His tone shook something free within me—an old anger buried deep in my being. Fury ignited a fire beneath me, forcing me to my feet. I’d already gathered the small amount of pyforial energy needed. He wouldn’t even know what happened.
Just before I could use my mind to move the energy across his plate, flinging his oatmeal all over his exquisite shirt embroidered with the symbol of a dalion, I caught Big Henry’s gaze. He perked up, far from bored now.
Swenn was waiting for me to make a mistake. Not waiting, hoping. Then he’d make me pay for it ten times worse than what I deserved.
So Henry is Swenn’s eyes when he can’t watch me himself
. At least I’d figured out the purpose of his mute henchman.
It took every muscle in my body to let the py disperse instead of using it.
I became aware that everyone at my table was watching me just like Henry. Fortunately I hadn’t gathered enough of the colorless energy for anyone to notice. Falister had a snide little grin as someone grabbed my arm.
“Come here.” It was Effie. The petite fire mage from Ovira had her small hands in a tight grip like she expected me to run.
She dragged me over to the end of the table, took me by my shoulders, and pushed my body into the empty seat.
“This is the mage,” she told the man sitting across from me. He appeared strong, clearly my elder but probably younger than my father was when he died. He had loose blond hair falling over his forehead and a hard gaze. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t a swordsman.
“Doesn’t look like a mage,” he said, showing me a genuine smile that put me at ease.
“I know,” Effie agreed, “which is why he was able to hide his skill from me so well.” She pushed me with her knuckles, as if she wanted to hit me yet she knew this was all she could get away with. “He would be perfect for Ovira.”
The man offered me his hand and gave me his name. “Terren.”
“Neeko,” I replied as I shook it. I remembered Effie mentioning that Terren was their leader. So I told him what I needed him to hear. “You’re not going to convince me to come with you.”
He raised an eyebrow at Effie with disapproval. “You told me he hadn’t made up his mind yet.”
“Because you said you wouldn’t speak with him otherwise. Come on, inspire him.”
“Effie, this young man already has decided against leaving. There’s nothing I can say to change his mind.”
“Yes you can! You can convince anyone of anything. Just try.”
Terren grumbled and stared into my eyes, looking for something, not that I knew what.
“I can promise you’ll have a good life in Ovira,” he said. “You won’t have to fight. We’ll take care of housing and food. You’ll live on an exquisite school campus where we train young men and women like yourself.”
“We have aqueducts,” Effie added. “Showers and toilets. Do you even know what a shower feels like?”
“It doesn’t matter if you can turn dirt into gold,” I said. “I won’t be leaving.”
“Tell me why,” Terren calmly requested.
“Shara can come with you,” Effie said. “And your aunt as well, if she’s still alive.”
“Effie,” Terren chided.
“I wish to stay here and fight,” I explained.
I need to kill Swenn
.
Effie rubbed her forehead. “Let’s just get Charlotte to convince him,” she muttered.
“You know we’re not doing that,” Terren warned.
Her shoulders sank. “I know.”
I couldn’t help my curiosity. “Is Charlotte the psychic you mentioned when we first met?”
Effie nodded nervously like a child admitting she’d lied. I tried to recall what she’d mentioned about psychics. They could sway emotions and detect untruths. I couldn’t remember anything else except that Charlotte was in the castle as part of an agreement with King Quince. She was to teach members of his army how to use psyche in exchange for taking a sane pyforial mage back to Ovira. If she was here and could detect lies, then could I use her to expose Swenn?
“I’d like to meet her sometime.”
Effie’s deep-set eyes brightened at what she must’ve thought was an opportunity to change my mind about Ovira. I wasn’t the least bit nervous. Nothing short of Swenn’s death could make me want to leave.
Someone announced, “The king, Quince Barryn.” Everyone stood. I was late to follow suit.
The king entered and walked through with a quick smile at the room. “Please sit and enjoy the food.”
I was the only one to sit, my rear barely grazing the wood before I realized my mistake and popped back up.
King Quince became adamant. “Sit and eat.”
Everyone obeyed this time as he murmured something to one of his guards, who then turned and shouted, “Neeko, where are you?”
I stood and timidly raised my hand as I felt everyone’s gaze.
“Come with me.”
Henry trailed behind me as I walked beside the guard.
“I need to speak with the king,” I said.
“You’re in luck. He needs to speak with you as well.”
I checked over my shoulder, hoping Falister had heard, but he was too far away by then.
The guard glanced at me. He seemed to catch sight of Henry behind me, his head turning for a quick glimpse. His mouth opened, then shut.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
The nervous look on his face gave me a chill.
CHAPTER TWO
Henry waited in the hall while armed men escorted me into the king’s chambers. Relief came over me when they shut the door. Henry wouldn’t hear anything that I told the monarch, which meant Swenn wouldn’t, either.
A robe of red and gold covered Quince’s shoulders. A tight-fitting shirt, open at the front, stretched to contain his strong chest. Waves of dark hair framed his neck and a thin beard covered his chin. Of everything about him that appeared youthful, his eyes stood out the most. It required discipline not to grin in his presence.
He took his crown into his hands, sat with a sigh, and told me, “I know I said that you could leave for Cessri.” The need to smile was gone. “However, I will send someone else in your stead. He will make sure your aunt has everything she needs and report her status back to you.”
“May I ask why I cannot go myself?”
“I need you here, training, until we decide which division of my army will benefit the most from a pyforial mage.”
“Will I be sent into enemy territory?”
“The army commander, Jaymes Jorgan, can answer this better than I can after a few days with you. You will see him soon.”
I’d better kill Swenn before I’m forced to leave.
“If you understand, say something or bow your head,” one of the king’s guards admonished, his tone as if I was an impudent child.
So I bowed.
“Before your training begins,” Quince continued, “there are two other matters we need to discuss. The master of coin has your dalions. You and Shara will wait outside his quarters next door until he’s ready to see you. She should be there by now.”
“Thank you.” Worried that Swenn would have it destroyed, I’d been keeping my redemption scroll in my pocket.
“The last is a warning.” The king’s foreboding tone made me feel like I’d already disappointed him. “Manipulating pyforial energy is still illegal. Many people don’t know about you, and they cannot find out. You are not to use the energy except when instructed by Commander Jaymes. I am trusting you, Neeko, and if my trust is broken there will be severe consequences. It is not too late for you to change your mind. Terren’s party is still interested in taking you to Ovira, so if you want to use the energy freely, then you should think twice about your decision.”
“I appreciate your trust. I will not take advantage of it.”
This put a smile on his face. He nodded at a guard near the door, who promptly opened it and stared at me expectantly.
As I left the room, Quince said, “Be careful with Commander Jaymes. The other mages might be dangerous.”
Other mages? As in pyforial mages? I turned to ask but was pushed into the hallway by a firm shove before the door shut behind me.
I heard Shara’s laughter down the hall. She faced Henry, reading one of his tiny scrolls. Surprise hit me when I found him smiling at her.
“Shara!” I called. “Come here.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not some dog.”
When she didn’t move, I hurried over, gently took her by the arm, and dragged her away from Henry. Or so I tried. He followed us closely enough that I couldn’t even whisper without him hearing.
“What are you doing, Neeko?” Shara complained. “We have to stay near Swenn’s door to get our dalions.”
I ignored her for the moment, glaring at Henry behind us. “Can you give us a moment, please?”
Two low whistles—
“no.”
“Don’t worry,” Shara told him, patting his shoulder. “Neeko won’t hurt me.”
Henry’s blank expression was unreadable.
“That’s not why he’s following us,” I informed her.
She pursed her lips. “Why, then?”
Unable to get away from Henry, I just decided to say it. “He’s Swenn’s eyes and ears.”
“Oh.”
I expected some confirmation from Henry, but he didn’t even react.
“Come on,” someone called from behind us. “Let’s get this done quickly.” Swenn had the door to his quarters open, his arms folded.
Henry followed us inside.
“Shut the door,” Swenn told him.
He did, then leaned against it as he eyed me.
Swenn stared, trying to will words out of us.
“You’re sick,” Shara blurted.
“So I see Neeko told you about me.”
Gods, now Shara was just as much of a threat to Swenn as I was.
“No need to speak,” I advised her, showing Swenn my redemption scroll. She did the same.
He took two pouches from his pocket and tossed one to each of us. I looked inside mine to find two dalions.
“Not going to say thank you?” Swenn teased.
I inspected the room for possible hiding spots, somewhere I could put myself without him knowing. His wardrobe, the space beneath his bed, his balcony if I could keep its doors shut.
Swenn forced out a chuckle. “I wouldn’t kill you in my own room with Shara here as well. It would be too messy.” He must’ve thought I was looking for a trap.
“How in the two hells did you become the master of coin?” I asked.
He ran his thumb across his nails and looked right into my eyes.
“I worked hard, met the right people, and took opportunities when they came—something you should do if you want to live. Terren’s party won’t settle for any pyforial mage.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Swenn stepped toward Shara. “You have more than yourself to worry about.” He reached his hand near her chin. She stepped away. “Henry, this one doesn’t want to cooperate.”
The silent henchman trudged in our direction.
“He would never hurt me,” Shara declared with surprising confidence. “He’s kindhearted.”
“He doesn’t need to hurt you to make you cooperate.”
Henry took Shara’s shoulders from behind, holding her still. Swenn watched me as he moved his hand under her chin, then around to her cheek. This was a test of some sort.
“Get your disgusting hands off my face.”
He ignored her. “You don’t mind, Neeko?”
I didn’t speak.
He smiled. “How much do you mind?”
I revealed nothing.
Swenn brought his hand down to the collar of Shara’s shirt. He pried open one button, then glanced at me. I didn’t move.
He undid another button. I still didn’t move.
When he undid the third and raised his eyebrows as the top of her bosom was revealed, I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer, my face contorting.
Shara kicked him in the shin. He yelped and grabbed his leg, fury flooding his eyes. He backhanded her across the face, her shoulders still in Henry’s grasp. I lost control of myself, running at Swenn and lowering my shoulder. Something took me off my feet before I got there. As I hit the ground, I realized it must’ve been Henry.
He was on top of me before I could jump up. I couldn’t breathe with him sitting on my chest.
I pulled pyforial energy from both sides, gathering it beneath the sides of Henry’s ass. With all my strength, I forced the energy up and away, pushing on his back with my hands.
Without a sound, Henry flew off me and tumbled across the floor. He was slow to his feet, staring at me with gaping eyes.
“Neeko, Neeko, Neeko,” Swenn chided. “Didn’t King Quince talk to you about using pyforial energy? What a shame it would be for you to break his trust not even an hour after he warned you.”
The shock widening Henry’s eyes deepened, his mouth falling open.
“Yes, it was pyforial energy,” Swenn confirmed.
Henry drew his long sword.
Shara fell over backward in her hurry to get away. I pulled her up and moved her behind me.
“No need for that, Henry.” Swenn spoke calmly. “I’ve learned what I needed to know. He’ll protect Shara at all costs.” His gaze returned to me. “A great vulnerability—something that doesn’t burden me.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Shara took my hand. She didn’t stop pulling me until we were out of the room and far down the hall. There, she let go to take my shoulders. “I can keep myself safe. Don’t let him think he can manipulate you.”
“No, Shara, he’s right. You shouldn’t be in the castle.”
She shushed me as she rebuttoned her shirt and looked around for listening ears.
We walked all the way across the castle, remaining silent until we came to my room and closed the door.
“You’re letting him get in your mind,” she said. “You can’t do that.”
“It doesn’t matter when it’s true. You’re in danger here.”
“I’m not leaving. They told me I’m meeting the army commander today. I could actually do some good for our kingdom and make decent money. More than that, we get to stay in the castle! I’m not going to let one person ruin it all.” She poked me in the chest. “You aren’t, either.”
“Shara—”
“Neeko.” She folded her arms and set her jaw. “Don’t ask me to leave on my own. If anyone’s going to leave, it’ll be both of us, together, and we’ll go to Ovira.”
I couldn’t argue with that, not when she was right.