Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4) (9 page)

Steffen didn’t mind the emptiness. It was peaceful, and he knew it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

“There’ll be battle sometime in the near future,” he said. “We might as well enjoy this calm while we can.”

“I can’t.” Effie shook her head. “Not without something to do.” She took two deep breaths that did nothing to help her relax.

The mail building was surprisingly small, considering all incoming and outgoing mail went through it. Students were allowed only in the front, where a surly woman with a bundle of curly blond hair greeted them halfheartedly. She was so thin, her bones could be seen through her skin.

She pointed at a chart on the wall as Steffen put his letters on the counter. Glancing over, he saw the sign she pointed to was new. It listed a fee depending on where the letter was going, Gendocks being the most expensive and Kyrro City the least.

“But I don’t have any money here,” Effie complained.

“Neither do I,” Steffen said. “And we’re not allowed to leave the Academy.”

The woman folded her arms. “King’s orders. We can’t deliver your mail without payment. It’s the same for everyone now. The King needs money for the war.” She handed Steffen’s letters back to him.

“How are we supposed to communicate with anyone outside the Academy?” Effie asked.

The woman shrugged. “They can write to you if you don’t have money.”

“But then we can’t even write back!”

Effie’s raised voice made Steffen uncomfortable. He put his hand on her back in hopes of calming her.

“Do you have any mail for house number two thirty-nine?” he asked.

“Don’t know yet.”

Effie let out a frustrated breath. “When will you know?”

“Depends. What city are you expecting mail from?”

“Oakshen,” they both answered, Steffen far more politely than Effie.

“We just got today’s mail from Oakshen.” She pointed a thumb over her shoulder toward the back of the building, where a closed door blocked their view. “We’re sorting through it now. You can wait if you want…if you keep quiet.”

She seemed to be looking at something behind them. Steffen turned to find a wooden bench so small he hadn’t noticed it before.

“I’m going to wait,” Steffen told Effie.

Discouraged, she said, “I might as well also.”

The woman went through the door behind her as Steffen sat on the bench.

“Move over,” Effie ordered.

Steffen did, and she sat beside him. There wasn’t enough room for them to sit without their shoulders and knees touching.

Steffen was in no mood to chat, and Effie clearly wasn’t either. So they waited in silence, watching as other students came in with letters only to encounter the same problem. Many hadn’t brought any money to the Academy. A few had and went to retrieve it. The rest glanced at Effie and Steffen, then left instead of waiting for the mail to be sorted.

“How much longer?” Effie asked the woman behind the counter.

“Soon.”

Eventually a man came through the back door with two letters and handed them to the woman.

“Two thirty-nine,” she announced.

Effie stood and accepted them. “Only two?”

“From Oakshen, yes.”

“No one else would be writing to us,” Effie said.

“Then that’s all the mail for you today.”

Effie accepted them and handed one to Steffen as they left. It was from his mother. Effie’s bore her family’s return address.

Gabby didn’t write to me?
he thought. It was a complete shock.

The letter was heavier than usual.
It must have a few coins in it so I can write to her back,
he realized. It was thoughtful of her. For just a blink, he considered using his mother’s coins to write to Gabby, but he could never be so cruel.

“Is this what our days are going to be like?” Effie asked. “Waiting, walking around an empty campus, reading mail?”

Steffen shrugged.

“I should’ve gone with them,” Effie muttered.

He wasn’t sure why she couldn’t relax and even less sure what he could do about it.

When Effie opened her letter after they’d arrived home, they found out Gabby had written to Steffen. She’d put his letter in Effie’s envelope to save on postage. It read:

Steffen,

They posted lists around the city of all those who died at the Academy. The one near my house had hundreds of people crowding around it to look. I was nearly trampled. I was so nervous I would find your name or my sister’s. I’m so thankful everyone is alright. I can’t believe it has come to this, with a list informing me whether you’re alive or dead. I hate it.

I understand not being able to visit. Train hard so you can protect yourself. I miss the days we spent together without fear of battle, but they’ll be back once this is over.

Let me know how you’re doing.

—Love, Gabby

She sounded older with each letter she wrote.
It must be the war,
Steffen figured.
There’s no denying there’ll be more fighting.
She’s come to terms with this.

Effie appeared in his doorway. “Done reading your letters?”

Steffen hadn’t read the one from his mother yet, but he knew exactly what it would say. She would tell him how worried she was and would want him to write back about everything he was doing to keep himself safe.

“Just about,” he answered.

“What did Gabby say to you?”

Steffen handed her the letter.

Effie mumbled some of the words as she sped through it. When she was done, she said, “Gabby sounds different in your letter also. I can’t figure out what it is. Is she no longer afraid?”

“She might be scared but doesn’t want to show it.”

“Is that how you feel?”

“Not at this moment.” Steffen was surprised by his answer. “Although, maybe I should be.”

Effie shook her head. “I think it’s good that you’re not.”

“Are you afraid?”

“I think so. I’m scared of falling when I’m up high. But the fear goes away when I get down. These days, I have this feeling like I’m going to fall, this constant nagging that it’s going to happen but I don’t know when.”

“I think we all feel that, including Gabby,” Steffen said. “It makes sense. A battle unlike any in the history of Ovira is coming.”

Effie shivered. “Bastial hell, Steffen. You always know the worst thing to say.”

He apologized as she turned to go back to her room.

Not many chemists went with Hem Baom to Tenred. In fact, even the head chemist, Jack Rose, stayed behind. Steffen realized he had questions for him and visited Jack’s house after writing his return letters.

Steffen was delighted when his knocks were answered. “One moment,” Jack called. Opening it to find Steffen, he grinned. “And what brings you here?” The master chemist had a quill in hand. Steffen noticed papers on the table behind him.

“Are you busy?” Steffen asked. “I have some questions I was hoping we could discuss briefly.”

“Briefly, yes. Come in. You’re wondering about the caregelows?”

“How did you know?”

“Every chemist is. All of the plants appear to be undamaged by the battle. Most of the carnage occurred in other places. They’re growing very fast and should be ready for testing soon. Are you excited?”

“Yes. But I’m more looking forward to everything going back to normal. When will those who marched to Tenred return?”

“Fifteen days.” Jack’s mouth twisted. “But I wouldn’t say things are going back to normal, not until this war is over, and even then.” His voice trailed off. “Were those your only questions? Liaison Wilfre wants to see a schedule by tomorrow morning of how every day will be spent while Terren is gone. He has me working far into the night.”

“That’s all,” Steffen lied, not wanting to disturb the master chemist any longer. “Thank you.”

Jack seemed to know there was more Steffen wanted to discuss. He smiled to show his appreciation. “Come back tomorrow, if you would like.”

“Thank you,” Steffen repeated, closing the door behind him.

Hunger was gnawing at his stomach, but first he returned home to see if Effie wanted to walk to the dining hall with him.

He was shocked when he saw her at the kitchen table. She was crying, cradling a near empty glass of sakal.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

Her words were slurred. “I should uff gone with them. How can I shtay here while they fight fer us?”

“How’d you get this drunk so fast?” He put his hand on her back. “You shouldn’t ever drink alone, especially when you’re sad.” He took away the glass.

“Don’t!” She reached for it. “Don’t get rid uff it.
You
drink with me.” She jabbed a finger at him.

“I don’t feel like it, and I’m hungry.”

“Wer useless. But wer not…actually
useless
. Wer just making ourselves useless. Do you undershtand?”

“I think so. But Effie, we’re not making ourselves useless. Who knows, the Krepps could attack the Academy.”

Utter confusion creased her brow. “What?”

“Then we wouldn’t be useless.”

She still didn’t comprehend.

“Someone needs to stay in case they come.”

She patted his cheek a little too forcefully. “Yur trying to make me fill better.” Her hand dropped to the table with a thud. “But I don’t.”

“You need some food. Come on. You’ll feel better after you eat.”

“Bastial hell, yes. Food.”

“Battle training resumes tomorrow.” He helped her up from her seat. “There will be plenty to do.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am.”

She smiled and kissed his cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m glad yer…you are here. At least I’m not completely alone.”

Chapter 7:

CLEVE

It was their fourth day riding, and they’d spent most of it searching for the men who were supposed to be ten miles west of the Krepp encampment. Cleve’s frustrations had gone on long enough to transform into worries.

“Have you sensed anyone’s presence with psyche?”

“None so far,” Rek answered.

“Could they have been killed?” Cleve asked.

“They probably moved. Let’s check farther north.”

Cleve looked to the west, where the sun was quickly approaching the horizon. “If we don’t find them in an hour, it’s best we get as far from the Krepp encampment as we can before we sleep.”

It made him uncomfortable every time he peered to the east and saw the long stretch of huts. Tens of thousands of Krepps inhabited the land, the majority of his enemies all right there, surrounded by a low wall. Knowing he was only going to get closer in an attempt to shoot one of the Slugari leaders, he couldn’t look away.

Then he noticed something. “Wait.” He stopped his horse and pointed. “Those buildings are moving.”

Rek peered out, cupping a hand over his eyes. “Those can’t be buildings.”

“Then what?” They looked like black towers rolling about the encampment.

Rek’s mouth opened, but only a whisper could be heard. “Could it be?”

“What do you think they are?”

“I don’t want to say.” He tore his eyes away. “Come, we need to find these men soon. Otherwise we’ll prepare a camp for nightfall. In either case, let’s hope no Krepps cross paths with us.”

Rek’s horse broke into a gallop. Cleve commanded Nulya to follow.

It wasn’t long before a whistle caught their attention. Two men stood atop a hill, the sun glowing behind them. Rek and Cleve dismounted at the base of the hill and walked their mounts up.

“What in the Bastial stars is this?” one man exclaimed with a wide grin. “You’re back and with a horse?” He was talking to Rek, it seemed.

“What do you mean I’m back?” the Elf asked.

“Your common tongue has gotten much better!” the other said. “And they cleaned you all up and gave you a Kyrro tunic, I see.”

Cleve was perplexed. Rek didn’t seem to know what the men were talking about either.

“And who did you bring with you, Vithos?” one asked.

Vithos?

Rek gasped. “That’s the name of my brother. You must be mistaking me for him. When was he here?”

The two men shared a look of confusion.

“Your brother? Who are you, then?”

“I’m Rek Worender. The King sent us. This is Cleve Polken. Will you show us to your camp?”

Neither man answered. One scratched his cheek. The other rubbed his nose.

“Please,” Rek added. “We’re very tired. We’ve been searching for you all day. You’re not where Welson told me you’d be.”

Again, the men shared a look. One nodded to the other and then turned to Rek. “Come this way. We’ll explain why that is.”