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

man. “I think I’m sick with something serious. Quincy, I don’t want a sorcerer. You have to give me something.”

“It’s probably just what you ate,” Quincy said. Then in a lower voice he told us, “This isn’t the first time.” He asked the man, “Did your wife make her pastries again?”

“Yes, but it’s not that. This is different. Something is very wrong this time.”

He let out a fart so loud that it startled us. It continued on as he grabbed his stomach in distress.

When it finally came to an end, the stench hit me.

“My lord,” Quincy said. “The smell! Get out with that. Get out!”

“Never mind that,” I said as I pushed past the man. “I’m getting out.”

“Airinold’s taint, Jon’s right,” Leon said.

We all fled the enclosed room.

On the street, the man couldn’t seem to meet our eyes, his cheeks red. “I’m awfully sorry about that.” He was still holding his stomach, though he didn’t seem to be in as much distress.

“I’ll charge you next time you do that in my place of business,” Quincy told him. “Go home, and stop eating those cheese pastries.”

“All right.” He sulked as he walked off.

The rest of the people who came in for healing didn’t offer nearly as much excitement. It was easy to identify their problems and fix them. After an hour, I almost found myself wishing someone would come in with a life-threatening injury just for the challenge, but I wouldn’t actually wish that on anyone.

I slowly gained interest in the tidbits of conversation I heard between Leon and Gwen. The both of them had remained in the back room for some time now, no longer checking on me or Quincy. When I was distracted healing a woman’s sprained finger, I barely made out his quiet question to Gwen.

“Is Aliana’s father still around?”

“He’s interested in Aliana and helps when he can, but we aren’t together.”

I felt like I should warn Gwen that Leon was not usually like this. Or was he, and he was only different with his students? I didn’t know anymore.

Should I bring it up with Aliana? I wasn’t sure she’d want to know. I doubted anything would happen between Leon and Gwen. Leon was too busy for any kind of relationship. Wasn’t he?

I felt like I didn’t even know Leon anymore. Shouldn’t he go back to the castle? He was probably needed by my peers.

Eventually, I decided it was none of my business. I had a habit of feeling responsible for people I was not responsible for. This was not up to me.

Soon a middle-aged woman entered who Quincy greeted.

“Pamela, how are you today?”

Pamela…I knew this woman, unless it was someone else with the same name. She didn’t look well, unfortunately. She had bags under her eyes and stood at a slouch.

“Worse, I’m afraid,” she said. “I’ve come for more medicine.”

“Excuse me,” I interjected. “Do you happen to be the mother of Greda?”

“Yes, and you are?”

“Greda may have spoken of me. I’m Jon Oklar.”

“I…I don’t want any trouble.” She backed toward the door.

I was confused. Maybe she was sick to the point of delirium? I could already feel something wrong about her even being a few feet away.

“It’s fine,” I tried to tell her. “I can help you.”

“No, stay away.” She backed out of the small place.

Leon came out from the other room. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t want anything to do with Jon,” Pamela said. She turned to leave.

“Pamela,” Quincy said. “Why are you scared of Jon?”

“I don’t…I can’t. I’m sorry.” She started to walk off.

I then realized why she was afraid. Greda had figured out that someone had poisoned her mother and taken Greda’s place in her shop. Under an illusion to appear like Greda, this powerful sorcerer had tricked me into taking an essence of dteria in hopes it would alter my mana so that I would cast a spell with the corruptive magical art. I’m sure it was the illusionist’s hope that I would be hooked afterward, as had probably happened to many people. The spell gave the caster a feeling of euphoria and confidence, though it diminished with each cast, urging them to cast more and more powerful spells.

Now it was clear this sorcerer had been Cason. He had interceded in the arrest of Shaw and Jacob using the same illusion. But Pamela and Greda should not be afraid of interacting with me now that everything was out in the open. Judging by how sick Greda’s mother looked, I might be the only one who could help her.

I walked out after her. “Let me talk with you a moment. I can explain.”

“Stay away!” she yelled and picked up speed.

“You’re not in danger.”

“Just stay back!” She darted away from me.

She did not appear as though she should be running, so the last thing I wanted was to cause her more distress. I stayed put in hopes of pacifying her.

Unfortunately, she only picked up more speed. I thought about going after her, but Leon came up to me.

“What was that about?”

“She thinks someone like Cason might hurt her or her daughter for interacting with me. He has already. Remember?”

“Right. So it was Cason who poisoned her after all?”

“It had to be.”

“Then she’s probably not just sick.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You should find out for yourself. Go after her before you lose her.”

She was quite far ahead by then. I sprinted to catch up.

It didn’t take long for her to notice me. She ran faster, but there was no way she was going to outrun me even with her head start.

“Please stop!” she yelled.

“I just want to help you.”

She fled into the Enchanted Devices shop where I had met Greda and closed the door before I arrived. I figured she’d locked it, and I didn’t want to scare her even worse, so I went to the window rather than try to break in.

“Just listen,” I said.

“Go away!” She shut the curtain.

“Mother?” I heard Greda ask from within. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Jon. I think he means to