Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2), B.T. Narro [digital book reader txt] 📗

It was the most important place to me in the world right now, but it wasn’t my home.

“You’re late,” complained one of the guards.

I didn’t want to give them the reason for my tardiness. I couldn’t speak the words more than once, and I would have to deliver the news to the king’s councilman.

I trudged past them as one gave the signal to close the drawbridge. The deafening sound drowned out my gloomy thoughts for a short time as I crossed through the portcullis and into the grand courtyard.

Last night, I’d asked the king why he would station two guards and leave the drawbridge open for me to return. Why not close it after I left the castle?

His reply had made me realize that my lack of sleep was starting to affect my ability to think.

“In case you encounter more trouble than you can handle and need to flee back to the castle.”

He clearly hadn’t forgotten about the threats that lurked in the city, but he didn’t know just how close some of these threats had become.

I also had a sense that the king wanted to lure out our hidden enemies. An open drawbridge with a couple of guards could be seen as bait, but Cason seemed to know that. Rather than take the bait, he’d demanded we leave willingly.

As much as I wanted to enter the apartments, where my peers were sound asleep with no idea what had happened tonight, I needed to tell Barrett Edgar about Cason. I headed toward the keep next to the apartments. The guard there unlocked the door for me.

With all three hearths lit at night, the ground floor of the keep always felt like an oven. I walked up the stairs to the second floor and followed the light down one hall. The king was probably asleep, but the councilman was always up late.

I eventually made it to his room to find him writing at his desk. He stopped and looked at me.

“What happened, Jon?” Barrett was a middle-aged man with a gray beard, but his moustache was still black.

“I encountered Cason.”

Barrett bolted out of his chair. “Where?”

“He’s gone back into hiding, I’m sure. It took me too long to get here when he was done.”

“Done with what? What happened?”

I was too tired for this, but it had to be said. I told him everything, starting with entering the tavern in hopes of entrapping Shaw. I went on to briefly describe the battle against three of them: Shaw, the man who called himself Jacob, and the overweight dark mage. Then I told Barrett about the arresting guards and the following confrontation with Cason, all the gruesome details included. It was difficult to get the words out by then, but I found the strength to inform the councilman of the ultimatum that Cason had delivered to me.

“He says we must forfeit the castle to him by tomorrow evening by letting down the drawbridge and exiting with all our soldiers and sorcerers. Also, Byron Lawson is to return to Tryn, where he will be hearing from someone with instructions.”

I wasn’t sure I should add the last line. It didn’t seem necessary for anyone to hear, even the king, because I knew we would not comply. But Barrett seemed to sense I was holding something in.

“What else, Jon?”

I sighed. “He said that failure to comply will result in the death of everyone the king cares about, including many citizens of Newhaven who want nothing to do with this war.”

“Everyone the king cares about, as in his family?”

“He didn’t specify, sir. That was all he said. After he left, I tried to save the guard whose life he’d drained, but it was too late. I told the other guard to take his body to Byron and follow whatever order Byron had for him.”

“That was good on your part.”

“But I fear he might’ve disobeyed. He’d openly told me he was discontinuing service after what he’d seen.” I paused. “I never got his name.”

“We will look into it. Don’t worry yourself anymore with this. I will speak to the king in the morning. You should rest.”

I expected him to tell me this punishment was over now. I gave him a longing look.

“Jon, I don’t have the authority to end your punishment.”

I let out my breath. “I understand the point of it, but circumstances have changed since he issued it a week ago. I need my sleep to better train…and fight.”

“Again, I don’t have the power.”

“Will you at least speak to him tomorrow on my behalf?”

“I will, but don’t expect him to change his mind. He was livid when you used his daughter against him.”

Yeah, I remember.

*****

I awoke with a startle. “Jon, you’re having a nightmare! Wake up!” It was Aliana’s voice through the wall as she pounded on it.

For a moment, I thought I might have dreamed the whole encounter. But no. It had happened. Cason killed a man tonight.

I’d just relived Greda changing into Cason and a few other details I didn’t care to remember now.

“Thank you!” I shouted into the wall. “I’m fine.”

“I’m coming over.”

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

She didn’t reply.

Soon there was a knock on my door.

I took my extra blanket from the chair and wrapped it around me. Cold nights these days, winter had begun. But I was used to far colder than this and didn’t need the extra blanket while sleeping.

I unlocked the door and opened it. I could only make out Aliana’s silhouette. She stepped in and waited for me to close the door. I could see she had her arms around her to protect herself from the cold.

“Here,” I said as I offered the blanket around me.

“Thank you.” She took it.

I got back in bed, sitting up with the covers around me. She surprised me when she climbed up after me and sat close. I knew she wasn’t interested in me, as she had made that abundantly clear, so what was this about?

“What happened tonight?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I didn’t want to scare her—or