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

I honestly couldn’t tell.

“We very excite,” Grufaeragar said. “Also feast. Feast, yes?”

“Feast!” Shorila echoed.

“I’m sure there will be a feast in your honor. In all of your honor,” I announced to the krepps who seemed to be listening.

I didn’t know if they understood everything I’d said or just the word honor, but their reaction was terrifying. They all hissed loudly with grins on their faces.

Once I reminded myself that these powerful creatures were allies, my fear quickly turned into pride. Perhaps their arrival wasn’t so untimely after all.

We might finally be ready for whatever the dark mages had planned, if anything.

*****

During the trip back, I explained to Grufaeragar everything that had happened regarding Cason and the dark mages, though I did leave out Pearson and the thieving of the king’s gold. I wasn’t sure his majesty would appreciate me divulging this to the krepps.

Most of the townspeople we passed stared at the krepps with wonder, not with the same aggression that I once saw on the faces of men when I last escorted Grufaeragar through the capital. I supposed word had gotten around since his last visit that we were now allies.

We arrived back at the castle without a hitch, the king and his retinue of guards waiting for us in the courtyard, most of them my peers.

“Human king! Good see you!” shouted Grufaeragar.

“It’s good to see you as well, Grufaeragar.” The king wore a cautious smile.

The other krepps seemed content to let Grufaeragar speak for them as they halted to stay behind. He walked the rest of the way to shake hands with Nykal. I passed the two of them and took my spot beside Michael as we stood near the king.

“Anything interesting happen last night?” I whispered.

“Do you mean with Eden?”

It was exactly what I meant.

He glanced her way. She noticed and gave him a wink.

“I guess that answers my question,” I said.

Michael was grinning ear to ear.

The king was asking Grufaeragar, “Did Jon explain that we will soon execute a very bad man who has killed many of our allies?”

“He explain. Who kill him?”

“There is no honor for us in taking off the man’s head when he cannot fight back,” the king explained. “He will be executed by a trained executioner.”

“I execute him. I take honor.”

The king made a face. “I would rather you and the other krepps keep guard during the execution. There may be enemies who try to save Cason.” He gestured at the great hall. “Let’s discuss this as you feast. There is plenty of food for everyone.”

“Feast!” Grufaeragar shouted, and all the krepps hissed.

*****

It was a lively meal, the krepps voracious eaters. After they’d marveled—first at the great hall, secondly at the dining hall, and thirdly at the taste of the food on their plates—they’d eaten so noisily that it was almost impossible to focus on my own meal.

Eventually, it was time for the execution. The king had gone through the plan with us by then. All of us seemed a little uneasy about the krepps being here, but they were allies. These dangerous, rowdy creatures were allies. I had to remind myself of this frequently because they seemed to live in their own world even here in the castle. They chattered in their own language as they mostly seemed unaware of us.

The king armed them with weapons. Many of the females took bows rather than swords, which made me even more nervous. It was much easier for one of these krepps to have an accident with an arrow than with a sword, but Grufaeragar had assured everyone that female krepps were the best archers in the world. They would never shoot an ally, he’d claimed.

I wasn’t sure the king really trusted that, but he made a choice to allow them to have bows rather than dishonor the krepps by refusing to give them weapons. I would have to be fine with that.

The other sorcerers and I went to our rooms in the apartments to prepare for the execution. I changed into some of my older robes in case they were going to be torn. I then sheathed the sword Eden had enchanted, wondering how many times I would have to use it before I noticed the durability enchant at work.

When I exited my room, Charlie and Reuben were leaning against the wall as they waited.

“Are you all right?” I checked with Charlie. He didn’t seem afraid.

“Yeah. I’ll be ready if something happens.”

I was very glad to hear that.

“And you, Reuben?” I asked. “Everything fine?”

“It is.” I could see in his steady gaze that he remembered much of what we spoke about last night, and he had no inclination of correcting any of it. I was very glad for that as well.

Eden was next out of her room. She walked over to join us.

“It’s finally time, boys. We’re going to celebrate after this is over.”

Charlie put up his hands. “No, no. Yesterday was too much celebration for me already.”

“There will be no curses in my celebration, I promise. Reuben, what do you say?”

“If others join in, then I will as well.”

Remi was next to leave her room and shut her door after. She looked nervous as she gazed at Charlie while walking over.

“Hey, Remi,” Charlie said happily.

“Hello,” she replied with her head turned slightly the other way.

“Eden wants to celebrate again,” Reuben said.

Remi had an incredulous look as she glanced at Eden, but Eden merely lifted her eyebrows two times suggestively.

Remi chuckled. “I know why you want to celebrate again, but I need a rest.”

“Celebration is rest. We drink tonight. Mellow. No music. Just the eight of us.”

“If you say so,” Remi said.

Kataleya emerged from her room and walked over a bit tensely as she met my gaze. I showed her a disarming smile, which seemed to relax her greatly as she strolled the rest of the way.

“Whose idea was it to all go together?” she asked. “I like it.”

“It just sort of happened,” Reuben answered.

Aliana was next. Like us, she had changed,