The Akorell Break (The Mortal Mage Book 2)

by B. T. Narro

  His voice held steady, but he seemed to be crying as he sniffled and wiped his face. He picked up the knife after a while and turned around, his cheeks red. “Sister…”

  “Stop calling me that. You never have before.”

  He nodded. “Beatrix, I didn’t want him to die. Use psyche to confirm it.”

  It was true.

  “But you did poison him,” she assumed.

  “I didn’t.”

  “You lie!”

  “Quiet. I mean it wasn’t my idea. I only knew about it.”

  “You’re not making sense. What are you hiding?”

  “You mean who am I hiding,” he specified as he looked at the door. “If they find out I spoke to you, it will accelerate everything. I doubt I have much time left, so I can’t risk it unless I’m sure you’re going to help me.”

  “If you’re attempting to convince me that you’re not responsible for the death of our father or for sending Micklin after me, then I don’t care what happens to us. I will scream until you shut up or kill me. I can’t listen to it anymore.”

  Allephon sighed. “I take responsibility for both, all right? I regret everything!” He let his words sit in the air. “Now if you still want to live, we have to move past that. Do you want to live? This is not rhetorical. It would make everything easier if you fought and forced me to have you killed right now, but I’m trying to avoid that. Do you understand?”

  His blatant anger heated Beatrix’s rage. “I’m not listening to anything until you tell me exactly what you’ve done and what you regret.”

  “I sent Micklin to Kanoan after you. When he failed to kill you there, I told him to find you in Kyrro and finish his task, but my motive for each request was different. I was foolish at first, jealous and angry. I underestimated…someone. The second time I was scared.”

  “You still are.” But she felt more from his energy than fear. She couldn’t specify all of his emotions. His energy showed him to be feeling dread, but it was close to a feeling of giving up. As she looked harder, she detected something else like the deep-rooted gloom she’d sensed from beggars.

  There was even more to his energy she didn’t recognize, patterns she’d seen too rarely to learn. Perhaps these were other levels of fear reserved for when death was near.

  “I am afraid,” Allephon admitted. “And my life depends on your choice now, and yet I don’t deserve your sympathy.”

  She wouldn’t give it to him, no matter what he said.

  “Who did you underestimate? Who are you hiding from me?”

  “First I need to know if I can I trust you?”

  “You can trust me, Allephon. Tell me what you’re keeping secret.” She would lie and even manipulate his energy if it led to her freedom.

  Allephon glanced at the door and continued in a voice barely above a whisper. “Jimmin approached me while you were chasing Basen Hiller. You hadn’t left for Kanoan yet, but we all knew your pursuit was headed there eventually. We’d heard of the explosions there. It was obvious Basen was trying to find a way to the island.” Allephon picked up the same knife as before. He fiddled with it as he spoke, twisting its pointed end into the table.

  “We knew the war would start soon. Like Hawthen said, Father couldn’t afford the upkeep of all his troops for much longer, and we couldn’t disband them, either. It would cause thousands of our trained soldiers to be angry with their king at the same time that Hawthen could attack with an army greater in size. Father and I discussed this at length, but we never spoke about who would control Tenred when we won the war. Like you, I had assumed I would lead the conquered territory. But Jimmin said it was you who Father had chosen.”

  “And you believed Jimmin.” Beatrix took tiny steps in hopes of finding a little comfort. It only caused more pain to her wrists, her tired arms already aching for a rest.

  “I didn’t believe him at first, but then I spoke with Father about it. He confirmed that you would lead Tenred. I’m sure you can imagine we argued, but he wouldn’t change his mind.”

  If they were anywhere else, Beatrix would’ve forced Allephon to tell her the reasons their father had chosen her to lead Tenred. But she could still feel Allephon’s jealousy, even after everything that had happened since then. She would have to answer the question for herself or risk unhinging her already unstable brother.

  She and her three siblings had undergone the same training to be kings and queens, in the event one of them besides Allephon would be required to assume the throne. Most of it was boring to Beatrix, but she had shown an understanding of how to be a fair and benevolent ruler better than her other siblings, and certainly better than Allephon. Her oldest brother eventually had learned all the right answers, which she had assumed would be good enough for him to attain the crown when the terrible time of their father’s death arrived. But Fernan must’ve been even less impressed with Allephon than Beatrix had realized. It was a great insult to him to be passed over for leadership.

  But ruling over a conquered territory was a delicate matter. There would be a great chance of an uprising. And he trusted me the most out of anyone to handle it.

  She smiled sadly. “I had no idea.” Anger burned within her again. “Was he going to leave the crown of Kyrro to me as well? Is that why you killed him?”

  “I don’t want to hear you say those words again.” Allephon gripped the knife so hard his knuckles turned white. “I didn’t kill him.” He sounded like the easily frustrated man she remembered all too well. “Jimmin—”

  “You’ve always deflected blame. Did you not allow our father to be poisoned?”

  “I did, but only to make him sick!” Allephon caught his rising voice and stopped speaking. He stared at the door for a moment and waited. When no one entered, he continued. “Jimmin claims that Father had a poor reaction that led to his death, but I don’t believe him. He’s the one who killed our father, Beatrix. He knew the poison would end his life. And now I have no doubt Jimmin is plotting to kill me as soon as you’re…removed. That is why we must work together.”

  “What about Rallo and Eslefar?” Beatrix asked, referring to their younger siblings.

  “They’re either in Greenedge or still on their way there. That’s where they’ll remain until this war is over, or likely longer. Jimmin scared them into leaving, and you know how easily they frighten.”

  “What did he tell them?”

  “I don’t know. They’d already fled before I could speak to them.” Allephon let out a raspy sigh. “He can be very convincing.”

  “Are you scared of Jimmin?”

  “I would be foolish not to be.”

  You are a fool. The pain was getting to her. “Cut me down and we can finish this conversation.”

  “I can’t. In fact…” He came toward her with the knife. “Give me a scream as if I’m cutting you.”

  “You’re the king now, imbecile. You don’t need to be afraid of anyone.”

  “A false statement. All kings should fear something, or power has taken over.” He clicked his tongue. “And Father thought you would be the better ruler; I still don’t understand it. Scream, Beatrix, or I will be forced to make you.”

  She sucked in a breath, then screamed out her frustration into her brother’s face.

  “I just need to know where Basen is!” Allephon announced, then added quietly, “Scream as if you’re in pain, stupid girl.”

  It was his oldest insult.

  She shrieked convincingly. Allephon took from his pocket a small jar filled with a red liquid. He poured some on the floor by Beatrix’s feet. Then he spread some on her arm.

  “I will find out what you know about Basen,” he promised her gently and quietly. “But that’s not my priority. You must agree to cooperate with me before Jimmin gets suspicious and comes in here. I don’t know what he’ll do, so we’d best finish this before then.”

  “I can’t, Allephon. I can’t help you after what you’ve done to our family. All of our family.”

&nb
sp; He grabbed her arm as anger flashed across his face. “You’re going to bring Mother up now of all times? I knew you still blamed me for that!”

  “So do Rallo and Eslefar.” She twisted out of his grasp. “You were twelve, plenty old enough to do something besides run when the bandits showed up.”

  Men had stopped Allephon and their mother on a road, killed the guards with them, and attempted to take both Allephon and the queen. He’d fled at her request—that’s what he’d told everyone later while a psychic confirmed it. Their mother wasn’t as fast as Allephon and was captured. Rather than let herself be ransomed, she fought to break free. One of them stabbed her. All ran, leaving her wounded. She made it halfway back to the capital before collapsing. Allephon had returned to her after fetching help. He’d tried to save her, but it was too late by the time she was brought to healers.

  Her death wasn’t really Allephon’s fault. Beatrix knew she should’ve stopped herself from bringing it up, but she’d been too furious at her brother to pull any punches.

  Allephon had the opposite reaction as Beatrix expected. Rather than stab her, he turned away to hide his face.

  “I’ve made mistakes,” he admitted. “It’s too late for most to be corrected, but there’s still time for others.” He looked back at her with a glimmer of moisture in his eyes. “You are still alive, and I might be able to keep you that way if you cooperate. I will give you one more chance before I break, not intentionally, but I can feel it coming, Sister. I know you told me not to use that word, but never have I opened myself this much to you. We’ve never treated each other like siblings, and that has to change now if we’re to survive. You are my sister, and we need each other.”

  She took a few breaths to think. “I will never forgive you for Father’s death, but I take back blaming you for Mother. I lied. No one thinks it’s your fault.”

  His shoulders relaxed. “That means a lot.”

  “You want honesty, so I will give it to you. I don’t believe I can cooperate with you, even if it means my death, but I will try my best. What do you propose as a way out of this situation? Someone needs to be charged with Father’s murder.”

  “I am partially to blame, but it was Jimmin who obtained the poison. It was he who gave it to me to put in Father’s drink. It was he who handed me a lethal dosage without telling me. He tricked me. He is the one who should be charged.”

  “Why didn’t you say any of that during the meeting with Hawthen?”

  “Because I didn’t have your cooperation then. I knew you would kill me eventually, no matter what happened between me and Jimmin. I sent Micklin after you to protect myself, but even he hasn’t been enough. I’ve been fearful of Jimmin, Beatrix, but more scared of you. Somehow you climbed up the castle, made a hole through the stone, and got inside. You’ve proven you can get to me no matter where I am. I needed the entire kingdom on my side, or you might’ve found a way to kill me before Micklin found you. Pinning Father’s murder on you was my way of doing that. But now that I’ve had the chance to explain myself, I’m hoping everything has changed.”

  Clearly nervous, he paced while awaiting her reply. This was not the arrogant brother she’d dealt with most of her life. Fear had softened him.

  “That depends on your plan going forward,” she said. “How will you get the truth out?”

  “We both will speak in court about everything I’ve told you. Then we will deal with the consequences together.”

  “What about Basen?”

  “He needs to stop what he’s doing. My loyals are out searching for akorell and eppil vines right now, hoping to find the necessary amount before Basen does. You must tell one of my trusted psychics where he is for two reasons. One, Jimmin believes I’m in here with you to get that information. Two, I must have access to the explosive before Basen so it can be used to win the war. I’ll bring a psychic in here to question you. Then you’ll be let down. Will you cooperate?”

  She could feel that Allephon was being truthful, but could she be truthful in response? Jimmin was trickier than he let on; the trial would be difficult and there indeed would be consequences for Allephon.

  Beatrix pictured herself going through with it, cooperating with her brother—which meant cooperating with one of the men responsible for her father’s death and for so much of her grief. It felt like a betrayal to her father, and she would also have to betray Basen. The thought made her stomach turn.

  Before she could answer, she heard the sound of a key rattling in the door. Jimmin entered.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Jimmin looked different in the dim lighting of this dungeon. His thin and precisely arranged gray hair, along with his beard, peppered with brown, made him appear younger than she remembered. She’d never really looked at him, never thought about him much, either. This was probably his intention, to stay as far removed from psychics as possible. He could’ve easily been in his forties if he’d grayed early. The subtle lines creeping out from his eyes and across his forehead aged him but did not make him look frail. He had cunning eyes. They surveyed Beatrix and Allephon knowingly.

  She saw the cordial version of him she was used to as he turned to the guards to nod at them and shut the door.

  “What are you doing here?” Allephon asked. Beatrix could feel his fear, though he didn’t show it through his voice or irritated expression.

  Ignoring Allephon, Jimmin walked around to observe Beatrix. His eyes roamed up and down as if she were an animal undergoing his inspection.

  “I assume she must be cooperating,” Jimmin said. “Why else would she be unwounded?”

  Allephon looked at Beatrix’s red arm as if to mention it but didn’t.

  Jimmin knelt over the fabricated blood Allephon had spilled to squint at it. He rose and dabbed Beatrix’s arm with his fingers to take off some of the substance. He smelled his fingers, then licked them. “Now why would you waste tomatoes to do this, Allephon? It’s not even the right consistency. Blood is thick. It looks more like spilled paint than this watery substance.”

  “She’s been cooperating without torture,” Allephon insisted. “I figured no one would believe that. Especially not you.”

  “There isn’t much I believe anymore unless I hear it myself.” Jimmin wiped his fingers clean on Beatrix’s already soiled shirt. She wouldn’t have cared except for the way he did it, looking away from her as if she was nothing to him.

  “What was the point of all those times you asked me about the Academy or my training, Jimmin, if you never cared about me?” she asked.

  He glared into her eyes. “I did care about you until I figured out you poisoned Fernan. He was my friend as much as he was your father.”

  Shock made Beatrix quiet. His energy showed no trace of emotion. There wasn’t so much as a hint of fear or worry that showed him to be lying. Could it be possible that Allephon had taken a potion after all to allow him to lie without her detection? It seemed less likely than Jimmin taking the same potion without showing any signs of fatigue. That must be it. He must’ve just taken the potion. He’d done the same before walking into Desil’s tavern where he’d nearly tricked her into leaving the sanctuary of the walls behind.

  “Why would I poison my father?” she asked the councilman. “I loved him.”

  “The same reason you’ve begun working with Basen instead of trying to stop him. You plan to force your brother into giving you the crown so you can rule Kyrro. Tenred as well, I might add, though I haven’t figured out how yet.”

  He even sounded different, like he was enjoying himself rather than focused purely on business. She believed her brother. Both Allephon and Jimmin were responsible, but without Jimmin, the traitor pig, none of this would’ve happened.

  “What did she agree to so far?” Jimmin asked Allephon.

  He didn’t answer.

  Demand that guards put Jimmin in a cell, Allephon!

  He couldn’t, she realized, because he wasn’t sure she would cooperate yet. Her testimony of
how her father had died needed to be verified by psyche first, but that couldn’t happen with Jimmin here. At least send him away, Allephon.

  She knew that a psychic of mastery level could persuade even the most stubborn people, at least for a short time. She was strong but not that powerful. She could only force Allephon to feel the need to act, which she did by altering his energy.

  His fear of what she assumed to be Jimmin increased so much that it supplanted her brother’s urge to act. Allephon didn’t move or speak.

  “Well?” Jimmin pressed. When Allephon didn’t answer, the councilman began to nod. “I see. Don’t fret, sire. I will take care of this for you. Go to the kitchen and request a meal. It’s what you need most right now. Your strength is drained from this ordeal. It will be over soon and you will feel better.”

  Her brother’s energy altered drastically as Jimmin spoke to him. Gone was his compulsion to stay. Gone was his urge to resolve a conflict. Gone was the tiny bit of warmth toward Beatrix. Every feeling of his was gone, as if he had been put to sleep.

  “Yes, I will do that.” He shuffled toward the door.

  “Wait,” Beatrix called after him. She tried to make him want to stay by altering his energy, but another psychic had too strong a hold. Jimmin.

  Allephon shut the door without a glance back.

  “Did my father know the truth about you?” she asked Jimmin. “You’re a psychic.” And a murderer. She tried not to think that last thought too strongly, as he might be able to feel it. There was still a chance he didn’t know about her intention to cooperate with Allephon against him.

  He stepped close. She instinctively tried to move away, but the rope tugged at her wrists. He looked at the ceiling as if investigating how strong the rope would hold, then his gaze fell to her as he produced a knife.

  “It’s clear Allephon would have you go against me.” Jimmin’s eyes held malice that remained even as he smiled. “You were the only one who might’ve been able to stop this, and now you’re here.” He rested the tip of the knife on her leg and let it fall bit by bit. It caught on her pants and threatened to cut them open, but the material held. It felt like a fingernail scratching her until he started to push harder above her knee. The cloth split. She let out a yelp before catching herself. He stopped.