Bastial Sentinels (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 5)

by Narro, B. T.

  Cleve shared a look with Reela. “Still not sure.”

  “We’re going to decide that after this is over,” Reela said. “But if we go, you’re welcome to come. There are plenty more seeds there.”

  “I couldn’t leave Lisanda.” Lisanda…what’s she going to think about everything that just happened? “I should go apologize to Raymess.”

  “It’s no use.” Cleve’s grip around Jek’s shoulders was firm. “He’s done listening. He might even have guards ready to kill you the moment you’re seen.”

  I’d rather risk death than leave without my cure. Jek found strength and parted from Cleve. “I’m going back in there.”

  Cleve grabbed his arm again. “Wait.”

  But Jek didn’t want to listen to logic. He twisted, and Cleve let him free.

  “Think about Lisanda,” Reela called after him.

  What about her? Jek didn’t ask the question aloud, unwilling to allow Reela to convince him of anything. He was going back to get his cure.

  “Imagine how she’ll feel when she receives the news that you died,” Reela said, her voice growing louder. “Because that’s all that’ll happen if you go back in there! You’ll die at her brother’s order.”

  Jek spun around. “Good, maybe she’ll see what kind of man her brother really is.”

  Reela ran to catch up to him. He turned back, intending to ignore her. He heard Klaiya in the distance asking what was going on.

  “Yes, Lisanda will despise her brother when she learns what happened,” Reela said. “You’ll be dead, and she’ll have just her sister and mother left. Is that really what you want? She’s already lost her father. You can’t possibly want that. Stop ignoring me, Jek!”

  “Leave me alone.”

  “If you’re going in there, then I’ll go with you.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “I will. I swear it, and whatever happens to you will happen to me.”

  “You’re lying.”

  Reela grabbed his shoulder to turn him. She gritted her teeth. “I’m going with you.”

  He twisted out of her grasp. “Fine.” They walked forward together. “I’m not stopping,” Jek warned her.

  “Then neither am I.”

  Silently, they pressed forward. It wasn’t long before they were at the base of the mountain.

  Jek cursed at her and stopped. “Why are you so stubborn?”

  “No more stubborn than you are.”

  “Jek!” Klaiya yelled to him. “Where are you? It’s too dark.”

  “Over here,” Reela answered.

  Jek aimed light from his wand to find Klaiya jogging to them.

  “Don’t try to stop me from going inside,” he warned her. “And if I think you’re using psyche on me, I’ll burn you with a fireball.”

  “No, I want you to go inside,” she said to his surprise. “Cleve says you know the stable master, Seffry. Can you get us two horses?”

  “Klaiya, if anyone sees him, they’re going to kill him,” Reela said.

  “Everyone in there is probably feasting or sleeping by now. They might have one or two men watching the entrance and patrolling the halls, which is why I’m going with him. With psyche, it should be easy. The stables are only one turn from the entrance.” She stuck a finger in Jek’s face. “But all we’re doing is getting horses. If you try to go deeper for your bag, you’ll probably die.”

  “Probably?” Reela squawked. “He definitely will! Raymess was utterly serious when he warned Jek.”

  “If I’m going in for the horses, I’m also going for my cure.”

  Klaiya shook her head. “You’re too important to be throwing your life away. We need you to ride south to Facian to speak with the Takary women. Convince them we’re right and Raymess is wrong. It might be the only way to get him on our side.”

  “This is what you’ve decided?” Reela asked.

  “Yes. But we don’t have much time before the desmarls reach civilization. Baylee will ride with Jek to the Takary palace in The Nest so she can inform Fatholl what’s happened. From there, Jek will ride to Facian. Meanwhile, I’ll lead the rest of us north to Sulwea to continue with the rest of our plan.”

  “What’s the rest of your plan?” Jek asked.

  “Four armies still need to join forces with us. It should be much easier to convince the men in charge of Zav, Waywen, and Presoren, as these three territories will be the first to fall if desmarls cross their borders. Their scouts soon will see the green fog of SE approaching that everyone knows the desmarls produce, giving them no choice but to fight with us. It’s Raymess who’ll be the most difficult to convince.” She sighed. “Neither Fatholl nor I expected him to react this way, foolish of us I suppose.”

  “Klaiya,” another female Elf called. Jek aimed light toward the sound of her voice. Baylee shielded her eyes. Vithos was beside her. “Need three horses,” she continued. “Vithos is coming.”

  “Vithos, you’re not going with me?” Reela asked in surprise.

  “I go with Baylee for now. Three gives better protection than two. You and I will meet before last part of plan.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  “I am.”

  “Three horses, then,” Klaiya said to Jek. “But we’re waiting until they bring us our food. We can’t risk leaving without it.”

  “Fine.”

  “And you won’t be getting your cure today. Tell me you understand this.”

  “I understand,” Jek said.

  She slapped him hard. “You won’t try to retrieve your cure. Say it!”

  He stepped away and refused to speak.

  Klaiya came after him. He let out his light to draw in energy as her giant silhouette loomed closer. “I’ll beat some sense into you if I must,” she warned.

  It occurred to him that it would be easier to fight her than try to lie. He aimed his wand. She stopped.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” Klaiya said.

  “I would. I’m getting my cure back. And I’ll shoot you if you try to convince me otherwise.”

  “You realize I could have you writhing on the ground in an instant. But I see it would be pointless pain.” She growled. “There’s a phrase for stubborn people like you. Kaay a blimate makca. It’s easier to dry my damp body with a wet towel than deal with you.”

  The insult only made him proud. He didn’t care if he was stubborn. It actually empowered him for others to realize it, making it easier for him to get his way next time.

  Klaiya scoffed. “You make it easy to remember you’re still practically a child.”

  Cleve came over to join them. “Others are saying you’re going to sneak in and get three horses for those riding south.”

  “Yes,” Klaiya said. “After they bring us food.”

  “Can the rest of us really make it to Waywen’s capital and back in time without horses?” Cleve asked.

  “Sulwea isn’t far, four days north from here on foot. We can get horses there, but Jek, Baylee, and Vithos don’t have time to walk there for horses. Fatholl needs to know what’s happened with Raymess as soon as possible.”

  It was just then becoming clear to Jek what he’d done in opposing Raymess. Jek looked around for Peter, but it was too dark to see farther than a few paces ahead. He wondered what Calvon thought of them now. Were they traitors to him?

  Others must feel the same way about Klaiya’s cause as I do. They’re probably just too scared to show it. But even if that was true, they still would agree openly with anyone who called Jek and Peter traitors, no matter what they truly thought.

  “Now that I’m just as much a part of this as the rest of you, can you explain the full plan?” Jek asked.

  “It’s simple,” Reela said. “The men and women who are driving the desmarls toward the center of Greenedge won’t stop. This forces everyone to stand up against the desmarls because there’s nowhere to run. Given the choice between fighting the desmarls or each other, each leader will have to choose fighting the desmarls, e
specially considering the threat that Fatholl’s army will only fight the desmarls so long as every other army comes together to fight them as well.”

  “So now it’s just a matter of convincing each leader,” Cleve said.

  “No, we still have to fight the monsters,” Jek added. “You make it sound like killing desmarls is easier than convincing the leaders of each army. I’ve fought those creatures before. No matter how many people we have, it’s going to be dangerous. Humans and Elves will die.”

  “We know,” Klaiya said. “But it must be done.”

  “Why did you have to kill the four kings of the east?” Jek asked. “It seems like this plan would’ve worked or failed just the same if you’d let Danvell live.”

  “I know you’re hurting,” Klaiya said. “But it was the only way. We needed power, and we needed to disrupt the war. After killing the kings, about a fourth of each army joined ours, and word of our intent to exterminate the desmarls spread throughout the entire continent, resulting in even more Humans joining us. If we didn’t start with assassinations, we’d be seen as insignificant. Our threats would be laughable. But with the size of our army what it is, and with the leaders of each territory finding it more and more difficult to control their army, they’ll have no choice but to join us against the desmarls.”

  “But they wouldn’t have a choice anyway when they saw the Sartious fog of the desmarls coming,” Jek argued.

  “Some of the territories might stand up against the monsters on their own,” Klaiya said. “But it also could make them fight each other harder for space in the very center of Greenedge. It could even send them into Karri Forest, where a new battle against mookers would begin. There’s no way to know for certain what people would do. Perhaps they would kill us the moment we told them the desmarls are coming. Maybe they would capture Fatholl and force him to call off the Elves driving the desmarls closer, only to end up killing Fatholl when he tells the truth—that he couldn’t reach the Elves in time. Chaos would spread when the desmarls start to attack. It could be the end of Greenedge if we hadn’t gained control first.”

  “But it still might be the end!” Jek said. “If the other leaders never agree to join their armies with yours…” He suddenly had a thought. “Unless it’s an empty threat. Does Fatholl plan to send his army against the desmarls anyway?”

  “It’s not an empty threat. Fatholl is prepared to wait until every commander has agreed.”

  “You can’t possibly think they all will—”

  “They’ll agree,” Klaiya insisted. “I’m sure of it. The only man we might not be able to convince is Raymess Takary. His territory is in the center and would be the last to fall.” She huffed. “Maybe it was wrong to let him live.”

  Jek refrained from screaming at her. “It’s disgusting how you speak about taking lives.”

  “We’re saving lives,” Klaiya insisted. “You must already know that, given that you stood up for us.”

  “That’s no excuse for murder.”

  She laughed.

  It enraged him.

  “You’re young.” She spoke in an insulting tone, as if calling him weak. “I won’t debate with you over morals. I just need to know whether you agree with our plan.”

  “As long as it doesn’t involve killing anyone else, then I do. Not that I have much choice now anyway.”

  “No one else will die,” Cleve answered for her.

  “I don’t mean to sound rude,” Jek said, “but you can’t truly know that…when all of you were killing skunks with the rest of us just recently.”

  “We had to make sure Goldram and Zav didn’t lose Lake Mercy,” Klaiya said. “It would mean Waywen and Presoren would be close to winning the war. With victory so close, Waywen and Presoren wouldn’t come together with their enemies against the desmarls. But now that both sides are about equal and hundreds of men are switching to Fatholl’s army every day, they don’t have a choice.”

  “Raymess is unlikely to change his mind,” Jek warned her. “I know him. If he says he’s never going to join Fatholl, then he never will.”

  “Then we’ll take away his choice,” Klaiya said. Just as Jek was about to ask what she meant by that, Klaiya pointed at the mountain. “They’re finally bringing our food.”

  Floating fire slowly descended, fighting against the surrounding darkness and failing. Jek could see none of the men carrying the torches. Only when they came close to the bottom could he make out the shapes of their bodies.

  “Stay back there,” one called to them as they dropped the sacks. “We’re leaving the food. If anyone follows us up these mountain paths, we’ll shoot them.”

  Then they left.

  Chapter 34:

  JEK

  Raymess wasn’t generous with the amount of food he left for the Elven army of two thousand, and Jek wasn’t the only one who was starving. They ate all of the dried meat and some of the bread, leaving just three heavy sacks untouched. Jek didn’t know what was in them, nor did he ask. He was more concerned about how he would get his cure without being seen.

  It was well into the night by then. Micah and Tobkin would be asleep in the room where Jek had left his bag. Would they have moved it? Sudden hope came as he thought of Micah putting the bag somewhere near the entrance.

  No, there’s nowhere to hide it. It must still be in his quarters…unless Raymess moved it.

  Then Jek thought of the young king setting his bag aflame, burning all the precious seeds within.

  Could he do such a thing? Raymess was obstinate but not malicious. Though, Jek had never seen someone betray him before.

  “Ready, Jek?” Klaiya asked.

  He swallowed hard. “Ready.”

  Klaiya’s plan for the horses was far from sound, but it was all she could come up with, and Jek thought of nothing better. Her brother, Aarlan, wanted to come with them, but she convinced him it would be unwise for them both to put themselves in such danger. Jek took it to mean they were the highest ranking among these Elves. But they did need at least one more psychic to help them bring the three horses down the mountain path while Jek “got himself killed trying to get his bag,” as they’d said so bluntly.

  Reela volunteered to be the third. Jek was surprised when Cleve didn’t object. When asked, Cleve replied that there was no point. Reela would do as she pleased no matter what he said.

  “Aren’t you worried?” Jek asked.

  “Of course.”

  Reela slid her arm around Cleve. “I’ll be fine,” she assured him.

  Jek let them be. He needed a moment alone anyway.

  Whether it was a blessing or a curse, he wasn’t nervous. His family entered his mind. The first thing he felt was guilt for not thinking of them sooner. At least they would understand if he didn’t make it out of the bunker. They knew how much he suffered every night. Lisanda did as well. There was solace in the thought that she would despise Raymess if Jek died. He knew it was wrong, for it would only make Lisanda more miserable, yet he couldn’t help but feel it would be fitting.

  “Jek, is that you?” It was Peter’s voice.

  “Yes.”

  Peter’s shadowed form shuffled toward him. “So now we’re traitors.” He sounded lighthearted.

  Suddenly Jek didn’t want to speak with his friend. Earlier, he figured Peter was the only one who completely understood what he felt, but now he saw it was the opposite. The man was infatuated with Klaiya. Nothing could bring him misery as long as he was near her.

  “How did it come to this?” Jek asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “How are we the only ones who switched sides? For you it’s clear—Klaiya. But I have no feelings for her or any of these Elves. Why didn’t others come with me?”

  “You may think I’m so driven by my emotions that I’m willing to stand against my friends and allies—and I might be at fault for giving you that impression—but it’s not true. I didn’t switch because of my feelings for Klaiya. Instead, my feelings allow
ed me to see her as a potential ally. I listened to her arguing with Raymess, and I chose a side.”

  “I see.”

  “No doubt Calvon’s been thinking about everything Klaiya said the moment we stood beside her. I’m sure he’s up there right now tormented by his decision to stay, as he’ll continue to be. But if it weren’t for us, he wouldn’t even consider going against Raymess. If we’d just had more time to convince others, we could’ve eventually swayed him and everyone else. But I’m sure we will in time.”

  “Let’s hope it’s before the desmarls reach any towns.”

  “Jek,” Klaiya called. “Let’s go.”

  Peter shook Jek’s hand. “I might be the only one who thinks so,” Peter said, “but I’m confident you’ll get your cure and return safely.”

  Jek was surprised how much these words put him at ease. “Thank you. I’m not sure why, but that makes me feel better.”

  “We often underestimate the power of believing in each other. A little support from a friend can completely change our attitude.”

  Jek thanked Peter again and joined Reela and Klaiya. The mountain lay ahead of them, though it just looked like a shadowed mound. He removed his wand from his belt.

  “No light,” Klaiya said. “We can’t risk being seen.”

  Of course, Jek thought. For him, using magic in many circumstances was hardly different than gesturing while speaking.

  He found it unsettling that his control over Sartious Energy—which led to his darkness—would play no role in retrieving the cure. This felt like a trial, a test of his ability. But all that was being tested was his skill at sneaking, something he’d never been good at.

  Part of him thought it was more of a matter of luck. He shooed away the idea. Never had he relied on luck before, and he wasn’t about to start now.

  While the mountain towered over the lake, the climb up to the bunker’s entrance wasn’t anything like actually climbing a mountain. The slope was hardly steep, for one thing. Paths twisted back and forth. Normally it wasn’t dangerous, but it was so dark now that a blind man might’ve had an easier time navigating because of his experience shuffling across uneven ground.