by B. T. Narro
CHAPTER ONE
NEEKO
Neeko watched with a grimace as Steffen sank to his hands and knees and licked a yellow flower.
“You don’t often see a man go straight to licking,” Neeko commented. “Most people at least sniff first.”
Steffen, not seeming to hear him, formed a twisted grin as the taste of the flower appeared to come to his senses. “It’s a goldbellow, as I suspected.” He plucked the flower out of the surrounding grass. “These are rare where I come from.” He folded the stem and carefully placed the flower inside the leather pouch on his belt. Then he flashed a quick smile at Neeko. “Now I just need some queensblood and I’ll have the ingredients for my fire potion.”
“Queen’s blood?”
“Ah.” Steffen chuckled. “I’ve called it that for so long, the words have lost their meaning. It’s the name of another flower. I’m not sure what you call it here. It’s red like a rose but with thin streaks of white. There are two rows of petals that—”
Neeko put up his hand to stop Steffen. “I wouldn’t know its name even if I’d seen it before.”
“I’m going to look around for other ingredients.”
“Steffen, stay.” Neeko realized that he was talking to the chemist as if he were a dog, but this seemed to be the only way of getting through. “You were the one who said we shouldn’t separate.”
“I have to look, Neeko. I’ve learned that the people here in Sumar aren’t aware of all the potions we know of in Ovira. That means plants that are rare where I come from could be bountiful here. We have a lot of traveling to do and I won’t always have time to search, so I need to take advantage when I can. Come with me.” He tilted his head as he waited for affirmation.
“Fine.”
Steffen grinned. “You’ll be glad when a situation calls for one of my potions.”
The other two members of their party, Shara and Cedri, were taking the day to purchase supplies in Antilith for their trip to the Southern kingdom. Neeko would have to spend many hours with Steffen as they waited in the forest surrounding the city. He’d hoped to nap while Steffen acted as lookout, but that didn’t seem like it would be the case.
They’d decided the women would be better off in the city after Steffen claimed he didn’t have the ability to fairith with the merchants in Antilith. And Neeko certainly couldn’t go, being a wanted criminal now.
Neeko wondered if it was really possible for the four of them to reach the South without him ever stepping foot in a city. Nonetheless, this was the plan until it proved to be impossible.
“We’ve given Cedri enough time since Charlotte’s murder,” Steffen said as he crouched over some plants. “Please demand to know the details of my friend’s death when Cedri returns.”
“I will ask, not demand.”
“She should’ve told us already,” Steffen grumbled. “How hard can it be just to tell us what happened?”
“Perhaps she doesn’t want to remember because it’s gruesome.”
Steffen ripped out a handful of leafy plants and started sorting through them. “I don’t care. I need to know.”
“You should give her more time. She’s grieving.”
“She’s not the only one.” He looked up and Neeko saw the pain in his eyes.
Neeko lowered his head. “Sorry.”
“I’m not certain Cedri wasn’t the one who did it,” Steffen said coldly.
A chill ran down Neeko’s back. So that’s why Steffen and Cedri have been uncomfortable around each other in the days since we left Norret. He suspects her of killing his friend, and she can sense that with psyche.
“You didn’t seem worried when you broke her out of prison.”
“Because I didn’t have time to think,” Steffen said. He stopped walking. “And maybe she was using psyche to persuade us.” He glanced at Neeko, showing alarm. “She could’ve been using psyche this whole time to ease my doubts, which is why I’m only starting to feel these doubts so strongly after she left! She has us going after Darri to throw off our suspicions.”
Neeko put up his hands. “She didn’t murder Charlotte.” And we need her.
“You can’t know that for certain. She tells us she wants to kill Darri, but for all we know she could have plans to murder the army commander instead. You need to interrogate her when she returns with Shara.”
Neeko took a long breath, giving himself time to think. Cedri didn’t murder Charlotte, her mentor and friend. She wasn’t a spy of the South. That was Darri.
After hours of watching the foreign chemist sniff, pluck, and lick plants all over the forest, Neeko noticed the sun was starting to set. Cold winds twisted through the trees, rustling their cloaks.
“It’s time to go back to our meeting point,” Neeko said. “We don’t want the women wandering off looking for us.”
Steffen squinted as he glanced between the treetops. “Oh, it’s gotten late.”
Halfway to their meeting point, Neeko caught sight of someone in the distance. Shock made his heart jump as he grabbed Steffen’s shirtsleeve and pulled him behind the nearest tree.
“What?”
“I saw someone,” Neeko whispered.
“An army man?”
“I didn’t get a good look.”
Steffen showed Neeko an amused look. “Are you going to hide from every person we see?”
“If I can.”
“You can’t.”
“When I can,” Neeko corrected himself.
“It’s more suspicious if you’re ducking behind trees than if you just continue on your path.”
Neeko peered out. The man was no longer in view. “Let’s go.”
While those in King Quince’s army would be easy to recognize because of their blue uniforms, Neeko couldn’t possibly recognize members of the Pyforial Council of Quosae until they attacked.
“I found enough goldbellows and queensbloods to make my fire potion, as well as some other choice mixtures,” Steffen said. “It was a good day.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“And if Cedri killed Charlotte, I’m going to use one to burn her face from her skull.”
Neeko’s stomach pinched from uneasiness. “Just let me do the questioning.”
“Fine.”
They sat on their designated rock and waited for Shara and Cedri to return. It wasn’t long before the two young women came through the forest, each carrying a bag and a weapon. Shara had a bow slung over her shoulder while wearing a proud grin. Cedri held a sword. They passed both off to Steffen.
Instead of thanking them, he told Cedri, “You’re going to tell us what happened to Charlotte now.”
“Steffen,” Shara and Neeko chided, while Cedri pressed her lips together.
“It’s been long enough,” Steffen demanded.
“If it’ll get you to trust me, then I will,” she said meekly. “I’m sick of the way you look at me.”
“Good evening, Neeko and Steffen!” Shara mocked. “We didn’t find Terren in Antilith, but thank you for asking.”
Steffen looked at her for the first time since they’d returned. “I’m sorry, Shara. But I just keep thinking about how Charlotte’s dead.”
Cedri scowled. “And you think her murderer is standing right here.”
“Why else wouldn’t you tell us what happened?” Steffen questioned.
“I already told you she was stabbed and Darri did it. I know because he lied when questioned. There isn’t anything else to tell.”
“Of course there is! How could he—”
Neeko put his hand on Steffen’s back and interrupted. “We just need to hear the details, Cedri. Where was Charlotte killed? How were you framed? Tell us everything you can remember.”
Silence followed as they
waited. Shara slid her arm around the blonde woman’s slender shoulders, a pained look on both of their faces. “I’m sorry,” Shara said. “But we do have to know, and it’s been two days now.”
Cedri sighed. “Guards came into my room while I was asleep. They woke me and searched everywhere while one told me that Charlotte was stabbed in her sleep.” Her gaze fell to the dirt at her feet. “I was still in shock from the news when they found a bloody dagger wrapped in a cloth hidden at the bottom of one of my drawers. I can’t describe what it felt like to go from learning my closest friend was murdered to being arrested for it moments later.”
“What happened at the trial?” Steffen asked coarsely.
“There was no trial…which I was about to say.” Anger made her blue eyes look piercing. “I can tell that you feel responsible, probably because she came from Ovira with you, but she was my friend as well, and I blame myself just as much as you blame yourself. If my imprisonment would bring her back, then I’d gladly spend the rest of my life in prison. I’ll never match her strength with psyche, which is why she was targeted and not me. It’s hard enough to deal with losing her without you accusing me of murder.”
Steffen’s expression softened. “I’m sorry.”
It became awkwardly silent as Cedri seemed to be holding in tears.
“I don’t know what else to say.” Steffen lowered his head. “I don’t believe you yet, but I want to.”
“Sometimes there’s nothing to say,” Neeko offered in hopes of making the situation more bearable.
Cedri drew a shaky breath. “The reason there couldn’t be a trial was because nearly everyone had to leave in the morning to march south. The guards brought me to King Quince for questioning. By then, I’d gathered my wits and realized it was probably Darri who killed Charlotte. He was always skirting to the other side of the hall to avoid us. Charlotte had sensed he had a secret, and she assumed it involved her. I told this to the king.”
Quince probably didn’t believe her. Neeko remembered to glance around, making sure they weren’t being watched.
“Quince called in the next three strongest psychics to his quarters,” Cedri continued. “Then he called in Darri. The king questioned me in front of the other psychics, confronting me about the murder and the bloody knife found in my room. I told the truth—that I had nothing to do with either and someone must’ve planted the weapon to frame me. The psychics thought I was telling the truth, but none of them were certain because they aren’t skilled enough in psyche. Quince asked Darri the same questions, and he lied when he said he was in his room all night. He also lied when asked if he had any reason to kill Charlotte. One other psychic besides me told Quince that Darri might be lying, but he wasn’t certain.”
“Why would he put you in prison and not Darri?” Neeko asked.
“Darri was to fight with the army, and there wasn’t a knife covered with Charlotte’s blood in his room like there was in mine.”
Steffen scoffed. “So Quince just let him go?”
“Not exactly,” Cedri said. “He sent a psychic with our army, a man who showed the most promise. That psychic is to continue training as he travels south with the rest of them. Once he’s strong enough to detect lies, Darri will be questioned again.”
This seemed like good news to Neeko. “So we don’t have to risk killing Darri ourselves.”
“But we do,” Cedri said quickly. “Without Charlotte training that dolt of a psychic, he has little chance of improving enough to be certain when a lie is told. They’ll be in the Southern kingdom in a month from now so there isn’t enough time. We don’t know what Darri has planned.”
Neeko knew that Cedri was just eager for revenge like Steffen; she would give almost anything to get herself in front of Darri. Probably give a lot more to get herself behind him.
“I’m sure we’ll pass the army on the way,” Neeko said. “Then we’ll devise a plan depending on what we see.”
Shara pushed out her palms. “Promise me now you’re not going to be part of that plan, Neeko. Whatever it may be.”
He opened his mouth but didn’t speak.
“They have orders to kill you on sight!” Shara squeaked. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” he said with reluctance. Something unfortunate came to mind. “And Cedri shouldn’t be seen, either. News of her escape might’ve reached them by the time we cross paths.”
“If that’s the case,” Steffen said, “then they wouldn’t be happy to see me, either. I was part of the party that broke her out.”
“About that,” Neeko said, turning to face Cedri. “If Quince charged you with murder, then why didn’t he execute you?”
“He was waiting for one of his remaining psychics to become strong enough to detect lies. I think he believed I was telling the truth, which is why he never locked me in prison.”
“What?” Neeko blurted, looking to Steffen for confirmation. He’d always assumed that’s where she’d been.
“It’s true,” Steffen said. “She was in her room when we arrived. She told us everything then and there, and we left with her. We never saw your king.”
“I mentioned prison several times around you,” Neeko said.
Steffen shrugged. “It didn’t seem worth the trouble of correcting you. It makes no difference.”
“It makes an enormous difference! Quince wouldn’t let her stay in her room if he didn’t trust her.”
“I don’t care if your king trusts her. I don’t. Therefore, it makes no difference.”
Neeko looked at Shara. “You’re unusually quiet.”
Her brow furrowed. “I’m thinking.” She turned to Cedri. “Why didn’t you leave earlier if you weren’t being held against your will?”
“Quince said I would be deemed guilty if I left, but I still thought about it every moment of every day. Darri was getting farther and farther away from me. I didn’t have the confidence, though. I didn’t believe I could catch up to the army and kill him on my own. They were holding my money until I was deemed innocent, preventing me from purchasing a horse.”
Shara clapped her hands twice to draw everyone’s attention. She spoke in a rhythmic tone. “I have decided what we’re going to do. Steffen, pay attention because this involves you. We can’t succeed without trust, and working together is a must. You will believe Cedri’s word—she does not lie. Or your return home is no longer deferred—you’re no longer an ally. We can use your help, so I hope you stay. But I won’t complain, if you decide to go away.” Her voice came back to normal. “Neeko, do you support me in this decision?”
He noticed the three of them looking at him, waiting. Am I the leader of this group? “Yes, we can’t do this if we don’t trust each other, and I believe Cedri.”
Everyone’s gaze fell on Steffen.
“I can’t just choose to trust you,” he told Cedri.
Neeko sighed in disappointment. “Then you should go back to Ovira.”
“No.” Steffen shook his head vigorously. “I’m not going back until Charlotte’s murderer is dead and you’re ready to come with me, Neeko.” He shook his fist as his face pinched. “And Terren! I forgot about Terren for the moment, but I won’t again. I’m not going back! Everything is just beginning.”
“You’re not going with us until you trust me.” Cedri’s tone was as cautious as the look she gave him from the corner of her eye.
“How am I supposed to trust someone who I don’t trust?” Steffen’s voice rose. “I can’t change my mind on a whim.”
Cedri came at Steffen, causing Neeko to reach out. But Cedri got her arms around Steffen before Neeko had a chance to stop her. It was just a hug, an intimate one at that, her hands squeezing tightly at the base of his back as if he might try to pry her off.
“What are you doing?” Steffen asked, refusing to return the embrace.
“Steffen, I didn’t kill her. She was my closest friend.” Her voice was desperate and painful to hear. “Please believe me.”
Tensio
n seemed to come out of Steffen with his next breath. His arms came around her shoulders, his hands locking against her back.
“I believe you.”
Neeko feared Cedri had just used psyche to sway Steffen’s emotions, but he would never mention it.
CHAPTER TWO
NEEKO
Cedri and Shara said they’d asked about Terren around Antilith, but no one knew of him. They rode between the trees in pairs, Shara and Steffen behind Neeko and Cedri. They’d settled into this pattern since leaving Norret because of the discomfort between Steffen and Cedri, and since then, Shara and Steffen seemed to have become friends.
They chatted often, a stark contrast to the silence between Neeko and Cedri in front of them. Listening to the two of them talk about potions was like hearing another language. The only names of plants Neeko could recognize were those repeated over and over.
One was a flower called caregelow, which was the same one used on Shara’s face to reduce her swelling and bruising after her abduction. The flower itself gave off a faint glow, making it easy to find, Steffen explained, and thus rendering it nearly extinct in Ovira.
Its effects on the human body were nothing short of miraculous, fighting against any illness, including infection. He told Shara stories from his homeland, tales of war and love among his friends, and sickening betrayal. Upon first meeting Steffen, Neeko wouldn’t have guessed he’d been through more than most have in their entire lives.
While Steffen was candid and colorful, Cedri was nearly the opposite. She was reserved and even utterly uncaring at times, as if she didn’t feel they would be successful in taking down King Marteph of the South and she was just waiting for them to fail. Neeko hoped it was because she was still grieving and that her attitude would change in time.
Not only had she lost her closest friend, but her sister, too, not long before that.
“Do you have any family?” Neeko asked her. The only reason he felt the right to pose the question was because she already knew he didn’t have any family left.
“A mother,” she answered curtly.
Not even “my” mother, Neeko realized.
As he wondered whether to pry, Neeko overheard Shara ask Steffen, “Would Terren go around Talmor Desert or through it?”
