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

send with you to keep you safe. I believe the chances of an imminent attack against you or this castle are low. Byron has done a fine job disrupting the activity of the dark mages in the city. Any large-scale endeavor would have been detected.

“I suspect instead that Cason plans to leave for Rohaer soon enough to join Frederick’s army and wait for the end of winter. But Cason might try one last attempt at weakening us or stealing from me or my people if we allow him time to plan and organize. Jennava or Leon, would either of you benefit from time in the forest like these young sorcerers?”

All of this rumination was a clear reminder that the king was still figuring out how best to utilize us, while Cason was still figuring out how best to destroy us. I appreciated his majesty’s candor with us, but we had already almost lost Reuben and Grufaeragar because we weren’t prepared. I felt that we were better equipped to deal with our enemies now compared to before. But we still had a ways to go before I would feel safe, like I did when I first came here, when my only worry was how to prove myself.

I missed those times.

One other thing was starting to become clear from all this. Being king was something that took time to learn. Every day, Nykal’s inexperience seemed to show more and more. At least he knew to trust the right people. Byron was an excellent choice for a head guard, and Leon was turning out to be a better instructor than I’d realized.

We were the biggest risk of all, however—me and the other seven sorcerers. I was fairly certain that not many leaders in his position would’ve spent what little coin they had on inexperienced sorcerers but rather would’ve attempted to start building their army with soldiers who’d seen combat.

I desperately wanted to prove Nykal right, and I had a feeling the rest of my peers did as well.

Except for one of us, and I really had trouble believing it was Kataleya.

“When you’ve used sorcery as long as we have, sire,” Jennava said, “a day or two in the forest isn’t going to make a difference. It helps most when learning a new skill.”

“Then the rest of you will go with Jon, so long as it will help you improve. That is, if Leon believes all of you are ready to ride a horse out of the city and defend each other from a possible attack.”

“Certainly,” Leon said. “Jenn and I can stay here to defend the castle, if that’s what you’re hinting at.”

“I am. Jon, take the callring and tracker ring. Leon will have the others.”

The king passed a callring to me, but then he paused and looked at Charlie. “Where is the tracker ring?”

“I have to fetch it from my room. Can I go to the forest as well, King Nykal?” he asked, sounding younger than he looked. “I wouldn’t benefit from time there, but I don’t want to stay here alone. I want to meet the elf.”

“Yes, that is fine.”

“What about Kataleya?” Leon asked the king.

He sighed as he put his hand to his chin. “She is harmless now that she will be watched. If she is indeed innocent, she shouldn’t miss out on this time in the forest. She will stay with all of you. Aliana, Eden, and Remi, you will be responsible for making sure at least one of you has her in sight at all times. All times, understand?”

“Even while sleeping?” Eden asked.

“You will sleep around her. She is not to speak to any citizen on the way to the forest or on the way back. She will be delivered right to me, wherever I am in the castle, when you all return together. Do not separate from each other. No one is going to be alone any longer, and not just because the forest is dangerous. I want all of you to keep eyes on each other and report anything suspicious directly to me or Barrett.”

I knew I should be concerned about one of my peers, but I was more worried about the creatures in the forest. Looking at Eden and Aliana as they met my gaze with fearful expressions, I was sure they felt the same way. The memory of the cantar going for my throat even after I’d buried two arrows in the beast was still vivid in all our minds.

“We understand,” Michael said for us. “We’ll leave…after supper, right?”

“Yes,” the king said. “Do not stay in the forest more than two days, even if you do not find the elf.”

Aliana asked, “Will Kataleya be eating with us in the dining hall?” She looked up toward the apartments, prompting all of us to glance in the same direction.

Kataleya was watching us from her window with a menacing glare. She grabbed her curtains and yanked them closed.

“She will eat alone in her room and join you all as you leave,” Nykal said. “I will inform her that she, along with everyone else, is to be monitored from now on until we determine the source of the leak.”

“So do you think it was her after all?” Charlie asked.

“What I think does not matter. The possibility exists, so precautious must be taken. I’m sure Kataleya will come to understand that, though it might take her some time.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

We had to ride slowly. Not everyone felt comfortable on their mount. Charlie seemed especially nervous as he gripped the reins of his white horse tightly. I led our group out of the castle and headed through Newhaven.

We drew many looks from the people as we remained vigilant. The feeling that any of these people could be a dark mage was one I hoped to get rid of one day soon, but first we had to figure out which of us was working with the enemy.

It was a tense ride out of the castle. I was used to hearing