Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4)

by Narro, B. T.

  “I don’t wish to hurt you, Keenu. Zeti told me she cares for you. She might ask you to be her seshar.”

  Keenu’s hard expression didn’t change. “It would be an honor if she did, almost as much of an honor to be the Krepp that finally killed the traitor gurradu.”

  Zoke knew he was outmatched, especially with fatigue making his body feel heavy. But even if he was in his best condition, he would avoid this fight.

  Lowering his weapon, he said, “Kill me if you must, but I won’t fight back.”

  “Why’d you do this to Zeti? What was said between you two?” Keenu kept his weapon ready.

  “We were trying to find a way to be together, but she’s not willing to switch sides.”

  “Of course she isn’t. She’s no traitor. But then why the sleeping potion?”

  “Haven’t you seen?” Zoke pointed where he knew the battle still raged. “You’re losing. She’s too proud, sister to me. When the Humans of Tenred begin to flee, she won’t join them. I’m keeping her alive, and I ask that you stay here with her until the battle is over. If you go back out there, you’ll die. How many Krepps are left, ten of the thousand that came?”

  “If that.” Keenu spat. “Because we’re not cowards.”

  “And I’m proud for you and those who’ve died valiantly. I wouldn’t wish to flee either. But I can’t let Zeti be killed if I can help it.” Zoke took a step toward him. “And if you’re going to be family, then I must protect you as well.”

  Keenu laughed. “Small gurradu, don’t insult me with such comments. I would never need your protection.”

  “So you’ll stay with Zeti?”

  “Only because she’s more important than any of the weak Humans out there, and I don’t trust what you or your allies will do with her. Not because I’m frightened of dying.”

  I don’t care the reason, as long as he stays. Zoke started out the door but stopped to turn and say, “Endure.” The word felt strange now, leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

  “Endure.”

  Zoke put on his tunic as he jogged back toward the fallen wall. There were many ways he didn’t wish to die, but one of the worst would be at his allies’ hand, mistaken for an enemy.

  Yet even that couldn’t compare to Zeti shooting him. He wanted to spit just at the thought of it, but he didn’t have the energy. It was already too much just to be running.

  I won’t last much longer. I must find Alex and help him kill Sawdar and Brady.

  He saw the battle had moved farther up the hill, now past where he’d taken Zeti. He couldn’t find any other Krepps. They were lost among the heap of bodies around the fallen wall, where dust and stone covered the ground.

  He navigated his way through the carnage, shouting Alex’s name as he swatted away attackers’ swords.

  “Here!”

  Zoke followed his voice to find the black-haired Human at the front. Enemies were thick in this area, nearly overwhelming Zoke’s allies.

  “I haven’t found Brady, but Sawdar’s over there.” Alex pointed over a line of mages. When Zoke saw Sawdar’s shoulder-length blond hair, a spark of anger twisted in his chest. He saw Marie being stabbed. Sawdar was a true traitor, surprising an old woman with a gruesome death.

  “But we can’t get through,” Alex said. “It looks like they’re preparing to flee.”

  “Don’t let him run!” Zoke shouted. “He must die.”

  Zoke and Alex fought their way toward the mages. But it quickly became clear they needed assistance to break through. Sawdar shot arrows over the mages’ heads at oncoming attackers, while the mages cast fireballs relentlessly. They continued to back up the hill as a group.

  Zoke risked rushing them after he pushed through to the front, but one of the mages saw him and aimed her wand. Zoke shielded his chest and face when he saw he wouldn’t make it to her in time, taking the fireball in his shoulder.

  The world spun as he tumbled. Coming to rest against the shins of his allies, they yanked him to his feet. Now everything was numb. He’d lost his sword during the tumble but found it on the ground nearby.

  He heard a familiar cry of aggression. Looking back toward the mages and Sawdar, Zoke found Half-Beard leading the charge, followed by a horde of warriors. No less than four arrows were protruding from his torso and legs.

  He reached the mages, swiping his mallet indiscriminately as they shot fireballs into him. Bodies tumbled, his being one of them. The rest belonged to enemies.

  Unfortunately, Half-Beard didn’t get up or even move. But his bravery had broken the enemy’s formation. A Tenred officer armored in steel was shouting directions, but half of his men and women were turning to flee. To Zoke’s dismay, he saw Sawdar was one of them.

  Alex threw a dagger that struck the traitor in his leg. He fell but wrenched it out. As Zoke ran toward Sawdar, he saw Alex closing in for the finishing strike.

  Sawdar hurled Alex’s own throwing knife back at him. It struck him in the head, and Alex fell backward.

  Fury consumed Zoke. Sawdar scrambled to his feet and loaded an arrow. But Zoke reached him first and ran his sword through the Human’s heart.

  It was done. Sawdar was dead. But Zoke felt no satisfaction. Instead, he was overwhelmed with drowsiness and sorrow. Alex had been struck in the forehead with the throwing dagger. Zoke was hesitant to even look, worried the sight would cause him to collapse.

  “I wanted that kill.” It was Alex’s voice! He was struggling to stand, blood dripping down his face. A nasty gash ran diagonally down his forehead.

  “I thought you were dead,” Zoke admitted.

  “Sawdar never was very good with throwing daggers.” Alex pressed his palm against his wound and then checked his hand. “It must’ve struck me at an odd angle.”

  Apparently, that was all Zoke’s body could handle. As a wave of dizziness hit him, he lost his balance and fell hard. The moment he closed his eyes, comfort weighed on him heavily, preventing him from opening his eyes.

  Sleep finally took him.

  Chapter 18:

  ZETI

  It was dark. She was in a soft bed, too soft for her liking.

  It was a struggle just to lift her head. Keenu was beside her, asleep in a chair.

  He woke with a startle. “Zeti…”

  “I’m still in the Human’s house?”

  “Yes, I put you in one of the two beds.”

  Her memories started swirling together—the battle, her brother, clawing him, the potion. She heard nothing outside. “Are we still fighting?”

  “No, the battle is lost. Every Krepp that came here to fight has died except for us.”

  “That’s Zoke’s fault.” She wanted to spit but refrained. “We could’ve helped them win—”

  “No. The Humans retreated to their castle. Then our enemies left. There were too many of them for us to win.”

  “Then why didn’t they chase our Humans up the incline to the castle?”

  “Because all of them are cowards?” Keenu shrugged. “I won’t try to understand their weak race.”

  “Did you see Zoke?”

  Keenu’s tone was grave. “I did.”

  “What happened?” Her heart lurched with her next thought. “Did you fight?”

  “No. He wouldn’t fight me. He told me…” Keenu’s mouth twisted. “He said that you…”

  He told Keenu I was thinking about asking him to be my seshar. She cursed her brother silently. Zoke would never harm family, even future family.

  “Never mind,” Keenu said. “How are you feeling?”

  “Exhausted, though I don’t know why.”

  “It’s been night for a few hours. They’re cleaning up the bodies out there.”

  “Have you spoken to Nebre about what the Humans will do now?”

  Keenu looked as if he wanted to spit. “I don’t wish to see that Krepp, with his white teeth and his proud grin. Doe and Haemon can communicate with Tenred through the pigeons.”

  “How did you know I w
as here?”

  “I wasn’t far from you when you left with Zoke. I saw the direction you both went, but I was too busy in combat to follow immediately. Zoke…you should’ve killed him—that’s what Doe will say. He’ll tell me the same thing.” There was a hint of fear in Keenu’s voice.

  “Then we’ll say nothing of seeing Zoke,” Zeti decided.

  “He saved our lives.” This time Keenu did spit. It splattered against the wooden floor. “Do you realize this? The traitor saved our lives.”

  “I don’t like it when you call him that,” Zeti finally admitted. She’d always been worried Keenu would tell Doe how she felt, but now they shared a secret. “He’s brother to me. No matter what he’s done, I know what kind of Krepp he really is.”

  “I understand.”

  Father to me, though…I would never defend any insult directed toward him. It triggered a memory of Zoke warning her about her mother. She would need to find out what happened before she completely trusted Doe—her brother was right.

  “What now?” Zeti asked.

  “We sleep, eat, then walk back. Doe will know what to do next. He always does.”

  “I bet the weapons for the Dajriks will be ready by the time we get back.”

  Keenu grinned. His eyes shifted to the floor. “Yes. This battle may be lost, but it’s only a matter of time before our army is ready to strike and the war is won.”

  Zoke must leave Kyrro before we get there. It’s the only way for him to live.

  But she already knew he wouldn’t.

  Chapter 19:

  ZOKE

  Zoke woke to excruciating pain. His left arm was bandaged where the branch had impaled him, but the ache couldn’t be compared to what he felt in his back and neck.

  He was being wheeled back to Kyrro on a mobile medical bed. He couldn’t help but groan, the pain unbearable.

  “Pilpa, the Krepp is awake,” a woman said.

  The plump woman came to Zoke’s side. She pulled open his left eye and leaned in close for a look, then his right.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Follow my finger.” She moved it back and forth in front of him. “Good, now can you move your arms?”

  He could, though the pain down his spine made him stop after just a twitch.

  “What about your legs?” Pilpa asked.

  “The pain is too much for stupid exercises.”

  “These aren’t exercises. I’m trying to determine if you’re paralyzed. Now wiggle your toes, claws—whatever you call them.”

  Zoke did, clenching his teeth through the pain. “Give me another potion.”

  “You’re already on a low dosage of pain reducer. But I’ll give you more. Here.” She brought a clear vial to his mouth. “Only take a gulp.”

  Wanting more than she offered, he put up with the pain to grab it from her hand and slurped down four gulps before handing it back. She grunted with disapproval.

  “It tastes like water,” he commented. It was the first potion he’d drunk that didn’t have any flavor.

  “That’s because it is. I had a feeling you wouldn’t listen to my instructions. Now you don’t get any of the real thing.”

  “Give it to me!” He tried to sit up, only to go stiff when a sharp pain made him gasp.

  “Selfish, Krepp. We have many injured. Our potions need to last. You’ll get more when I can trust you.”

  He cursed at her in Kreppen.

  “Something tells me those aren’t compliments you’re spewing out.” Pilpa turned and left.

  Only then did he realize he had questions. Someone was pushing his bed, but he couldn’t turn to see who.

  “What happened with the battle?” he asked.

  “They retreated,” someone answered. “Then we knocked down the remaining portions of the wall and left. You’ve been asleep for a day.”

  “Alex Baom, is he alive?”

  “The commander’s brother? Yes. We’ve treated him, and he can walk, unlike you.”

  Zoke wanted to sit up and look for him, along with Vithos and Reela. But he couldn’t even turn his head. He was stuck on his back, watching the tops of trees pass overhead.

  “Hi Zoke,” Vithos said. The Elf’s head poked into view. “Pilpa told me you were awake.” He spoke in Kreppen.

  “Yes, can you convince her to give me more of the pain-reducing potion?”

  “I will. It hurts that bad?”

  “It’s like my shedding, but I can’t even move. What about your injury. You don’t seem as confused anymore.”

  Vithos rubbed his temple. “My head still hurts very badly. I can’t look at bright light, but I’m fine otherwise. I wish I could’ve fought. So does Reela.” He turned to look behind them and lowered his voice. “Her knee was badly twisted, but she’ll recover. She’s being transported on a bed like you, but they say she’ll be able to walk by the time we get back to the Academy.”

  “Good.”

  “But Reela’s face…whatever that substance was is going to leave a terrible scar. I made the mistake of showing her with a mirror. She wouldn’t admit it, but I can tell she’s depressed.”

  To have such a hideous mark down her face and neck—Zoke felt pity for the young woman.

  “Tell her that I’m sorry,” Zoke said.

  “That would be the last thing she’d want to hear. Then she’ll know we talked about her scar. It’s better if we try to ignore it.”

  “At least she’s alive. What about Terren?”

  “He and Hem are still alive as well, neither injured too badly. Terren’s worst gash is on his forehead. It came from the fall before battle. But Alex was cut up during the fight. His shoulder, face, arms, he has bandages everywhere, but they say he’ll live. These Humans are much better than Krepps at treating their injured.”

  “What about Brady? Did Alex find him?”

  “No, not alive or dead. He told me you saw Zeti?” Vithos asked cautiously.

  “Yes. We spoke, and she should still be alive.”

  “That’s very good news! What did you say? What happened?”

  A different kind of pain twisted in his stomach. It was a deep, dull ache, like a brick had been dropped within him. “She won’t stop fighting with the Krepps.”

  Zoke stopped, realizing there was nothing more he needed to say.

  Vithos nodded solemnly, and they went quiet.

  “I’ll get Pilpa to give you the pain-reducing potion.”

  Chapter 20:

  EFFIE

  All Effie could think about as she made her way to Steffen’s classroom were excuses. But she’d already made it clear to him that she didn’t want to do this, so what else could she say?

  I’m sick was the first thing that came to mind. But that was the whole point. She’d come down with a cold and now was a test subject for the chemists. The memory of Steffen’s wide smile when she’d sneezed in his presence made her grit her teeth with anger.

  “Are you feeling sick?” he’d asked in a hopeful tone.

  “Yes…why are you looking at me like that?” She’d felt like a prized pig.

  Then he’d explained that the caregelows acquired from the Slugari had grown big enough to be ready for testing. The chemists were waiting for someone to get sick.

  “And that’s you! I’m jealous. I was trying to infect myself so I could be the one to test it.”

  If she didn’t know Steffen better, she would’ve thought he was joking about the whole thing. “The days of letting you test potions on me are long gone,” she’d informed him.

  “It’s not just me. Jack Rose is going to ask you to come to our classroom tomorrow.”

  “Why would he do that?” Effie had sneezed again, then sniffled.

  Steffen had applauded like a fool. “Oh, this is so good! I must go tell him.” He’d literally run out of the house.

  The head chemist had come back with him and basically demanded she visit Steffen’s classroom the next morning.

  “I’ve already
told your instructor that you won’t be at battle training,” he’d said. “Thank you for doing this.”

  You didn’t give me a choice.

  Arriving at the classroom, she took a breath to ease her nerves and stepped in. She nearly turned and fled when she saw it was packed with instructors and students. It seemed as if all the chemists who hadn’t marched to Tenred were staring at her.

  Jack stopped what he was saying to introduce her. “And here she is. Effie Elegin, thank you for coming. Please, come to the front.”

  She walked into the crowded room. There were only enough chairs for a fourth of them. The rest were standing.

  “You’re still feeling ill, correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “Please list your symptoms for us.”

  “I have a headache and a lot of mucus. My...” The master chemist’s stupid excited grin made her stop.

  “Go on.”

  I’m just a talking rat to these chemists. She refrained from rolling her eyes. “And my throat hurts.”

  “Good. Do you have any questions before you take the potion we’ve prepared?”

  “Yes. How do you know this potion won’t kill me?”

  A ripple of laughter came from those watching.

  Jack was smiling. “The mixture you’re going to take has been tested on rats. I’ve even taken a sample of pure caregelow melted with Bastial Energy to make sure. It won’t hurt you.”

  “I’m not taking pure melted caregelow?”

  “No. You’re taking a mixture of caregelow and callip.”

  “Why callip?” It was a beautiful flower, dark blue with splotches of deep red, but she’d never heard of it having any use.

  “Because that’s what was written.”

  That confused Effie even more. She had no idea why these chemists thought the caregelow would do anything.

  “I don’t understand,” she admitted, hoping she wouldn’t be laughed at this time. “If the only caregelows have been underground with the Slugari, how can you know what to mix them with or what they’ll do?”

  His eyes widened, and he pushed out his hands. “Forgive me for not explaining! This is something chemists learn early on. Of course mages wouldn’t know much of caregelows.” He pointed at Steffen. “Would you explain it to your roommate?”