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

“Can you tell what mana frequencies are being used when someone casts a spell near you?”

“In most cases, yes. What are you hinting at?”

It took a few breaths to prepare my mind. I had to split my mana into two other frequencies: F, and lF. I was still getting used to the feeling of Lower F. It was akin to my natural mana, Upper F, but the strain was considerably worse on my mind.

That single note, however, did not compare to the effort required when my spell came to fruition. I casted Heal onto Leon’s body. He had no injuries or illnesses I was aware of, so I did not direct my mana toward any specific part of him. As it was not healing anything, I was able to sustain it for much longer than when the mana had mended the broken bone in my ankle.

Leon pursed his lips and squinted his green eyes as he wafted his hand through my mana. “Upper F of course…” he began. “F as well, and another…?” His head whipped back, his messy blonde hair bouncing on his head. “Lower F! Jon, do you know what this means?”

I let the spell come to an end. “I know how strong it is. I had to use it last night to heal my broken ankle.”

His enthusiasm came to an abrupt end. “I was not told you had any broken bones.”

“What were you told?”

“That Cason killed a man in front of you and told you to deliver a message to the king.”

“That’s it?”

“Pretty much.”

I let out my breath in annoyance.

“What really happened?” Leon asked.

I explained the whole thing to him, from trailing Shaw to the entire interaction with Cason.

When I was done, Leon took a seat in the chair nearby and was silent for a long while. “This could’ve been stopped before it started. I knew Cason once, but I haven’t seen him in many years.” He stood up. “But we will worry about him later. First, I came to make sure you are handling what happened last night. You know…” He gestured at nothing in particular. “Emotionally.”

“Yeah, I’m handling it,” I said dismissively. Leon was not someone I was interested in opening up to. I didn’t even care to ask how he knew Cason. Leon was much older than he looked. He knew most people, including my father. I wasn’t surprised that he’d interacted with Cason.

“All right, good. Because secondly, I came here to help you.”

“How?”

He scowled at me. “You could show a little enthusiasm.”

“I am, but I’m too tired to show it,” I admitted.

“That idiotic punishment. Here’s how I’m going to start helping you first of all.” He slapped one hand into the palm of another. “You will no longer spend two hours a night guarding the city. It is decided!”

“You can’t just decide that. Only the king—”

“It is decided!” he repeated with a wave of his hand. “I have the authority to give you orders. Your order is to no longer serve out your punishment by wasting two hours each night.” He lifted a finger. “Instead, you’re going to spend two hours during the day healing people with this new spell of yours. It’s the best way to train it, and it won’t hurt to help a few people. Maybe it’ll even save a few lives.”

“Again, the king—”

“Will deal with me personally for giving you this order. I’ll tell him you argued. Now can we drop it?”

No more losing sleep? I fell into the chair with relief. “Oh thank god.”

Leon gave me a moment of peace to enjoy the feeling. He seemed like a different man, patient and understanding. But as tired as I was, I couldn’t enjoy the peace for long. We needed to train, but first I had to voice a concern.

“Why does it seem like I’m the only one who’s worried about Cason? Even you don’t seem very concerned after you heard what happened last night.”

“Cason has been around for a long time. He’s always been planning something, and he’s always been stopped. You helped stop his last plan, so you should know as well as I do that we will stop him again.”

“Except we no longer have anyone like Jennava on our side who’s pretending to be loyal to him.”

“How do you know the king doesn’t? Have you been told anything?”

“No,” I said. “No one tells me anything anyway.”

“Well I’m telling you that it’s not your place to figure out what to do.”

“I know that!” I snapped. “I’m just trying to make sure someone knows what to do!”

My tone—I had made a mistake. Leon glared at me with contained rage.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m just very tired.”

“I accept your apology. Trust your king, Jon. And learn to keep your mouth shut around your superiors more often.”

I nodded, though internally I disagreed.

“Now, how long can you keep up the heal spell?” Leon asked.

“Only a few moments.”

“Tell me it’s the only thing you’ve been practicing.”

“Why would I only practice one—?” I stopped myself. My tone was inappropriate again. “I might be needed to fight soon. I won’t to be able to stop any enemies by healing them. I have to learn more.”

“Then what is it you want to do with your mana?”

“You know what I want,” I said as calmly as I could. “I want to learn everything I’m capable of, and then I will decide.”

He scoffed and grabbed the book from the near table. “And look at how much time you’re wasting with that approach. Tell me what you want to learn right now and I will help you.”

“I honestly told you,” I said.

“Then you are lying to yourself. What do you feel you must learn with mana before it’s too late?”

I didn’t know where he was headed with this. I tried to think it through.

He kept going, “You already know the answer. I’ve seen how you fight. I know what you want.”

“Then what is it?” I asked, my patience already frayed.

“You know it. Just say it. There are some