by B. T. Narro
“You never found out what happened?”
Terren gave him a hard look. “I did. But knowing hasn’t helped. Nothing has.” He held up his finger. “Except for one thing, and it’s not what you’d think. Our mind isn’t that different from a muscle. Depending on how we use it, it changes over time. With the right training and mentality, we can strengthen our minds and ourselves in the process. Over the years, my feelings have shifted away from myself. I no longer feel angry or sad that I lost Dex. We had many years together, many memories to cherish. There is still sadness, still anger, but it’s for the years taken from Dex and for Cleve being denied that time with his parents. When I hear you talk about your situation, I can tell you’re at the same stage I used to be in. You’re holding on to the pain without realizing it, and it will feel worse the longer you refuse to let go.”
Neeko could feel it in his chest, hot and pulsing. It was like being the only witness to a boy kicking a puppy. It was like a mob of people accusing him of stealing money from a store he’d never visited. It felt like this injustice now dictated his life. How could he relinquish it when it was everything?
“You’re using this feeling as a reason to accomplish something—to end a war. It’s honorable, Neeko, but your reasoning is wrong. The healing is done in your mind, not with your hands. Don’t use the pain as a reason behind something this dangerous. You’ll find that your actions aren’t any different than putting a bandage over a wound that needs stitching. If you want to heal your wounds, you’ll need to do something much harder than killing a king. You must accept that no single act will immediately make you feel whole again. Only once you realize this will you begin to feel better.”
Burning with rage, Neeko barely refrained from jumping out of his seat. “You’re telling me winning this war won’t make me feel better? That’s horse piss!” This was all a ploy to get Neeko to leave this land, and he was sick of feeling tricked.
Steffen opened the door. “Sorry, Terren, but we have to leave. Shara and Cedri are outside with our horses and bags. There’s some sort of coded message they just solved about an ambush south of here. The Northern army is certainly the target.”
Neeko and Terren stood. “Neeko will be right out. Shut the door.”
“I need to go,” Neeko demanded as Steffen obeyed and left them.
Terren put a hand on his shoulder to restrain him. “If you end this war because it’s the best use of your skills, then you’ll be proud of yourself until the day you die. But if you’re doing this just to feel better about your past, you’ll be the only Northerner disappointed with the result of your actions.”
Neeko nodded, though he didn’t believe it. He started toward the door.
“There’s something else.” Terren stepped in front of him. “In the time I’ve spent here trying to determine my route through the South, I’ve learned the trip will be much more dangerous than it was through the North. Southerners are hostile to all Northerners during this time of war. Getting to the capital will be very difficult.”
“I’ll be safe and return to Ovira with Steffen.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Steffen is one of the most valuable students in the Academy. I can’t have anything happen to him, and I’m going to recommend he doesn’t go with you. Whatever you can teach about pyforial energy would be extremely valuable, but I’ve already lost Charlotte, and I refuse to lose another of my people. If you still want to live in Ovira, come with us now. But if you decide to stay, then don’t attempt to convince Steffen to stay with you or I’ll exile you from Ovira in the same way your king has already exiled you. Tell this to Shara when we step outside.”
Terren left his room at the inn without a look back.
My gods. Neeko couldn’t decide if he was shocked, upset, or impressed with Terren’s audacity.
Steffen would choose to stay with them, wouldn’t he? It was the only way Neeko could get to Ovira later.
Steffen had to stay with them.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
NEEKO
As Terren brought Steffen away from the group so they could speak in private, Neeko told Shara about Terren’s threat. Cedri listened in, the bruises on her face almost gone.
“We need Steffen,” she said. “Otherwise, someone will be alone.”
Seeing Neeko’s confusion, Shara explained, “We have a plan, but it won’t work without Steffen.”
“You know where the ambush will be?” Neeko asked.
Shara unfolded a note from her pocket. He recognized the loops of her beautiful handwriting. “This paper has the solution. We came to it this morning.”
“An ambush is to be set in sastien forest. Meet at sastien lake for further instruction. Leave one day after receiving this scroll. Ride but not with haste. Do not confer with others you see going the same direction. The passcode to be spoken upon arrival is inappropriate weather for a swim.”
“My gods,” Neeko muttered. “How did you figure this out?”
Shara proudly drew another note from her pocket. “Here’s the code:”
“Take away the S at the end of every third word.
“Take away the U at the beginning of every word at the end of the sentence.
“Take away the D at the end of every fifth word.
“Take away the A at the second word of every sentence.
“If the word is six or more letters, switch the first with the second.
“If the word is more than two letters and has an E somewhere besides the third spot, switch the last two letters.
“If the word is more than two letters, and it only has one E in the third letter spot, then take out that E.
“If the word is two letters, switch the letters.”
It looked like the message on the scroll from Jonen’s hidden chest.
“Shara figured out all of it,” Cedri said. “I just stood over her shoulder and muttered agreements.”
“I believe what made it so difficult for us, Neeko, was that they didn’t capitalize the coded words for Sastien Forest or Sastien Lake. I didn’t recognize them until we figured out all of the rules to decoding the message.”
Neeko recalled what he knew about Sastien Forest. It was the largest in Sumar, about the same size as both forests around Antilith combined.
Coming through the forest from the north was the only way to Thalcea without going around to the east, which would take weeks longer. Jaymes certainly would take the army through it.
“How far is Sastien Lake from the path Jaymes likely will take through the forest?” Neeko asked Shara.
“Nearly a hundred miles.”
Neeko glanced over his shoulder. Steffen had his arms folded, looking reluctant. Terren’s back was to Neeko, but his slight lean over the young chemist made it seem like he was still pleading his case.
“What does Steffen know about this?” Neeko asked.
“Everything we’ve told you in addition to our plan,” Cedri replied. She extended her hand toward Terren and closed her eyes. “He won’t give up trying to sway Steffen. Let me see what psyche can do.” She swaggered over to them.
Although Cedri’s steps were light, making no sound Neeko could hear, Terren seemed to sense someone coming up behind him. He spun and said something, making a sweeping gesture as if shooing a mangy cat.
Cedri spun on her heels and walked back begrudgingly, the features of her round face set in annoyance. “Called me a pesky psychic,” she grumbled.
“Steffen will stay with us, don’t worry.” Shara sounded certain. “Neeko, the plan is simple. Two of us need to warn the army about the incoming ambush. The other two will head to Sastien Lake to learn what they can about the plan of attack.”
“And dismantle it if we can,” Cedri added. “Steffen and I will go intercept the ambushers. With my psyche and his potions, we have the best chance of making it out if we’re caught. Once you’re in sight of our army, Neeko, let Shara go on ahead to speak to Jaymes while you await her return. But you won’t
be able to catch up to them until they’re in Sastien Forest.”
It felt like a hand had reached into his chest and grabbed hold of his heart. “They might have orders to kill Shara on sight for escaping, and you and Steffen certainly will be killed as soon as you’re seen. It’s a terrible plan.”
Shara thrust her hands on her hips, clearly offended. So the plan is mostly hers, Neeko realized.
“I’ll tell the army about the attack as soon as I’m in sight,” she informed him. “I’m a trusted ally, so they’ll bring me to Jaymes without doing me harm. Getting out might be more difficult this time, but wouldn’t you rather I went to speak with Jaymes than infiltrated a group of PCQs? The latter is exceedingly more dangerous.”
“She’s right,” Cedri chimed in.
“About that,” Neeko said, “you can’t possibly think psyche will be enough. They’ll see you from a hundred feet away and know you’re not one of them.”
Shara tapped the last sentence of the decoded message. “There’s a passcode to be spoken. That means they won’t all recognize each other. Cedri and Steffen will know the passcode, so they’ll be accepted as PCQs. If their identities are ever suspected, Cedri will detect it with psyche. They just need to stay long enough to figure out the details of the ambush. Then they’ll leave to inform the army.”
“So then you don’t need to inform the army, Shara,” Neeko said.
“She does,” Cedri asserted. “Steffen and I might not make it to the army on time…or we might not make it out at all. Jaymes needs to be warned.”
“You know I’m right,” Shara teased.
Neeko scowled. “Damn.”
Terren and Steffen approached, Terren’s eyes locked on Cedri. “You need to wait within the inn while we speak.”
“I will not!”
“You’re a biased psychic, and you will not overhear this conversation. Neeko and Shara can tell you what was said.”
Fear swelled in his stomach. No, Steffen couldn’t be leaving. Could he? The chemist wore a sad expression. Gods, no.
Cedri seemed to realize the same thing, her mouth open in shock. “You’re leaving?” Steffen didn’t look at her. “You will not leave!”
“Get in there, psychic.” Terren shoved her toward the inn. “If you say another word, we’ll leave right now without a very necessary conversation with Neeko and Shara.” Cedri opened her mouth, but Terren put up a finger. “Don’t test me. Leave.”
Cedri bit down on her lip, staring at Steffen with fire in her blue eyes. He refused to look at her. She reached up and grabbed his cheeks, forcing his eyes on her in what looked to be a desperate attempt to use psyche in some form. Terren grabbed her arms before she took her next breath, flinging her away with ease.
Looking as if she was holding back a scream, she trudged into the inn while glaring at Steffen over her shoulder.
“You’re not really leaving…” Shara prompted.
“I am.” Steffen finally met their eyes.
Silence came over them, heavy and awkward.
“Is it because of the plan?” Shara asked gently. “We can change it so you don’t have to sneak into the group of ambushers.”
“It’s not just that.”
“Whatever it is, we can fix it.”
“There’s nothing you can change. This whole mission is just too dangerous.” Steffen looked down the street as if he wished he was miles away from this conversation.
Another silence followed.
“Both of you can come with us,” Terren said. “And Cedri.”
Neeko and Shara shared a look; they shook their heads at the same time.
“We can’t,” he answered. “Tell us how to get through the mountains so we can find our way to the Academy after this is over.”
Terren sighed. “You won’t find the tunnel unless you go with us now. It’s too difficult to explain how to locate it.”
“Don’t you have maps?” Shara prodded.
“I have one map of Arish…that I need. I have no maps of Ovira because I don’t need one.”
He took a map from his bag and opened it. Neeko recognized the forest on the southwestern edge of Arish, the capital northeast of it, Norret to the west of the capital, and the mountains at the very northern edge. There was a black dot that looked to be a couple miles south of the northeastern edge of the mountains.
“We came out through the ground about two miles south of the mountains.” Terren pointed at the black dot. “The tunnel goes all the way back to Kyrro, which is the name of our territory in Ovira. But if you don’t know what to look for, you won’t find the tunnel.”
“So tell us what to look for,” Neeko said while Shara reached into her bag.
Terren gestured for the scroll and quill that she’d taken out, and Shara handed both to him. He wrote for a while, then paused to ponder. Steffen glanced at the words he’d written and shrugged.
Neeko looked around for anyone suspicious who might be watching them. He found only Cedri peering out from an open window of the inn, her usual scowl stuck on her face. Terren took another scroll from his bag, using it as a reference while he wrote. After a while, he finished and handed the scroll to Neeko. Shara read over his shoulder.
“About ten miles northeast of the capital, there is a hill as green as sartious energy. It’s one of many hills in succession, all covered by trees with thin trunks and moss growing on most of them. One hill that is no different than the rest has a tunnel dug into it. There will be rocks barricading the entrance. Put the rocks back after you enter.
“Once you’re inside and deep underground, a maze will begin. Follow this order at each fork. Right, straight, left, left, right, straight, left, right, right. When you meet the Slugari, show you’re familiar with our customs by bowing. They should bring you to one who speaks common tongue. Explain who you are, and do whatever they ask. They’ll bring you through to Ovira.
“To reach the Academy once you’re above ground, walk north until you emerge from the forest. About twenty miles ahead should be an enormous lake and another forest. The Academy is on the northern edge of the forest.”
“If you lose that,” Terren directed, “don’t try to risk your luck in the maze. You’ll get lost and die of thirst and hunger.”
“Is there nothing more you can tell us to help us find the tunnel entrance?” Neeko asked. “Those instructions are vague.”
“There’s nothing more I can tell you. I wouldn’t expect to find the tunnel. If you want to go to Ovira, come with us now.”
Steffen looked apologetic as he remained silent. Neeko couldn’t believe this was happening. Where would he and Shara live if they couldn’t get to Ovira? He didn’t want to imagine staying in any city in Lanhine where one of the king’s men might one day find him and carry out the order for his execution. Worse was the idea of living in the South, but perhaps he would change his mind once he traveled through it.
“We have to stay,” Shara told Terren, holding the scroll steady in her hand to let the ink dry.
“Then don’t let anyone find that.” He pointed his chin at the scroll. “Our Slugari allies are even more cautious than we are. If an intruder ended up in their colony because of information I gave to you, they would treat it as a betrayal, and there would be dire consequences.”
“No one will see it besides the three of us.” Shara gestured at Cedri glaring from the window.
Terren stuck out his hand for Neeko. Steffen knelt over his bag as Shara and Terren shook hands next. Neeko watched the chemist take potions from his pockets and bag, gently setting them in a row on the ground. He put down seven in total, then began ripping leaves off the plants in his carrying cage and melting them between his palms.
One by one, he trimmed each plant until it was bare, each one producing a liquid of a different color after he melted the leaves. He added everything to the glass beaker containing the substance of the same color.
Steffen looked up to find everyone watching him. He let out a long sigh
. “This is the least I can do. These potions are all easy to use. Shara, can you remember what each one does if I explain them?”
“I can.”
The mood was somber as Steffen pointed at the first glass vial. The substance within looked creamy and gray, as if milk had been mixed with fog. “This one does nothing on its own. Combine it with this one when you want to create smoke.” He pointed to the second potion, a liquid of less density, somewhere between brown and yellow. “Just poor one into the other, put the stopper back on, and throw it hard enough for it to break. It’ll create a cloud of smoke that’ll envelop everything. It moves slowly, but it’s thick and extends for hundreds of feet.”
“Amazing,” Shara whispered.
“Yes. The ingredients are very difficult to find, so cherish it.”
As Steffen described the other potions, Shara packed them in her bag.
In what felt to be too soon, it was time to part. Shara asked Terren, “Can we have one moment alone with Steffen?”
He stroked his chin for a moment. “Very well.”
When Terren walked away, Shara looked at Steffen sideways. “Was I right to assume you were trying to tell me last night that you have feelings for Cedri?”
Shock filled his eyes. “Not feelings. I just have an attraction toward her I wish I didn’t. There’s a woman I care about in Kyrro, but I haven’t seen her in so long, and Cedri…I just think she’s beautiful. It doesn’t mean anything. But you know psychics—she figured out I’m keeping something from her. That’s all it was. Don’t tell her.”
“Does it have anything to do with why you’re leaving?” Neeko asked.