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

Jon. I’m not telling you to hear your concerns or your opinions. Cason will be sedated, handcuffed, and blindfolded. He is not the threat nor will he be. You will be nearby, and so will the other sorcerers. You will protect our allies and slay any enemies.”

“This isn’t just a trap to bring out Pearson. You hope the traitor might show him or herself.”

“Yes, if we do not catch them before.” He paused. “Do you still wish to remain in the dark if you might be required to lie to one of your peers?”

“I do,” I said.

“Then that is the end of the discussion regarding Cason and the traitor. On to other matters. Right now, all of your peers are being informed that they may send out invitations for tonight. They may bring one guest to this celebration, which begins soon after supper. Is there someone you would like to invite?”

I immediately thought of Greda, but that would just confuse her.

It turned out I didn’t have any other friends outside the castle.

“No,” I said. “What exactly are we celebrating?”

“It is a victory after all, Jon. We have defeated Cason and believe most, if not all, of the rest of our enemies have fled to Rohaer. We will have a tough road ahead, but there are many ways to weaken our enemy. Have no doubt I plan to take advantage of all of them. Even though we haven’t recovered the coin that Pearson stole, I’m sure we will be victorious when the dust settles. Cason’s capture was a swing in our direction. It’s important to celebrate these events, or we might forget what we’re fighting for.”

“I see.”

“I need you to do something tomorrow before the public execution of Cason. I received word that a kreppen ship should arrive tomorrow morning. I expect Grufaeragar to be on it, along with many other krepps who have brought goods to trade. You will set out in the morning and travel to the docks to greet Grufaeragar, who seems to like you. I don’t know exactly how many krepps he will have brought with him, but I have men ready at the docks who can assist you in escorting the krepps back to the castle safely and without incident. Do you remember any of the kreppen you picked up?”

“Not much. I haven’t thought about it in some time.”

“We’ve been working on a text. It’s just a list of translations, but you should take a good look at it now. I will have supper brought to you here so you’re not distracted as you learn what you can.”

He pulled out a chair for me as he gathered Luther’s confession.

I was a little sad I wouldn’t be enjoying the company of my friends, but I reminded myself I would see them during the celebration.

“That is all for now,” the king said as he left. “Someone will return with your supper and the translations. I trust you will do your best, as you always have.”

“Yes, sire.”

“You will be made aware when celebrations begin. Enjoy yourself tonight, but don’t overdo it.”

Was that a hint at what he had planned? If so, I still had no idea.

*****

I knew I was supposed to be learning as much Kreppen as I could before tomorrow, but my mind wandered during my supper. I didn’t like the idea that the krepps would be at the castle during Cason’s execution. It was hard to keep one krepp behaved. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like with more of them.

There wasn’t anywhere else to put them, however. Assuming they behaved much like Grufaeragar, they wouldn’t take kindly to being stowed away until the execution was over. Maybe the execution would be delayed a day or two, if things were truly chaotic.

I also wondered why trading with the krepps would be so valuable. But then I thought I remembered the king mentioning that there were many rare materials on the large island of Hammashar, where the krepps came from.

I imagined that we had many things they would find valuable because they didn’t have the intelligence to make such items for themselves. Grufaeragar had experienced these luxuries, like silken sheets, pillows, and foods with tastes he’d never sampled before. He’d surely spoken of it to the other krepps.

More than trading with them, I assumed we wanted the honor of the krepps so they didn’t go to war against us, as they might’ve if the demigod Souriff hadn’t interfered, which, by now, I almost wholeheartedly believed had really happened.

Where was Souriff now? If she had shown herself to the krepps, what was she waiting for to show herself to us?

Or was she the woman who appeared on top of the keep after Pearson escaped with the king’s gold?

I hoped time would tell.

*****

By the time a guard came to fetch me, the celebration had already begun. I was a little perturbed that I had been locked away for so long, but I supposed it was important that I learned as much Kreppen as I could. And I had. I’d learned more than a few simple phrases, though my grammar might turn out to be off. I figured Grufaeragar would forgive that. Now, I just had to make sure I didn’t drink so much that I would forget it.

A part of me just wanted to let go of everything weighing me down and indulge. I had done so a couple times in the past, after my father died, but I had always regretted it later. I was sure I would again now.

The celebration was held in the great hall, specifically in the large dining area. There were many plates of small foods set out…and a great number of people I didn’t recognize. Most of them were much older, probably rich and important, and involved with his majesty in some way that did not pertain to me or the other sorcerers.

The king had hired musicians. They played their instruments where the royal table used to stand on the dais, producing a