A Crumble of Walls (The Kin of Kings Book 4) (13 page)

Sanya had told Basen her father was dead, but there was no way to know if anything she’d said was true.

Basen put his hand on his mother’s shoulder. He thought about telling her of the heinous things Sanya had done but decided against it. Knowing the truth would only upset her more.

“You shouldn’t blame yourself for Sanya, Mother, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for anything I’ve done wrong. You’ve raised me well. Any choices I make, such as using
crass
language last night, are my choices. It’s the same with Sanya.”

“I know I shouldn’t treat you like you’re ten. It’s hard, Basen, but I’m going to try. I thought about you every day and vowed not to lose you again.”

He could feel his mother wanting to urge him to go back to the Academy with her. He was proud of her for not pressuring him into changing his mind.

“You won’t lose me,” he promised.

They filled the empty barrel they’d brought from the cabin with clear river water, secured the lid, and rolled it back, together. Upon returning, he saw the Krepps had started a fire outside the cabin’s fence. What looked to be a deer carcass quickly blackened under the high flames as it hung on a spit.

From behind them, Neeko and Shara came out from the trees and took each other’s hands as if startled.

“I have to get there,” Basen said as he ran toward them, but the Krepps didn’t seem to notice or care as they took the carcass from the spit and began to cut off steaming chunks of meat.

“These really are different from the others,” Shara remarked as Basen reached them.

“I believe they come from a different tribe.”

Effie rushed out of the cabin. “What did you decide?”

The rest of their party was right behind her. Everyone stopped and eagerly awaited the news. Basen noticed his mother going back into the cabin, most likely to return the comb and mirror. He fetched the barrel of water as well as a ladle he knew to be in the cabin.

He wouldn’t say so in front of Neeko and Shara, but Basen wouldn’t be too disappointed if they decided to stay here. Effie had made Neeko seem much more valuable than he was if all he could do was move objects and choke people.

When Basen came outside again, he could see by everyone’s faces that Neeko and Shara had delivered the bad news he’d expected. Basen went back into the cabin in search of the akorell bracelet, as he didn’t see it on Effie.

He found it on the single table in the small cabin. She’d encased it in sartious energy to keep it from burning the wood.

Basen offered everyone water as he returned to the group. They shared the ladle as one person drank at a time. No one said anything, and Basen didn’t feel comfortable in the silence for too long.

“Is the akorell stone charged yet?” he asked Effie.

“I think it’s going to take many more hours, maybe even a day.”

“It’s fine. It’ll take me at least a day to reach the area where I can make a portal.”

A female Krepp came over and pointed at the water. Basen gave her the ladle. She scooped up some water and poured it into her lipless mouth without touching the ladle. Her politeness surprised and impressed Basen. Perhaps Rickik’s Krepps were crass in comparison to others of their kind.

When the Krepp left, Shara said, “I’m sorry. I know you wanted us to come with you. We do want to go to the Academy, but we’re just not ready for the commitment.”

“I know,” Effie said. “If I were you, I might not go, either. But you should know that if you come with us you won’t regret it. There’s no other place like the Academy. Whether I’m there to train or to fight, I would rather be there than anywhere else.”

Her words seemed to greatly affect both Neeko and Shara, who looked at each other as if expecting the other to have a change of heart. Then another Krepp came over for water and the moment seemed to be lost. As soon as the Krepp left, Basen asked the party who would be leading the group back to the Academy.

Steffen seemed surprised when he looked at Annah and Effie and found them staring back at him.

“I suppose I will,” he said.

Basen handed over the map he’d brought. “Only travel along the mountain at evening as it begins to get dark. Stay in the forest during the day as much as you can so the troops on the mountain can’t see you.”

He wished he could make a portal back to the Academy for them, but it was already going to take at least a day to get to the small forest in Kilmar where he knew he could make a portal for himself. His week was almost up, and the last thing he wanted was to teleport to Fatholl on the last day, exactly when the Elf was expecting him.

He supposed he could bring everyone with him to Kilmar, make a portal for them there, then spend the next couple of days charging his akorell stone for another portal to the Elves. But it didn’t seem worth it to arrive late and break his promise. None of their enemies expected them to be going back to the Academy from the east.
They will be safe.

“I should be leaving,” Basen concluded. He hugged his mother. “I’ll see you back at the Academy.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He raised his eyebrows at the rest of the party. “I’m trusting all of you with my mother.”

“She’ll be fine,” Effie said, still sounding dejected from Neeko and Shara’s decision. “Be careful with Fatholl.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll have Vithos to watch my back.”

At hearing his name, the Elf came over from the Krepps. “We leave now?” His hands and chin glistened with grease.

“Yes,” Basen said. “As soon as you’re done with your breakfast.”

“I’m done. The meat is gone. Krepps eat too fast for me to get much. I’m happy we brought food in bags.” He turned to Juliana and offered his hand. “Nice to meet you, Juliana Hiller.”

She turned her lips inward as she looked at his greasy fingers. With a grimace, she extended her hand and shook his. “Nice to meet you, too.”

The awkward silence returned as everyone in the circle stared at each other and waited for someone to do something.

This goodbye didn’t feel right. Neeko and Shara’s rejection of the Academy had put everyone on edge. Effie and Steffen had come to them as friends, asking for their help, only to be denied. And why? Because the outcome of the war looked so dire for the Academy that Neeko and Shara gave up their opportunity to join. It left a bitter taste in Basen’s mouth.

“I need to say something.” Neeko and Shara looked as if he was about to scold them. “Relax. I don’t know you well enough to judge you. I understand your choice, but there’s something you’re not understanding about us, about why we feel so strongly that fighting with the Academy is the right decision. My mother was in prison, and although she was as miserable as any of us would be living behind bars, she was safe there. Yet my father and I still were adamant about getting her released as soon as possible. My father and I are Hillers. Our family was more hated than the Takarys by everyone at the Academy just last year.

“But here I am now telling you the Academy is the best place not only for you, but for me and my family. It’s not because the Academy is the only option we have left. I would choose it over my old life in Tenred castle, even knowing the danger it puts me in. Effie told me a little about what you were doing in Sumar, so I know you’re used to fighting for what you believe in. You must know what it’s like to put all your effort into something for weeks, even months, to the point where the few free moments you have to enjoy friends, laughter, and food are bliss. Once you’ve fought for what you believe in, it gives you an appreciation for life that nothing else can. I can’t wait for this war to be over, but at the same time, I can’t imagine not having fought for Kyrro.

“A friend of mine, Alabell Kerr, saw her family murdered at Tauwin Takary’s command. I didn’t realize it at the time, but as soon as I heard that news, I knew I wouldn’t let Tauwin be king even if I had to fight to my last breath to prevent it. I agree with how you feel about risking your life in war, but we’re not the ones forcing you to pick a side. It’s Tauwin. By not fighting, you’re risking just as much, because you’re letting it be known that men like Tauwin can murder entire families and be king so long as they have the wealth to back up their greed. I’d rather not live in that world, and I don’t think you would either.”

His words seemed to give them second thoughts as they stared at each other again. Crim came over and noisily slurped down some water without the ladle, tilting the barrel to get a better angle and sticking most of his flat, greasy face into it.

As soon as he was done, he stood up and, with water dripping from his chin, said, “Krepps leave now. We go to Academy. Humans?”

“Yes, we’re leaving as well,” Steffen said.

Crim nodded, then hollered something at the Krepps. They put out the fire and began to walk.

“We have to hurry,” Steffen said. “I need to be in front so they don’t choose their own route back.” He ran into the cabin, presumably to get his belongings together.

“So what will you do?” Effie asked the young couple.

“It’s up to you,” Neeko told Shara. It almost looked as if he wanted to go as he leaned toward her.

Her expression turned sad. “I don’t think we’re ready.”

He nodded with seeming reluctance. “We’re staying,” he told Effie. “I’m sorry.”

Steffen had already gotten in front of the Krepps. “Come on!” he yelled to their party.

Annah gave a quick curtsy. “It was nice to meet you both.” She turned to Basen. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Annah.”

Juliana embraced Basen without hurry, then walked after the Krepps. That left Effie. She looked at Neeko imploringly.

“I don’t think you want to stay,” she said, then turned her hard gaze to Shara. “Honestly, I believe you’ll regret it.”

Shara cleared her throat. “Effie, nothing could cause me more regret than if Neeko died in this war.”

Effie let out a quick breath. She forced a bitter smile as she lowered her head. “Goodbye then.” She turned and pushed herself against Basen’s chest for a hug that ended all too quickly. She did the same to Vithos, then ran off.

“Neeko,” Basen said, “tell me something, if you don’t mind.”

“You don’t have to go with them?”

“No. Vithos and I need to take care of something away from the Academy.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Why does Effie so desperately want you to join us in this war? She went against her instructor to come here for the two of you, but mostly for you.”

Neeko sucked in a breath, looking exactly how Basen had hoped, as if he wanted to prove his worth right there.

“He’s a pyforial mage,” Shara answered. “He might be the best in the world.”

“Effie told me that, but I still don’t understand. Even if he was able to teach others how to use pyforial energy, I can’t imagine anyone learning the skill well enough to replace what they came to the Academy to do, at least not in time to be of much help. But Neeko, you should’ve seen her face when I described our earlier encounter and she realized it was you and Shara. It was as if I’d told her an entire army could’ve joined us if I’d simply asked. So I’m still wondering, what can you do…and what did you do to those three Krepps chasing after you?”

Shara looked at Neeko with surprise. “What three Krepps?”

He didn’t answer right away, instead giving Basen a hard stare. Neeko’s eyes were kind, but there was a twinkle of superiority in them, as if Basen should consider himself lucky to see what Neeko could do. Basen challenged him with the same look.
Prove yourself.
He could think of no better way to recruit the young man now that everything else had failed.

Neeko sighed, softened his expression, and then turned to Shara. “When the Krepps came to our cabin the first time while you were away, I left. Three of them came after me. I didn’t know what they wanted, but as I sped up, so did they. I was never actually in danger, so I didn’t tell you.”

Shara nodded. “All right.”

For someone supposedly worried about Neeko’s safety, Shara seemed surprisingly comfortable with him facing three Krepps. Perhaps Effie was right and Neeko really was special.

“I should go,” Basen said. “Forgive my earlier curiosity. If the two of you won’t join us, I suppose it’s better that I don’t know exactly what we’ll be missing. Take care.”

The hostility dissolved in an instant as both of them smiled politely and said goodbye. Basen left with Vithos. He had seen something when he’d looked into Neeko’s eyes, the same thing Effie must’ve seen during her time in Sumar.

Basen didn’t need a demonstration of Neeko’s power. That look had been enough to show he could’ve helped them in this war far greater than just another swordsman.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Basen supposed he could sneak back into Tenred’s castle at night with Vithos. It was a shorter trip than going to Kilmar, and he could use the damaged corner of the castle to get in undetected. But he had a feeling that Fatholl would want him to teleport to Kilmar, and he needed to revisit the area to refresh his memory. He didn’t want to disappoint Fatholl, especially because the Elf already would be angry at what Basen was going to tell him.