Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4)

by Narro, B. T.

  “Not anymore. I convinced myself that it had nothing to do with the trust between us, which is what I first thought. I couldn’t understand how you would believe I’d take payment from someone, even a king, to lie to you about your family. Reela felt the same way. But I can understand what you were going through in that cell. You were alone for days, stewing. I think your mind was playing tricks.”

  They were walking out of the city, north toward the Academy. “It was.” Cleve looked around to find no listening ears. “My father really was the one to shoot…” He didn’t want to mention any other details. “Are you coming to the Academy?”

  “I am. And I’ve always believed it was your father, but I didn’t want to say it. It’s unlike Welson to be certain of something that’s incorrect. Is it difficult for you to accept this about your father?”

  Accept it...he’d never considered it something he needed to accept, but that’s exactly what it was.

  It made it easier, he found. This way, it was just a piece of information, a single fact. It didn’t change everything else that had happened between them. It was just one thing his father did that had nothing to do with Cleve.

  “I think I can,” he said. “I just wish he were still alive so I could speak with him.”

  “I’m sure Terren feels the same way, and I would’ve loved to meet him.”

  Cleve gestured for Rek to stop. “We don’t need to speak about this anymore. Tell me what you’ve been doing in the castle and how you’re feeling. You look stronger than when I saw you yesterday. How’s your ankle?”

  “Not too bad now. I wanted to go to the Academy with Reela and Steffen yesterday, but I didn’t feel up for the walk. I’ve been working with the psychics Welson has in Kyrro City, teaching them, I suppose one could say. Remember, I used to be an instructor at the Academy.”

  Cleve nodded. “Is that why you’re coming back with me? To begin teaching again?”

  “No, just to visit…and meet my brother.” He showed an anxious grin. “I’m nervous.”

  Cleve scoffed. “I saw no nervousness when you led the charge into Welson’s castle with an army of rats. I saw no nervousness when we spotted the Slugari leader and scrambled for a place to shoot from, even after you hurt your ankle. But this makes you nervous—meeting with your twin brother?”

  “Who I haven’t spoken with since we were too young to even hold a conversation. Yes, of course I’m nervous! What are we going to say? Will it be awkward?”

  “You really don’t know Vithos. It can’t be awkward with him. You’ll love him.”

  A silence followed. Cleve hadn’t meant the word “love” literally, but both meanings were true nonetheless.

  “You’re right,” Rek eventually said. “Though you must admit it would be strange for you as well. He even looks like me. Think about what that would be like.”

  Cleve tried to imagine meeting his brother for the first time, a brother who looked almost identical to him. “It does seem strange. But the moment Vithos says something, your nerves will be at ease.”

  “I just can’t believe it’s finally happening.”

  They continued to speak as they walked, the sun setting behind the hills. Cleve told Rek all that Kerr had told him, knowing the Elf wouldn’t share the information with anyone else.

  As they neared the Academy, Cleve could see the road to Oakshen to his right. There was only one person on it, and Cleve recognized him immediately.

  “Steffen!” Cleve shouted to get his attention.

  Steffen’s neck stiffened, startled at first. Then he found Cleve and his mouth dropped open in disbelief. He ran to meet them.

  “I thought I’d never see you again.” He surprised Cleve with a hug.

  Cleve expected it to end as soon as it began, so he merely patted Steffen on the back with one hand. But the chemist wouldn’t let go, squeezing harder.

  “I can’t believe you’re out!”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Wait!” His face showed great concern. He whispered, “Did you break out?” Frantically, he looked down the road to Kyrro City.

  “No, Steffen. I’m out for good. The King let me out.”

  Steffen was confused. Cleve could see it plainly on his face.

  “Kerr just wanted to scare you into never speaking about what you told me.”

  “It worked! I thought I was going to be put in the cell next to you.”

  “Come,” Rek said, walking forward. “It’ll be dark in a few hours.”

  The three of them started walking the last half-mile to the Academy.

  “What happened after I left?” Steffen asked.

  “Before I get into that, why are you coming back from Oakshen?” Cleve asked.

  Steffen looked at the dirt. “I visited Gabby. I wasn’t planning to see anyone but you. But when I fled Kyrro City after what happened with Kerr, I found myself running through Raywhite Forest toward Oakshen before I even knew it.” His eyes shot up to Cleve. “Don’t tell Terren. He’d never let me leave the Academy again.”

  “I won’t.”

  Steffen peeked around to look at Rek curiously.

  “Your secret is safe,” the Elf said.

  Two guards atop the Academy wall climbed down at the sight of them to open the gate. As Cleve walked past them and the guards welcomed him, he promised himself that he would do everything in his power to protect the Academy. Even if that means Reela won’t come with me when I leave for Goldram after this is all over. The painful thought reminded him of something he needed to ask.

  “Steffen, do you know of a plant that absorbs Sartious Energy?”

  Steffen grabbed Cleve’s shoulder to turn him, an oddly serious look on his face.

  “What’s the matter?” Cleve asked.

  “It’s such a coincidence you ask. I was trying to figure out if there’s any way you could’ve spoken with Marratrice.”

  “No, I didn’t.” He didn’t understand what she had to do with it. “There’s someone I met who has a condition. His body absorbs too much Sartious Energy. He suffers greatly during the night because of it. If there was a plant that absorbed SE from his body, it could save his life.”

  “There might be something, but I’m hesitant to even discuss it, for I wouldn’t want to bring your hopes up. The chances that it really exists are slim.”

  “What is it?”

  “Marratrice brought a seed to the Slugari when we visited.” A thought interrupted him. “Did you hear anything about the evesal plant when you were in Goldram?”

  Cleve hadn’t. He looked at Rek.

  “Rummaging through the history books of the Elves, I think I read something about it.” He rubbed his brow. “Something about the fruit being a delicacy, I believe.”

  “Marratrice told me the plant feeds on Sartious Energy and it does produce some sort of delicious green fruit—never mind.” Steffen waved his hand. “We shouldn’t talk about it until we confirm it exists, which I doubt it does.”

  “But it would absorb the Sartious Energy stored in a mage’s body?”

  “Yes.”

  “Speaking of Slugari,” Rek said, “have they finished tunneling?”

  “Almost. Terren announced yesterday that the Slugari will be coming to the Academy to begin training with our mages.” Steffen flashed a proud smile. “All because Effie demonstrated that she can absorb their Bastial Energy to use for spells.”

  They’d arrived at their student home. Cleve nervously opened the door, still unsure how Reela would react upon seeing him after what he’d said. She had no idea he was out of prison.

  “No one should be home,” Steffen said, looking at the clock atop the Redfield tower in the center of campus. “Battle training isn’t over yet.”

  Steffen was right. The house was empty.

  Cleve planned to set down his bags and then visit Terren. But upon entering his room, Cleve didn’t feel comfortable leaving his belongings there. It no longer felt like his room. There was a musk that must’ve
come from Zoke. Nothing was where Cleve remembered putting it—his swords, his quarterstaff, his throwing daggers, his books.

  For as long as he could remember, he’d get deeply agitated when he needed to look for belongings that he knew he hadn’t moved. It felt like the sanctuary of his space had disappeared.

  Steffen blurted from the front of the house, “I’m going to the end of my battle training. We’ll talk later, Cleve.”

  “Bye,” Cleve said, still staring at the unfamiliar space where he used to sleep.

  Rek came in. “I can feel what you’re feeling, but why is the room so different to you? Didn’t you sleep here the night after the battle?”

  Cleve shook his head. “Zoke and Vithos had been using this room while I was gone, so I let them use it again. I stayed in Reela’s room. I haven’t been in here since you and I were sent to Goldram.”

  “Oh. I haven’t met Zoke yet. It seems…uncomfortable to share a room with a Krepp. I don’t even want to wonder if they shared the bed or not. Are they still staying here?”

  “No, there were vacant houses after the battle was over. They moved to one with two bedrooms.” Cleve let his bag drop to the ground. “So I guess this is my room once again.”

  “Let’s go see Terren.”

  “You don’t want to see Vithos first?”

  “I don’t even know where he is.”

  At first it sounded like an excuse, but then Cleve realized it was the truth. Cleve had no idea what Vithos had been doing in the Academy either.

  They crossed by Warrior’s Field on the way to Terren’s house. Cleve looked for Alex and Zoke, who he knew to be in Group One—the group he would be training with the next day.

  Eventually he spotted Zoke. The Krepp was hard to miss, especially being shirtless. Zoke was standing next to Warrior Sneary, who was Cleve’s instructor during evaluation week. He didn’t know he was also the Group One instructor. He’d shed weight since Cleve had last seen him.

  For a moment Cleve wondered how long ago evaluation week was. It felt like years, though it had to be only months.

  Alex caught sight of Cleve, pointed, and said something to the warriors around him. Cleve thought he heard his name buzzing as he watched their mouths move. Sneary yelled at them to stop chatting. Alex gave a quick wave with two fingers that Cleve returned.

  The Krepp, though, stiffly walked over, his yellow eyes stuck to Rek.

  When Zoke was close, his lizard head snapped back. “It’s not Vithos.” His mouth dropped open, showing his sharp teeth. “You must be his brother.”

  “Rek,” he introduced himself. “Do Krepps shake hands?” Rek extended his arm.

  “No. But I will for Vithos’ family.”

  They shook.

  “Are you hurt?” Cleve asked.

  “Yes, from the battle at Tenred. I can’t fight with the others yet. It’s very boring. Your name is Cleve, correct? We talked at the house after the battle here.”

  “Yes, that was me.”

  “The others have been very worried about you. Are you back now?”

  “I am.”

  The Krepp was shorter than both of them, though Cleve figured Zoke weighed more than he did from the size of his scaly chest and limbs. He lifted a claw to Rek’s face.

  “Are you looking for Vithos? He’ll want to see you.”

  “Yes. Where is he?”

  “He works at the farm.”

  Rek let out a sound of shock. “That’s what he’s been doing here?”

  “What else would he do? He likes the animals, anyway.”

  Rek rubbed his chin as he thought. “I suppose he wouldn’t train with psychics so far below his level, and he couldn’t teach them without a better grasp on common tongue.”

  Zoke started making a guttural sound that Cleve assumed to be light laughter based on the twisted smile along the Krepp’s long mouth.

  “What?” Rek asked.

  “He does that same thing with his chin.” Zoke imitated the pensive expression. “How did you get the scar?”

  Rek’s fingertips grazed the old wound down his cheek. “From an Elf in Greenedge who didn’t want me interacting with Humans or using psyche.”

  Zoke turned his head in curiosity.

  “Zoke!” Sneary yelled. “Get over here, we’re discussing strategy again.”

  The Krepp grumbled. “No end to strategy talk with these Humans. You’ll tell me about the Elves another time?”

  “I will.”

  Zoke turned and gingerly walked back across the grass field.

  When he was gone, Cleve and Rek continued north toward Terren’s. “His common tongue is very good,” Rek commented.

  “You’re still coming with me now that you know where Vithos is?” Cleve asked.

  “I’d like to speak with Terren first.”

  Cleve could’ve laughed at the nervousness Rek was trying to hide. “Relax,” he said with a smile.

  But when Cleve knocked on Terren’s door, he felt a bit nervous himself. Rek tousled Cleve’s hair. “And you were making fun of me for being worried. It’s not like this is the first time you’re meeting your uncle.”

  Terren opened the door before Cleve could think of a reply.

  “Bastial hell!” his uncle blurted. “Cleve, I didn’t think I’d see you until I visited the prison. Are you out?”

  “I am.”

  Terren laughed, wrapping his arms around Cleve for a hearty hug with a strong pat to his back.

  “And Rek!” Terren exclaimed. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. For a moment I thought you were Vithos. Get over here.”

  He and Rek laughed as they swung their arms around each other. “How long has it been since we’ve had the chance to speak?” Terren asked.

  “A year?” Rek guessed, squeezing his shoulder with a smile.

  “That day you brought the rats to the castle, I saw you gagged with your hands bound, but—”

  “I know. There was nothing you could’ve done or said.”

  “I’m just thankful it all worked out.” There was some doubt in Terren’s tone. “It has, hasn’t it?” He looked to Cleve for the answer.

  “Yes.” How much does my uncle know about what I found out today?

  It was a conversation for another time.

  “I’ve gotten to know your brother quite well, Rek. You’ll be proud when you meet him.”

  “I’ve only heard good things so far,” Rek said.

  “Will you be here with us in the Academy, or must you return to the castle to work directly with the King’s psychics?”

  “Wilfre told Welson that the Academy isn’t equipped for another psychic teacher at the moment, so I’m of better use in the castle for now.”

  Terren nodded. His scrunched mouth made it look like he was holding in his opinion.

  “But at least I’m spending the night here,” Rek said.

  “If you’d been teaching here,” Terren said, “maybe we’d have another psychic at Reela’s level. You are the reason she’s as powerful as she is, right?”

  “I’ve been teaching her since she was young, but she has an innate ability. She’s the strongest in the whole Academy?”

  “There are one or two third-years that are close, from what I’ve heard, but none that equal her.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t stay and teach.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be just as useful in the castle as you would be here.”

  Cleve was hungry and wishing to see Reela. Battle training must’ve been over by then. It had become too dark for him to see the clock atop the Redfield tower. He remembered from his time in the Academy that dinner hours had always started by the time classes were over.

  “Can you continue this conversation on the way to the dining hall?” Cleve asked.

  “We can,” Terren said, a smile forming, “and it looks like another will be joining us for the walk there.” He pointed over Cleve and Rek’s shoulders. Vithos was running toward them.

  “Brother!” Vithos sc
reamed, laughing. “You here!”

  “Vithos?” Rek inquired.

  Vithos was close then, slowing down and panting. “Rek!” He held out his arms. “You like hug?”

  Rek laughed with joy. “Yes.”

  They embraced each other. Standing so close, Cleve could notice more differences in their appearance besides the scar down Rek’s cheek. While the brothers had the same smile and the same crinkle at the corners of their eyes, Vithos had longer hair that reached the middle of his shoulder blades. It was a darker shade of brown as well. Their eyes were nearly identical, though, with the same almond shape as Reela’s, yet brown, and without the same shine as her brilliantly green eyes that Cleve could picture so easily.

  “Brother to me!” Vithos continued to shout, looking over his shoulder for anyone within earshot. “This brother to me!” A few instructors seemed to hear, looking over in curiosity.

  Rek’s face had become red. His mouth was stuck in a silly grin.

  “I happy,” Vithos said. “I thought day never come. But I wish my common tongue better.”

  “It’s very good, and it doesn’t matter anyway. We…” Rek gestured his hand between them.

  Cleve didn’t know what he was trying to say, but Vithos must’ve. The Elf’s eyes widened, and he began to nod.

  “Communicate much with psyche,” Vithos said.

  “I feel…” Rek patted his chest.

  “I do.” Vithos did the same.

  They laughed and embraced each other again.

  “Brother!” Vithos shouted. “I have brother! And we have sister.” Vithos stepped away to look at Rek’s eyes. “Reela…” Vithos tilted his head as if posing a question.

  Rek smiled and said, “No, the three of us won’t be separated again.”

  Vithos threw his arm over Rek’s shoulders a little too forcefully. Rek grunted softly.

  “You injured,” Vithos said, taking off his hand.

  “My shoulder’s still sore, but it’s fine.”

  “I know you hungry,” Vithos said. “I also. We eat and talk. Go to dining hall.”

  “You read my mind,” Rek said.

  Terren laughed as he and Cleve followed the brothers.

  “Why funny?” Vithos asked.

  “It’s a common phrase,” Terren explained. “But I’d never heard it used literally before.” Terren saw Vithos wasn’t understanding, so he shook his head with a grin and said, “Never mind.”