by Narro, B. T.
Effie nodded. She thought she had, at least. She was never sure exactly what it was, and the tingling pleasure had only happened a few times.
“It’ll be stronger as you get more powerful. Men have no self-control. Once the pleasure is discovered, it takes over, and their focus is usually lost. They’re not used to multiple orgasms, like us,” Marie said with a wink.
Effie laughed politely, but truthfully the discussion of orgasms with the old woman was too strange, even for her.
Effie found Steffen reading at the kitchen table when she entered their home. He looked up and closed the book at the sound of her.
“Eff, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Finally, here it comes. “What is it?” What have you been hiding from me?
Steffen sucked in a long breath. “Gabby and I kissed. I think I like her.”
Effie let her arms fold over her training gown. “So?”
“So, you’re fine with it?”
“Yeah, why not?” She’d kissed many men she thought she liked—Brady being one of them, and she barely knew him. It was actually a shock that Steffen and her sister hadn’t kissed before.
Steffen let the air out of his chest. His shoulders slumped in relief as he smiled. “I always thought if your sister and I were together, it would be a major issue.”
“It would be,” Effie answered. “Wait, you’re telling me you’re going to start dating my sister?”
Steffen’s face tightened as if ready for pain. “When you say it like that, it sounds so wrong.”
“It sounds so wrong because it is wrong! That’s my sister!”
For a breath, all was silent. Steffen kept his eyes on Effie, giving no sign as to what he was going to say next. It seemed as if his fear had morphed into confusion. “But you just said you were fine with it.”
“If you think you like her and kissed a few times, sure, fine with me. But actually dating? No.” She noticed she was pointing at Steffen like he was a dog that had pooped in the house. Effie knew sometimes it was necessary to be completely straightforward with Steffen, especially in conversations about the opposite sex. Still, she never felt good about it. She took a breath to let out some frustration. “You shouldn’t touch her at all until you’re sure about the way you feel.”
Steffen leaned away from her finger as if it was about to cast a fireball. “What do you mean, until I’m sure about the way I feel?”
“Because you’re not even sure if you like her. You’re going to mess with her mind and end up really hurting her. You’ve known her nearly her whole life, and you’re still not certain about the way you feel?” Compared to Reela, who was in here the other day practically writing poetry on the spot as she described what Cleve does to her. Men are the worst. Effie could feel her eyes rolling, but she tried to stop them, knowing it wouldn’t help.
Steffen seemed to be chewing his cheek. His eyes were avoiding Effie’s.
She decided to take another breath. Feeling calmer, she took Steffen’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Gabby’s impressionable to a fault, and for some reason you have a bigger impact on her than anyone else. If you started doing stuff together…” Effie dropped Steffen’s hand so she could gesture descriptively as she cringed. “She’s already in love with you. It will tear her to pieces if you don’t feel the same way. She’s technically an adult, but that doesn’t mean she really is one. There’s a lot she can’t handle.”
A smile was forming at the corners of Steffen’s mouth. It wasn’t quite there yet, but Effie knew she’d see it soon. “I think I get it. However, my interpersonal skills have always been below average, so correct me if I’m wrong. Gabby is like a sponge, and we’re all like water to her, soaking us up?”
“Yes,” Effie nodded at him.
“But I make her wetter than anyone else.”
“Yes. Wait…no.” Does he realize what he’s saying?
“No? But she is like a sponge?”
“Forget the sponge analogy.” Effie held her head for a moment to think. His perplexed expression was starting to frustrate her again. “Just make sure you’re completely certain you really like her before you do anything. Otherwise, you’ll hurt her.”
His hands came up to show that was the last thing he wanted. “Definitely.” Guilt seemed to strike his face. “But how do I know if I really like her or not? I think I like her already.”
You’re asking me, and I don’t even know how I feel about Brady with any certainty.
It may have been from the tightness she felt forming in her stomach, or just the pity she had for Steffen, but she suddenly had the urge to share an embrace. She nestled against Steffen’s chest, wrapping her arms around his lower back. He returned the hug, and Effie felt warmth spread through her stomach, immediately relieving the tension.
“Reela will know that,” Effie said, parting from Steffen. Reela had always been the answer to emotional dilemmas. And now she’s got one of her own, Effie said to herself, thinking about Cleve.
“Thank you, Effie.”
Effie smiled but took his shoulder in a firm grip to let him know how serious she was. “Don’t touch Gabby. Don’t go to see her. Don’t even write to her until you know how you feel. You don’t want to give her the idea you feel one way when you actually feel another.”
“I understand.”
A culminating silence followed.
“Where is Reela? The sun has almost set,” Effie asked.
Just as Steffen opened his mouth to speak, they heard the front door unlatch. Reela came through wearing a dress with the colors of Kyrro. It was showier than Effie was used to seeing on her, but the surprise was nothing but pleasant. Effie always wanted her friend to show off her body more. It seemed like a waste not to.
Reela had a tired smile. “Pack your bags, both of you. Headmaster Terren will be here soon.” She walked by them toward her room.
“What?” Effie blurted, still thinking about Reela’s dress. “Pack our bags?” She turned to check Steffen’s expression to see if he understood what Reela was talking about, but his face was squished together just like hers. Effie started after Reela. “Why pack our bags?”
“Because we’re leaving for a mission.” Reela entered her room, grabbed a backpack, and flipped it over her bed to make sure it was empty. “Pack light,” she said without a look back. “We’re walking about eighty miles there and eighty miles back. We may be gone a fortnight or more.”
Effie stood next to Steffen in Reela’s doorway. They watched in confused silence as Reela went to her wardrobe and started palming through it. She stopped suddenly and looked over her shoulder at them. “Get started, will you?”
“Reela.” Effie held up her hands in an attempt to stop her. “How do you know any of this?”
Reela halted for a breath and then spoke a burst of rapid sentences without the slightest pause. “I went to Oakshen to get my mother and took her to the castle in Kyrro City to translate for the Elf and Krepp. While she was translating, I found out they had Cleve in the dungeons, so I went down to visit him. Then I met with my mother outside the castle to find out what she knew, and then I started back to the Academy and saw Terren on the way there.” She took one quick breath. “We started talking about Cleve and then everything else. I got Terren to tell me about this mission and convinced him that I would be helpful to bring along. He’s at Alex’s house right now, then he’s coming here.” Reela put her hands on her hips. “Get started.”
Again Effie was lost. She looked over and found Steffen to be the same.
“Cleve is in prison?” they both asked at once.
“Yes, I’ll explain everything later.” Reela fluttered her hand, turning her attention to her backpack. “I told Terren we would be ready to leave when he gets here, so pack while I talk about the mission.”
Effie gave in and went to her room. There were clothes everywhere, so finding her backpack wasn’t as easy as it was for Reela. She rummaged around for it as Reela started tal
king again.
“The reason the Krepps joined with Tenred is because the Krepps believe we know where the underground Slugari are. The Krepps have been searching for the underground colony to take it over, enslave the Slugari, and feed upon them. They sent someone to deliver a threat to King Welson that stated if we don’t give up the underground colony’s location, they’ll attack us.”
Steffen shouted from his room, “That was the Krepp and Elf we saw going through the Academy?”
Effie had heard the news of this Krepp and Elf but nothing more than that. She listened carefully, eager for more.
“No,” Reela answered as Effie heard her door close, likely to change out of her dress. “The Krepp and the Elf are allies with us,” Reela shouted from behind the door. “They intercepted the messenger the Krepps had sent, but they didn’t know what he was doing until they questioned him. The messenger tried to kill one of them, for they’re both enemies of the Krepps. Luckily, the messenger failed and ran, leaving the scroll with them. They brought it through the Fjallejon pathway, and the Fjallejons sent a pigeon to the castle because the pair looked suspicious. Guards came to pick them up, heard their story, and escorted them to the castle to meet with the King.”
“The Krepp spoke our language, Effie!” Steffen added from his room. “And the Elf is a psychic, a very strong one. Leonard is still calm after whatever the Elf did to him.”
Effie finished stuffing all the socks, undergarments, and other clothes she could fit in her bag. She went down their short hallway and stood in Steffen’s doorway. He was holding his pet rat in his cupped hands.
“I need to drop Leonard at a friend’s house so she can keep him fed while we’re gone,” he announced.
“She?” Effie teased. “You have a friend who’s a girl?”
“Yeah, Marratrice. She’s in my class, hates running, loves potions, and likes Leonard, even though he did try to bite her nose once. I’ll do it as we’re leaving.”
Effie heard Reela’s door open.
“Once Reela tells us where we’re going,” Effie said, turning to find her friend standing behind her and buttoning the last few buttons of her black shirt.
“We’re going to the underground Slugari colony,” Reela answered.
Steffen put Leonard back in his cage. “I thought we didn’t know where it was?”
“We don’t,” Reela answered, raising her eyebrows. “But the Elf does. He and the Krepp were on the way there when they saw the messenger. He hasn’t ever met the Slugari, only sensed their presence below ground with psyche.” Reela put a hand on Steffen’s shoulder. “Terren was instructed to bring a chemist who’s familiar with the caregelow plant that’s rumored to be with the Slugari, so I told him while we walked that you’re definitely that chemist. You’re supposed to bring scrolls and pens to document what you find and get samples if they allow it.”
Steffen’s mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. “They trust such a task to a first-year chemist?”
It didn’t seem nearly as special to Effie, and it must not have to Reela, either, because she shrugged. “Terren says they’re only taking first-years because we’re capable but also less useful in a battle. The Academy may be attacked while we’re gone. Marie Fyremore will be the temporary head while Terren is away. He says she’s more than capable.”
“She is,” Effie agreed. “So it’s obvious why the encyclopedia is going. What about me? What’s my role in this?”
“Extra protection, light when we need it, fire for camp.” Reela took Effie’s hands in hers. Only then did Effie realize how excited she was starting to feel. It was making her heart race, spreading quickly over her body. “There are no other mages coming, just you. Terren isn’t all that familiar with first-years, but he spoke to Cleve, who recommended you both.”
The mention of Cleve made them quiet. The excitement suddenly dulled. Effie gave a look to his empty bedroom across from Steffen’s. Reela will explain what’s happening with him, she reminded herself.
Effie was glad Cleve felt that he knew her well enough to recommend her. He’d never seen her use any advanced spells, just Bastial light here and there around the dark house at night. However, she’d never seen him use a weapon, either, and that didn’t matter. She knew how strong he was just by being around him. It was the way he carried himself, the words he chose. She could feel his passion to improve in everything he did. He must have figured the same about me, Effie liked to think. It’s funny how you can know certain things about someone without ever witnessing it.
“He’ll be back, Reela?” Steffen asked.
Effie could hear Reela gulp before letting out the soft cough of her throat clearing. “He will. I’ll tell you more as we walk,” she answered quietly.
I’ve never heard Reela answer a question with so little confidence. It made Effie’s nerves bundle and twist.
“I’m glad,” Steffen answered happily, seemingly unaware of Reela’s tone. “But before Terren gets here, will you let us know ultimately what the King wants with the Slugari? Don’t tell me he’s verifying their location so we can give it away to the Krepps. That will lead to the destruction of their race. The Krepps have already driven the Elves away, but the Slugari don’t have the same ability to run. They’ll be wiped out. Killed, cooked, and eaten, all of them. We can’t let that—”
“Calm yourself.” Reela patted his shoulder. “We don’t even know where the Krepps are even if we wanted to tell them the location of the Slugari. The Elf and Krepp who’ve come here have convinced the King that the Slugari have ways to help us with this war. It’s just as important to the Slugari as it is to us for the Krepps and Tenred to be defeated. We’re going to bring them to our side and find a way to stop this war together—he’s here.” Reela started toward the door. Effie and Steffen followed.
Just as Terren began to knock, Reela opened the door.
“The Elf and Krepp are waiting outside the northern walls,” Terren said without preamble. By the rough look in his eyes, Effie figured he was probably not one for formalities. “Did you explain everything?” he asked Reela.
“Yes, we’re ready. Steffen just needs to drop off his rat at someone’s house.”
Terren’s mouth straightened. “Make it fast. We have ten miles to walk if we wish to spend our first night in a friend’s cabin in Corin Forest. Otherwise, we’re sleeping in the middle of the Fjallejon pathway.”
“Ten miles!” Steffen blurted. “It will be night in a few hours.”
“Are you telling me you can’t walk ten miles?” Terren said with an edge to his voice.
“I can walk ten miles, but—”
“Good,” Terren interrupted. “We’ll meet you at the north gate. Go.”
Steffen hustled out the door with his cloth bag bouncing around his back and his rat’s cage swinging in his hand.
So this is what a warrior instructor is like, Effie thought. This explains a lot about Cleve.
But just then, Terren surprised Effie with a warm smile. “Ready?” he asked nicely. It was like she was seeing a different person.
“Yes, Headmaster Terren,” Effie answered.
“Terren is fine,” he said, turning to start toward the north gate.
Effie and Reela followed him for a step, but Effie stopped to lock the door behind her. When she turned back, she met Reela’s eyes. They spoke to Effie, but she couldn’t tell what they were saying. Then Reela pushed out her hand from her waist, fingers extended, and Effie knew what it was: We’ll be safe with each other. Effie took it with her own hand. A warm comfort came through her, setting the corners of her mouth up in a wide smile.
Chapter 52: Strangers and Handshakes
ZOKE
Five Humans, there they were, close enough to spit at—three men and two women. Two of the men were taller than him and Vithos, but the one with sandy hair seemed to be in charge. He had an extra bag tied on to the bottom of his backpack. When he came through the gate, he knelt to untie it, and the other Humans watc
hed and waited.
Zoke and Vithos stood in silence, waiting for the Humans to approach. The one in charge pulled open his second bag and took out bread and dried meat, distributing it among the others. Then he walked to them, his eyes hard and set. If he was half as uncomfortable as Zoke, then he hid it well.
He led with a loaf of bread. “You speak common tongue?” he asked Zoke.
“Yes,” Zoke answered, accepting the gift. “But the Elf doesn’t.”
“Will you translate for me?” the Human asked.
“Yes,” Zoke said again, ripping the bread and handing half to Vithos.
The man held out his hand vertically, like he was pointing at Zoke’s stomach with all five clawless fingers. “My name is Terren. What are your names?”
“Mine is Zoke, his is Vithos.” He then translated for Vithos.
“Why is his hand out like that?” Vithos asked Zoke in Kreppen, the only language he knew.
Zoke asked Terren about it. The Human’s mouth tightened into a grin, and his hand fell back to his side. By then, the rest of the Humans had circled around. Of the three men, one had black hair and a light brown beard that was almost red. Zoke noticed him first because he was carrying a cage with a bird in it that struck Zoke as strange.
“When we meet someone, we usually shake hands,” Terren said.
Zoke translated.
“Then we should shake our hands,” Vithos said. “We are in Human company. We shouldn’t insult them.” Vithos extended his fingers and waggled both his hands. Zoke couldn’t understand why the Humans would want to do that, but he joined Vithos in moving his hands back and forth through the air.
A few of the Humans started to laugh. Then Zoke recognized the taller of the two girls. She had fair skin like Vithos. Her hair had the same brightness as his as well, except it was lighter in color and far thicker and wavier. She was the one who touched Vithos, Zoke realized. She said she knew him.
