Rise of Legends (The Kin of Kings Book 2) (9 page)

Sanya decided to name her bear Muskie because of his overpowering scent, which was now all over her. Muskie was awake already, foraging in nearby vegetation. He wouldn’t abandon her so long as his hunger remained less of a priority than her safety.

After checking her surroundings and finding nothing to eat, she whistled. Muskie plodded over, and Sanya hopped up onto his back. She directed him south and nearly slipped off as he sprang forward. She leaned down to hold on with her hands, trying not to grab his oily coat of fur.

It took her some time to find the right spot on his back where she could balance and her weight didn’t bother him. She found it to be more forward on his body than she would’ve assumed, where the muscles of his shoulders rolled beneath her legs.

She thought about Tauwin waiting for her in the castle in Kyrro City. Her stomach turned at the thought of him kissing her and pathetically trying to bed her as he always did. She’d used psyche the first time they’d met and every time thereafter until he was in love with her. Now he was convinced it was genuine.

She wanted to know what had become of Oakshen since the takeover. He probably would lie about what was happening there if she asked, not knowing that she could detect it. She decided she would rather see for herself how the city was faring.

Instead of turning west toward it, she continued south so she could travel through Raywhite Forest longer, where she was less likely to encounter Tauwin’s men. Muskie often veered toward berries that caught his eye, and she let him eat without disruption.

Eventually they came to a beehive. Muskie approached apprehensively until Sanya put all the bees to sleep. She used psyche to communicate that she’d done this for Muskie, and he loved her even more for it. She helped herself to some of the honey.

While Sanya rode, she continually cast out her psyche like a net. There were thousands of creatures she could detect each time, but most were simple-minded bugs. She ignored them in the same way she had the people of Tenred each time she’d look out her bedroom window from the castle where she grew up, focusing instead on the land beyond Tenred’s wall. She used to wonder how long she could elude her father’s men if she ran. She never became confident it would be more than a day.

She stopped Muskie when she finally sensed what she’d expected to encounter eventually: another person. It seemed to be a man, a strong sense of duty keeping him cautious and unafraid. She left Muskie behind for a glimpse through the trees.

Sanya couldn’t believe her eyes, not just because it was a woman, but because Sanya recognized her.

Effie?
What was the mage doing out here? She had on a simple brown dress that was dirty and frayed at the bottom. Her nervous hand gripped a pouch just small enough to fit in a pocket. Her other hand picked off a blackberry and placed it in the pouch. She popped the next one into her mouth, then reached behind her to touch the bow strapped to her back as if to ensure it hadn’t fallen off.

It wasn’t Effie, Sanya realized as she remembered the mage had a younger sister. Sanya had met Gabby briefly at the celebration at Effie’s house at the end of evaluation week.

She came to a plan quickly, walking out into the clearing between them. “Gabby, thank the stars!”

The young chemist looked shocked and angry as if someone had lifted up her dress. She squeezed the pouch against her bosom.

“It’s Sanya from the Academy,” she said, putting up her hands. “We’ve met before.”

“Sanya! What are you doing here?” Gabby shot a look over her shoulder. “They’ll kill us if they catch us, so keep your voice down.”

Kill instead of imprison?
Sanya thought Tauwin was only merciless toward those who threatened his power directly. He must’ve been terrified of rebellion to kill Oakshen’s citizens simply for disobeying him.

“I was sent to scout Oakshen,” Sanya lied. “We want to retake the city.”

Gabby dropped her pouch and ran over to throw her arms around Sanya. “Thank you! It’s only been a few days since they’ve overrun us, but those few days have been the worst of my life. How are Steffen and my sister?”

Sanya wiggled one of her arms free to pat Gabby on the back. “They’re fine.”
Although your sister would give anything to see me dead for what I did to Alex.
“What’s been happening in Oakshen?”

Gabby pulled Sanya back toward her pouch, lying askew against the tree roots, and glanced around nervously. “They’re forcing everyone to stay in the city, whipping anyone who even voices a complaint! They’ve taken control of the farms and haven’t yet fed anyone. They feed their soldiers well, making sure they eat where the rest of us can only watch. Some have joined the army in order to eat, but I’m not going to let hunger weaken me. I’ll never join.”

“What do the men in charge look like?”

“We call them Fatbellies. They speak like something’s bitter in their mouth, and they wear these enormous coats of some unknown black and brown fur.” She gestured around her shoulders as if wearing one of these coats. “They must come from somewhere else.”

Greenedge.
“How many are there?”

“In charge? A baker’s dozen at most. I suppose there’s more in the capital, though. They’re forcing everyone to stay in Oakshen under threat of death. The old and sick are already dying from hunger.”

“How many soldiers are in the city?”

Gabby shook her head as if in pain. “It would be a tough battle. At least a thousand, and they’re building a wall around the city. It’ll take weeks before they’re finished, but if more keep joining from hunger, it might be sooner.”

Starving the citizenry must’ve been Tauwin’s idea. He’d always needed complete control, acting like a child in that regard. If there was something he couldn’t have, he wanted it more. Even when his own father was the one standing in his way.

“Has there been any talk of rebellion?” Sanya asked.

“Yes, but none who want to rebel stay in Oakshen. They find a way to Trentyre or die trying. I want my family to rebel, but they’re fearful. They don’t know I’m out here because they would never allow it.”

“Why haven’t people run to the Academy instead of Trentyre?”

“It was announced that everyone will be fed once the Academy falls. They say the Academy is surrounded with no way in or out, and the headmaster will give up soon because he knows the people of Oakshen will starve until he does.”

This was a patient and cunning plan. Tauwin couldn’t have come up with it. He must’ve actually listened to his advisors, who didn’t want to lose more men trying to take the Academy.

“I think most of it is lies,” Gabby continued. “But people believe what they’re told. They think that if they behave, their children in the Academy will be delivered to them unharmed once this is over.”

“Does anyone know how many men Tauwin has in total?”

“I’m not sure, but he has people everywhere in common clothing, many acting as if they’ve lived in Oakshen for years. We don’t know where they came from, but people noticed them before the takeover.”

Thousands of them arrived by sea. King Kerr’s charisma had made it difficult for Tauwin to recruit anyone loyal to the late ruler, but Kerr didn’t have enough men watching the small town of Gendock, or anyone who saw the boats docking at night never alerted him.

“What about catapults?” Sanya asked.

It was in Gabby’s wide and expressive eyes, now twinkling with fear and resentment, that she differed the most from Effie, who usually had a wiser and calmer look about her. “That must be what they’re working on! We’ve heard sounds of construction from the northern end of the city. The area has been closed off, yet people have seen something tall.”

Building the siege weapons to the north means the Academy’s scouts might see them. Terren will attack preemptively if he’s as smart as he’s lauded to be. But could this be what Tauwin wants?

“Thank you, Gabby. I’ll report to Terren.” She started back to her bear.

“Tell my sister and Steffen that I love them and hope to see them soon.”

“I will.”

Sanya rode Muskie north for a little while, then turned west. After a few hours, she chanced upon a deer that she lured, killed, and cooked. She feasted on a thick slab of its rich and gamey meat, then let Muskie devour the rest of the carcass. Afterward, they she set off again. With a full yet uneasy stomach, she rode until she finally reached the capital, Kyrro City, by evening.

The beginning of what soon would be an enormous wall wrapped around the city. It was several hundred yards from the edge of the forest, and Sanya knew there must be guards watching for anyone coming or going. She thought about staying in the forest a while longer. She’d grown to like her bear.

No, she was just delaying the inevitable. She’d have to see Tauwin soon enough. She had the akorell stone. She had enough of her safli potion to keep her mother’s spirit alive until it was time. Playing in the forest with her bear was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

Alabell had told Sanya that she’d burned Tauwin with a fireball. But no matter how much he might be scarred, she could not show how much his touch disgusted her.

“Goodbye, Muskie,” she said to her huffing bear.

He grunted endearingly.

She sent a great spell of fear into him, then watched him lumber away. He would still love her as much as a bear was capable and probably even look for her.

Sanya investigated the wall for vulnerabilities, but it was too well guarded. That left only one option. She approached with false confidence.

“Halt there!” an archer yelled. He aimed and looked ready to shoot if she moved.

As another archer came to stand beside the first one, she raised her arms in surrender. “My name is Sanya Grayhart. I’m as important to Tauwin as his bastial steel sword. If you value your heads, you’ll take me to the castle.”

There was a moment of confused silence between the two men, but soon the first one lowered his weapon. After they conferred with a few others, the two men beckoned for her to follow them.

One asked if she was to marry Tauwin, but the other ordered him to keep his mouth shut. The trip was silent after that.

When they reached the castle, a few hushed words were spoken to the guards outside and Sanya was brought within the great hall. She wanted to leave the company of her escorts so she could find a room to hide in before Tauwin knew she was there. He would never let her eat or sleep in peace, and she wanted one more night to herself.

“I’m fine now,” she tried to tell the four men at her sides.

“Tauwin requested that you be brought to him the moment you arrive,” one said.

She was a possession, Tauwin’s prized pet. At least it was the highest level of regard he could have for people. Sanya didn’t hold it against him, though, for she had the same defect.

As she waited for one of the men to fetch Tauwin, she wondered if she’d see her father that night as well. The last time she’d spoken to him was when they were staying at the Takary mansion. He would pretend that he was worried about her, and she would thank him without conviction for his supposed concern.

She was delighted when Tauwin’s mother, Kithala, elegantly descended the long stairway instead of her son. The regal woman wore a finer dress every time Sanya saw her. She blessed this evening with a lavish one the deep color of cobalt. Her black hair was tied into a bun with no stray hairs to be found, a hairstyle that said Kithala must’ve spent the last few days conducting business, though if she was weary, she didn’t show it.

“Sanya.” Kithala took her hands and squeezed. “I worried about you frequently.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

“I’m sure you must’ve figured out by my presence that Tauwin is busy at the moment, but he does wish to see you.”

He’s probably with a whore.
“I’m happy with your company, Kithala.” Sanya’s words prompted a smile.

Only psychics could tell that Kithala was always nervous. She hid it flawlessly, except during mentions of her late husband, when her warm eyes would become dark with gloom for a moment. Sanya could feel that deep in Kithala’s heart, she knew her son was responsible for the fever that had killed her husband, but it was buried beneath a stone floor of unconditional love.

“Will I be seeing my father tonight?”

“He’s not here, love. You must be tired and hungry. Let me prepare you a meal, and would you like a bath?”

Why wasn’t her father in the castle? Sanya supposed that meant he was still at the Takary mansion, though he hated it there. Given that Kithala clearly didn’t wish to speak about it, Sanya would have to ask Tauwin. He only lied to her about the things that didn’t matter: how much time he spent working, planning, and meeting, or the other women he’d been with. If he’d done something to her father, he’d tell her because he’d think his reason was justified.

“Just a bath, thank you,” Sanya said, hoping to get to bed as soon as possible. It was late, and there was much to do tomorrow.

CHAPTER NINE

Two days had passed since Sanya left the Academy. Cleve tried to sleep and train, but he felt confused and distracted every time his thoughts circled back to her. Why had she come to the Academy in the first place if what she told Basen was the truth?