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

we’re both pretending I’m a show horse when we know I’m just a donkey. An old busted donkey that no man is going to ever think of as a horse. A donkey they’ll use until they’re done with her and won’t care what kind of wear they leave on her.”

It was so depressing to hear her speak of herself this way that I couldn’t think of a proper reply, pity draining my mind.

We were silent for a while.

“I’m sorry,” she said eventually. “Everything with my father seems to have really brought out the worst in me.”

“Ali…”

“Yeah?”

I wished I had Kataleya’s ability to turn this upside-down situation right side up, but all I could do was hope to make her laugh.

“It’s all right, because it sounds like you’re dealing with more shit than a gong farmer.”

She laughed hard with what sounded to be relief. “Now that’s better,” she said.

“I’m starting to see why you and Eden get along so well. You’re both more vulgar than I realized.”

“Oh yeah, Eden’s downright foul. I love her.” Then Aliana started to chuckle about something.

“What is it?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing that should be amusing, but it is. Sometimes we like to torment Kataleya, see how far we can push our jests before she stops us.”

“What about Remi?”

She suddenly seemed very excited as her eyes went wide. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe some of the things Remi has said. I think she’s secretly worse than Eden.”

“Really? That is hard to believe.”

“Because you don’t know her. Actually, I don’t think any of us really know her that well.”

I felt like the air was sucked out of my lungs. The challenge of dealing with a traitor rested on our shoulders again. Aliana had lost her smile as quickly as I had mine.

She looked into my eyes. We shared a moment of frustration.

She made a pinching motion in the air but froze before her fingers touched. “So close.”

I nodded. I knew what she meant.

We were so close to finally relaxing.

I still didn’t know why the king wanted to have a celebration tonight. It didn’t feel like anything was worth celebrating. I was beginning to wonder if he might have something up his sleeve.

“I think Kataleya really likes you,” Aliana said suddenly. “But she denies it. I bet she’s just waiting to find out what you think before she tells us the truth.”

She looked at me, clearly waiting for an answer.

Now I was really at a loss for words. I wanted to be honest with her. I took my time thinking of an answer.

“Can I admit something that you’ll keep between us?” I asked. I felt my throat wanting to close as I tried to hold everything in against my will.

“Please. It would only be fair.”

“It was true what I told Greda. I’m not in a good place right now.” I accidentally let out more pain through my expression than I’d planned to, tears welling up.

It took all I had to hold back my emotion as Aliana studied my face closely with an empathetic look. All I could do was hold my mouth shut. That was all I would say, though I was certain my eyes said more.

“Oh Jon, I should’ve known. You always seem so strong that I didn’t know how much all of this has been affecting you. I’m sorry.”

I nodded. “It’s all right.”

We walked in silence for a little while. Eventually, she leaned against me and put her head on my shoulder. She moved her arm around my back for a half embrace.

“Let’s try to have fun tonight, yeah?” she said. “Like real friends would if there was no traitor among them.”

“I’d like that.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

After we arrived, a guard informed me that the king wanted to speak with me. I was taken into the keep, but not before I checked on the bloodstain made by Calvin’s head above the entrance. It was gone. Even the chips and dents in the floor of the keep had been repaired. It was almost as if there had been no battle here.

The guard instructed me to leave the supplies Leon had purchased on the ground floor of the keep. I hoped to see Callie on my way to meet with her father. She’d cried out of fear the last time she’d spoken to me. I wanted to know she was doing better, but I didn’t pass by her quarters, and I didn’t see her in the keep otherwise.

His majesty stood over a table with the parchment rolled out. He looked to be reading it intently as I entered his room.

“Shut the door,” he told me after a quick glance.

I shut it. The two of us were alone.

He gestured at the parchment. “This is a signed confession from Luther Prigg. He finally gave in after we led him to believe that Cason was making a deal with us in exchange for information on Luther. He admitted that he was approached by Cason years ago and has been aiding the criminal with coin and weapons since then.”

“Did Cason actually say anything about Luther?” I asked.

“No, and I didn’t push him to, either. He’s too dangerous, even in a cell.”

“Is Cason going to be hanged, then?”

“Tomorrow, but it won’t be a hanging. He’s going to be beheaded on the battlements where everyone can see.”

“Forgive me sire, but isn’t that risky?” I thought it safer to kill him while he was imprisoned with an arrow through his heart, and then display his body if necessary.

“Risky is precisely the point,” the king said to my surprise. “We have to make sure all of our enemies are gone, especially those who would aid Cason if given the chance.”

“I thought Erisena saw them leaving.”

“We know at least one of them, Pearson, has the capability of traveling great distances in a short period of time. Perhaps he was only escorting the dark mages through the forest and plans to return. If so, he might attempt to rescue Cason. I have planned all of this out,