Bastial Steel (17 page)

Micah stood, speaking as he made his way toward the sisters. “I’m sure they’re still alive. It’s best to stay calm. Our worst thoughts are produced when we panic.”

He put a hand on each princess’ shoulder. Cleve assumed he was using psyche to comfort them.

Jessend sank back into her chair, and soon each sister was nodding.

“What about the psychic Elf?” Jessend met eyes with Cleve. “Can he find people who’re missing?”

Cleve shook his head. “Psyche doesn’t work like that.” He made a conscious effort not to gaze at Micah. “Rek can’t find anyone unless they’re already close and he’s familiar with them.”

“How close?” Lisanda asked.

“Less than fifty yards,” Cleve answered.

Jessend pounded her fist on the table. “Then what can we do?”

Danvell tilted his head, showing a sad smile. “Jessend, this is not up to you to solve. Don’t you trust I’m doing everything I can?”

Defeated, Jessend’s shoulders slumped. “Yes. I’m sorry, Father.”

Cleve stood. “What about me? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“As soon as we have a better idea where they might be, then yes,” Danvell answered. “That’s why you’re in here. If it’s a rescue mission we need, then the less people we send, the better. And as you and Jessend have described, your psychic friend is the most powerful person we have. We’ve sent a message to the Elves in Meritar, but we can’t even be certain he’ll receive it. If he’s not back in time, I’ll have to figure out something else.”

Jessend stood, shouldering her way in front of Cleve. “Isn’t that too dangerous for Cleve?”

Danvell spread his palms as if confused by her question. “Cleve wants to help, he’s just as skilled as the best warriors among our army, and I trust him. Is there something I’m missing?”

His question sounded rhetorical. But Jessend answered it as if it wasn’t.

“He doesn’t know the land!”

“Jessend, no one knows the land these days,” Danvell said. “It’s filled with enemy armies in friendly territories, along with allied men hiding among our enemies. This is what happens when four bordered territories go to war with each other. It’s happened before, but at least this time we have Zav on our side.”

“You must at least send someone who knows the terrain of Greenedge!” Jessend shouted.

“Of course, dear. Please.” His face showed annoyance, matching his voice. “I know you care about Cleve, but it’s not your place to question my decisions.”

She spun around, looking up to meet Cleve’s eyes. “Are you certain you’re alright with this?”

He put his hand on her shoulder, looking over her head to meet Danvell’s gaze. “After this, you’ll help me and Rek get back to Kyrro?”

“I will. I promise it.”

Cleve swallowed hard, still reluctant to agree.
Why am I so nervous about this?

Something didn’t feel right. He trusted Danvell, so what was it? If Rek was with him, they should be able to handle anything as long as they were cautious.

That was it—Rek might not be back in time before they caught a lead on Raymess’ location.

“Without Rek, I don’t feel confident about retrieving a man and a woman from an enemy territory I’ve never been in before,” Cleve admitted.

“But we can’t wait for Rek,” Micah Vail answered. “As soon as we know where they are, we have to go.”

Searching for ideas, Cleve’s eyes found Micah. “Will you come with me if Rek isn’t here in time?”

Danvell laughed. “Micah Vail? He has no weapons training. Why him?”

Micah glared at Cleve. “My place is inside the palace.”

“Cleve.” Jessend pulled on his arm. “Are you feeling alright? It’s strange of you to suggest Micah Vail go with you. And you seem pale as well.” She touched his cheek. The coolness of her palm made him realize how flushed he felt. He sat down.

“Here.” Micah Vail brought over a glass of water, touching his shoulder in the process. Cleve felt steadiness return to his mind that he was sure was from psyche. He thanked Micah.

“I know it needs to be done,” Cleve said. “And I
do
want to be the one to do it. I guess I’m just nervous.” It was so unlike him to feel this way, he couldn’t help but wonder why it was happening.

Is this because my barrier has been down?
Every feeling he’d had in the last few weeks had been like a needle pricking his skin. He’d laughed, cried, and even smiled more in this palace than he’d done in the past year.

He closed his eyes to meditate, pulling in Bastial Energy. There was chatter around him, but it quickly faded away, leaving just the sound of a river flowing past him, calming him as it brushed by rocks. Trees appeared, and the sun brightened everything, melting the black to leave a blue sky.

He opened his eyes and let the warm Bastial Energy seep out of him.

Taking a breath, he stood. “When you know where they are, tell me. I’ll be ready.”

He found everyone to be smiling at him. Danvell waved at a servant, who brought forward a sword in its sheath. Just by the handle, Cleve could tell it was no mediocre weapon.

“I have a gift for you,” the King told him. The servant gave the sword to Danvell and left. “I’m sure Jessend has told you all about Bastial steel.”

Cleve felt chills down his arms as he reached out to take Danvell’s offering.

“This weapon, along with Nulya, are yours, even when you leave.”

Cleve slowly drew the sword from its sheath. Its sunset color caught the light, and for a moment Cleve thought it was glowing.

He expected it to be hot, as that’s how it appeared—like a burning ember—but the steel was cold just like any other sword.

Though it didn’t feel like any other sword.

“It’s so light,” Cleve marveled.

“It’s about half the weight of iron,” Danvell said. “This is how we won the Bastial Steel War ten years ago.” He pointed at the weapon and then folded his arms. “And with it, you’ll get back my son and wife.”

Chapter 15

After receiving the dreadful news about Queen Vala and Prince Raymess, Lisanda was first out of the room. Suddenly, she let out a shriek that pulled everyone’s gaze.

She must’ve seen something
, Cleve figured. But instead of running away from it, she was darting farther into the hall.

Cleve walked up to see what it was. Lisanda’s lips were locked with some young man’s.
Must be that Sartious mage.
Looks like he’s made it back safely.

Lisanda separated from him, a wide smile giving sight to her teeth. “You’re filthy. You need a shower.”

“So, let’s go.” He started pulling her down the hall. Around his shoulder was a giant sack making sloppy squishing sounds with each step.
The desmarl eyes.

She tugged on his arm to stop him. “What do you mean?”

“You can get in with me.”

She laughed and squeezed his cheeks with one hand. “With the amount of dirt on your body, I’m more likely to come out dirtier than I am now.”

“Oh, I can guarantee you will.” He leaned down, and they kissed again.

Danvell cleared his throat.

They stopped, looking up with guilt.

“I apologize, my king,” Jek said, now with a flat line across his mouth. “I didn’t see you there.” Jek took a step forward and then kneeled, bowing his head and presenting the sack to Danvell.

“Please, stand up straight.” The King’s eyebrows arched, and a smile formed. “There’s no need for that. I have an apology as well. I should’ve trusted you more. Instead, I sent you to the desmarls.” The King let the sack rest in front of him without looking inside.

“I understand. You didn’t think my feelings for Lisanda were genuine, and you were worried hers weren’t, either.”

“You’ve proven your allegiance. You proved it before you even left. I just failed to realize it. There will be no more tests. I promise this.”

Jek seemed to be holding in a laugh.

“Is something funny?” Danvell asked, now deciding to open the sack for a glance, anger forming in his tone.

Cleve peered into it for a look at the monstrous eyes. They were easy to see, as the sack was nearly filled to the brim with them. They had an oval shape, like a head turned on its side. In fact, they were about the same size as a Human head as well. They were mostly white with a tall black pupil, each one ruptured and somewhat disfigured.

Jessend had told him that chemists used desmarl eyes in mixtures with different plants for several potions, the most valuable heightening eyesight for a brief time.

“No, my king. Nothing’s funny.” Jek answered. “It’s just that your mention of a promise brought back memories.” He looked to Lisanda. “Fond ones.”

“I see.” The King’s smile returned. “You must be hungry for a decent meal. I’ll have someone prepare something for you. But first, you must bathe. I can smell you from here.”

“You do stink,” Lisanda added with a giggle.

“One last thing,” Danvell said. “The party that was sent with you—in your letter they were all uninjured. Where are they now?”

“They made it back with me. We got held up in Waywen, but everyone survived. I dismissed them once we were in the palace.”

“We sent an army to retrieve you.”

“Yes, they found us when we were already in Goldram. They’re back as well.”

“Very well. You can tell me the rest after you bathe.” The King walked by Jek, placing a hand on his shoulder for a squeeze.

Micah took that as his cue to approach Jek. “I’m very glad you’re back.” They shook hands.

Lisanda clung to Jek’s other arm, using her feet to fiddle with the marble floor.

Jessend approached next, and Cleve felt as if he should go with her. “I’m sorry about what happened last time we met,” she told Jek, though Cleve didn’t know what she was referring to.

Jek bowed. “I understand, Jessend. I’m just relieved you’re not upset with me anymore. You can be quite scary, especially with a knife in your hand.”

Lisanda laughed, and Jek smiled wide. Jessend poked him in the chest. “That’s right,” she said facetiously. She gestured toward Cleve. “This is Cleve Polken. Cleve, this is Jek Trayden.”

Cleve didn’t know if he should bow or what, so he waited to see what the Sartious mage would do. Jek extended his hand with a warm smile, and Cleve shook it.

Jessend continued, “Cleve came back with me from Kyrro. He saved not only my life, but Lisanda’s and our father’s as well.”

Surprise struck Jek’s face. He looked to Lisanda, and she nodded to him.

“It’s true,” Lisanda said. “He’s quite the warrior, and he’s going to help retrieve our mother and brother.”

The surprise deepened. “What happened?”

“I’ll tell you everything,” Lisanda said. “But you must shower first. I’m starting to feel faint.”

Jek laughed. “Alright. And I like your hair.”

Lisanda ran a hand through it. She was glowing with glee. “Thank you.”

Later that night, Cleve couldn’t get to sleep. The dread of being sent after the Takary Prince and Queen when he knew so little about the land had started to creep back into his body. It was a physical feeling, this dread, like his muscles were in constant use.

He tried to relax, but he was hungry as well. He hadn’t eaten much during dinner. He figured no one had, not with the conversation that had taken place.

Getting up, Cleve decided he needed to eat something before he would ever fall asleep.
And it will get my mind off these incessant worries as well.

Reluctant to disturb Gerace, he made his way to the pantry on his own, using a lamp to light the dark hallways. Moving about in low light always reminded him of Effie. The white glow from her wand as she paced around the dark house they shared would dance around the hallway in what seemed to be an aimless route. Many nights Cleve had fallen asleep listening to the soft patter of her feet traveling back and forth outside his closed door, her light brightening and dimming as she went.

A few times, he’d gotten up himself, and they’d shared a conversation. She had a lot on her mind during those nights—maybe she always had, he realized now.

Usually it was easy for Cleve to bury his worries, but as he came close to the pantry, he felt more similar to Effie than to his old self.
If this is what her mind is like every night, I feel sorry for her.

The pantry was well lit, he saw as he approached the door. He blew out his lamp but stopped in the doorway when he heard voices.

Lisanda was seated on the counter, her bare legs wrapped around Jek as he stood before her. She wore a man’s buttoned shirt. Cleve figured it was Jek’s, as he had no shirt on himself.

The mage was average height, maybe a little taller. His body was muscular but lean, with scars and even fresh cuts that Cleve figured were from the desmarls.

Cleve hadn’t noticed his eyes before. But now, among the light of several lamps around the pantry, he could see how blue they were—distractingly blue.

The two of them didn’t seem to notice Cleve yet.