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

father or the Priggs? I believed her story to be accurate, even if she might’ve left out a detail or two. From what I knew about Newhaven, commoners—especially those with nothing, like Remi—never found themselves in the company of nobles.

But I trusted that the king knew everything he needed to about this girl who was one year younger than me, who seemed to have lived through more trauma than all of us combined. Michael and I had both lost our fathers. Charlie never had real parents who cared about him. Aliana’s father was absent through her whole life, and it sounded like Eden had her own problems with her father. But the things that Remi went through sounded worse than I could even imagine.

It made me want to trust her. She really did have the most to lose. There was nothing for her to go back to. And yet, I just couldn’t bring myself to trust her completely, but I also couldn’t bring myself to trust anyone here completely except for Charlie. Though I was beginning to feel closer to Kataleya after all of this.

I wanted to believe Michael was innocent because he was my good friend, but I had to admit to myself that even he could be playing us. Somebody was an incredibly talented liar. That was almost a fact.

“So is Remi the traitor?” Charlie asked.

“All we know is that she could be,” Reuben said. “I’m sure I don’t need to share my history. Like Kataleya, most of the affairs of our families are public. We were recruited by the king.”

“Which is why you, more than anyone, should believe that I’m innocent,” Kataleya said.

“But a callring wasn’t found in my room, and my father couldn’t have anything to do with stealing from tax collectors. My family only owns property in the city. If a crisis tax was imposed, the king would expect my father, like other property owners in Newhaven, to collect and deliver the coin to the castle safely and securely. If it didn’t arrive, it would be my father’s head on a pike. He couldn’t blame it on anyone else.”

I didn’t understand something. “Why wouldn’t Kataleya’s father be responsible in the same way for tax on his land?”

“The relationship of the Yorns with the king is different. They work closely together to tax and keep the peace across a vast area of Lycast,” Reuben explained. “And we Langstons make the most of our wealth from endeavors in the capital alone.”

“By taxing the poor and keeping them from ever having enough coin to purchase their own property,” Kataleya said.

“By making smart investments,” Reuben retorted.

I was starting to realize the details were not important so long as Reuben was telling the truth, which did seem to be the case, even if his phrasing made his family sound better than they really were.

“So that just leaves me,” Michael said. “Well, I can say that I don’t know any nobles except for you two.” He pointed at Reuben and Kataleya. “I learned a thing or two about sorcery because my father was a carpenter and was hired to do a big job for a sorcerer. Unlike Josef, this sorcerer was kind. Hemphry Flax. I’ve kept in touch. We met when I was thirteen, and I’m nineteen now. He’s no wind mage. Water, like Kat, but I still learned from him.” Michael scratched his nose as he made a sour face. “Hemphry helped me a bit after my father was murdered by a thief during the night. I still never found out who did it.”

“What about your mother?” Eden asked.

“She left when I was a baby. She never wanted a child. At least I had my father until a year ago.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Eden said.

“I don’t think any of us did,” Kataleya said.

“The boys knew.” Michael gave me a quick look. “I guess we’ve been more separated from each other than we’ve realized. I didn’t know much about anyone in the better-looking group over here.” He gestured at the four girls standing near each other.

“We haven’t had any chance to get to know each other because Leon makes us train all day,” Aliana complained.

“I’ve gotten to know Eden,” Charlie chirped.

“True,” Eden said. “Only because Leon lets us do whatever we want so long as Jennava approves.”

“There is something to be said about that.” Kataleya spoke almost apologetically.

Eden rolled her eyes. “And I thought we were having a moment as a group.”

“We’re not quite there,” Kataleya said more coldly this time. “If anyone could get a callring into the castle without anyone knowing, it’s you, Eden. You’re also the one who knew about them. You and Charlie, but he’s clearly innocent.”

“You could’ve brought one in since the beginning,” Eden retorted.

“I’m sure the king had Barrett search our rooms at some point after we arrived,” Kataleya said.

“If that’s true, you still could’ve brought one after we came back from solitude.”

“He probably searched our rooms again then. He has keys to all our rooms. Only you and Charlie have the freedom to leave the castle and come back when you want, though I expect that to change now.”

“We don’t have that freedom,” Eden said. “Leon still keeps track of us, right Charlie?”

“He does,” Charlie said. “So does Jennava.”

“Yes, she’s around all the time,” Eden told Kataleya. “Also, all of you are practicing in the courtyard. How many times have you seen me leaving?”

“At least once,” Kataleya said. “A few days ago.”

“Just once!” Eden corrected her.

“You could’ve brought the callring in then. My point is that I never had the chance, and neither did Aliana or Remi. Only you have, you and Charlie, but we know it’s not him.”

“God above, I told you later I went to visit my mother. I hadn’t seen her in a while. Aliana’s done the same thing more than I have.”

“Not for a while, right Ali?” Kataleya asked.

“It has been a while since I’ve seen her,” Aliana confirmed.

There wasn’t much daylight left. On one hand, I was glad