The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

I couldn’t convince my father to allow me to bring Barkley back with me when I return. He just loves wuvs you too much, too.”

The dog hopped back up and started running circles around us again.

He suddenly stopped showing any excitement and started sniffing around my bag. Then he barked as he backed away, stopping soon after to whimper.

“What’s the matter?” Kataleya asked her dog.

“I think I know,” I said as I set down my pack and reached inside. I pulled out the red diamond the witch had cursed. The dog ran off at the sight of it, or perhaps at the smell of it. I didn’t smell anything, but I certainly felt something that I still couldn’t pinpoint.

CHAPTER FOUR

“What is that?” Kataleya asked me cautiously.

“I was hoping you would know. It’s what I spoke about earlier. Wait, do you hear something?”

We fell quiet. I strained my ears as I held the diamond close. It seemed to be emitting…not exactly a sound but…I didn’t know what. It was like listening to a faraway voice, but this one couldn’t quite reach my ears.

“I don’t hear anything,” Kataleya said.

“Maybe ‘listen’ was the wrong word. Do you feel something?”

She came close as we put our heads near the red diamond.

“Something indeed, but it’s faint,” she said.

It was more than faint to me. The feeling was like watching someone express anguish. I felt inclined to help Hadley, but I didn’t know how I could.

“Jon Oklar I presume?” asked an older man with gray hair as he joined us in the large entrance room. Kataleya quickly moved away from me.

“Yes, sir,” I said.

“I’m Whitley Yorn.” He spoke his name in a tone that underscored how important he was. I didn’t think I would need Kataleya’s advice to bow. I would’ve felt inclined.

I lowered in a deep bow. “Thank you for the invitation, sir,” I said.

He didn’t seem too pleased about something. Perhaps my bow wasn’t low enough.

“You should address me as your lord,” he said.

“My apologies, my lord.”

He gave a slight nod. “What do you have there?”

“Something confiscated from a witch we’ve been after. I don’t know what to make of it, but it seems to have some kind of power.”

“Explain.”

I told him of my conversation with the sheriff and the bag of Hadley’s things he had given me. I then went on to describe the dream I had while sleeping near this gemstone. Just recently, it had felt like Hadley was trying to contact me again, but by the time I finished my tale, I didn’t feel it any longer.

In the short conversation that followed, it became clear to me that Kataleya had already explained to her father everything Remi had told us about Hadley, which wasn’t much. But Whitley didn’t seem too pleased about the idea of us trying to recruit a witch.

“Witches are not good by nature,” he lectured. “It takes a certain kind of mind to seek the dark arts. This Hadley cannot be trusted.”

Kataleya was unusually silent during all of this, but I had to speak up.

“But the king, my lord. He only wished for Hadley to be investigated to see if she might be goodhearted like our mutual friend described.” I gestured at Kataleya, hoping she would back me up, but again she didn’t speak.

I continued, “When Hadley fled the capital, the king’s orders were not to hunt her down but to find her and speak to her, to explain our situation and judge her based on her character.”

“You don’t need to remind me of the king’s orders. I’m constantly in contact with him through missives. I’m only warning you not to let yourself trust this young witch. I’m sure she means to deceive you.”

Whitley looked at me, waiting for a reply.

I gave a nod that I hoped would look submissive, though I was feeling quite defiant.

“I will have a message sent to the person who knows the most about sorcery in my circle. She was Kataleya’s teacher and should have something to say about this gemstone. I’ll hold onto it for now.” He stuck out his hand.

I didn’t move.

“Come on,” he said impatiently.

I glanced at Kataleya. She looked as if she pitied me, possibly because of her father’s attitude toward me, but she didn’t do anything to stop it. Meanwhile, Barkley watched cautiously from the doorway.

I handed over the gemstone. Whitley whistled, and a manservant came hurrying over. He said something softly near the servant’s ear.

When the manservant ran off with the diamond, Whitley put on a smile directed at me. “Now, onto more important matters. I have heard many great things about you, Jon. Even before Kataleya arrived and shared some stories with me, word reached Livea about your healing powers. My people are very excited you are here. I would like to be the first person you heal here, if you need no preparations.”

“I don’t, my lord.”

“Excellent. They say you can even figure out what is wrong with a man before he knows it himself. Is this true?”

“Yes, my lord. Perhaps a demonstration?”

“Certainly, but first I’ll have Kataleya fetch her mother. Go on, dear.”

“Yes, Father.” Kataleya hurried off, Barkley running after her.

“Would you like me to wait until she arrives?”

He nodded and stepped close, looking as if he had something he needed to say.

“Are you currently in a relationship with anyone?” he asked to my surprise.

“No, my lord.”

“I have heard from Kataleya that you two have grown somewhat close.”

“As friends, my lord,” I was quick to say, hoping Kataleya would return with her mother soon.

“Good,” he said. “Make sure you keep it that way. Kataleya is soon to be engaged. I don’t want any confusion for her.”

“I understand, my lord.”

“Do you, though? Do you really understand that you are not an appropriate match for her?”

I had felt more comfortable with Gerald’s pickax in my shoulder.

“I understand,” I grumbled.

“You understand what?”

“I understand I am not appropriate for her, my lord.” The words felt like stones coming up through my throat.

“Good.”

He stepped away as we heard