  Desil rushed toward them, but Kirnich stuck the tip of his blade at Desil’s chest. Desil put up his hands, refusing to draw his own weapon as he tried to think of a different way out of this. He looked over Kirnich’s shoulder as if pretending to see Adriya coming behind the warrior. Kirnich kicked at nothing as he checked over his shoulder. Adriya instead came for Beatrix and smacked her on the back with the staff. Desil swept out Kirnich’s leg, felling the warrior, but Kirnich grabbed Desil’s ankle and pulled.

  Desil hit the ground and tried to get up, but it was too late. Kirnich jumped on top of him and pinned his arms with superior strength. Desil glanced over to see both Leida and Adriya now on the ground as Beatrix pained them both.

  “This will end once you speak!” Beatrix yelled.

  Desil squirmed until he got one of his legs free, then kicked his shin up between Kirnich’s legs. He howled as his hands went to protect his vulnerable spot, letting Desil slip away. He charged Beatrix, but she saw him coming. He braced himself as she snapped her head in his direction and struck him with pain. Prepared this time, he was able to stay on his feet as his muscles convulsed and ram his shoulder into her.

  She was a small woman. Even at his diminished speed, she flew. Leida and Adriya hurried to get their weapons up as their arms shook.

  “Kirnich first,” Desil directed them.

  They spun around and each shot a fireball at the ground in front of the charging warrior. He toppled backward from the force.

  Adriya and Leida turned and shot just before the psychic, blowing her backward as well.

  “We passed a memory,” Desil whispered to Adriya. “Wait until they’re asleep, then sneak out with us.”

  “Got it.”

  Kirnich had an arrow aimed at them. “Put down your weapons or I will strike you in the heart, Adriya. We don’t need you or Desil for this, and I have perfect aim.”

  “I will destroy you with a fireball at the same time,” Adriya threatened.

  “Fine, you don’t have to tell us!” Beatrix called. “As long as no one will die.”

  “Beatrix!” Kirnich scolded.

  “Just let them have their secret for now. I’m tired of fighting. I didn’t train my whole life to hurt and threaten girls who are barely women. This is absurd. Kirnich, put that bow down.”

  Reluctantly, he complied. He seemed to be enraged as he stomped toward Desil.

  “That was a cheap shot,” Kirnich said as he kicked Desil between his legs. Desil collapsed with a moan and rolled into a ball. “Is fighting dirty how you tied up two of my guards? Next time fight me like a man.”

  Desil willed the pain to stop, struggled to his feet and, wobbling, balled his hands into fists.

  Kirnich formed a grin. “What are you doing?”

  “If there’s going to be a next time, then let’s get it over with now.”

  “Gladly.”

  “Pointless,” Adriya said, rolling her eyes. “Might as well beat your heads against the tree to see who can make a dent first. It’ll prove the same thing. Nothing.”

  “She has a point,” Beatrix agreed.

  “If he’s intent on fighting, then what can I do but defend myself?” Desil countered.

  His ploy had the desired result. Kirnich lowered his arms. He stepped up to Desil and growled, “Be careful not to anger me from now on.”

  Leida reached into her bag and pulled out a pouch of crackers. Desil was starving as well. He swung his bag around.

  “Wait,” Beatrix told them. “We should hunt while we’re here. Save the food until it’s the only option. I sense plenty of animals.”

  “Good idea,” Desil said. “You and Kirnich go. The three of us will set up camp.”

  Kirnich chuckled without humor. “The three of you will not be alone again. Get that into your head.”

  “I saw you shoot the Marros, Adriya,” Beatrix said. “Were you lucky when you hit them in the chest?”

  Adriya shook her head. “Skill.”

  “Good, then you’re coming with me. I’ll take care of the hunting, but I don’t know what else we might find here. Focus on keeping us safe from threats.”

  “You don’t need me to shoot the animal we come across?”

  “No. I can convince any creature to come to me.” She showed her dagger.

  Leida asked, “Then do you expect Kanoans to find us in this forest?”

  “I’m not expecting anything, but it’s better to be careful. Kirnich, don’t hurt them unless you absolutely must. Come on, Adriya. There isn’t much daylight left.”

  As soon as they left, Desil started walking back the way they’d all come.

  “Where are you going?” Kirnich demanded.

  “She’s right that there isn’t much daylight left. Let’s see what we can while we still have the opportunity.” More than that, however, Desil needed to locate the spot where he’d felt Basen’s memory. It might be difficult otherwise, when night came.

  Kirnich and Leida joined him in walking to the edge of the trees and looking out. Everything Desil saw was different from Ovira. The distant mountains were jagged triangles with a backdrop of lime-colored clouds. There were few trees, each growing in pairs or triplets. They had long branches covered in leaves that came out from thin trunks in the strange shape of X’s. The closer mountains, forming the canal, were the sturdiest looking walls Desil had ever seen. They were large blocks of what seemed to be slippery rock, probably impossible to climb.

  The body of water he’d run across had a strange glow, green mist circling its surface. He hoped nothing dwelled there, as he and Leida would eventually be walking along its banks in search of the memory. Desil couldn’t find the exact spot from here. It might take some time to locate it.

  Perhaps there was somewhere high he could get in case they needed a better glimpse of the island. He turned his attention to the right. Behind the azure trees was another mountain, only a mile or two away. It looked to have many ledges and possibly even some walkways that would
help him gain altitude quickly.

  “Satisfied?” Kirnich asked.

  Desil nodded. They headed back and began to prepare a fire.

  By the time they had one going, Beatrix and Adriya returned with another creature Desil hadn’t seen before today. This one had four legs with big feet and sharp claws. Beatrix and Adriya carried it together, as it seemed too heavy for just one of them. They dropped it beside the fire with a thud. It sprawled on its stomach with its furry head turned, its long mouth gaping open to reveal sharp teeth.

  “Doesn’t look real,” Leida commented.

  Desil could hardly believe it had been alive. It was even harder to imagine eating it.

  “It didn’t die at first when I stabbed it in the head,” Beatrix said, then pointed at the blood all over the scalp. “Only by the third time did it stop moving.”

  There was fear in the air as everyone fell silent.

  “Thank you, Beatrix,” Leida said in a sarcastic tone. “In a forest full of creatures, you brought us the one that looks the most delicious.”

  “It will feed us well,” Beatrix retorted.

  The five of them stared at the animal a while longer.

  “Who’s going to prepare it?” Adriya asked.

  They all looked at each other.

  “Kirnich?” Beatrix asked.

  “You think I know how to do that?”

  Desil sighed as he knelt beside the creature and took out his knife. “You Academy people are pampered.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Beatrix had learned how to deduce as a teenager, not long after her training in psyche had begun. Figuring out someone’s secret had soon become her specialty.

  There was no room for error in investigating someone’s energy for emotions, just as there was no room for error in this search for the headmaster. She lay on her blanket and let her thoughts keep her awake. She felt like an irritated mother, with three kids between her and Kirnich. Leida, Adriya, and Desil hadn’t argued when Beatrix had arranged their sleeping locations, though she had felt considerable disappointment from the three of them when she’d ordered Kirnich to stay awake tonight to keep watch. No doubt they had been planning to sneak away.

  She was too exhausted herself to stay awake, otherwise she would’ve accepted the task. But there was still much to figure out before she could rest. She wanted to begin a dialogue with Leida about her father, but after several brawls, that seemed to be impossible. Beatrix would have to assume Basen had gone to the Elves and gotten them involved in this. Her father had said this was unlikely, so he must’ve underestimated Basen’s desperation. Beatrix wouldn’t do the same. She was ready for him to fight once found.

  But she couldn’t bear the thought of killing him. She doubted even Kirnich, the animal he was, could put his sword into the headmaster. Kirnich respected him too much.

  Beatrix hadn’t had the chance to speak to her father the morning she and Kirnich left. Adriya’s former lover had told them about the group heading to Gendock, leaving Beatrix only enough time to scribble out a quick note at the Academy and order Eckard to deliver it to the castle. He’d seemed like the type of young man to read the letter even after her threat not to. She’d have to deal with that when she returned, but for now there were more worrisome matters.

  She and her father had known Basen was planning to visit Kanoan to investigate the Marros' explosions. Her father had already sent a team of his best soldiers here years ago to find out what they could, but they were never heard from again. He sent another team, with the same results. Her father didn’t have the heart to send another after that.

  She’d told him in the note that she was only planning to retrieve Basen, not put herself in danger by getting close to the Marros. She didn’t want him to worry too much, but she knew better than to hope.

  If Desil had been more open, perhaps Beatrix would’ve decided it was best for both of them if she told him about her other goal here in Kanoan. They might’ve been able to work together to accomplish it. Now that seemed unlikely.

  She’d figured Desil was like his father, but his mastery over water had surprised her. Beatrix had known Wade during her time at the Academy. Desil was already as strong as his father was at thirty.

  As her thoughts began to repeat, she decided it was time for sleep. She checked one last time to make sure Kirnich was awake. He rotated his hands to silently ask if she wanted to switch with him. She shook her head. She wouldn’t be able to keep her eyes open much longer.

  She almost fell asleep several times after that but it evaded her as she relived scenes of the Marros attacking her. She took a few deep breaths. It was tempting to rid herself of fear with psyche, but she was glad her instructors over the years had advised her never to do that. Psychics must learn to deal with their uncomfortable emotions the same way as others did, otherwise they would be consumed by them.

  But damn those massive birds. No one had told her they spoke to each other. Nothing had terrified her as much as running for her life and realizing that the creatures chasing her were intelligent. Damn this place. Damn Basen and his stubborn child. Damn Leida’s supporters. Damn it all.

  She awoke sometime later to the sound of footsteps coming toward her. A feeling of murderous aggression emanated from the intruder’s energy. Beatrix gasped as her instinct to run took over. Someone was trying to kill her. She remembered her power and stopped to pain him, but the dark figure had already darted off the other way and disappeared into the darkness.

  She sensed him no more. She moved behind a tree in case he might have some capability to kill her from range—the glowing embers of the campfire providing enough light to show him his target. She looked back at her camp. Only Kirnich was there! And the bastard was asleep sitting against a tree!

  “Kirnich, wake up!”

  “I wasn’t sleeping,” he grumbled.

  “Yes you were, and the three of them must’ve realized it. Look.” She gestured at the empty camp.

  He groaned and cursed. “I thought I was awake!” He swore again as he got to his feet.

  “One of them must’ve come back to kill me, but he or she ran before I could see who it was.”

  “Which way?”

  Beatrix pointed. “But there’s no point in getting lost in this dark forest. We can track them tomorrow.” She sighed out her frustration. She wanted to blame Kirnich for falling asleep, but she wouldn’t have been able to stay awake, either. It was hard to believe one of them would try to kill her, but she knew what she’d felt. She had only picked up psyche like that a few times in her life, only when watching one man try to kill another. There was no doubt about it, only this time there had been reluctance mixed in with the aggression. Killing her was a necessity, not a desire.

  They were more foolish than she’d first realized. Fortunately Kirnich knew how to track. She would find them tomorrow with his help. And if they had joined with Basen before then, it would be even better.

  “You should sleep until daylight,” Beatrix instructed. “I’m sure we’ll find them in the forest. There’s nowhere else they can travel in a single night where they won’t be seen by Marros.”

  “How do you know?”

  “The maps of Kanoan. It would be daylight by the time they walked all the way to the western edge of this forest, and we know the birds attack anyone north of the Dead River during the day. The only way to safely make it across the four miles to the next forest is during the night.”

  The truth was, Beatrix wasn’t sure about finding Leida again. She would stay awake until daylight, grinding her teeth about the situation, as she made sure no one could take her by surprise again.

  Kirnich didn’t reply. She checked with psyche to find him asleep again.

  *****

  It had been easy for Desil to wait for Beatrix and Kirnich to fall asleep, though he still waited what seemed to be an hour before he got up, just in case they were as good as he was at pretending to be asleep. He woke Leida with a soft shake to
her shoulder. Adriya was already getting up by the time Leida stirred. They grabbed their belongings as quietly as they could and snuck off.

  When they were far enough from the camp, Leida made light and everyone jogged out of the forest. There were all too tired to speak, but letting the memory go unwatched a moment longer was not an option.

  Leida soon slowed, huffing for breath. Desil hadn’t noticed her eating much of the strange creature, unlike everyone else who’d devoured as much as they could stomach. Most of the meat was nearly impossible to chew with a slightly bitter taste, but they forced it down. He didn’t know whether Leida had a weak stomach or if she was just overwhelmed with worry, but she had a look on her face like she would climb over a mountain if it stood in the way of getting to that memory.

  A number of options ran through Desil’s thoughts, but it was pointless to decide on any of them until they heard from Basen. They got to the water and separated to search for the exact spot, as none of the grassy terrain seemed familiar.

  Eventually, Desil came across it. “Over here.”

  Leida rushed to him. “At the same time. Go.”

  Desil let the memory take over his senses. Suddenly he was seeing the world through the eyes of Basen as he, Alabell, and an Elf sprinted in the same direction Desil and his party had gone. Basen looked up into the sky to his right, a great cloud of Marros quickly approaching. The sun was setting behind them.

  “I have to stop the memory so I can focus now, Leida,” Basen said. “If you find this, bring your group to that forest.” He pointed at the wall of azure trees a mile ahead.

  The memory ended.

  This couldn’t have been yesterday or their groups would’ve encountered each other. So Leida was probably only one day behind. They should be able to find the headmaster soon.

  Leida was grinning when Desil looked at her. “They’re in the forest. They’ve been there for a night and a day.”