by B. T. Narro
There was no reply.
“Steffen, wake up.”
He snorted, then grumbled, “Yes, amazing.”
“The potential of what he can do…” Effie said, but then paused for a long while. “I bet he’s learned how to throw knives with the energy.”
“Don’t many warriors of the Academy also know how to throw knives?” Basen asked. “I thought it’s what they learned when the bow was outlawed.”
She pushed her knuckles against his shoulder. “All right, I don’t know exactly what he’s learned to do since we last spoke with him, but we want him to teach others how to manipulate the energy. Maybe one pyforial mage isn’t as useful as I first thought, but ten? I’m sure they could lift someone.”
“Ten archers sounds a lot more intimidating to me. Ten psychics. Now they would be worth coming to this cabin for. Even ten skilled swordsmen, or bastial mages. All seem better than ten pyforial mages. Now if Neeko was strong enough to pick someone up and break them in half, or even snap their neck, then—”
“Basen, please!” his mother scolded. “Have you really become this crass in the short time we’ve been apart?”
Effie and Annah seemed to find that amusing, laughing without reserve.
“Sorry, Mother,” Basen mumbled under his breath. He knew she was sensitive to gore, but he hadn’t expected to be called out on his “vulgar behavior” during their first night reunited.
“And apologize to Effie and Annah for speaking like that,” his mother chided.
Basen felt his cheeks go hot with embarrassment. She’d always treated women gentler than they needed to be treated. Not all were princesses as delicate as ripe peaches.
“I’m sure they don’t care if I apologize,” he groused.
“Oh, we do,” Effie teased. “We care very much.”
Annah snickered.
Basen couldn’t believe, in the silence that followed, he was actually expected to apologize to them. Was there a portal in this cabin that had sent him into the past? He felt like a child again, but not in a good way. His mother seemed to have that effect on him.
“I’m sorry I was crass in front of you, Effie and Annah,” he said, unable to keep his insincerity from coming out. “I didn’t realize you were so fragile that I could offend your delicate nature with a few descriptive words. I swear to speak only of flowers, fragrances, and other fragile things in the future.”
“You forgot furry creatures,” Effie teased. “And flowing dresses.”
“And fanciful, flavorful meals,” Annah added. “We approve of all of these fascinating topics.”
“Florid…” Steffen grumbled, half asleep. “Florid something.”
When the chemist offered nothing else, Basen concluded the conversation with one last word.
“Fine.”
CHAPTER TEN
In the morning, Basen led his mother to the stream he knew to be nearby. They’d taken it upon themselves to get water for their group, and he knew Juliana wanted privacy to improve her appearance. She’d borrowed a mirror and comb she’d found in the cabin, and when Basen had noticed them in her hands on the way to the water, she’d pursed her lips and said, “Shara would understand. All women would.”
Shara and Neeko hadn’t returned by the time Basen left with his mother. Perhaps they hadn’t come to a decision. Much had been asked of them, after all. Joining the Academy had been an easy choice for Basen, though he hadn’t had the same freedom they enjoyed.
Freedom—he’d felt less of it since rescuing his mother.
He loved her; he did. He was so glad for her to be out of confinement and on her way back to Henry. Now if only he could figure out why she was treating him as if he’d gotten younger instead of older since they’d last seen each other.
“How has the Academy been?” she asked him.
“I haven’t spent as much time there as I’ve wanted because of the war, but so far it’s been pleasant.”
“What else has taken you away from school besides rescuing me?” She stopped combing her hair, set down Shara’s mirror and comb, and walked over to take Basen’s hands. “Thank you.” She squeezed. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve said so yet, which was wrong. I’m afraid I’ve lost sight of my manners dealing with those obnoxious women locked up with me. I don’t know why Crea had to punish me so. She could’ve put me in my own cell.”
“I’m sure she knows how social you are and wanted to give you company,” Basen joked.
His mother actually was social, spending much of her time at the castle organizing dinners and other events. But if there was one thing she had no tolerance for, it was rude people with no title to use as an excuse. Crea, on the other hand, was a princess, so Juliana figured she had the right to act like she did. Basen never understood his mother’s reasoning behind that, but at least now she couldn’t possibly treat Crea with the same deference.
He looked forward to Juliana, Henry, and Crea being stuck within the same walls. But then he remembered his mother avoided conflict at all costs. And she’s not going to want Henry to do anything, either. It was somewhat frustrating.
“You’re welcome,” Basen said. “But don’t forget that Crea could’ve left you there to die. You can’t show her any respect when you return. Doing so would be disrespecting yourself.”
“She’ll get what she deserves,” Juliana said with a mischievous smirk that satisfied Basen greatly. He hadn’t seen this side of his mother before. “However, I would be surprised if she’s still at the Academy by the time I return.”
“She’ll run?”
“Like she does from every problem.”
“I don’t think she will this time. She’s invested too much in this war to run back to Tenred. She’ll want to make amends.”
“I welcome her to try.”
Now Basen was beginning to worry. Juliana had never let her emotions take control like this, and she might be at the Academy for a while before Basen could return.
“Just be careful,” he said. “The politics within the Academy are complicated right now and extremely delicate. When I left, it felt as if Terren and Abith were one disagreement away from a duel, and I’m not talking about the friendly kind. Meanwhile, Crea is plotting something. I forced her to sign the decree that led to your release, but she’ll protect herself from our family in some way.”
“She’s always plotting. I’ll figure her out before we’re in any danger.”
“But—”
“I’ll be careful,” his mother assured him with a toss of her hand. “I know how to handle women like her.” She went back to working the knots out of her tangled hair.
After an awkward silence, Basen said, “To answer your first question, many different things have taken me away from the Academy. I have a certain skill that has become quite useful.”
“Your sword fighting—your father has finally convinced you to take it up again!”
He was shocked at the pride he heard in his mother’s voice. Had she wanted him to be a knight of Tenred like Henry had? She’d always made a point to take Basen’s side, saying that if he wanted to be a mage, he deserved the opportunity to train as one. He supposed he’d never asked her directly what she wanted for him. It did make sense that she would want him to learn the sword over the wand, for there was more honor that way, and she cared more about honor than most.
“No,” he said, “I have a skill with bastial energy that you’ll soon see.”
She looked absolutely bewildered, as if he’d just told her he had become the king of Kyrro.
“How does your ability with energy lead to you being selected for these missions? There must be more experienced mages who can make fire or cast light.”
“Yes, third-years, but even they can’t do what I can.”
“Why aren’t you telling me what it is?” She smiled as she seemed to realize something. “You want to surprise me.”
“And you shouldn’t ruin it.” He smiled back.
“Something with th
at akorell bracelet, I presume.”
Basen laughed. “Now you’re the one surprising me. How do you know what it is?” He’d been charging it with energy as much as he could on the way to the forest. Now Effie was putting all she could into it so it would be ready as soon as possible.
“I know a lot of things,” she said, still holding her grin. But then she frowned. “I had Sanya’s father investigated after his eldest daughter died mysteriously. I found out what the akorell stone was then.”
“So you also knew about Spiro’s experiments?”
Juliana’s face twisted with sadness. To Basen’s shock, she began to weep.
“I did. I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn’t. I told Henry to speak to his brother about it, but you know how Tegry was. Your father couldn’t convince him to force Spiro to stop. That chemist was mad. He believed he was a god.”
“I complained about Sanya all the time. Why didn’t you tell me what was happening to her?”
“It would’ve come out during one of your arguments with her. Or you might’ve told one of your friends. I wanted to protect Sanya, to help her. Look at how sad she was because no one could.”
Basen was too shocked to figure out what he was feeling. Juliana had made it sound as if all of Sanya’s sins were her father’s fault. It’s only because Juliana is a parent herself. For everything wrong I did as a child, I could see a bit of shame in her as she lectured me. Even last night in the cabin, it was as if my “crass” language reflected on her. At what point do parents let their children take full responsibility for their actions? If I killed someone innocent, would my mother blame herself? It seemed absurd. Henry had never been this way with him, and Basen doubted Spiro would feel responsible for the monster he’d created.
Sanya had told Basen her father was dead, but there was no way to know if anything she’d said was true.
Basen put his hand on his mother’s shoulder. He thought about telling her of the heinous things Sanya had done but decided against it. Knowing the truth would only upset her more.
“You shouldn’t blame yourself for Sanya, Mother, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for anything I’ve done wrong. You’ve raised me well. Any choices I make, such as using crass language last night, are my choices. It’s the same with Sanya.”
“I know I shouldn’t treat you like you’re ten. It’s hard, Basen, but I’m going to try. I thought about you every day and vowed not to lose you again.”
He could feel his mother wanting to urge him to go back to the Academy with her. He was proud of her for not pressuring him into changing his mind.
“You won’t lose me,” he promised.
They filled the empty barrel they’d brought from the cabin with clear river water, secured the lid, and rolled it back, together. Upon returning, he saw the Krepps had started a fire outside the cabin’s fence. What looked to be a deer carcass quickly blackened under the high flames as it hung on a spit.
From behind them, Neeko and Shara came out from the trees and took each other’s hands as if startled.
“I have to get there,” Basen said as he ran toward them, but the Krepps didn’t seem to notice or care as they took the carcass from the spit and began to cut off steaming chunks of meat.
“These really are different from the others,” Shara remarked as Basen reached them.
“I believe they come from a different tribe.”
Effie rushed out of the cabin. “What did you decide?”
The rest of their party was right behind her. Everyone stopped and eagerly awaited the news. Basen noticed his mother going back into the cabin, most likely to return the comb and mirror. He fetched the barrel of water as well as a ladle he knew to be in the cabin.
He wouldn’t say so in front of Neeko and Shara, but Basen wouldn’t be too disappointed if they decided to stay here. Effie had made Neeko seem much more valuable than he was if all he could do was move objects and choke people.
When Basen came outside again, he could see by everyone’s faces that Neeko and Shara had delivered the bad news he’d expected. Basen went back into the cabin in search of the akorell bracelet, as he didn’t see it on Effie.
He found it on the single table in the small cabin. She’d encased it in sartious energy to keep it from burning the wood.
Basen offered everyone water as he returned to the group. They shared the ladle as one person drank at a time. No one said anything, and Basen didn’t feel comfortable in the silence for too long.
“Is the akorell stone charged yet?” he asked Effie.
“I think it’s going to take many more hours, maybe even a day.”
“It’s fine. It’ll take me at least a day to reach the area where I can make a portal.”
A female Krepp came over and pointed at the water. Basen gave her the ladle. She scooped up some water and poured it into her lipless mouth without touching the ladle. Her politeness surprised and impressed Basen. Perhaps Rickik’s Krepps were crass in comparison to others of their kind.
When the Krepp left, Shara said, “I’m sorry. I know you wanted us to come with you. We do want to go to the Academy, but we’re just not ready for the commitment.”
“I know,” Effie said. “If I were you, I might not go, either. But you should know that if you come with us you won’t regret it. There’s no other place like the Academy. Whether I’m there to train or to fight, I would rather be there than anywhere else.”
Her words seemed to greatly affect both Neeko and Shara, who looked at each other as if expecting the other to have a change of heart. Then another Krepp came over for water and the moment seemed to be lost. As soon as the Krepp left, Basen asked the party who would be leading the group back to the Academy.
Steffen seemed surprised when he looked at Annah and Effie and found them staring back at him.
“I suppose I will,” he said.
Basen handed over the map he’d brought. “Only travel along the mountain at evening as it begins to get dark. Stay in the forest during the day as much as you can so the troops on the mountain can’t see you.”
He wished he could make a portal back to the Academy for them, but it was already going to take at least a day to get to the small forest in Kilmar where he knew he could make a portal for himself. His week was almost up, and the last thing he wanted was to teleport to Fatholl on the last day, exactly when the Elf was expecting him.
He supposed he could bring everyone with him to Kilmar, make a portal for them there, then spend the next couple of days charging his akorell stone for another portal to the Elves. But it didn’t seem worth it to arrive late and break his promise. None of their enemies expected them to be going back to the Academy from the east. They will be safe.
“I should be leaving,” Basen concluded. He hugged his mother. “I’ll see you back at the Academy.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He raised his eyebrows at the rest of the party. “I’m trusting all of you with my mother.”
“She’ll be fine,” Effie said, still sounding dejected from Neeko and Shara’s decision. “Be careful with Fatholl.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have Vithos to watch my back.”
At hearing his name, the Elf came over from the Krepps. “We leave now?” His hands and chin glistened with grease.
“Yes,” Basen said. “As soon as you’re done with your breakfast.”
“I’m done. The meat is gone. Krepps eat too fast for me to get much. I’m happy we brought food in bags.” He turned to Juliana and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Juliana Hiller.”
She turned her lips inward as she looked at his greasy fingers. With a grimace, she extended her hand and shook his. “Nice to meet you, too.”
The awkward silence returned as everyone in the circle stared at each other and waited for someone to do something.
This goodbye didn’t feel right. Neeko and Shara’s rejection of the Academy had put everyone on edge. Effie and Steffen had come to them as friends
, asking for their help, only to be denied. And why? Because the outcome of the war looked so dire for the Academy that Neeko and Shara gave up their opportunity to join. It left a bitter taste in Basen’s mouth.
“I need to say something.” Neeko and Shara looked as if he was about to scold them. “Relax. I don’t know you well enough to judge you. I understand your choice, but there’s something you’re not understanding about us, about why we feel so strongly that fighting with the Academy is the right decision. My mother was in prison, and although she was as miserable as any of us would be living behind bars, she was safe there. Yet my father and I still were adamant about getting her released as soon as possible. My father and I are Hillers. Our family was more hated than the Takarys by everyone at the Academy just last year.
“But here I am now telling you the Academy is the best place not only for you, but for me and my family. It’s not because the Academy is the only option we have left. I would choose it over my old life in Tenred castle, even knowing the danger it puts me in. Effie told me a little about what you were doing in Sumar, so I know you’re used to fighting for what you believe in. You must know what it’s like to put all your effort into something for weeks, even months, to the point where the few free moments you have to enjoy friends, laughter, and food are bliss. Once you’ve fought for what you believe in, it gives you an appreciation for life that nothing else can. I can’t wait for this war to be over, but at the same time, I can’t imagine not having fought for Kyrro.
“A friend of mine, Alabell Kerr, saw her family murdered at Tauwin Takary’s command. I didn’t realize it at the time, but as soon as I heard that news, I knew I wouldn’t let Tauwin be king even if I had to fight to my last breath to prevent it. I agree with how you feel about risking your life in war, but we’re not the ones forcing you to pick a side. It’s Tauwin. By not fighting, you’re risking just as much, because you’re letting it be known that men like Tauwin can murder entire families and be king so long as they have the wealth to back up their greed. I’d rather not live in that world, and I don’t think you would either.”