by B. T. Narro
“You only control students and instructors of the Academy?”
“Reela and I don’t control anyone. When we’re not at war, the headmaster of the Academy oversees the school, which belongs to the king. During times of war, the headmaster is to lead the army into battle. But again, all troops belong to the king. His orders supersede Basen’s, and especially mine. The only difference between troops at the Academy, troops who are graduates of the Academy, and hired swords is the strength of their loyalty to their king compared to their headmaster.”
“What about the Wind Knights?”
Cleve gave a dry laugh. “What did Basen tell you about them?”
“Nothing. Everything I know is from my mother, which isn’t much.”
“They are not as powerful as she made them seem,” Reela explained.
“They, not ‘we’? ”
“It’s more complicated than you imagine,” she said.
“I imagine the Wind Knights have the power to stop this war.” Both Cleve and Reela shook their heads at Desil. “But I’m beginning to see that’s wrong.”
“There aren’t enough Wind Knights to threaten either side into giving up,” Reela said.
“The Wind Knights could help put a stop to the war under the right circumstances.” Cleve sat again and showed Desil a look of importance. “But the opportunity has not come.”
Desil got the hint. They needed Basen’s help. They needed the threat of the explosive.
It was disappointing how both Cleve and Reela seemed to disconnect themselves from the Wind Knights, but he could feel hope behind their words. Ending this war meant more to them than winning it, but the lives of those in Kyrro’s army were at stake. Cleve and Reela had given Desil no indication that they thought the war was pointless. Tenred must’ve fought viciously so far. Their king probably isn’t dedicated to the lives of his people any more than Allephon is.
Desil had a sudden worry for Leida and the others. Could it be that Basen had sent Desil away from danger, not into it? The sooner he concluded this meeting, the faster he could return to them, but would he be able to make it back into this camp if he left? Curiosity interrupted his stream of thoughts.
“What were you referring to earlier, headmaster, when you wondered why Allephon would agree?”
“I’d prefer if you don’t call me headmaster. I have to bear the title among everyone here, but you are working with Basen. He is still the headmaster. Make sure he knows this.”
Reela nodded. “Please do,” she added.
“Your support of our goal comes as a relief,” Desil admitted. “We didn’t receive the same response from Neeko’s troops.”
“He’s lost men he’s known for years,” Cleve said. “We can’t blame anyone for their resentment; we can only help them manage it. Regarding your question about Allephon, he agreed to a meeting that came as a shock to us. Now that you’ve come here with accusations of murder that I believe to be true, I’ve gone from shocked to incredulous. There must be something we’re missing.”
“Who did he agree to meet?” Desil asked. He’d already assumed the answer, but assumptions weren’t good enough here.
“King Hawthen, outside Tenred’s wall.” Cleve pointed west. “Psychics will be there to confirm both kings tell the truth.”
“What is to be discussed?”
“The terms of the war…originally.” Cleve spoke facing Reela. “But Allephon must know the question of his father’s death will arise. If he isn’t responsible, he wouldn’t have agreed to the meeting. Did you use psyche to convince him?”
“No, the psychic with him would’ve felt the artificial shift of his energy,” she replied.
“He must not be responsible for his father’s death,” Cleve said with a shrug. “It’s the only explanation I can think of, not that I believe it.”
“Even if that’s true,” Desil said. “He does want Beatrix dead.”
“Unless that is someone else’s doing as well.” Cleve put up his hands before Desil could interrupt. “I believe everything you’ve said. I’m only looking for an explanation of why he agreed to meet. Allephon must assume Hawthen will ask how King Fernan died. If Allephon killed him, Reela will be able to tell with psyche.”
“I will.”
“Then either you’re wrong, Desil, or there’s something all of us are missing.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.” Reela stood from the bench, prompting Desil to as well. “The kings are to meet in less than an hour. In the meantime, I want you to tell me everything that’s happened with Basen. Spare no details, especially about my daughter. Start with where she is right this moment.”
“Then I must excuse myself,” Cleve said to Desil’s surprise, and walked out of the tent.
“Try not to wonder why he’s leaving,” Reela said. “You don’t want to figure it out.”
Utterly confused, Desil decided to take her advice and ignore it. He began his tale with meeting the headmaster at Lake Kayvol and agreeing to bring news of Basen’s departure to Leida the following morning at the Academy. As Desil rushed through the events that led him to Kanoan and back, a nervous excitement fluttered in his stomach. Allephon must have something planned, but he’d underestimated Basen’s ability to get here in time. The truth would come out. Reela would make sure of it.
Halfway through Desil’s tale, Reela jumped. “Wait.” She stared at the tent’s exit. “Cleve is calling to me,” she whispered. “Something about Allephon and the tent. He’s probably come to search it.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
There was only one place to hide, and that was underneath the bed. But Reela had mentioned earlier that Allephon had a psychic with him. No matter how well Desil was hidden, his natural bastial energy would give away his location. He could only hope that Cleve would send Allephon away.
The wish had just crossed his mind when Allephon entered the tent and stared at Desil. They’d never met, but it had to be him. His raven hair was the same black as Beatrix’s, his pointed gaze alert and drilling. A blue robe of velvet hung from his shoulders. Boots with rubber heels across the bottom gave him an extra inch, making him just taller than Desil.
A woman came in behind Allephon. She looked young to have gray hair. Desil placed her in her late thirties. The only wrinkles on her face were the two down her cheeks polished by sweat. She squinted as if concentrating, a battle in her eyes as she peered at Reela.
“I should be leaving.” Desil started around Allephon and nodded at Cleve. “I can return at a better time.”
The freshly crowned king barred Desil with an extended arm. “Wait. You will return to where you were standing.” He pointed to the center of the tent.
Could Allephon have recognized Desil somehow? How far would I get if I fled? It depended on whether he would receive aid from anyone in this tent or nearby.
“Who are you?” Allephon asked.
His name would give him away. Looking to Reela for help would be obvious. No, just feeling the need for help would be obvious. The psychic tilted her head from one shoulder to the other, her focus still on Reela. Desil didn’t know why, but he took it as his chance to answer.
Desil stuffed away his anger and fear in some deep corner of his heart. “I’m no one important, my prince. I shouldn’t waste your time.”
“I’ll return in a moment, Allephon, unless I’m needed this instant?” Cleve asked.
“Where are you going?”
“To relieve myself.”
Allephon grumbled and tossed a hand. “Fine.”
It seemed strange to Desil for Cleve to flee after what had to be an excuse, but there was more going on here than met the eye. Allephon’s psychic still hadn’t paid much attention to anyone besides Reela.
“He’s just a young mage who came here to deliver a report,” Reela told Allephon. “He doesn’t know anything. He’s not the brightest of the lot of them,” she added with a chuckle. “He can come back later if you need to speak with me before your meeti
ng.”
“No need.” Allephon eyed his psychic. “Anyone else here?”
She shook her head.
“Then we’ll be leaving.”
“Are you checking every tent for Basen?” Reela asked as Allephon started to leave.
He scowled over his shoulder. “Would that be a problem?”
“It’s a waste of your time. He’s not in the camp. There’s no way anyone who left the Academy with him would be able to show up here without being recognized. We would all find out soon enough that Basen or someone with him had at least made an appearance.”
“Would you tell me if you found out where he was?”
Reela hesitated. “That depends.”
“On what?”
“On many things. I can’t say what I will do if I don’t know the circumstances of it.”
Allephon shot a look at his psychic. She shrugged as if she didn’t want to admit Reela had told the truth. The new monarch seemed more surprised than angry, though certainly some of both.
“I want you to pledge that you will tell me if you find out anything about Basen.”
“I pledge to do what is best for Kyrro.”
Allephon stomped toward her. “I am king now. I could remove you from here. I could take away your work as a psychic. I could even put you in prison for disobeying me. I know everything there is to know about the Wind Knights. They won’t revolt if I discipline one of their members for defiance.”
“Would you rather I lie? Fine. I will tell you if I find out anything about Basen, no matter the circumstance.”
“It’s a lie, sire,” confirmed Allephon’s psychic.
“Of course it is, you dolt! She just said she would!” He took a breath.
Reela held her fierce gaze.
Desil felt like a mouse in this room of giants, powerless to do anything. The king could take his golden-hilted sword and run it through Reela’s stomach, and Desil could only scream as the gray-haired psychic floored him with pain.
He couldn’t get a grasp on the situation. Reela had lied earlier about Desil, and yet it was only in this conversation about Basen’s whereabouts that the king confronted her. Desil knew exactly where Basen was…stop thinking about it. He drew the enemy psychic’s gaze.
“You don’t need to remind me what you can legally do to me as king,” Reela explained. “It does not change that I can only tell the truth. I have. Now the rest is up to you.”
Allephon paused for a moment. “I will let it go this time if you vow to work on your subservience to me.”
“I will.”
He glanced at his psychic. She nodded. Then he turned on his heels and stormed out with his psychic trailing behind.
Desil felt as if a quake had opened the earth around him but left a small patch of land for him to stand upon. The shaking had finally come to an end, but that didn’t mean he was safe.
“Reela, I don’t understand. You lied about me.”
“It’s best if you don’t think about it.”
But Desil’s mind was already racing. The momentum was too much to stop. “That’s why Cleve left in a hurry. Because he knows what you can do—you can lie undetected to psychics. Allephon’s psychic could’ve picked this up from Cleve’s energy if he’d stayed.”
Reela cursed. “And now a psychic can do the same of you. Do you realize how dangerous this is for both of us?”
Desil cursed louder. “Does Adriya know?”
“She doesn’t, and you can’t tell anyone, Desil. Understand?”
“I do.”
Reela put her hand over her brow. “If a situation with a psychic arises with the two of us again, you must find some way to excuse yourself.”
“I promise I will.” Desil thought for a moment. “Basen knows, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. It’s why he came to me to help him with his explosive, but I wasn’t able to do what he required. He turned to Annah, and she betrayed him. I’m partially to blame for everything that’s happened since.” Reela shook her head. “That is a conversation between me and him. Try to forget about what you know. I hope you can.”
“I don’t forget things like that. I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “Then at least focus on getting what he needs for the explosive. There has already been bloodshed, yet I have a feeling it’s about to get much worse.”
“I must ask. Why didn’t you lie at the end of the conversation and simply tell Allephon you would inform him of Basen’s whereabouts if you found out?”
“That would be too obvious a lie. They might get suspicious.”
Desil nodded, understanding dawning. Her actions showed what kind of woman she was. He was beginning to see why his mother had gotten along so well with Reela when they were younger.
“I wish you and my mother had remained friends.”
“I do too.”
“Will you question Allephon yourself about the murder of Fernan and the attempted murder of Beatrix?”
“I will, Desil.” She took his hand. “It’s a pleasure we got to meet again. I’m happy to see the man you’ve become. Your mother must be proud. I thank you for coming here, but now you should find some way to return to Basen. He was right to stay away. Make sure he keeps doing that until he absolutely needs our help or he has the akorell and the eppil vines.”
Desil spoke hesitantly. “I would like to stay to watch the meeting between the kings. You mentioned it was soon.”
She dropped his hand. “There will be nothing but danger for you if you remain here.”
He found some strength to bolster his voice. “I can’t return to Beatrix without telling her what becomes of her brother, or you’ll find her here in my stead.”
“I see I’m not going to change your mind.” Reela let out her breath. “I won’t force you to leave if you promise to be careful and keep your distance from me.”
“I promise.”
*****
After the victory of battle came a pain unlike Leida had experienced in her short life. She fell where she stood, a scream slipping out. Her vision blurred as she looked for her father. She’d lost sight of him during the fray while she stayed on the outskirts, blasting any man or woman without a mark of Kyrro on their blue armor—a gold crown outlined in silver.
“I’m here, Leida!” her father said from directly above her. “I need to roll you onto your side to see if you’ve been stabbed or shot.”
“It’s only my back,” she said, gritting her teeth through the pain.
“Are you sure? It’s difficult to tell sometimes.”
He was certainly right about that. She hadn’t known how deep her wound was until the short battle came to an end. Adriya had done well covering Leida’s blind spots, but one swordsman charged too fast to be stopped by an arrow in his leg. He got a clean slash across her lower back as she jumped forward in a failed attempt to avoid him. If she hadn’t moved, though, the damage would’ve been worse. At least she could still feel her legs.
“It’s only my back,” Leida confirmed.
When she’d first been struck, she’d felt only a pinching sensation and some numbness. She’d figured the blade had only nicked her. The pain first came in a wave that traveled out from her horizontal wound, her nerves tingling as if asleep. Horrible burning followed, as if someone had set her skin aflame.
She could hear the groans of others. Some must’ve had worse injuries, but her pain was so intense that she couldn’t tell her father to leave.
“Caregelow?” she asked.
“I was just getting it out for you. Here, drink.”
“Stop,” Kirnich said. He crouched beside Leida for a closer look at her wound. “She’ll do further damage to herself if she moves around while drunk on caregelow. She needs to be somewhere she can be put to sleep with psyche.”
“You see how much pain she’s in,” Basen argued.
“Pain won’t kill anyone, headmaster. If it wasn’t your daughter, you would agree.”
Leida couldn’t think pas
t the agony. She ached for relief, no matter the risk. The only other time she’d felt pain like this was when Beatrix had crippled her with psyche, but that was so short it was forgettable. This already felt as if it had gone on for hours.
“Adriya needs help as well,” Leida barely managed to get out.
“Beatrix is with her,” Kirnich said. “But Neeko says it’s not safe to treat our injured here. He’s running to the rest of the army to inform them of what happened. Reinforcements will come to replace his troops and the injured will be brought into camp.”
Basen jumped up. “Did you tell him not to speak of us to anyone?”
“I’m assuming he already knows, headmaster, but we still have to get somewhere safe. Then Leida and Adriya can take caregelow and rest.”
That meant Leida really would have to endure hours of this pain. She couldn’t believe it. There had to be some other option.
“Your cut is deep,” Basen said, “but more so on the left of your back. It’s shallow across your spine and superficial on the right side. I don’t think you have to worry about permanent damage. I’m going to see if I can get you and Adriya something for the pain from the soldiers here as I figure out what to do.”
Leida groaned and squirmed to get more comfortable as her father left. Kirnich took her hand. “I know what it feels like to be cut like that with a sword. There are few things worse.”
“How long will the pain last?”
“Caregelow takes away the pain and closes the wound.”
“Without caregelow.”
“Days, maybe weeks. I don’t know.” He shifted to look closer at her wound, then sighed nervously. He looked the other way, where her father had gone.
“What is it?” Leida asked.
“You’re going to keep losing blood unless we do something.”
Dread came over her as she realized what that meant. Her first tears sprung from her eyes as she was no longer able to hold them back. A river flowed down her cheeks and across her nose as she lay on her side. She couldn’t lift her arm to wipe them away because any movement made the pain worse, so the forest remained a blur.
