by B. T. Narro
“Truth,” Vithos said.
“Do you plan to attack the Fjallejon Pathway, or will you bring the siege weapons through without taking it over?” Alex decided to ask.
“I don’t know yet. That order will probably come next week.”
“What do you think will happen?” Alex asked.
Jordy let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.”
“I see.” Alex was silent for a heartbeat, looking where Effie now assumed a fort containing two thousand enemies to be. “Vithos, will you stay with Jordy for a moment?”
“I stay.”
Alex moved everyone over but Vithos. He leaned in close and started to whisper. “I think Quessa must’ve run into trouble to still not be back.”
“If she’s in that fort, I don’t see how we’re supposed to get her out,” Effie said. She wasn’t keen on leaving the woman there, but she wanted to make sure she wasn’t the only one who thought rescuing her would be impossible.
“I know,” Alex agreed. “Though I’m not sure where else she could be.”
“Let’s follow her route,” Reela suggested. “We’ll take Jordy with us in case we need to use him.”
“I think that’s the best idea.” Alex set his eyes on Effie. His glance lingered, his eyes falling to her lips. “What about you, Eff?”
“I can’t think of anything better,” she admitted.
“Then let’s go.”
Jordy went along with them, though Effie could tell he was tense, walking rigidly. From the way his eyes darted in each direction, it seemed as if he was looking for a chance to escape.
“How much farther is the next set of guards?” Alex asked.
“Depending on where they stopped along their patrol route, we should see them any moment now.” Effie could hear Jordy swallow. “What are you going to do with them?”
“We’re just trying to find the woman who was with us,” Reela informed him truthfully. “And we may trade you for her if necessary.”
“And if that’s not necessary?”
“We have no plans of killing you,” Reela answered.
No plans of killing you, Effie repeated in her mind. Though we all know that it’s not out of the question. By the look in Jordy’s eyes, this was most evident to him.
“I have a family,” he muttered to no one.
“We know that, Jordy.” Reela’s voice was so soothing, even Effie felt more at ease.
Maybe we can get out of this without having to kill anyone else, she thought. Or should I want to kill these men from Tenred? She didn’t know the answer.
Soon they came to two more guards. Alex came behind Jordy and put a knife under his chin, whispering, “Stay calm and cooperate and you won’t be hurt.” Then he raised his voice to call to the two men. “Shout or do anything to alert other guards and he dies. Then you die next.”
Effie felt a nag on her mind, a voice calling for her to look up. It was so strong and foreign, she figured it had to be psyche. When she did, she saw Quessa high in the branches above the two guards. The woman in black was pointing at Jordy and making a motion of slitting her throat.
She wants us to kill him…but why? What’s she doing up there?
Alex fell silent.
“What do you want from us?” one of the men said, edging forward, unaware Quessa was above.
We were looking for Quessa. But now that she’s been found, we have no use for them. Effie studied Alex’s face, looking for some clue as to what he was thinking.
But Reela answered instead with a pressing tone. “We’re going to be leaving the forest with this man. We’ll release him once we’re out so long as we’re not followed.”
She’s doing the only thing she can think of to get out of this without killing anyone else, Effie figured. But as Reela spoke, Quessa urgently shook her hand at Reela and repeated the motion of slitting her throat.
Reela ignored her. “The two of you must go back to your fort right now or we’ll kill all three of you.”
The two men had only enough time to share a confused glance before Quessa jumped down on top of them, cutting each of their throats so quickly that neither even had time to turn.
While they were still uttering choking sounds, Quessa already was headed toward Reela with such a look of malice, Effie found herself stepping between them.
Quessa looked above her as if Effie wasn’t there, pointing at Reela with her knife. “You’ve caused a big problem, Reela. Zoke and Alex, grab those two bodies.”
Neither moved, Alex still holding onto Jordy, who seemed frozen in fear.
“Now,” Quessa demanded, pushing Effie out of the way.
“But we—”
Alex was interrupted by Quessa driving her knife into Jordy’s heart, covering his mouth with her other hand. Her motion was so fluid it clearly wasn’t the first time she’d done it.
“No!” Reela knelt over Jordy as the light in his eyes faded.
Quessa grabbed Reela’s hair to stand her upright. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
“Stop.” Alex shoved Quessa’s shoulder to push her away. “It was my decision.”
“Push me again and I’ll stab you.” Quessa pointed her knife at Alex.
Effie could hear Reela crying, her face now buried in Vithos’ chest.
“Get the bodies,” Quessa demanded once again. “And hurry up. Plans have changed now that none of you can follow orders.”
“I don’t understand your anger,” Zoke told Quessa, walking beside Alex toward the two bodies they were told to carry. “These Humans were worried about you and made a plan to help in case you were caught.”
“I said to stay in one spot,” Quessa practically screamed, taking hold of Jordy’s limp arms and beginning to drag him. “You want to know why I’m angry? Because your actions might’ve just cost thousands of Kyrro lives.”
By then, Effie was squeezing Reela. She’d stopped crying, though it seemed to be a constant effort to keep the tears from coming.
“What do you mean?” Alex asked Quessa.
“Even if we hide the bodies skillfully, they’ll still know something happened to their guards,” Quessa said. “Once they figure that out, they’ll realize we’re aware of their operation. Now they’re going to bring in thousands more to defend the fort. They’re building siege weapons—I’m assuming you found this out through psyche, yes?”
“Yes, but how did you know about the siege weapons?” Alex asked, grunting as he dragged one of the bodies by the arms.
“I saw into their fort,” Quessa said. “But I couldn’t get down because two guards were patrolling beneath me. I was going to wait until they left so they’d never know we were here. Now that’s ruined.” She let go of Jordy’s body and fluttered her hands petulantly. “By the time we get back to inform the King, a surprise attack will be out of the question. They’ll have too many guarding the place. Now we’re going to have to do something dangerous.”
“What’s that?” Alex asked.
“We’re going to burn down the fort before they realize we’re here.”
“There are thousands of men,” Effie said. “How can we get close without being seen?”
“No.” Alex was shaking his head. “That’s impossible—suicidal, even.”
“I’m trying to help Kyrro win this war.” Quessa looked ready to fight, shaking her fist as she spoke. “And I expected the same from all of you.”
Vithos was asking Zoke questions in Kreppen, Zoke translating for him as he stood with a body slung over his shoulder.
“You saw the fort,” Alex said. “Don’t they have people watching for intruders?”
“Yes, which is why we’re waiting a few hours to use the cover of night.”
Chapter 24:
STEFFEN
After the rest of his roommates left for their mission, Steffen made sure to write a letter to Gabby before his began.
Gabby,
Effie, Reela, and the others left the Academy this morning
to investigate Corin Forest. I’m not sure exactly when they’ll be back.
As soon as Javy Rayvender and two Slugari get here, I’m leaving as well. However, I’m not going with Effie and Reela to Corin Forest. A friend from class and I will be going with Jack Rose, Javy Rayvender, and the Slugari to Raywhite Forest, where I’ll be taken underground to the Slugari colony to help discuss war strategy with them. My knowledge of the Slugaren language and the Slugari leader’s familiarity with me are the reasons I’m going.
I should be back before Effie and Reela. When I return, I’ll write another letter.
— Steffen
He struggled with the end, unsure what word he should put before his name. “Love” was too much. Even though Gabby already had claimed she loved him, he wasn’t sure he felt the same way. “Stay safe” felt idiotic, when he was the one likely to be in danger. He couldn’t figure out what would be wrong with “miss you.” But he decided that simply putting his name without anything else was the safest option—his usual choice when it came to women.
When the Slugari arrived with Javy Rayvender, Steffen didn’t need Jack Rose to notify him. It already was evident from the mass of people crowding around the Slugari for a glimpse.
Squeezing his way through, Steffen found that Marratrice already was part of the crowd, her green eyes wide as she stared with an open mouth at the Slugari.
“It looks like we’ll be leaving soon,” Steffen said.
She tore her eyes away and gave a surprised laugh, only to look back at them right after greeting Steffen.
“I can’t help but stare,” she said. “They seem right out of a storybook.”
There were two Slugari. Although they only came up to Steffen’s waist, the sun managed to find them between the surrounding people, causing their emerald-colored flesh to glisten. Steffen remembered their dark eyes were usually beady, small and hard to see among their fat faces. But right now they were large, bouncing around the crowd.
The two Slugari had what looked to be proud smiles. They had long mouths like Krepps, though their teeth weren’t sharp, nor did they have very many. The most prominent ones were in the front—two rectangular teeth that came down from the top of their mouth like a rabbit.
Besides their eyes, the claws at the ends of their diminutive arms were the only other dark coloration to them. Their claws looked sharp enough to draw blood, though Steffen knew the Slugari used their control over Bastial Energy to fend off predators instead. They generally were too slow to rely on any kind of physical method of escape, such as running or fighting, and for good reason. Their gray stomachs along the curve of their front side looked extremely soft.
“You think the Slugari are something, wait until you see the Dajrik,” Steffen said.
“That’s right!” Marratrice exclaimed. “I can’t wait.”
Steffen felt as if he should warn her of something, though. “When I went with Terren and the others to the Slugari colony, I was nothing but excited. But so much happened I wasn’t prepared for. I’ve come to realize that it’s better to expect surprises by being on guard, even if it’s harder to enjoy the experience. At least it’ll keep you alive.”
“But how can you expect a surprise? Isn’t that the very meaning—to not know it’s coming?”
Steffen scratched an itch at the back of his head as he wondered how to answer. “I suppose that’s true.” Still, he felt completely different than he had the last time he left the Academy. He was more prepared for…what he thought were surprises.
Perhaps it wasn’t surprises he felt more prepared for but danger in general. That was it, danger. If he’d been told the first time he left the Academy that he would be part of a battle atop the Fjallejon Mountains and that he’d be fighting off Krepps to help Slugari escape, he wouldn’t have gone in the first place. And why would he? He was no warrior or mage, just a first-year chemist with no experience fighting.
But now he felt ready for whatever happened in the Slugari colony. Some part of him reasoned that nothing could happen, telling him it was silly to be worrying Marratrice. But a very small part argued back. He felt it in his stomach, where his seed had formed after Terren’s speech.
This small doubt was enough to make him uneasy.
“I thought you two might be here.” Jack Rose surprised Steffen.
But then Steffen saw his smile go flat as he and Javy Rayvender met glances.
Javy had half a smile along his thin lips. When Steffen looked closer, he realized that even the half of his mouth that was smiling wasn’t genuine but just for show. It was as if it was too much for Javy to put on a full polite smile.
His age was hard to place, perhaps somewhere in his thirties. It was the lack of wrinkles in his face that made it so. He could’ve looked the same way for the last ten years.
What kind of man has neither smile nor worry lines? Steffen wondered. One who has complete control over his expressions, he heard himself answer.
Although Javy had no bulges of muscle, there was still something about him that seemed threatening. Steffen couldn’t figure out what it was. The man had his shirt tucked into his pants, and there was nowhere for him to be hiding a weapon.
Javy moved a hand to get the Slugari’s attention. “The other members of our group are here.” Javy pointed, lifting his dark eyes to give Steffen the quickest of looks. But even in that brief moment, Steffen could feel himself being studied—judged, even.
One of the Slugari lifted his little arms. “Humans!”
The murmurs of the crowd stopped.
“Thank your greetings!” the Slugari continued in his accented common tongue. “But we go now.”
Javy drew them away, pushing a palm out at the people just arriving who hadn’t seen the Slugari yet. “We must be leaving,” he told them. “Come, Rose,” Javy said. “Bring your minions.”
“Minions?” Marratrice asked.
“He likes to joke,” Jack said.
“He didn’t seem like he was joking,” Marratrice mumbled to Steffen.
“I didn’t think so, either,” Steffen admitted.
“Just ignore everything he says unless he gives you an order,” Jack said. “Now let’s catch up to them. I’d like to meet the Slugari.”
Soon it became clear that the Slugari who’d thanked the crowd had practiced those lines specifically, for his common tongue was even worse than Steffen first thought. It was so bad that Steffen immediately wondered how the Slugari had communicated at all with the King when they’d visited Kyrro City.
Steffen asked Javy, “Is there someone on the King’s staff who speaks Slugaren?”
“No,” he answered. Then he pointed at the Slugari who’d been silent the whole time. “But she speaks common tongue.”
Her body crinkled in order for her head to turn. “It’s true,” she said with a reserved smile. Her voice was so soft, Steffen imagined each word spinning through the air and quickly dissipating like steam.
As soon as she’d spoken, the male flailed his arms at her, uttering something in Slugaren that was too quick for Steffen to understand.
The female’s smile stretched farther, though she turned to hide it from the other Slugari.
“What’s wrong?” Marratrice whispered to Steffen.
He noticed she had her hand in her coat pocket, holding tightly onto something. He ignored it for now, though curious what she seemed so protective about.
“I’m not sure,” Steffen answered.
“Mate speak, she let me speak,” the male Slugari complained to Steffen.
“What?” Steffen asked, switching to Slugaren to answer him. “Would you like to repeat that in this language?”
“No Slugaren,” the Slugari continued in common tongue. “Practice Human language. Need.”
“He’s my mate, and he doesn’t want me talking unless absolutely necessary so he can learn common tongue,” the female Slugari said, grazing her claw along the male Slugari’s back.
Marratrice giggled. “You bo
th are so cute.”
The female Slugari’s two antennae sprouted forward at Marratrice’s compliment, only to droop back and rest atop her head after a breath. “Thank you,” the Slugari replied, smiling wide enough for her rabbit-like teeth to show. “We’re very happy to be here…my mate especially.”
Frustrated a conversation was happening without him, the male Slugari waved his arms about and said something in Slugaren that Steffen couldn’t understand.
The fat on their bodies rippled from front to back as they traveled out the western gate. Their thick tails slithered, propelling their bodies forward. Javy was five steps ahead of everyone else, seemingly content to walk on his own.
Jack indulged the male Slugari, helping him with words and phrases as they spoke. Marratrice joined in. She had an excited grin that seemed as if it was going to stay on her face throughout this whole experience.
She never took her hand out of her pocket. It was particularly strange because Steffen knew she liked to gesture as she talked, sometimes moving her whole body.
In the rare instances when her hand would come out, it would shoot back in as soon as the gesture was done.
“Are we going to be meeting with Queen?” Steffen asked the female Slugari now that her mate was distracted with Jack and Marratrice.
“Yes, eventually. Until then you’ll be speaking with me. I’m Khy.”
Her name involved a soft “k” sound that was similar to the noise someone would make clearing their throat while saying “hi.” Steffen had practiced it, for it was a common sound in the Slugaren language, but he rarely got it right.
After their names and a few pleasantries were exchanged, Khy explained how Javy already had told her about the four classes of men and women who were part of the Kyrro Army: warriors, mages, chemists, and psychics. According to Khy, they’d never heard of psyche before, and she seemed disappointed that neither Steffen nor Marratrice was a psychic.
However, when Steffen started discussing plants and potions, excitement made her eyes go wide. The Slugari made potions as well, and soon they were exchanging recipes at such a rate that Steffen didn’t trust his memory to retain it all.
