Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2) by B.T. Narro (best book series to read txt) 📗

“Sire?” I said as he was turning to leave our table. When he stopped and turned around, I asked, “Will there be a memorial for those who’ve perished during this battle?”

“There will,” he answered swiftly. “The friends and family of the deceased are being notified as we speak. The memorial will be tomorrow. Unfortunately, no one here will be able to attend the ceremony because it will be outside Newhaven, where the bodies are to be buried, and I need all of you defending the castle, my family, and keeping an eye on each other until we find Pearson or discover he’s gone to Rohaer.”

It hurt to be excluded from Calvin’s funeral, but I did understand that the king needed me here along with the others. If all of us had been in the castle during the attack, we probably would’ve been able to stop Pearson from escaping with the gold.

Then again, maybe not. There seemed to be no limitation to his magical or physical strength. Why hadn’t he taken off into the air as soon as he’d stolen the chest from the keep? Perhaps it was so he could aid Cason and the others in escaping.

“Is Cason being questioned?” I asked the king before he left.

“He won’t say anything for a while, Jon. He needs some time in solitude to see what his life will be like if he doesn’t cooperate with us.”

“May I try speaking with him, though?”

The king appeared concerned. “For what purpose?”

“I feel that he’s targeted me since I came here. Perhaps I could at least get him to explain why.”

“He could kill you with dteria by throwing you against the wall.”

I held back a shudder as I visualized it happening to Calvin.

“Then send an archer with me.” I knew all of the king’s archers had gone after Pearson, but there was still one left. “Aliana, would you mind?”

She looked up at me. I wasn’t sure she’d heard any of it at first, but then she answered, “I’d be happy to go.”

“I still wouldn’t feel comfortable,” Nykal said. “I would at least ask that a fire mage go with you too, but Leon and Remi are both indisposed. Tomorrow, Jon. I will have someone collect you, Aliana, and Remi tomorrow.”

“I would like a word with my father then as well,” Aliana said.

“Luther is being questioned right now. I can’t guarantee a meeting between you and him until after my interrogator is done. It could be a few days, if Luther remains difficult.”

“Did you know, sire?”

“Excuse me?”

It sounded as if Aliana was holding back emotion as she spoke again. “Did you know he was my father?”

“All I knew was what was on your identification papers and what you told us during your interview. Your father was unlisted. You didn’t know who he was. We assumed he might be someone powerful, and I will admit that we thought he might come forward and assist us when you gained prestige, but I did not base my decision to accept you into this castle on this notion. You were not treated any differently. We made a choice, Aliana. We could have investigated your family and pressured your mother to speak up, but we chose not to.”

His voice gained volume as he continued. “I have governed this nation through respect and trust, but my enemies have taken advantage of that benevolence. I have attempted to correct my mistrust of Newhaven’s people, and it is because of these changes to my administration that we have fared well against men like Cason and Pearson.”

I was a little surprised to hear him say we had fared well.

But then I had to correct my surprise. It was easy to forget that we had foiled all of Cason’s plans except the most recent one, and even then we’d managed to capture Cason. The king had lost his gold, but I supposed we had fared well considering how outmatched we’ve been.

“However,” the king continued. “I understand all of you have concerns and personal interests invested in this now. Aliana, you wish to speak to your father. Kataleya, you want redemption for the accusation against your family. Jon, you want to be given trust and opportunity. All of you have goals, wishes, and desires. I’m sure they are all valid, but I don’t have the energy to discuss your personal interests any longer tonight. If there is a matter you wish to bring up, do so with Barrett.

“Jon, you will visit Cason tomorrow with Aliana and Remi, but training is to resume for everyone, and all of you—but Jon—are to be locked in during the night. We should be coming to the end of this struggle against Cason and Pearson very soon, which should buy us a lot of time to prepare for Rohaer. I’ve heard from Leon that everyone has shown great improvement, but you must keep it up now. Train hard and continue to follow my orders obediently, and we will get through this.”

He walked out of the dining hall the moment he was done, I assumed to check on his family. I wished I could say that his speech had moved us, but it was a quiet table he had left behind, most of us staring down at our near-empty plates.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

It took until after everyone finished eating for me to notice the blood on my shirt. There was no way to know if it belonged to some of the few sorcerers I had fought against or some of the many allies I had healed. I needed a bath, again. I was starting to get used to needing a second one daily. I just wished I had more energy to enjoy it.

I tried not to fall asleep in the bath, but it was hard with the room so quiet and the water so warm. The castle workers were the unsung heroes in my life. I’m sure one of them had noticed that I tended to take a bath before bed these days, as