Bastial Energy (48 page)

Zoke would never hurt you unless you deserved it.
But Zeti held her tongue.

“When I told them where I was going, what I was doing, they insisted on coming with me. I decided to go along with it. I…I knew Zoke when he was younger. I used to trust him, and some part of me still did. I figured his mind might be twisted from a psychic spell. If I just waited until the Elf was asleep and killed him, Zoke would be thankful. So I waited hours into the night to make sure both were asleep. I took my dagger and just as I knelt over Vithos, Zoke pushed me off him. Even while the Elf was unconscious, Zoke still saved him!”

Nebre stood and made two fists. “He couldn’t have been under any spell. He’s a true traitor and a coward for not doing the job himself.”

The fury within Zeti made her dig her claws into her palm hard enough to draw blood. Her sharp teeth were pushed together so fiercely under her lips a surge of pain went through her jaw.

“I wanted you to hear that,” Doe told her. “I know what you stubborn Krepps are like.”

She couldn’t handle it anymore. She stood and pointed at Nebre. “He’s a liar.” She noticed then that she wasn’t using a claw to point, but her dagger. Somehow, she’d drawn it from her belt without realizing it. “Zoke would never protect the Elf over his own kind!”

“It’s the truth!” Nebre yelled back.

“It is,” Doe said. “Haemon already made sure of that before he left the judgment chambers. Tell her what happened next,
after she sits back down.” He waved his black claw at her.

Zeti sat on the edge of the rock, barely stopping herself from spitting in the judgment chambers.

“I tried to wrestle Zoke off me, but I couldn’t.” Nebre spoke softly, ashamed. “Vithos awoke and pained me with psyche until I let go of the dagger. Zoke then screamed at me to leave, saying they would deliver the note to Kyrro. He’d taken it earlier. With no other option besides death, I ran. I came back here. He’s a traitor, Zeti. I didn’t want to believe it at first, either.”

What are you doing, Zoke?
It felt as if she was hearing a story about someone else’s brother, not hers, not the brother who’d always done the right thing no matter how difficult.
Why protect the Elf?
It must be some psychic spell that has kept you with him…no, Vithos was asleep and you protected him, so it couldn’t be. You’ve been with him through many nights even, and he still lives. Could you be that much of a coward? Too scared to kill the Elf, so you’ve joined him?

No. No, there must be more to it than that…I wish I could just speak to you. What are you doing out there?

“Why did he say he would deliver the note?” Zeti asked.

“That, I cannot say, but I truly believe they will,” Nebre answered. “When they found out about the note, they spoke in private before deciding to come with me. I can only guess they wish to join with the Humans. With a war to fight, the Humans are likely to accept any ally. They are traitors, after all. It makes sense for them to wish to join our enemy.”

“Nebre is right,” Doe added. “Haemon and I have known Vithos his whole life, and something changed in recent years. He is no longer interested in helping. I am even sure that he knows where the Slugari are, but he pretends not to. We have covered nearly all the places they could be. I know he’s sensed them, but he refuses to admit it. Paramar, that is why you’re here.”

Paramar stood with his chest out. He was especially tall, matching Doe’s height, though the Slugari was longer than he was tall, weighing three times as much as any Krepp.

“I believe Vithos may be trying to make contact with the Slugari,” Doe said. “Being the traitor that he is, he would wish to bring harm to our tribe by helping the Slugari stay out of our reach, perhaps even convincing them to attack us if he’s that stupid. I don’t think he was there by chance but instead because that’s where the Slugari are hiding. Take the chamoline and follow the route that Nebre took. It was mostly along northern Satjen.”

“Understood,” Paramar replied dutifully.

“Vithos is probably on his way to the Humans in Kyrro to convince them not to reveal the Slugari location,” Doe continued. “But before we fight Kyrro for this information, we should keep looking for my cowardly race of Slugari. Taking the cities of Kyrro would be easy wins, but not without many deaths to our tribe. I’d like to avoid that. Have your group set out tomorrow morning, Paramar, and move quickly. But keep an eye on her.” Doe pointed at Zeti. “She has traitorous blood flowing through her.”

She stood ready to scream but knew all that would accomplish was a burning. So she took a long breath, gulped down her pride, and said, “I’ll do everything in my power to find the Slugari. Brother to me may be a traitor.” Her words felt like a dagger slicing through her heart, but she held steady with her chest out and head up. “But I would never go against the tribe.”

“Good,” Doe answered. “Because when we see Zoke again, you’re going to prove that by being the one to kill him.”

Chapter 49: Stone

CLEVE

“Rek?” Cleve asked, standing with his back against the cold stone wall of his cell.

Behind it came the muffled answer from the next cell. “What?”

With the only light coming from a few torches along the walls, it was difficult to know when one day ended and the next began. Rek could convince the jailer of many things, but King Welson had given the jailer no means of getting to other areas of the dungeons. This made him stuck in their section just like a prisoner, but at least he had long hallways to walk about when he pleased. Cleve could already feel his legs stiffening, calling to be used.

“When the jailer brings us food, will you ask him how long we’ve been in here?” Cleve asked.

This time, the response came from the cell on Cleve’s other side before Rek answered. “Ya only been here for four meals, boy. That’s one day and one meal. Ol’ Captain Mmzaza has been here eighty-four meals for spittin’ a guard in his face. I get out at ninety, and I can barely keep me pants on about it.” Captain Mmzaza had a way of talking that Cleve had never heard. Not only was his accent strong and rhythmic, but he spoke as if he’d learned common tongue from a child. “When will ya be out, boy?”

“I told you, CM, I don’t want to answer any more of your questions.”

Captain Mmzaza let out a shaky
hohoho
sound, then said, “Again, with the CM. And I tell ya, the name is Captain Mmzaza. That’s
mmm-zah-zah
,” he pronounced slowly. “The Starving Ocean may have devoured me sanity, but I haven’t lost me name. I’ll be a captain when I return to the Gendocks, and if you were on me ship—”

“I’d call you Captain Mmzaza,” Cleve finished the sentence for him. “I know. You’ve said that many times already. Luckily, I’m not on your ship, CM, and I never will be.”

Rek had been in no mood to talk. Cleve had tried to speak to him several times, only to be answered by Captain Mmzaza when Rek would not respond. When Cleve had asked if Rek wanted him to say anything else to the King before they were sent to the dungeons, Rek simply replied, “You did all you could.”

When he gathered enough courage to ask Rek what he knew of Cleve’s mother or father, the Elf replied, “It’s best to save that conversation for when we’re not filled with despair. Despair makes us weak. You should be content and confident before pulling out that dagger.”

When he asked Rek what he knew of Goldram and Jessend Takary, Rek answered with only two words: “Not much.”

It wasn’t much better than speaking to the wall that separated them. Though, he didn’t blame the Elf. Rek was depressed and understandably so. The only reason Cleve didn’t feel the same was because he was trying to stay strong, ignoring the deep sadness swelling within.

Cleve heard voices bouncing down the hall. Usually this meant the jailer had just received their meals from the other section of the dungeons. The jailer sometimes stayed and chatted after delivering their food, putting up with Captain Mmzaza’s nonsense far longer than Cleve would.

There was just enough space for Cleve to fit his head through the bars, so he stuck it out for a look. He saw that for the first time, the jailer hadn’t come alone. The silhouette of someone behind the jailer came around the turn and into their hallway. It was a woman, one with thick, long hair.
Has Jessend Takary finally come to take me from Kyrro?
Cleve thought.

“Cleve, you have a visitor,” the jailer announced.

Then he heard what sounded like Rek’s bars being kicked. Cleve flipped his head to find that the Elf was also leaning out from his cell—his shoulders must have crashed into the bars in his eagerness to see who it was. When Cleve turned back to see for himself, she was still hidden behind the jailer. Yet somehow, Rek knew who it was, for he was already calling her name.

“Reela, Reela! What are you doing here?”

“Rek! They didn’t tell me you were here, too.” She ran to him and they held onto each other’s hands. “Why do they have you both in the dungeons?”

Cleve could feel his blood flowing faster, heating his body with nervous wonder. “How do you know Rek?” he blurted out.

Reela took a shaky breath as she opened her mouth to answer, but she turned and touched the shoulder of the jailer instead. “I’ll be fine here—if we could have some privacy?” The jailer nodded and was off.

Reela had on a blue dress with some other color around her waist, maybe gold. It was too dark to be sure. Though, it was clear the dress was tightly wrapped around her body, accentuating the curve of her hips and bosom. Even in the dim light, he could see the burning green of her eyes, along with the pink of her soft, pouty lips.

“Cleve, it’s so good to see you. I was very worried.”

Cleve felt his throat tighten and his stomach crunch. “You as well.”

Captain Mmzaza gave a whistle. “Me o’ me, what a spicy girl.” His head was leaning out as far as his neck could push it. A scruffy beard of red and gray covered his chin. A pronounced mustache of the same colors curved over his mouth and stuck out from his face. His eyes were two slits in long eyelids. His skin that wasn’t covered by hair was windburned, especially along his forehead. On the top of his head were thin strands of gray that fell to his ears. “And she wants privacy. Got a nice show for ol’ Captain Mmzaza? Come over here, pretty. Let me get a closer look before ya get started.”

She walked over and held out the back of her hand like she was allowing the old seaman to kiss it. He reached out, but just before they could touch, Reela flipped her palm up and let out a soft grunt. He recoiled with a quick scream.

“What didja do? Even me horn gotta sting from that.”

“Rek, you mind putting him to sleep?” Reela asked politely.

“I would be happy to,” he answered with cheer Cleve hadn’t heard since they’d entered the dungeons. “Captain Mmzaza, lie down so you don’t fall on something.”

“Aww, a bunch of psychics, they are. Fine. The captain will take a nap. Was just trying to send a compliment, was all.”

“On your side,” Rek said. “I don’t want to listen to your snoring.”

“Fine. But I’m pointing my ass toward ya. It may snore just as well, if ya catch my drift.” He started a laugh, but it was cut off. All that remained was the quiet breathing sound of him sleeping.

“Can you keep a secret, Cleve?” Reela asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “Not that it matters, as Rek and I are being sent to Goldram as soon as Jessend Takary is ready to take us.”

“To Goldram?” Her voice grew shrill. “For what purpose? When will you return?”

“We’re not,” Rek answered. “King Welson is convinced I’m a threat to Kyrro. He has similar thoughts about Cleve. Letting him stay would do more harm than good, the King believes.”

“That’s completely absurd. How can he think that?”

“They saw me meet with Tegry Hiller,” Rek answered. “They think I side with the enemy. They sent Cleve to kill me with his bow. As you can see, he didn’t.”

“I don’t understand. Why send you over the Starving Ocean if he thinks you fight for the enemy?”

“He believes it to be his most humane option. I’m sure he’s getting a trade out of it as well. The Takary family has much to offer, and Jessend Takary says she has use for us, whatever that may be.”

“If I could just speak to the King, I could convince him to let you both stay.” Reela had a desperation in her voice Cleve hadn’t heard from her before. “I’m sure of it. He’s speaking to my mother right now. I came here with her. He doesn’t know I’m a psychic.”

“Nor will he!” Rek was so stern it gave Cleve a startle. “He mustn’t know who you are or you could be in here just like us…or exiled…or worse!”

What am I missing here?
“The King welcomes psychics within Kyrro. Why can’t he know that she’s one?”

Reela sighed. “That’s the secret. I’m not just any psychic. You wondered how I knew Rek…well.” She came to his cell and grabbed the bars, leaning close. Her eyes were tense, burning with a secret that made Cleve’s heart start to jump.

“Rek is my half-brother.” Reela reached her hand to an ear hidden beneath her hair and looked to unhook something. Then she pulled back the many thick, wavy strands to show her ear. It wasn’t rounded at the top but came to more of a point. This made it longer than a Human’s ears but still shorter than Rek’s. If Cleve was to guess what it would look like to mix an Elf ear with a Human’s, he was looking at it.