A Crumble of Walls (The Kin of Kings Book 4) (12 page)

Neeko put his hand on her back, his face without the same annoyance as hers as he spoke to Basen. “We came here expecting a certain kind of life,” he explained. “We were looking for more adventure, but not necessarily such danger. Though, we understand what you’re saying.”

Shara nodded reluctantly. “We do.”

“It’s almost night,” Neeko said. “Give us until the morning to make a decision, all right?”

It sounds like they already have.

“Of course,” Effie said.

Neeko and Shara busied themselves getting the cabin ready for everyone to spend the night there. There was only one bed, but an enormous bearskin rug covered most of the floor, and they laid out all the sheets they had to cover the rest. Combined with the blankets Basen’s party had packed, it seemed that everyone should be comfortable enough to sleep. So it came as a surprise when Neeko and Shara announced they would be leaving for the night and the bed would be available. They were going to sleep in the forest, most likely so they could discuss privately what to do.

“We should sleep outside,” Juliana offered, “so you can stay here.”

Both Shara and Neeko put up their hands. “No,” Shara said, “we want to be out of the cabin as we consider leaving it for good.”

Annah left with them and explained that she needed to tell Vithos and the Krepps what was happening for the night.

There was little risk of enemies finding them in this forest, so the Krepps should be able to sleep safely no matter where they chose to rest. It was fortunate that the night was warm. Mosquitoes would be the worst of their troubles, and that’s only if the annoying insects had a taste for them. The creatures did stink, after all.

When Annah returned and everyone was settled, Basen asked Effie lying beside him, “What can Neeko and Shara do that make them so important?”

“Shara is just a mage like me.”

“And Neeko?”

“Have you heard of pyforial energy?”

“No.”

“Steffen,” Effie whispered to her other side.

“What?”

“Help me explain pyforial energy to Basen.”

“And anyone else listening,” Basen added.

Annah sat up. “Isn’t it similar to sartious except that it’s clear and holds together better?”

“Yes,” Steffen said, his gravelly voice making it sound as if he’d been asleep already.

“You’re not making it sound exciting,” Effie said. “He can move things with it.”

“Oh god’s mercy,” Basen quipped. “He can move things?”

She slapped his arm playfully. “It’s much more than that! He can choke people, too.”

Juliana gasped. “Oh, dear.”

Effie sat up quickly. “Neeko wouldn’t choke anyone who didn’t deserve it, Mrs. Hiller.”

Did he choke one of the three Krepps going after him?
It didn’t seem like that would be enough to deter all of them.

“Can he lift people with this energy?” Basen asked. “Can he throw them?”

“I don’t think so,” Effie said as she lay back down. “Steffen, help me explain. What he can do is amazing, isn’t it?”

There was no reply.

“Steffen, wake up.”

He snorted, then grumbled, “Yes, amazing.”

“The potential of what he can do…” Effie said, but then paused for a long while. “I bet he’s learned how to throw knives with the energy.”

“Don’t many warriors of the Academy also know how to throw knives?” Basen asked. “I thought it’s what they learned when the bow was outlawed.”

She pushed her knuckles against his shoulder. “All right, I don’t know exactly what he’s learned to do since we last spoke with him, but we want him to teach others how to manipulate the energy. Maybe one pyforial mage isn’t as useful as I first thought, but ten? I’m sure
they
could lift someone.”

“Ten archers sounds a lot more intimidating to me. Ten
psychics.
Now they would be worth coming to this cabin for. Even ten skilled swordsmen, or bastial mages. All seem better than ten pyforial mages. Now if Neeko was strong enough to pick someone up and break them in half, or even snap their neck, then—”

“Basen, please!” his mother scolded. “Have you really become this crass in the short time we’ve been apart?”

Effie and Annah seemed to find that amusing, laughing without reserve.

“Sorry, Mother,” Basen mumbled under his breath. He knew she was sensitive to gore, but he hadn’t expected to be called out on his “vulgar behavior” during their first night reunited.

“And apologize to Effie and Annah for speaking like that,” his mother chided.

Basen felt his cheeks go hot with embarrassment. She’d always treated women gentler than they needed to be treated. Not all were princesses as delicate as ripe peaches.

“I’m sure they don’t care if I apologize,” he groused.

“Oh, we do,” Effie teased. “We care very much.”

Annah snickered.

Basen couldn’t believe, in the silence that followed, he was actually expected to apologize to them. Was there a portal in this cabin that had sent him into the past? He felt like a child again, but not in a good way. His mother seemed to have that effect on him.

“I’m
sorry
I was crass in front of you, Effie and Annah,” he said, unable to keep his insincerity from coming out. “I didn’t realize you were so fragile that I could offend your delicate nature with a few descriptive words. I swear to speak only of
flowers
,
fragrances
, and other
fragile
things in the
future
.”

“You forgot
furry
creatures,” Effie teased. “And
flowing
dresses.”

“And
fanciful
,
flavorful
meals,” Annah added. “We approve of all of these
fascinating
topics.”

“
Florid
…” Steffen grumbled, half asleep. “
Florid
something.”

When the chemist offered nothing else, Basen concluded the conversation with one last word.

“
Fine.
”

CHAPTER TEN

In the morning, Basen led his mother to the stream he knew to be nearby. They’d taken it upon themselves to get water for their group, and he knew Juliana wanted privacy to improve her appearance. She’d borrowed a mirror and comb she’d found in the cabin, and when Basen had noticed them in her hands on the way to the water, she’d pursed her lips and said, “Shara would understand. All women would.”

Shara and Neeko hadn’t returned by the time Basen left with his mother. Perhaps they hadn’t come to a decision. Much had been asked of them, after all. Joining the Academy had been an easy choice for Basen, though he hadn’t had the same freedom they enjoyed.

Freedom—he’d felt less of it since rescuing his mother.

He loved her; he did. He was so glad for her to be out of confinement and on her way back to Henry. Now if only he could figure out why she was treating him as if he’d gotten younger instead of older since they’d last seen each other.

“How has the Academy been?” she asked him.

“I haven’t spent as much time there as I’ve wanted because of the war, but so far it’s been pleasant.”

“What else has taken you away from school besides rescuing me?” She stopped combing her hair, set down Shara’s mirror and comb, and walked over to take Basen’s hands. “Thank you.” She squeezed. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve said so yet, which was wrong. I’m afraid I’ve lost sight of my manners dealing with those obnoxious women locked up with me. I don’t know why Crea had to punish me so. She could’ve put me in my own cell.”

“I’m sure she knows how social you are and wanted to give you company,” Basen joked.

His mother actually was social, spending much of her time at the castle organizing dinners and other events. But if there was one thing she had no tolerance for, it was rude people with no title to use as an excuse. Crea, on the other hand, was a princess, so Juliana figured she had the right to act like she did. Basen never understood his mother’s reasoning behind that, but at least now she couldn’t possibly treat Crea with the same deference.

He looked forward to Juliana, Henry, and Crea being stuck within the same walls. But then he remembered his mother avoided conflict at all costs.
And she’s not going to want Henry to do anything, either.
It was somewhat frustrating.

“You’re welcome,” Basen said. “But don’t forget that Crea could’ve left you there to die. You can’t show her any respect when you return. Doing so would be disrespecting yourself.”

“She’ll get what she deserves,” Juliana said with a mischievous smirk that satisfied Basen greatly. He hadn’t seen this side of his mother before. “However, I would be surprised if she’s still at the Academy by the time I return.”

“She’ll run?”

“Like she does from every problem.”

“I don’t think she will this time. She’s invested too much in this war to run back to Tenred. She’ll want to make amends.”

“I welcome her to try.”

Now Basen was beginning to worry. Juliana had never let her emotions take control like this, and she might be at the Academy for a while before Basen could return.

“Just be careful,” he said. “The politics within the Academy are complicated right now and extremely delicate. When I left, it felt as if Terren and Abith were one disagreement away from a duel, and I’m not talking about the friendly kind. Meanwhile, Crea is plotting something. I forced her to sign the decree that led to your release, but she’ll protect herself from our family in some way.”

“She’s always plotting. I’ll figure her out before we’re in any danger.”

“But—”

“I’ll be careful,” his mother assured him with a toss of her hand. “I know how to handle women like her.” She went back to working the knots out of her tangled hair.

After an awkward silence, Basen said, “To answer your first question, many different things have taken me away from the Academy. I have a certain skill that has become quite useful.”

“Your sword fighting—your father has finally convinced you to take it up again!”

He was shocked at the pride he heard in his mother’s voice. Had she wanted him to be a knight of Tenred like Henry had? She’d always made a point to take Basen’s side, saying that if he wanted to be a mage, he deserved the opportunity to train as one. He supposed he’d never asked her directly what she wanted for him. It did make sense that she would want him to learn the sword over the wand, for there was more honor that way, and she cared more about honor than most.

“No,” he said, “I have a skill with bastial energy that you’ll soon see.”

She looked absolutely bewildered, as if he’d just told her he had become the king of Kyrro.

“How does your ability with energy lead to you being selected for these missions? There must be more experienced mages who can make fire or cast light.”

“Yes, third-years, but even they can’t do what I can.”

“Why aren’t you telling me what it is?” She smiled as she seemed to realize something. “You want to surprise me.”

“And you shouldn’t ruin it.” He smiled back.

“Something with that akorell bracelet, I presume.”

Basen laughed. “Now you’re the one surprising me. How do you know what it is?” He’d been charging it with energy as much as he could on the way to the forest. Now Effie was putting all she could into it so it would be ready as soon as possible.

“I know a lot of things,” she said, still holding her grin. But then she frowned. “I had Sanya’s father investigated after his eldest daughter died mysteriously. I found out what the akorell stone was then.”

“So you also knew about Spiro’s experiments?”

Juliana’s face twisted with sadness. To Basen’s shock, she began to weep.

“I did. I tried to get him to stop, but he wouldn’t. I told Henry to speak to his brother about it, but you know how Tegry was. Your father couldn’t convince him to force Spiro to stop. That chemist was mad. He believed he was a god.”

“I complained about Sanya all the time. Why didn’t you tell me what was happening to her?”

“It would’ve come out during one of your arguments with her. Or you might’ve told one of your friends. I wanted to protect Sanya, to help her. Look at how sad she was because no one could.”

Basen was too shocked to figure out what he was feeling. Juliana had made it sound as if all of Sanya’s sins were her father’s fault.
It’s only because Juliana is a parent herself.
For everything wrong I did as a child, I could see a bit of shame in her as she lectured me. Even last night in the cabin, it was as if my “crass” language reflected on her. At what point do parents let their children take full responsibility for their actions?
If I killed someone innocent, would my mother blame herself?
It seemed absurd. Henry had never been this way with him, and Basen doubted Spiro would feel responsible for the monster he’d created.