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

spend a lot more time practicing together,” she said. “I want to be able to hold my water in place in case we encounter Pearson again, and I believe we should experiment as well. I’ve never heard of sorcerers casting together, but it could be useful.”

Spending most of the day with Kataleya, our mana intertwined, sounded enjoyable, but I couldn’t agree to it, unfortunately. “I wish I could, but I’m still planning on speaking with Cason as soon as the king allows.”

“Oh, right. After, then?” she asked hopefully.

“After, I have to learn to catch myself, in case we face Pearson again.” It was hard to get the words out, but she needed to know why this was so important. “He threw me so high last time that I could’ve died had I landed differently. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen…ever.”

“Oh.” She began to nod. “I understand. That’s how I feel about my inability to block his spell. I don’t want that to happen again ever, either, but there’s no one else who can grab spells. It’s a skill you should work on, you know? As soon as you have time.”

It suddenly occurred to me that this might’ve been the spell that Eslenda had used the first time I had seen her, when Aliana and Eden and I had ventured into Curdith Forest and come across her bathing. I had to test it to make sure.

“You’re right,” I said. “I think this calls for one experiment right now.”

“Shall I cast Waterwall again?”

“Actually, I have to try something first. I’ll be right back.”

“I could come with you.”

“Actually you can’t. I’ll be in the boys’ bathing quarters.”

“You…what?”

“It’s not a joke,” I specified.

“All right,” she said with a laugh. “Tell me after.”

It was empty when I arrived, steam in the air. I went to the same bathtub I had used that morning.

It just took a moment to cast the grabbing spell, which I was beginning to think should have a name. I found it intriguing to see the water ripple as I cupped my mana around the edges of it, sliding my mana in between the water and the sides of the tub.

The push of the water created pressure on my mana, and so on my mind as well. The spell called for my mana to join with itself, but there was too much water in the way.

I pushed my mana through the water at the base of the tub, a strenuous task that felt like sticking my arms into holes in the earth and pushing through the dirt until my hands met. Eventually, my mana was connected, though stretched.

I had felt this before, when Leon had thrown his boot for me to catch. It had broken through my mana, and his boot was a lot lighter than the water in this tub. This was not going to work, but I had to try anyway.

I slowly heaved upward. My mana suddenly ripped down the middle and shot out through the sides of the tub with great force, splashing water all around and soaking my boots as I tried to jump away.

Kataleya’s water had been easy to handle, yet this water felt nearly impossible to move. Could it be that Eslenda was just that much stronger than me? She was able to lift out all the water in a small pond, while I couldn’t even take out the water in this tub. It was possible, I supposed, but another answer seemed more likely.

There was probably something about elements made from mana that allowed my mana to manipulate these elements easier. Kataleya had told me, the first time we had really spoken, that the water she made was the same as natural water. I was starting to doubt that was the case. I assumed Eslenda had filled that pond with her own water and could lift the water easier because of this. She probably bathed there often.

Fortunately I had an extra pair of boots in my room. I went up to change with plans to return to the courtyard and share my results with Kataleya, but Remi appeared in my doorway as soon as I finished slipping on my dry boots.

With her small eyes narrowed and her light brown hair unkempt, she seemed to be looking at me in an almost sinister way. I suddenly realized I was vulnerable here, no escape, except past her. I wasn’t sure how my dvinia would hold up against her fire, but I didn’t want to find out.

“Are you all right?” I asked cautiously. She was close enough to me to envelop my whole body in flames before I even knew I was being attacked.

“The king has ordered me to go with you to see Cason. Why?” She seemed upset about this.

“He didn’t explain it?”

“No, he just sent Barrett to give me the order, and Barrett ran off after.”

I supposed the king and his councilman would be very busy for a while.

“I apologize if it’s not something you want to do, but I need your help to make sure Cason doesn’t try to kill me. Aliana will be there as well.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Leon still isn’t well enough to go?”

“I don’t think so. I haven’t seen him.”

“Let’s get this over with, then.”

We found Aliana in the courtyard. She was leaning against the wall of the apartments, waiting for us. She had a different bow with her than her usual one, reminding me that Pearson had crushed her bow in my hands. This must be her spare.

“Ready?” she asked without enthusiasm.

I couldn’t say I was very enthusiastic about this, either. “Yes.”

I noticed Kataleya watching me. She showed me a curious expression, as if awaiting news from my experiment. I would tell her when I got back, which I hoped to convey with a nod and a lifted finger.

The entrance to the dungeon was just down a short hall from the main floor of the keep. I recognized the guard standing in front of the thick door, but as