Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4)

by Narro, B. T.

  It was too long of a walk to the northern gate. Being just past the dining hall, it was more than a mile.

  “We must’ve won, right?” she asked Jack.

  “I can only assume that’s the case.” He opened the door to leave. “I must hurry to speak to Terren before Wilfre drags him away for a meeting.” He huffed. “He’s held some of us in his office for over an hour.”

  Effie and Steffen hurried after him.

  “I’m going to be walking quickly,” Jack warned them. “You don’t need to keep up with my pace if you don’t wish to.”

  Steffen laughed. Effie didn’t understand why, and Jack shot him a confused look.

  “Oh, I thought you were joking,” Steffen said.

  Jack grumbled. “I’m not that old.” He seemed to take Steffen’s reaction as a challenge, for he began to jog.

  Effie and Steffen jogged with him. She found it helped to take her mind off the worry. It had been fifteen days since the army had left the Academy. It was the longest Effie’d been away from Reela that she could remember.

  Cleve had been gone fifteen days as well, and she had little idea when he would return, if ever. It seemed ridiculous that the King expected only him and one psychic to kill a Slugari guarded by thousands of Krepps.

  She could feel herself becoming upset, her strength diminishing. Damn this war. She felt ready to collapse, to be devastated by terrible news.

  Terren was one of the first through the gate. Applause broke out. Whistles came next. Cheering was close behind. Effie couldn’t join them yet. She wanted to ask Terren about Reela and the others, but he was surrounded by students and instructors, all with questions or news of their own.

  Most of those coming in through the north gate were of the King’s Guard; Effie could tell by their age. They seemed more weathered than the students of the Academy as well. Then Effie saw Alex come through beside a man in a recently polished steel breastplate.

  Alex had a shallow gash from the middle of his forehead to the crest of his right eyebrow. Besides that, his face was different in general. His features were harder, his cheek and chin more pronounced than she remembered, his beard shaggy.

  Then he turned and met her eyes and all that disappeared with his smile.

  She hugged him tightly, stopping only to kiss his lips.

  “This is Effie?” the man in shiny steel inquired.

  “Yes. Effie, meet my brother, Hem.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” he said, shaking her hand, “but I must be leaving. We have to get back to the castle.” Hem struck Alex in the shoulder with his palm. “Good fighting.”

  Alex groaned and grabbed his shoulder. “Thanks,” he said sarcastically. When his brother left, he muttered, “Bastard knew that was my hurt shoulder.”

  Steffen reached out his hand. “Glad you’re back.”

  “Thank you, Steffen. I’m glad as well.”

  “What about the others?” Effie couldn’t hold in the question any longer.

  “They’re all alive, Eff, don’t worry. Zoke is still hampered by his injuries, but the chemists don’t believe it’ll be anything permanent…unlike Reela.”

  Effie gasped. “What happened to Reela?”

  “She has a scar.”

  Effie felt relieved. It was just a scar. “Why is your tone like she lost a limb? You might have a small scar yourself.” She brushed her hand over his forehead, tousling his hair.

  “It’s not like mine. It’s…very hard to look at.”

  His serious look said more than his words.

  “She’s been quite unhappy about it, to say the least.”

  Reela came in with Zoke and Vithos just then. Effie noticed no scar, though her friend was slightly turned as if hiding one side of her face. Then Reela saw her looking and straightened her neck, frowning and pointing at it.

  Hard to look at was right, though Effie couldn’t take her eyes off it. Reela’s skin was green, bright green.

  The two of them shared a long hug.

  “Oh, Reela,” Steffen muttered when he saw it. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I know…it’s bad.”

  “What happened?” Effie asked.

  “I didn’t even get a chance to fight in the battle. We were attacked before we could make it to Tenred’s walls—more than once, in fact. They were well-prepared.”

  “But we did win, right?” Steffen asked.

  Vithos and Zoke came to join their circle. “We win,” Vithos said. “But I no fight. Alex and Zoke fight good.”

  Zoke was standing with an overly straight back, his whole body stiff. He didn’t seem as if he wanted to turn his neck, moving his whole body in whatever direction he wanted to look. Steffen offered his hand for the Krepp to shake, but Zoke made no motion toward it.

  “No shake,” he said. “I’m in too much pain.”

  Effie put her arm around Alex’s waist. “They attacked you before you got there?” she asked Reela, still curious about what could’ve caused her skin to melt and become green.

  “Yes, at the edge of Corin Forest. I’m so frustrated with myself. My clumsiness led to this.” She pointed petulantly at her cheek. “If I hadn’t tripped and fell, the substance would’ve hit my legs instead.”

  Vithos put his hand on her back.

  “The worst part,” Reela continued, “is it still hurts.”

  “What was the mixture like?” Steffen asked.

  “Clear liquid,” Zoke answered.

  “Smelled like alcohol,” Reela added. “I’ve never felt so much pain as when it came into contact with my skin. Their chemists are monsters.”

  “I’ve never heard of such a potion,” Steffen said. “Though I haven’t spent much time researching anything so torturous.”

  Reela turned to hide a tear.

  Effie hugged her once again, rubbing her back.

  “I killed Sawdar,” Zoke blurted proudly.

  It took Effie a moment to comprehend.

  “I got vantikar for Marie, Effie.”

  She nodded and smiled, though she didn’t feel any comfort in the news. “Did you see Brady?” she wondered.

  “Unfortunately, no. Alex and I couldn’t find him.”

  “How come Vithos couldn’t fight?” Effie asked.

  “For the same reason I couldn’t,” Reela said.

  “He was burned also?”

  “No. We had to jump off a ledge, me, Zoke, Vithos, and Terren. I hurt my knee and couldn’t walk, though it’s mostly better now.”

  “I hit head.” Vithos smacked his forehead. “Get concussion.”

  “How does he know that word?” Steffen wondered.

  Reela patted Vithos’ back. “He’s heard it enough times I’d be surprised if he hadn’t learned it by now. He was so confused that he thought we were fighting the Krepps. He wouldn’t have fared well in battle.”

  “Zoke hurt.” Vithos pointed at the stiff Krepp. “But he fight. He take pain potion, fall asleep during battle.” Vithos laughed.

  Zoke rigidly turned away from everyone’s eyes. “I couldn’t help it.”

  “No be embarrassed,” Vithos said. “Tell about Zeti.”

  Effie didn’t recognize the name at first. But then it came to her that it must be Zoke’s sister. She’d heard his tale. She knew how badly he wanted to be reunited with her.

  Excitement made her words burst out louder than she meant. “She was there? What happened?”

  “Before we get into anything else,” Reela interrupted, “I need to know…” Her voice became dire. “Did Cleve and Rek return?”

  “They haven’t,” Steffen answered before Effie could figure out the best way to word it.

  Reela sighed. “I’m quite worried for them.”

  Terren—with a trail of impatient instructors, including Wilfre—joined their cluster. He spoke with haste. “A messenger just informed me that Cleve and Rek came back to Kyrro City a few days ago.”

  Effie would’ve been excited if it weren’t for Terren’s tone…
something was wrong.

  “They managed to kill the Slugari leader coming back to the Krepp encampment, the one that was here attacking us with the Krepps. But Cleve has been imprisoned for blasphemy and violating the Academy contract. Can two of you visit him to find out more? I don’t have time today. I’ve already sent a messenger to the south guards to let them know that two students will be leaving for Kyrro City. They’ll let you through the gate.”

  Terren already was looking at Reela, assuming she would volunteer. She did.

  Effie wanted to see Cleve and spend more time with Reela. “I’ll go too,” she said. Effie also wanted to meet Rek. Although she knew she shouldn’t be excited, for Cleve was in prison, she couldn’t help it.

  “Actually, Effie,” Steffen said, “I think I should go with Reela. I have information I believe Cleve will want to know. It might be related to his imprisonment.”

  Effie thought she was glaring at him with confusion until she saw Terren’s face. Steffen cowered away from it.

  “What information?” the headmaster demanded.

  “Terren!” Wilfre called. “Please, we must meet so I can get back to the King.”

  Terren didn’t turn away from Steffen.

  “I…I don’t believe Cleve would want me to say it,” Steffen said meekly.

  “Terren!” others called.

  “Fine,” he said. “Steffen and Reela, you can go, but be back before the end of the day. Battle training resumes tomorrow. There’ll be an announcement while you’re gone. It’ll cover what happened in Tenred, what Cleve and Rek did, and what we expect to come. The only thing you need to know that you don’t already is that Tegry Hiller will most likely sign the treaty now that his wall has been crushed. Though, we can still expect the Krepps to fight.”

  Effie was somewhat thankful she wasn’t going to miss one of Terren’s speeches. But her curiosity as to what information Steffen knew about Cleve was tormenting.

  Chapter 22:

  CLEVE

  Every day was worse than the last. The light was dim and the stone was cold in the dungeons beneath the castle. His feet hung over the end of his bed when he tried to sleep.

  He’d been there before, but at least Rek was with him then. The King had put him in an empty hall this time. At first this felt like a blessing, as he wouldn’t have to listen to anyone like Captain Mmzaza in the cell next to him. But as the hours were lost in the darkness, loneliness and regret became his companions. And they didn’t keep him in good spirits.

  A rat wandered into his cell at some point. It immediately reminded him of Steffen. Cleve wanted to befriend it. The meals were meager, but rats didn’t need much food. Maybe he could even teach it tricks. He’d heard of crazier things happening. Then he thought of all the rats he and Rek had brought into this very castle. He wondered if this one was leftover from that event.

  The rodent fled the moment Cleve took a step toward it, never to return.

  He sank back into despair. Solitude had always been a good friend of his. But he’d met Reela since then, and Rek and Effie…and Alex and Steffen. And they were fighting without him.

  He thought of Jek Trayden in Greenedge. He thought of Jessend. There were so many places he should be instead of in a small cell.

  Cleve’s bow and Bastial steel sword…what was Welson doing with them? Then there was Nulya. Losing everything made him feel as if he was suffering through the news of his parents all over again.

  He should’ve hidden his feelings better. He knew Welson was worried the truth would come out if Cleve didn’t control himself. He just needed to give the King the impression that he could. It didn’t matter whether he would seek revenge later. He should’ve made it seem like he’d accepted what happened.

  But the thought made him grind his teeth. How could he ever accept the lie that his father murdered the late King? Nothing had made him more furious, the anger returning every time he thought of it.

  He heard footsteps echoing.

  The jailer, he thought at first, but I just ate less than an hour ago. Squeezing his head through the bars, he saw the silhouettes of more than one person.

  “You have visitors, Cleve.”

  Thank the Bastial stars. Please let it be Reela and not Terren. He didn’t wish to see his uncle’s remorseful expression.

  Reela will smile at me. She always does.

  It was Reela! Her and Steffen. Though, only Steffen was smiling. Reela had half her face hidden, barely looking at him.

  “I’ll leave you three alone,” the jailer said.

  Cleve realized what her expression must mean. “I see you’re still angry with me,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head. “I was furious—more than I’d ever been. I didn’t understand how you both could leave without even saying anything.”

  She spoke as if she had more to say, but Cleve felt the need to interrupt. “Rek convinced me you would demand to come with us.”

  “I would’ve.”

  “And neither Rek nor I would’ve had the heart to physically push you off our horses, which he said would be the only way to leave you behind.”

  “This is true also,” she said.

  “And the task the King gave us was practically suicide. We didn’t want you in danger, so—”

  “Cleve, I understand. I’m trying to tell you I’m not angry anymore.” Still, she looked sad. “I’ve been dreading this moment for a while,” she said. “There’s something you need to see.”

  Reela came forward from the shadows, turning to face him directly. The light from the torches behind her showed a gruesome wound running from her cheek down her neck.

  “Luckily, it’s dark in here, so you can’t see it as well. But trust me; it’s absolutely hideous.” Her voice became a murmur. “I understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore.” She turned her face again and stepped away from the bars.

  But he grabbed her hand before she could get too far.

  “How could you say something like that?” He’d always thought of Reela as both strong and wise.

  She didn’t seem to want to come close, so Cleve tugged harder. He gently cupped the back of her head and directed her lips toward his.

  The familiar flutter of his heart sent a chill through his body when she kissed him back. He stopped only to tell her what she deserved to know.

  “You still make me feel the same way.”

  She finally had a smile, though it looked sad. She started to cry.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know.” She laughed as she held back a weep. “Nothing. I just can’t believe it’s true, but I know it is.”

  They continued to kiss. Just when it was becoming more passionate, Steffen cleared his throat.

  “Are you guys going to be doing that for a long time?”

  “Sorry, Steffen,” Reela said. “Cleve, Terren sent us.” Her tone became serious. “He heard you and Rek had killed one of the Slugari leaders but that now you’re in prison. What happened?”

  “He saved my life,” Rek’s voice echoed down the hall.

  Cleve was so happy to see Rek, at first he didn’t even hear the words the Elf had said. Reela looked as if she was about to fling herself at him, but he held out his hand. “Wait, be very careful with my shoulder, and not too tightly.”

  Reela embraced him. As gentle as it was, Rek still groaned. “This is the first time I’ve been out of bed in days.”

  “I’m glad you’re back on your feet,” Reela said. “I don’t believe you’ve ever met Steffen.”

  “So this is the chemist you’ve spoken so much about.” They shook hands. “I’m looking forward to meeting Effie as well.”

  “And Vithos, right?” Reela inquired.

  “Extremely, though I’m somewhat nervous.” Rek chuckled. “My own brother, and I don’t know what I’m even going to say.”

  “You look like him,” Steffen said. “A lot like him.”

  “Yes,” Reela added. “They are twins
, after all.”

  Rek went to Cleve’s bars to shake his hand. “Thank you,” the Elf said. “I remember most of it. I know I would’ve been dead without you.”

  “Stop.” Cleve felt himself blushing.

  “I know you noticed my face,” Reela said, looking down. “You might as well ask.”

  “What happened?” Rek went to touch it, but she turned away.

  “It’s still extremely painful. The chemists believe the pain will stop eventually. Yet all of them are certain the scar is permanent.”

  She told Rek and Cleve what happened at Tenred. The biggest surprise to Cleve was hearing that Zoke’s sister was there and that he’d spoken with her, yet she remained on the enemy’s side. He couldn’t understand how this was possible.

  “I wasn’t sure you would march with the others to Tenred,” Rek admitted to Reela. “Though, it’s good you didn’t come with us. Cleve and I are fortunate to still be alive. With three, more than my horse would’ve been killed.”

  Rek told Reela and Steffen some of what had happened, choosing many details that Cleve would’ve left out if he was telling the story.

  “Cleve would lie beside me at night with his arm draped over my side, keeping me warm. He even rode much of the way bare-chested so I could use his shirt for warmth. I don’t think I’ve been through an experience so humbling. I was too weak to get off the horse. So Cleve carried me.”

  Cleve could feel Reela’s eyes on him, but he didn’t want to look. He kept his gaze at the ground instead.

  When Rek was done, Reela reached into Cleve’s cell to touch his shoulder. “I don’t know why you’re so embarrassed.”

  “It’s his tone,” Cleve said. “He makes it sound like I’m some hero. But I’m not. There were moments when I thought it was going to be over. I was…” He felt even worse admitting it aloud. “Frightened, even hopeless at times.” Carrying Rek in the pitch black, looking for dry ground to sleep on but finding none, the memory brought back the same feeling of despair. He could’ve cried in that moment had he been alone. “I certainly wasn’t clever. I just did whatever I could, and it wasn’t that much.”