The Akorell Break (The Mortal Mage Book 2)

by B. T. Narro

  “You look well,” she said.

  And you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. “Thank you. So do you.”

  He was so focused on her eyes that he didn’t notice everyone else had stood, all staring. Did they somehow know what had happened between him and Leida? He felt his cheeks burn red.

  “We know what happened in the prison,” Leida said.

  Oh, just that.

  Beatrix continued for her, “I forgot to thank you until now, Desil. It shouldn’t have taken this long, but I’ve been distracted. I would be dead if it wasn’t for you. Thank you. There aren’t many people who would risk their life to break out someone from the torture chamber.”

  The silence that followed was heavy. Desil didn’t know what to say, though his cheeks seemed to shout his embarrassment.

  “I couldn’t sit and do nothing,” he muttered.

  “We’re all alive, which I believe warrants a toast.” Basen raised his glass, thankfully breaking the awkward silence. Everyone followed suit. “I would rather be with all of you than with the finest fighters in Ovira.”

  Desil chuckled with the rest of them.

  “But in seriousness,” Basen continued. “There was a time there that I feared I’d lost more than one of you. Three to be exact. When my wife and I set out to discover the secret behind the explosions in Kanoan, we hadn’t anticipated the danger that would befall to the rest of you. Leida, we especially meant to protect you, to keep you and thousands of others from killing each other in a war that has begun despite how much I’ve tried to delay it. You’ve seen the nature of the battles. There is no glory in pointless killing. We will only find glory in stopping it, but I have dragged the rest of you too far into this.”

  “Father, I told you I’m not staying behind.”

  “I’m hoping I can change your mind and convince everyone else here that all of you have done enough to help. I will teleport myself to the Dajrik Mountains tonight to pour the concoction onto the akorell metal that will cause it to melt. Once it’s separated, I will bring all of it back here. There is no reason to risk anyone else going if I can do it on my own.”

  “It will be less dangerous for you if we’re there.” Desil spoke firmly. He wouldn’t stay behind no matter what Basen said. “We’ll fill our bags and be out of there five times sooner.”

  “We’re going with you,” Adriya agreed. “We will work faster, as Desil says, and we’ll be able to help in case something goes wrong.”

  “Kirnich and I have nowhere else to go,” Beatrix said. “We can’t let ourselves be captured until the truth about my father’s murder comes out. Which means we’re in the same position as you—we can’t risk being seen by anyone. We might as well stay together to keep each other safe.” She caught Kirnich’s eye and seemed to realize something from the stern look he gave her. “And we want to help,” she added. He gave a nod to her.

  Basen lifted his palms. “I’d rather not put anyone else at risk. I’ve already made arrangements for the rest of you to stay at the Academy in hiding until I obtain the akorell metal and eppil vines necessary for an explosive. Both should be easy to obtain now.”

  “You’re not being entirely truthful,” Beatrix commented.

  “Easy in comparison to what we’ve already gone through,” Basen specified.

  “Unless something goes wrong,” Leida pointed out. “The Marros could be collecting the akorell metal as we speak. You can’t fight them back as you concentrate to make an escape portal. You’d have no hope of getting the akorell. And what if your portal crumbles again? They’ll kill you.”

  What does she mean about his portal crumbling? Whatever it was, Alabell nodded in agreement as she spoke.

  “You need to have at least one person with you in case that happens. So I’ll go.”

  Basen took a sharp breath as he showed her a disapproving look. “It was foolish of me to take you to Kanoan. You’re too valuable a healer to be brought into a potential battle, where you’re unable to defend yourself.” It seemed to Desil that he was speaking to her as if she were a soldier, not his wife.

  She looked as if she wanted to remind him of who she was as she took his hand somewhat forcefully. “Going alone could be your death, love. I won’t let that be an option.”

  “I’m going no matter what,” Leida said. “So there’s no point of arguing about it. And there’s no reason for you to go, Mother.”

  “She’s telling the truth, headmaster,” Beatrix added. “And if your daughter is going, you might as well take the rest of us to aid the two of you.”

  Basen rested his chin on his palm as he glanced from person-to-person. He seemed to be judging each of them, or at least deciding if any of them could be spared. His gaze settled on Desil.

  “We wouldn’t have made it this far without you, but Effie would have my head if I didn’t offer you a way out now. Stay here. We’ll dress you as a farmer and put you to work. When this is over, and we have a new king of Kyrro, your ‘crimes’ will be forgiven.”

  Desil couldn’t help but take offense. The headmaster no longer deemed him necessary. He reminded himself that Basen wanted to go alone from now on, that no one was necessary any longer in his eyes.

  “I’m going with you and Leida, and I’m staying until this is over.”

  Basen nodded, though he didn’t seem pleased. He turned to Adriya.

  “It’s the same to you, Adriya. My family is indebted to you for all your help, but you can stay here until your parents return. You don’t need to take the role of a farmer. You are not an ‘escaped criminal.’ I was going to force you and the others to stay here, and Cleve and Reela would’ve thanked me for that, but with Leida going I don’t believe you can be convinced, either. Still, I must give you the option for your parents’ sake.”

  “I think of my friends fighting this war outside Tenred. I’m terrified to find out even one has died already, but I trust my mother and father to keep them alive better than I could if I was there. I can do more good with you and Leida. I might even save lives if we can stop this war. I’m seeing this through too, no matter what happens.”

  “Then we’re going to do this right from now on,” Basen said with a swing of confidence. “We leave when we’re completely prepared. Stay here and finish eating. It might be the last decent meal for a while. I will return in a moment.”

  He headed to the door. Everyone glanced at Beatrix for confirmation. She nodded. “He’s not abandoning us.”

  Basen returned shortly after, carrying a chest piece of leather armor of the highest quality. “This one should fit you, Desil.” He tossed it. Desil caught it.

  It was lighter than he figured, matching the light tan color of the unmarked leather. There were all sorts of straps and buckles, and Desil had little idea how to put it on. He was excited to try until two thoughts struck him.

  Not only was the armor piece too much of a gift, it wasn’t right for him to be the only one to get one.

  “It should go to someone else.” Desil stepped toward Leida, hoping the headmaster would agree with his choice.

  “It’s too big for her.” Basen turned around and walked toward the door as he spoke. “Just put it on. Kirnich, help him.”

  Kirnich got it over Desil’s head and started closing the straps and buckles. It felt light and comfortable, especially when Kirnich was done strapping it on. There were two openings to the arms, one around the end of Desil’s shoulder and the other around his elbow, giving him full mobility. He had trouble turning his torso, though, unable to look completely behind him. Kirnich put Desil’s old belt around his waist, then stuck a sword into the sheath and stepped back for a look. His face said he approved, as did the others looking him up and down.

  “There’s a mirror in here,” Leida said as she headed toward the bedroom where he’d kissed her. He followed her in. She watched him with a proud but indulgent grin as he stood in front of the tall mirror against one wall and examined his image.

  The armor e
xpanded at the chest and shoulders, giving him more bulk. He wasn’t anywhere near Kirnich’s girth, but he still looked like a formidable opponent. He felt fierce—ready to take advantage of the armor, almost hoping someone would challenge him. The feeling faded as he realized how likely that challenge would be.

  He heard Basen struggling with something somewhere outside. “Bell, can you help me here?”

  Alabell chuckled as if she knew what it was. “Coming.”

  Leida asked Desil, “Have you worn armor before?”

  “Not exactly. I stopped at every armorer’s table in the market when my parents used to send me there for fish. I think they purposely gave me less coin than what any piece of armor would cost because they knew I wanted to buy it more than I wanted to haul back stinking fish.”

  She giggled. “Which piece of armor did you want most?”

  “I wanted to be encased completely in armor. So if I had to pick one piece, it would be a cuirass. None fit me at the time, as they were all made for grown men, but one of the armorers let me put on a cuirass anyway to feel how heavy it was. I remember wondering, while he chuckled at the sight of a child barely standing in a man’s armor, how anyone could fight with all that weight. Some men even wore full suits of steel more than five times the weight of a cuirass. It made me feel I would never be strong enough to be a warrior. Yet now this cuirass is little to no nuisance. I wonder why it’s here at the Academy and not on someone’s body outside Tenred’s wall.”

  “Leather, while cheaper and lighter than other armor, is flexible by nature, which unfortunately means that any rub or poke works against the process armorers took to harden it. There are many extras at the Academy, ready to be delivered to soldiers in need of a replacement. I’m sure my father thought they would be of good use protecting us.”

  “Us? So I don’t have to worry about being the only one.”

  “I’m sorry to ruin my father’s surprise.”

  Basen and Alabell returned. Desil and Leida left the room to watch them come down the hall, bundles of armor threatening to fall from their arms.

  “You’re fortunate, Kirnich,” Basen said as he fumbled around before getting his hands on the largest cuirass. He handed it to the warrior. “I managed to find one large enough for a bear, so it just might fit you.”

  Beatrix accepted hers without a grin. “Did anyone see you taking these?”

  “No one you need to worry about, Princess. There are still people I trust here, though that doesn’t mean we can stay long. It should be night on the eastern coast soon. Let’s hope the dajriks sleep when it’s dark, otherwise we’re taking a portal right out.”

  “And the Marros?” Desil asked. He couldn’t speak their name without reliving memories of claws flashing in front of his face.

  “The same goes for the Marros,” Basen said. “We escape in a portal immediately if they’re there.”

  Alabell came up on her daughter’s side, opposite of Desil. “You remember how to help him if his portal collapses?”

  “We’ve gone over it enough times. Don’t worry, Mother. I know what to do.”

  Alabell swung her fist in the air. “Don’t be afraid to give him a hard punch if nothing else is working.”

  Leida chuckled. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”

  “It might be.” Alabell handed Leida her cuirass. “It’s been worse recently, but he doesn’t want you to know that.”

  Leida nodded. “I figured. Too many portals.” She hugged her mother, then went back into the bedroom and positioned the cuirass as if she would soon put it on.

  Desil asked, “Do you need help?”

  She smiled. “I’ve done it enough times. I’m fine.”

  He stayed in the doorway and was about to ask Alabell about Basen’s crumbling portals when Leida spoke again, “Actually I could use your help.” She waved him over as she stood in front of the mirror.

  He closed each buckle, missing one that Leida then pointed out. It became clear that she didn’t really need his help, but he was glad for the excuse to hold her arm as he got the bracers in place, or to put his hand on her shoulder as he made sure unnecessarily that the armor was straight.

  When his hands no longer had anything to do, he still couldn’t seem to take them off her shoulders as he stood behind her and looked at her in the mirror. He hoped she didn’t mind.

  “When have you had to wear armor before?” Desil asked.

  “Mages like myself must train with it every month to get used to its feel, but the used training armor is never in this good of a condition.” She ran her hand down her side as she admired the image in the mirror. Desil figured it was the armor that caused the corner of her mouth to turn up in appreciation, but he couldn’t notice the craftsmanship of the cuirass when it was on her. It was her mouth that took his focus. The softness of her lips beckoned for a kiss; the memory of their touch was fierce and yet gentle at the same time, the fire within his chest burning hotter every time he looked at her.

  She seemed to be struck by shock as she gasped and looked away from the mirror. “Do you hear him?”

  Desil strained his ears until he realized that Leida wasn’t speaking of this plane. “I’ll try.”

  He found it more difficult than usual to phase out the sight of Leida in front of him and the sounds of the others speaking in the hall. His mind drifted between the planes, the force of his struggle making his knees weak. There seemed to be a barrier of some sort not just keeping them out but repelling him back into the physical world.

  “I can’t get there.”

  Leida groaned as she grabbed her head. Her voice was weak. “He keeps you out…he keeps me in.” Her words fell to a whisper. “Leave me alone. I’ve already answered you.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Desil didn’t know how to release Leida from a prison in the other plane if he couldn’t get there himself. Even if he could, how could he go up against someone so well-versed in that place? He took her by her shoulders, mostly to steady her after noticing her wobbly legs. He remembered how Kirnich had pulled him out of the plane by grabbing his arm. Taking Leida’s hand and squeezing, he asked, “Can you feel this?”

  She gave no reaction, her head bowed and her eyes closed.

  “Basen!” Desil called.

  Everyone rushed into the room.

  “He has her in the other plane,” Desil alerted her father. “I hope you know what to do, because I don’t.”

  Basen hunched in front of his daughter to look into her face. He gave her a shake. “Leida?”

  She murmured something about mountains. It didn’t seem to be a response to her father.

  “Can you go after her?” Basen asked Desil.

  “He’s blocking me out somehow.”

  “Beatrix, can you do anything with psyche?”

  “No. Her energy is as if she’s asleep.”

  Alabell asked, “Is she in danger?”

  “I don’t believe so,” answered Basen, “but Desil should know better than I do.”

  He thought for a moment. “To be in the other plane doesn’t feel the same as entering a harmless dream. It seems as if our mind is actually elsewhere, unprotected. I doubt anything could happen to our bodies, but I wouldn’t say it’s safe for our minds.”

  Suddenly Leida screamed, causing everyone to jump. She started to fall but many hands were there to catch her. She awoke still on her feet and let out a sorrowful sound, not of pain but of worry.

  She spoke in a feeble voice as she put her palm on her forehead. “He’s stronger. The distance must make a difference—he’s closer to us than ever before.”

  “How do you know where he is?” Basen asked.

  “I don’t exactly. I could only feel his presence closer. I’m fine now.”

  They let her stand on her own. She took sharp breaths.

  “What does he want with you?” Basen asked.

  “It’s you he wants. He always asks about you. Are you sure you have no idea who this
is?”

  Basen glanced at Beatrix before answering. “I have a guess.”

  “You’ve been lying when you said you didn’t know who it could be?” Leida seemed more surprised than angry.

  “Because there’s no point in scaring you until I know for sure. Does he still want only the akorell metal?”

  Leida nodded. “I already told him we are taking it from the Dajrik Mountains, where he is unable to go, but he either doesn’t care or doesn’t believe me. I think he’s somewhere near the mountains now. He forced me to tell him where we are currently, at the Academy, and whether we have the akorell yet. I said we only have a little.”

  “Could it be Jimmin Rofters?” Beatrix asked.

  Basen glanced at her, perplexed. “Your father’s adviser?”

  Beatrix sighed as she gave a nod. “He’s the one who formulated the plan to kill my father. He controls my brother through fear and psyche. He’s proven he can lie to psychics without detection or taking any potion, and…” She looked to Desil with gratitude. “He would’ve killed me.”

  Kirnich cleared his throat. She smiled halfheartedly at him next.

  “No, Jimmin isn’t the one I had in mind,” Basen said. “I didn’t realize he was a psychic. He’s the one who tortured you? I had assumed it was Allephon.”

  “My brother deserves worse than the fate he’s fallen into by working with Jimmin, but it’s Jimmin who controls the men looking for us. Allephon assumes Jimmin has plans to rule. He wanted my help to stop Jimmin, but we couldn’t formulate a plan before Jimmin interrupted us. Even if he hadn’t, I’m not sure there’s anything Kirnich and I can do alone.”

  “There isn’t,” Kirnich said. “Not yet.”

  “What about with all of us?” Basen asked.

  “Even then, I don’t see it as enough.” Beatrix turned away. She didn’t speak for a moment. It appeared to Desil that she was hinting at something specific.

  Basen must’ve assumed the same. “What is it?” he asked. “What can we do?”

  She sighed and started to pace. “I think the only people able to do anything are the Wind Knights, but you require them for something more important.” Her voice was regretful. “I wouldn’t do anything to disrupt your plan to stop this war.”