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

escape, and I know stopping him is important to you even if you aren’t searching for him. Right?”

“Yes, Cason must be stopped.”

“We came here to learn how to perform an illusion, but also how to detect one.”

“Certainly not all of you have the range to cast an illusion?” Eslenda asked.

“Only Jon,” Charlie said. “It’s a spell of ordia and vtalia. Reuben and Eden have the range for the ordia part, but neither of them can reach uF, like Jon can, but Jon hasn’t been practicing ordia. It’s doubtful he will learn the illusion in time. The king requires someone—”

“Ahh!” Michael interrupted with a scream.

“What does the king require?” Kataleya asked, her gaze bouncing around among us. “Oh,” she said with disappointment. “I suppose I’m still the prime suspect? Well, in that case it seems obvious that the king wants Jon to learn an illusion so he can spy on my father. I think if the king was really worried about me finding out, he would’ve imprisoned me in my room for longer. It’s not like I’m going to have any means of contacting my father until we find out who the traitor is anyway. You can relax, all of you.”

“It would take very long for anyone to learn an illusion, especially a young sorcerer like you, Jon,” Eslenda said.

“How long?”

“Weeks, most likely. It is one of the most difficult spells to cast and especially difficult to maintain.”

“How much more difficult than Heal with three notes?”

“You can really cast Purify?” she asked with heavy doubt.

So that’s what it’s called. “Yes.”

She seemed to be in thought as she stared at me. “Then you might learn faster. Maybe one week. But I don’t understand why you came here. I cannot help you with your problems. You must train on your own.”

“I plan to. I just need to understand how it works first.”

“No one knows in the castle?”

We shook our heads.

“Your group has so much to learn.” She spoke disappointedly. “And so little time. What of that man who fought with us? Blond hair. Older.”

“Leon,” I answered.

“He is a strong sorcerer. Doesn’t he teach you?”

“He doesn’t know anything about illusions.” I felt like it was important to repeat something. “Cason is using them constantly. There must be something you can tell us to help us catch him when he uses one.”

“Yes, there must be something, I agree.” I didn’t know why she appeared to be confused if she agreed, but then she made it clear. “I have used illusions for many years. It has been a long time since I have thought about them. It is late. I am tired. I will instruct you tomorrow. Make camp here and wait for me.”

Aliana asked, “Are there any dangerous creatures that come around here?”

I was sure she was referring to the cantar that had tried to kill me.

“Yes, there are many dangerous creatures. Sleep light.”

“Great,” Michael said.

*****

We set a fire and got our sleeping rolls in place. I noticed that the girls didn’t bother sleeping around Kataleya like they said they would. No one slept near anyone else.

Kataleya had stopped us to prove that there was a greater chance Aliana was the traitor, but I felt even more confused than before. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well that night, and from the rustling I heard of my peers, they didn’t, either. I wasn’t the only one who sat up during the night a few times just to make sure everyone was still here.

The girls did stick together in the morning, all going off together for about an hour as we boys kept to ourselves while we had a bite to start the day. Even Charlie didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk, as he sat on a rock and read, though I did see him get up and speak with Reuben later. The two of them muttered to each other for a while.

I was glad I had taken the time before we left to return the book I’d borrowed from the library. One of these days I might have time to sit down and read about mana. For now, I worked on reaching the low notes of ordia. I had brought my vibmtaer and color chart knowing I would be practicing much of the day.

I already missed the comfort of the castle, such as my bed and morning bath. My breakfast was lacking as well. But nothing could compare to the benefit of training in the forest. Leon told us that the natural dvinia of Curdith Forest allowed for a better connection between mind and mana. That benefit extended a little farther out from the forest, which is why we trained in the mountains nearby before our first test. That offered a little of the benefit without any of the danger.

Eventually the girls came back, and Eslenda was with them. They didn’t seem comfortable in each other’s company as they walked with a wide berth between all of them.

“What’s going on?” Reuben asked. “Did you discuss something?”

The girls looked at one another. Eden answered. “Just leave it alone. It’s not important. We found Eslenda. She’s ready.”

“Eslenda,” Charlie asked, “how long have you been casting?”

“Decades,” she said.

“You don’t look old. Are you, though?”

“I am.”

“Why aren’t there other elves here?” Charlie went on.

No one stopped him as we looked at Eslenda and waited for an answer.

“That is not important right now. I am busy, like I said.”

“Just one more question then,” Charlie pleaded.

“If it is important.”

“It’s about Eden.”

“Uh,” Eden grumbled. But she quieted to let Charlie finish.

“llG is in her range,” he continued, his words coming as a surprise to me. Low-Lower G was mtalia, Charlie’s specialty. It was the note he focused on to melt and harden metal.

He finished his question, “Why is it that I can use llG to alter metal but Eden cannot?”

“Oh,” Eden said, sounding somewhat relieved the question wasn’t something else.

“And Reuben can track, like Aliana, but he’s not nearly as good,” Charlie said. “It takes him much more practice