by Narro, B. T.
He was quiet as he listened to Reela give a lesson.
“It seems like you’re looking at this the wrong way,” she told Alex with a smile. “I know how desperate you are to improve quickly, but it’s not like swinging a sword. The more time you and I train won’t necessarily make a difference. You can train on your own—in fact, that might be better now that you’ve got the sense of what to do.”
“I thought I did.” He scratched his head. “But I guess not, because I still don’t understand how I could train better on my own.”
“Do you remember what psyche is?”
“You’re manipulating my Bastial Energy to change the way I feel.”
“So how do you stop me from doing that?”
Alex grinned and shook his finger. “That’s a trick question because I can’t stop you from manipulating my Bastial Energy.”
“So what must you do instead?”
He bit his lip, letting out a gust of air through his nose. “I’ve been trying to block you by putting a wall up between you and my feelings, but it hasn’t worked.”
“You’re getting too specific. Maybe this is my fault. I haven’t explained your goal in this.” She swung her bag around and reached inside. She pulled out a worn book, its hard cover faded and cracked around the edges. “I’ve taken years of notes in this journal. I always took it with me when I visited Rek in Corin Forest with my mother. I know I wrote down something verbatim that he said. It should help…here it is, resistance.”
Reela cleared her throat and read: “Feelings aren’t like dreams or stories. They’re physical things that happen in our body. So using psyche to cause pain requires an actual manipulation of the target’s body. We aren’t just fooling the mind into believing the body is in pain. The body really is in pain. This is why we cannot cause pain to body parts that are numb or missing.” Reela paused, looking up at Alex. “Does that make sense so far?”
“It does. I never took the time to think about feelings this deeply.”
She continued reading. “Resisting the psychic spell of pain can be done in three ways: by preventing the psychic from manipulating your Bastial Energy, by having more control over your feelings than the person manipulating them, or by forcing the psychic out through willpower.” She raised her finger, her voice getting louder. “The easiest defense is the second tactic, controlling your own feelings. By feeling something stronger than pain, we can maintain control not only of our bodies, but of our Bastial Energy as well. There’s no one way to do this. It’s up to the individual to decide the best way of going about it.”
“Doesn’t sound easy at all,” Alex complained. “Tell me more about forcing the psychic out with willpower.”
“That’s the wall we talked about. The concept is simple. Determination to rid one’s self of psyche is its own feeling. If you can make this feeling strong enough, the psychic can deal no pain. I can’t do anything to your body when you have complete control through determination, but I don’t know anyone who’s able to do this consistently. I think it’s better if—”
“I like that one,” Alex interrupted. “Much easier than feeling something else.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Just try to pain me again.” He held his hands up, his fingers slowly closing into fists. “Go now.”
Reela lifted her palm. Her eyes widened. “Not bad. It’s much better than before. But if I just put a little more effort into it...” She grunted.
Alex collapsed with a groan. “Bastial hell.”
“You won’t be able to keep up that determination, especially after you feel pain. You should try the second tactic, controlling your own feelings.”
He let out a huff as he got up. “How am I supposed to have more control over my body than you?”
“Think of something that elicits powerful feelings.”
Zeti, Zoke thought. When he still shared a hut with her, the thought of his sister always brought forth comfort. Now a foreboding feeling came with the image of her that was so strong, it caused his heart to feel squeezed.
“Will you try psyche on me, Reela?” Zoke interrupted. “I think I might be able to stop it if what you say is true.”
“But you no train!” Vithos laughed. “And Reela strong.”
Nothing can affect my body more than the thought of never seeing Zeti again except on the battlefield.
Ignoring Vithos, Zoke said, “Just don’t stop paining me right away. Give me a chance to fight back.”
“Are you certain? Do you know what it feels like?”
“I never pain him,” Vithos said. “He never get punish. He not know.”
“It’s better now instead of when I’m fighting against the Tenred Army. Just do it. Don’t stop until I say so.”
Vithos stepped away from Zoke as Reela lifted her palm toward him. She breathed in deep, then pushed out her hand. Zoke thought he’d felt the worst pain imaginable when he’d shed his skin. But this was worse.
His knees gave out. He tried to catch himself with his hands, but he was unable to move them, falling flat on his chest. Utterly distracted, the only thing he could do was curse repeatedly. Then it stopped.
“What’s he saying?” Reela asked.
Vithos snickered. “Very bad words.”
Zoke was trembling as he got back on his feet. It felt as if he’d just sprinted a mile.
Alex said, “I was worried for a moment that you were going to make me look bad. But I’m glad to see it’s just as difficult for you.”
“Again, Reela,” Zoke demanded. “I wasn’t prepared for that. I didn’t get a chance to fight back.”
“Are you trying to beat me with sheer willpower?”
“No. I have thoughts that’ll give me stronger feelings than your pain. I’m ready this time.”
Again she lifted her palm. Pain knocked him on his knees. For a blink, he was so angry from the feeling she was causing him that he just wanted to stand and claw her in the face. But he controlled the urge, knowing it was pointless.
He thought of Zeti. He imagined her at Tenred, fighting against him. Too many feelings were evoked at once, confusion about what he should do, anger that she hadn’t gone with Vithos when she had the chance, yet the familiar comfort of knowing she was still alive.
He could feel himself getting to his feet while continuing to focus on Zeti. But then there was another wave of pain, this one even stronger.
He caught himself before he fell, held up by the image of Zeti shooting him in the chest with an arrow. He wanted to scream at her. She was right there in front of him. He trudged toward her as she shot him with another arrow. He hadn’t even spoken to her, and she was shooting him over and over before he could get close.
Zoke felt some pain from being impaled, but he continued onward, two arrows sticking out of his chest.
How dare you shoot brother to you!
He reached out to wrap his claws around her throat. He didn’t wish to harm her, only to show her how angry he was…and that he could kill her if he pleased, maybe even should.
Suddenly, he was back in the forest being punched and kicked.
“Let go!” Alex screamed, drawing his blade. “I’ll cut your arm off if you don’t stop!”
He saw that his hand was wrapped around Reela’s throat. Both of her pale hands were on his arm, desperately trying to pry him off. Her face was blue.
Vithos had his arms around Zoke’s stomach, trying to pull him away. Other Humans were running toward him with their weapons drawn.
Zoke released his grip. He let his hands up. “I’m sorry! It was an accident.”
Reela fell to the ground coughing and gasping.
“Did he attack her?” a man asked.
“He’s a traitor!” another yelled.
Vithos and Alex were too busy kneeling beside Reela to say anything on Zoke’s behalf. The men were closing in with their weapons drawn.
“I didn’t mean to hurt her.” Zoke didn’t want to kill th
ese Humans, but he took his sword from his sheath in preparation to defend himself if he must.
“He’s a liar as well,” one muttered. “I saw you choking her. I’ll kill you, lying Krepp.” This was a big man now rushing at him, with a thick beard hanging down to his collar that disgusted Zoke.
He swung at Zoke with a massive mallet, barely missing as Zoke jumped backward. The man followed his attack with an overhead swing. Zoke was still unwilling to kill him, so he kicked him away while keeping the claws on his feet curled, so as not to open the man’s stomach.
Another came from the side, this one not as big as the first but still strong. Zoke knew better than to try blocking the powerful downward thrust of the man’s sword, so he rolled to the side. The moment he was upright, he was forced to dodge again, both of his attackers swinging wildly, sick grins on their faces.
“There’s nowhere to go, Krepp,” the bearded man uttered, lunging forward with his mallet overhead.
Zoke sidestepped the deadly yet slow attack and swiped his own weapon under the man’s chin, slicing his disgusting beard off.
The man desperately grabbed his chin. “My beard!”
“Stop this!” Alex was shouting now.
Vithos joined him. “Stop, he ally.”
The one with the sword was letting the head of his weapon rest on the forest floor. But the other was enraged, cursing and pointing at Zoke.
“You’ll die for cutting off my beard!”
A voice bellowed from behind, “What’s happening here?” Zoke turned to see he wore a glistening breastplate. It was made of steel but painted gold except for the silver crown on his chest. He had short black hair with a hard face that looked incapable of showing amusement.
“Someone explain to me why you’re attacking this Krepp who’s proven himself to be with Kyrro.”
“Hem, he tried to kill the young lady, sir.” The man, whose beard looked even worse now that Zoke had cut most of it off, pointed to Reela. “He was choking her.”
Reela finally was standing, but she was breathing heavily, her eyes aimed at the grass around her feet. She used one hand to nurse her neck.
Hem glanced at the audience surrounding them. “Is this true?”
“Reela, I’m sorry. It was an accident.” Zoke tried to approach her, but Alex stepped in front of him.
“How was that an accident?” Alex demanded. “How can you choke someone like that without meaning to?”
Vithos had his arm around Reela. She still wouldn’t look at Zoke.
Alex was taller, so Zoke had to lean to the side. “Reela, can’t you tell I’m being honest? I was trying to defend against your psyche, and…” He wanted to explain, but what had really happened? In his mind, everything had made sense. But now he was perplexed how he could’ve thought she was Zeti. And why would he even choke Zeti like that?
Then he remembered his sister fighting against him—shooting him with arrows. It was this image that evoked such anger, feelings of betrayal so strong it felt like his chest was being ripped open and his heart pried out.
“What is it, Krepp?” Hem asked. “You were defending yourself against psyche?”
He had no excuse, just sincerity and the hope Reela could sense it and speak up on his behalf.
“If you can’t tell me why you were choking this young woman, then I must remove you from this army.” Hem pulled his blade from his sheath, the metal singing as it caught the sun coming through the trees.
“Zoke, why do this to Reela?” Vithos imitated choking himself. “Tell us!”
No words came. Hem pointed his weapon at Zoke.
“Wait,” Reela whispered, coughing as she stumbled forward. “Zoke.” She seemed to find her voice, speaking normally again. “In that moment, all I could feel was pure hatred toward me. I thought I was going to die.” Her eyes were glistening as if she was about to cry. “Do you really feel such disdain for me?”
Zoke wanted to spit. “Of course not.”
Reela leaned forward, turning her head as she inspected his face. “You’re being honest…but then what was your thought? It was so powerful, I had no hope of stopping you.”
Vithos nodded. “I no stop with psyche too.”
Zoke was embarrassed to say it in front of all these Humans. They would never understand what it felt like, everything he’d been through to reunite with his sister only to envision her trying to kill him.
“Come on, Zoke,” Reela urged. “Tell me. Don’t I deserve to know?”
“Sister to me. She fights with the Krepps. I was imagining her in Tenred, shooting arrows at me, but I don’t expect any of you Humans to understand.” He spat.
“Zoke…” Reela reached out to touch his shoulder but stopped herself before reaching him. “May I?”
He didn’t know what she was doing, but it seemed like a bad idea to deny her from touching him in front of so many. He nodded.
She squeezed his shoulder and closed her eyes. Chills fell down his back at the feeling of Reela running a hand of psyche through his waterfall of thoughts about Zeti.
Then she opened her eyes and whispered quietly enough so only he could hear.
“I do understand, Zoke.”
Chapter 10:
ZETI
Keenu had been put in charge of the one thousand Krepps sent to defend Tenred. In the six days since leaving their camp, Zeti had remained beside him at the front.
Emerging out of a long stretch of trees that the Humans had named Corin Forest, the massive stone walls of Tenred came into view before them. They were cracked, crumbled in many places from the explosion that killed Grayol. Zeti clenched her claws against her palms. The Humans in Kyrro would suffer for what they did.
She could hear the Krepps behind her.
“How can they build so high?”
“I don’t know.”
“They must have some kind of magic.”
Zeti’s thoughts were far from Tenred, though. She knew Haemon and those that had attacked Kyrro would be returning to the encampment soon. She was thankful she didn’t have to be there when they arrived. It would’ve been difficult to refrain from mocking their cowardice for retreating. Though, she was eager to hear their excuses.
Why did they fail in battle against the weaker race? Did the Humans have weapons the Krepps weren’t prepared for? There must’ve been something. She wondered if there could be more psychics like Vithos.
How many psychics are in Tenred? Zeti never got the chance to find out when she was there last.
It took them two more days to reach the outer wall, where the King of Tenred met them with a retinue of men in steel behind him. Nebre stood next to him, ready to translate.
Tegry Hiller asked in an incredulous tone, “This is it?”
The King’s hair was of two colors, gold and brown, reminding Zeti of the beach, specifically when grains of sand were darkened by the waves and mixed in with the drier sand around it. It came over the tops of his ears and hung loosely over his forehead, bouncing with the wind. His gray eyes were squinted as he gazed over Zeti.
He said something else in common tongue. Nebre spoke when he was done. “I asked for ten thousand. How many are here, one thousand?”
“Yes,” Keenu said. “Doe needs Krepps. He’ll be ready to attack Kyrro soon. He couldn’t spare any more of us.”
Tegry spoke through white clenched teeth. When he was finished, his thin lips curled in a snarl.
“Kyrro is coming here now,” Nebre translated. “They’ll be here in three days. He should’ve sent more Krepps. I said it was likely we would be attacked.”
They’re attacking Tenred? Zeti thought. Could brother to me be with them? Her heart thumping, she asked, “There’ll be a battle?”
Nebre nodded to her as Tegry spoke.
“Bring your Krepps inside,” Nebre told Keenu.
“We’ll only help defend your walls if you agree to join the invasion of Kyrro when our army is ready,” Keenu said.
“Yes, of course
. Let’s go. There’s a lot to discuss before they get here,” Nebre translated.
“What’s to discuss?” Keenu asked. “We fight when they get here.”
“You need to learn our battle strategy.”
“How complicated could it be? We kill the weak Humans with our weapons.”
After hearing Nebre translate what Keenu had said, Tegry held his forehead as if in pain.
“Just follow me and my guards,” Nebre translated. “And tell your Krepps to be ready to listen to instructions.”
Zeti grabbed Nebre’s shoulder to stop him as the rest followed the King and his escorts.
“Do you know if Zoke is with those coming from Kyrro?”
“I don’t know.” He paused to look at her inquisitively. “What would you do if you saw him?”
She gave the only answer she could. “Kill him.”
Chapter 11:
CLEVE
It was morning by the time they neared the river. Cleve was relieved to let his horse finally rest. They’d been riding throughout the night, the moonlight giving the land a silver glow. Cleve figured the sun was just coming over the eastern horizon, but his view was blocked by the surrounding hills.
Trees flourished. Some leaned so far out from the hills they seemed ready to fall from the slightest push. He followed Rek through the trees as they pulled their horses none too gently behind them. Nulya grunted in disapproval, but Cleve couldn’t let up.
They rushed to make it to the top so they could locate the Kreppen Army and its Slugari leader.
“You any good at climbing trees?” Rek asked.
“I used to climb them all the time when I was younger.”
“Good. Because I think we’ve reached the top of this hill, but there are too many trees to tell. Climb this one and have a look.”
Cleve tied Nulya’s reins to a trunk and started up. He’d never been afraid of heights. He trusted his body enough to know he wasn’t going to fall.
