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

watched him finally extract the arrow and begin to heal himself.

“I still have many more warnings,” Aliana said.

“I’m going to kill you when I get out of here.” He spoke in such a cold and calculated way that I worried it might actually happen.

“Answer my question, or I’ll put the next arrow between your legs.”

I was a little surprised by Aliana. I had expected to do the questioning, but this seemed to be working far better. Cason didn’t seem like the kind of person who could be reasoned with, as most people would’ve started talking after the first arrow nearly killed them.

I had to admit it felt good to see Cason suffer.

After Aliana’s latest threat, Cason stood and casually held his hand near his belt in a protective manner. “You want the truth? Fine. It might help you see how hopeless this is for you. Yes, it was your father who told us everything we wanted to know about Jon and the others, and it was your mother who told him, because you told her.”

I didn’t know why, but I believed him. I asked, “Who cursed Pamela?”

“I don’t even know who that is.”

“She owns the magic shop Enchanted Devices.”

He smirked. “Oh yes. That was him.”

“Pearson?” I asked.

“He’s not done here,” Cason said. “Shoot me all you want; it won’t matter. I will be freed. I will take revenge.”

“Revenge?” Remi spat. “You talk about taking revenge against us when it’s you who attempts to destroy your own kingdom. You could’ve joined us. We could’ve fought Rohaer together. The king would’ve granted you land and riches, more power than you could ever achieve by going against us.”

“Power is not land and riches. Power is truth, and it is life. You choose death. I do not. Don’t make this into something it’s not. If I cared about land and riches, I would not be in this prison cell right now. It’s all of you who have joined Nykal Lennox so ignorantly, hoping for land and riches. Real power is the ability to take what you want from anyone who stands in your way, even if they are a king.”

“No man should have that kind of power,” Aliana said.

“This world isn’t built on ‘should.’ It was shaped by the conflicts between the demigods. Man is destined to fight. A victor is to be decided, and it’s not up to you or even me to stop that. It’s only up to us to choose life or death, power or weakness, mastery or servitude.”

“If you believe victory is your destiny,” I said, “why try to corrupt me with dteria? You clearly don’t think you need any other help.”

“Corrupt you? I could laugh. I used to feel bad for all of you because you chose the wrong side before you even knew what you were getting into, but now I can see it wouldn’t have mattered. You are all too stupid to choose life. I was trying to help you. I would’ve done the same for all the sorcerers, but you were the only one who came to the king without having chosen a magical art.”

So that’s all it was? It had nothing to do with my personality or potential. I was merely the only one who could be influenced with dteria, the only one who’d visited Pamela’s shop and met Greda, who’d helped me with an essence.

I didn’t know why I was disappointed. I supposed I had hoped there might be something about me Cason had sensed, something I was yet to discover.

“Who is the traitor in the castle?” I asked.

“Those who are loyal to me are the only ones who will know the truth. Not you.”

Aliana lifted her bow and readied an arrow. “Answer him.”

Cason looked at her aggressively.

Remi lifted her palms. “I will burn you again if you touch her with dteria.”

Cason’s shoulders relaxed. “Did Nykal send you here?”

“Nope,” Aliana answered casually. “We are here by our own free will and won’t be leaving until we are satisfied.”

“Shoot, burn, I don’t care. The only thing I’ll tell you is also the only thing you have to know. The demigods are real and more involved in this war than you seem to realize. There is no answer I can give you that will change your fate. The only reason I spoke at all is because I was bored, but now I’m getting tired of your ignorance. Leave me alone.”

He brushed his arm through the air, and all three of us were thrown sideways. Remi had her teeth showing as she started to march back after getting up, but I got my arm around her waist.

“There’s no point,” I said. “Making him suffer isn’t going to benefit us anymore.”

She stopped resisting, so I let her go.

I picked up Aliana’s quiver, which had come detached from her belt, and handed it to her.

There was one more thing I wanted to know that we hadn’t asked Cason, and I was sure he knew the answer. Why hadn’t Pearson killed anyone? If Cason had almost broken my neck, surely Pearson could’ve snapped the spine of many people. Instead, he just threw us out of his way.

Something was preventing him from killing us outright, though he did throw a couple of guards off the third-floor stairway in the keep, and one had died. Callie had mentioned the threat of Gourfist, but was that right? Cason wouldn’t tell me, though. He was done talking.

I thought of someone who seemed to know the most about this, the girl I wanted to speak with anyway.

“I’m going to look for my father’s cell,” Aliana stated on our way out.

“Aliana…” Remi put her hands on her hips. “I thought you agreed with me?”

“I do, but I can’t help it. I have to speak with him at least one time, and I’d like to do it alone. Please don’t tell the king. Please, as my friends.”

I was hesitant, mostly because of what I’d seen Aliana do to Cason. She still had her bow with her. She