by Narro, B. T.
Cleve assumed she meant the Academy, but as he looked over her head, all he could see was open land and the horizon.
“We’re already home,” Cleve said.
Reela turned and smiled. “I know.” But her mouth quickly became twisted. “Cleve, your skin!”
He looked at his arms as he felt cold creeping over him. A silver liquid was spreading, covering his fingers down to his elbows.
“It’s the medicine,” Reela said. “They’re experimenting on you.”
“Chemist bastards!” Cleve shook his arms, but it was no use. The glistening silver liquid spread to his chest and climbed up his neck.
He awoke sitting up, checking his arms, feeling his neck.
It was just a dream.
He felt odd, not so much feverish but…different. His hand rested on his leg, but his own touch felt foreign.
He touched his arm next. A giggle burst from his mouth. He knew he was acting strangely, but he didn’t care.
Then he realized he didn’t know where he was. He was suddenly excited to find out.
With an open mouth and childlike wonder, he inspected his surroundings. He was on a bed so soft and warm that he had the urge to crawl under its covers headfirst.
The only reason he didn’t was because something else was too interesting to ignore. There was a bookshelf nearly as tall as the ceiling, but it didn’t hold any books. This was a special bookshelf. It had potions of all colors, some red—most of them red, actually. Why were there so many red potions? Cleve wanted to see more of the blue ones. He found only two. One was light, the color of a clear sky. The other was dark like the Starving Ocean, reminding him of Jessend and Captain Mmzaza.
He felt the need to put the two blue potions together. They belonged next to each other.
“Don’t touch that!”
He gasped and turned, clutching the dark blue potion to his chest.
“Cleve, be very careful with that potion.” The woman was talking to him as if he were a baby. She wore a long white coat that identified her as a chemist. The glasses barely clinging to her small nose made her eyesight poor. And the twist of her mouth made her concerned. Cleve was so good at picking up clues. He wanted to tell her this as proof that she didn’t need to speak down to him. But he had trouble putting it into words.
Instead, he stomped his foot and said, “I am being careful.”
She cautiously approached with her hands out. “You're not yourself. Your judgment is poor right now because of the medicine we’ve given you. Let me have the potion.”
“No. It belongs next to the other blue one. I’m going to put it there.”
“I leave for one minute…” she muttered. “Cleve, listen to me.” She reached for the potion, but he twisted away. She held up her hands. “I won’t grab it. Just make sure you don’t drop that.”
Her words made Cleve realize he didn’t know what it was for. Now there was something else more important than putting it next to the other blue potion. He had to drink it. He pulled off the cork.
“Don’t do that!” She grabbed it. The liar grabbed it.
He pushed her away. “You said you wouldn’t!”
“If you drink that, you’ll die.”
“Die…?” Cleve started shaking with fear. He tried to put the cork back in but spilled some of the potion onto the wooden floor.
He heard a sizzle. Smoke followed. The blue substance turned red. It betrayed him! It was red just like the others. He wanted to break the bottle. The woman was running the opposite way, grabbing the sheets from the bed.
Cleve felt heat around his bare feet. The blue—no, red—potion had caught the floor on fire. The woman dove on top of it, smothering it with the sheets, ruining them.
“I was going to get back into bed!” Cleve complained. “Now I don’t want to.”
“Bastial hell, give me the potion right now!” She held out her hand.
Cleve handed it over, his eyes falling to her feet where she stood on the bed coverings. “I’m sorry. I can tell you’re upset because I’m good at figuring these things out.”
“There’s no point in talking to you while you’re like this. Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’re going to stay in another room and sleep while we wait for the medicine to wear off. Then you can eat.”
Cleve suddenly was drooling. Eating was the most wonderful concept he’d ever heard. “I want food now.”
“Only after you sleep will we feed you.”
Cleve whined.
“If you don’t want me to be upset again, you’ll do what I ask.”
Silently, reluctantly, Cleve followed her to another room and let her tuck him under the covers.
He awoke later to someone shaking his shoulder. “You should be ready for food now.” It was the same woman. The memories of his recent actions attacked him viciously, filling him with shame.
“I’m sorry for the way I behaved.”
Her mouth remained flat as she nodded.
Then the shame was gone, replaced with fear. “Where is Rek? Is he…?”
“He’s alive. He’s in another room, still recovering. Both of you were quite sick and nearly starved. It’s been two days since you were found just outside the city.”
“My horse?”
“She seems to be more resilient than the both of you. She’s already fully recovered. There’s a new expression going around the castle now because of it, ‘Healthy as a horse.’ ”
“Thank you. I’ve never been so relieved.”
“I must admit that you and Rek are the first to try this medicine. We were desperate to stop his infection and lower both of your fevers. It looks like it worked.”
“What is it?”
“Caregelow flowers melted with Bastial Energy.” With two fingers, she withdrew a thin vile from her coat pocket. “Quite an interesting color to it.”
The substance was pure silver, just like what Cleve had seen covering his body in the dream.
“We got it from the Academy the same day you and Rek were found. We haven’t had time to test it, but we did hear that the Slugari use it to fight against all illnesses. We had to try, especially for Rek. His infection was too severe for anything else. When we saw him starting to recover and your fever wasn’t going down, we gave it to you as well. We didn’t know it had this effect on your mind. You and Rek both were acting like clueless children while you were conscious.”
She sat on the side of his bed, leaning close. “You said some things. They’ll likely be excused because of your state of mind from the medicine, but I think you should be aware what came out of your mouth. Do you remember anything?”
“No, what did I say?”
She looked at the door. “I’d rather not repeat it. You were talking nonsense about things the King did.”
I probably told them about the murder of my mother and father. “Am I in the castle right now?”
“Yes.”
“Does the King know I’m here?”
“He will in a moment. We…well, when someone says the things you’ve said, we’re required to report it.” She squeezed his arm. “But we made it clear you were under influence of the caregelow. I don’t believe you’ll be punished.”
This woman trusts me more than I deserve. I’m sure I was speaking from my heart. Cleve decided to ask, “What did I say specifically? I need to know.”
She waved a hand. “I cannot repeat the things you’ve said. They were wild accusations.”
“About what?”
“About you and Rek, and about your family.”
So I told them everything—that the King wanted Rek and me killed during our mission, and that he had my parents murdered. I’m glad I said it.
“I see.”
She recoiled. “You see what?” She stood and took a step back. “I haven’t even told you what you said, but you speak as if you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Cleve had made a grave mistake. She loo
ked nervous as she waited for his reply, but what could he tell her?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied.
“No.” She shook her head. “I could see it in your face and the way you answered. You already knew what you’d said. You must’ve claimed it before. I…I believe I must report this.”
Cleve stood quickly, blocking her path to the door. “Wait.” But a spell of dizziness overcame him. He fell back on the bed, holding his head.
He heard two people coming in, their boots stomping against the floor. “King Welson Kimard enters,” one announced.
The chemist muttered something in a nervous voice.
“Has he been fed?” the King asked.
“Nothing substantial yet. He—”
“Good. I need to speak with him alone.” Welson turned his gaze to Cleve. “If he behaves, he can eat when we’re done.” The King’s commanding tone made Cleve even more nervous.
“I feel I must inform you that he made it clear that the wild accusations he uttered during his awkward state of mind must’ve been mentioned before. I didn’t tell him exactly what he said, but he—”
“I can handle it. Please go and see to Rek. Make sure he has everything he needs for a full recovery. His health is very important.”
The chemist and the two guards left. Welson stood in front of Cleve with his arms folded. Cleve didn’t feel comfortable sitting, so he stood.
His head was heavy, and his back wouldn’t obey his command to straighten. Slumped, Cleve’s hand naturally searched for the hilt of his Bastial steel weapon. But his belt had been removed, his weapon gone. Then he thought of his bow. Looking around the room, he saw it wasn’t there either.
“Where are my weapons?”
“Just like food, you’ll get them when we’re done if you can convince me you’re going to behave. I’m truly sick of this, Cleve. I have enough to worry about without monitoring every word that comes out of your mouth.” Welson’s voice was soft yet angry. “There are some secrets that are better kept for everyone’s sake. If you can’t understand that, then I must put you back in the dungeons where your accusations won’t hurt or distract me. The only reason you’re not there right now is because your mind was twisted from fever and medicine. You need to convince me that I can trust you. Rek has already done this. It’s you I’m worried about.” Then he stopped and waited.
“How can I remain quiet when you’re the one responsible for my parents’ deaths? I want you punished for the injustice that—”
“Injustice?” Welson’s mouth was agape. “Your father murdered mine. For treason like that his head should’ve been put on a spike for all to see until maggots devoured his flesh. But I felt compassion and had it done in secret. I’ve taken no wife, had no children. I simply don’t have the time or wherewithal with the constant battle that’s gone on for too many years between Kyrro and Tenred to bring another life into this mess until I clean it up. So stop making it worse. We’re on the same side. Can you accept that the past is just that…the past? Justice has been served.” He held out his hands. “Not without accidents and regrets, but it is over nonetheless.”
Fury burned in Cleve’s chest. Justice has been served? “There is no justice for the past until you pay for what you’ve done. My father was innocent, and now he and my mother are dead because of you.”
“I could slap you, Cleve! What will it take for you to believe the truth? What can I give you for this to be the last you ever speak of this horrendous thing between us?”
“Nothing. I’ll never forgive you or let this go.” Even in his weakened state, he figured he might be able to choke the life out of the King before the guards stopped him. But he would be forfeiting his life in the attempt…and he’d only just gotten back. There was still so much to do.
Suddenly, he regretted not lying. Anger had pushed him too far. Welson wanted to be convinced that he would let it go. Although Cleve knew he never would, he realized that pretending he could was his only option. But it seemed too late. The monarch’s round face already was contorted from rage.
“You stubborn bastard,” he practically spat. “I know it’s difficult to move past this, but the lack of effort you’ve displayed is unspeakably insulting. Guards!”
Four ran in, drawing their swords. They positioned themselves around Cleve.
“Your weapons and horse are mine now, Cleve. I’ll use them to win this war while you fester beneath the castle for the rest of your life.”
“Charges, my king?” one guard asked.
“Blasphemy and violating the Academy contract by disobeying orders.”
“I’ve told no lies and disobeyed no orders!”
Cleve lost his breath when one guard surprised him with a punch to his stomach. “The King has spoken.”
Chapter 15:
ZOKE
They’d been walking for only seven days and were to reach Tenred by the next. It was hard to fathom how two enemies could live so close together without already having destroyed each other. It served to remind Zoke that this war between Kyrro and Tenred had started only recently.
He heard someone say this would be the largest battle between Humans that Ovira had ever seen. Others mentioned that Tenred had never lost, no matter how badly the army was outnumbered, and that was even before they’d built their wall.
But none of this scared Zoke until he heard that scouts had observed a thousand Krepps entering Tenred territory to join the battle. It wasn’t the number of them that frightened him, for one thousand was pitifully small. It was the chance that Zeti was one of them.
Sawdar and Brady were there somewhere. Zoke couldn’t wait to find them on the battlefield and deliver vantikar. He still could picture Marie Fyremore being stabbed. The image fueled his rage. But Zoke had no idea what would happen if he saw Zeti.
If only I knew whether she was there. Then I wouldn’t have to check every Krepp’s face before I kill them as I do now. It put him at risk, but it was unavoidable, for he would never allow himself to kill his own sister.
But would she kill me? His loudest inner voice told him she never would hurt him, just as he never would hurt her. But there was a softer voice that gave him enough doubt to shatter all confidence.
Eventually, the Kyrro Army trudged up a hill. Between the trees, Zoke could see the wall surrounding Tenred stretching into the sky. Although it was thick with stone, there were cracks and even chunks missing. One place was more vulnerable than the rest. A whole piece of the wall was gone, but it was no wider than five Humans standing shoulder to shoulder. Then when he looked closer, Zoke noticed more gaps at the base of the wall. There were ten, maybe fifteen that he could fit through easily. Though none were as wide as the first, and he would have to crouch—sometimes crawl—to get through them, for the wall was still intact above them.
There were far more pieces missing from the top of the wall than the bottom, making the whole thing look unstable. But it was so wide, wrapping around to create half a square. Zoke didn't see how they could ever knock it over, yet that was their commander’s goal. He’d explained that they would rush into Tenred and fight anyone who opposed them. After their attackers retreated up the slope toward the castle, they would break down the wall.
Zoke didn’t quite understand the strategy. He figured Alex would, with the commander being his brother.
“Why don’t we just kill all who fight against us?” Zoke asked.
They were still under the cover of Corin Forest. Night was approaching, and they would sleep and attack in the morning. Zoke guessed Hem Baom would speak to them once again before they marched into Tenred, but he wanted to know now.
“We would all be killed, most likely,” Alex said, sitting down next to Vithos and Reela.
“Don’t we outnumber them?” Zoke asked.
“Yes, but they have the terrain to their advantage. It’s said that ten men were able to hold off one hundred when they fled to what is now Tenred territory. They didn’t even have
their wall built or a castle at the time. Now they have both, plus plenty of houses that would be in our way if we chased them up to the castle, where we would ultimately lose.”
“If they have such an advantage in the castle, why don’t they just stay there when we enter Tenred?”
Alex snickered. “They can’t let us inside their territory. We would destroy anything and everything within our reach, including knocking down their wall.”
“But they don’t even need their wall. You just said—”
“Not for this battle. They could defeat us without it if we tried to overrun their castle, but they know we would never try that. It would be suicidal. Instead, we must do as much damage as we can while we’re here to weaken them so that one day we’ll have enough advantage to take their castle. A victory here would mean we killed many of their men and destroyed their wall. After enough victories over time, we’ll make them give in and agree to peace.”
Reela had stopped what she was saying to Vithos to listen. She had her hand over her mouth as she did. Zoke couldn’t help but feel remorseful when he looked at her and saw the bruises on her neck where he’d grabbed her. Even worse, it reminded him of his anger toward Zeti.
“I had no idea we were that far from victory,” she said. “How are we supposed to win against Tenred and the Krepps when it will take so many battles just to beat Tenred? The Krepps outnumber both of us, and they’re so vicious. They’ll never stop fighting until they or we are dead.” Her eyes shifted to Zoke for a blink.
Alex closed his eyes and let out his breath. “If we can win each battle, then we can slowly take the advantage. Their numbers will shrink. Their confidence will dwindle.”
“But what if they all attack at once?” Reela asked. “Tenred and the Krepps—if they all stormed Kyrro at the same time?”
“That’s what we’re trying to prevent,” Alex said. “If we stay on the offensive, destroying their siege weapons with Quessa Polken, bringing down their wall with my brother, as we’re doing now—and I’m sure King Welson is doing everything in his power to hurt the Krepps as badly as possible—we might be able to prevent them from being ready to attack us at the same time. Let’s hope Cleve and Rek were successful in taking out their leaders.”