Bastial Explosion (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 3) Read online

  Zoke pocketed the remaining bread and followed Effie out the door.

  On the way there, it immediately became apparent that everyone who saw Zoke was going to stare. It made Effie remember something she’d been meaning to tell him.

  “Make sure you don’t spit anymore.”

  He looked at her as if he was about to spit.

  Effie took one step away from him and continued. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you should also apologize to that warrior you spat on in Redfield stadium. You’re going to be in his group.”

  “Didn’t you hear what he said about us?” Zoke was dumbfounded. “He made it seem like he could’ve saved Vithos.” Zoke made the motion to spit but stopped himself, swallowing it instead and making an ugly face. “I don’t like it here,” he muttered.

  “I miss him too,” Effie said softly.

  Zoke let down his head and nodded.

  I miss Cleve as well, Effie thought, wondering what he might be doing in Goldram at that very moment.

  They didn’t speak again until they reached the dining hall.

  Zoke stopped in the doorway, looked around the vast dining quarters with wide eyes, and murmured, “It’s so big.”

  Effie glanced around, trying to imagine what the room looked like from Zoke’s point of view. Long rectangular tables with a bench on either side were crowded by students. Teachers were eating as well, though they generally kept to their own tables. Zoke had told Effie of the market at his old encampment where thousands of Krepps gathered to trade with one another. It must be strange to see so many Humans fed without trading anything in return.

  She spotted Marie Fyremore sitting at a full table of staff. Marie caught her gaze and waved. Effie smiled and waved back. She’d missed the old woman more than she’d known.

  “Yes, it’s big,” Effie agreed with Zoke, heading toward the short queue of students waiting for their food.

  She grabbed two plates from the pile, handing one to Zoke. She got two forks and two knives as well but decided to wait before giving Zoke his silverware. The Krepp had never used such utensils before.

  Another explanation, she realized. I wonder how many I’ll have to give during the course of this meal.

  The students in line in front of them didn’t seem to notice that a Krepp was behind them, for surely they would’ve turned and stared. Effie was thankful Zoke was remaining quiet. The sound of his deep voice was sure to identify his race to anyone within earshot. And then there was his accent—like his words were being ground together in his stomach before being belched through his throat. Still, it was five times better than Vithos’ accent.

  She let out a sigh as she felt sorrow building. And he was learning common tongue so fast, but for what? Just to be killed? It was just too tragic.

  Eggs and potatoes were being served for breakfast. The woman behind the counter kept her eyes lowered when she filled Zoke’s plate, soon noticing the claws on his hand. Then her gaze jumped to his face and a gasp escaped from her lips as she took a step back.

  Zoke ignored it, feigning disinterest in her and the many Humans who were staring now.

  “Let’s find a table,” Effie said, feeling uncomfortable. It reminded her of dreams she’d had of walking through the campus completely naked, searching for her clothes as everyone gawked.

  “What do you mean, ‘find’?” Zoke asked. “There are tables everywhere.”

  “It’s just an expression. It means let’s look for a good place to sit.”

  “What makes a place good?”

  Somewhere with as few people as possible. But Effie found a spot before she figured out how she wanted to answer him. “Over here,” she said.

  There were four students clustered around one end of the table, so Effie sat on the other end. When Zoke put down his plate and sat in front of her, Effie realized he’d already been eating on the way, using his claws to scoop the runny eggs into his mouth. The other students at the table got up to move, not bothering to hide their disgust as they glared at Zoke.

  But the Krepp didn’t seem to notice. His head hovered over his plate as he ripped open the potato that would’ve burned the skin of any Human.

  It reminded her of how Zoke had been struck by two fireballs on the Fjallejon Mountains and lived. She couldn’t let that go—that her magic wasn’t strong enough to stop a Krepp. It’s going to be the first thing I tell Marie Fyremore during battle training today. I just hope she knows what to do with the information, because I sure don’t.

  Effie handed Zoke the knife and fork she’d brought for him. “For your food,” she explained.

  Zoke wrapped his greasy claws around the silverware, holding it up to his eyes. “Why do they give you small weapons to eat with?” He pricked himself hard in the arm with his knife to test how sharp it was. No blood came.

  “There are some foods we eat with our hands, but we prefer a fork and knife for most meals.” Effie gestured at the silverware.

  Zoke let the utensils loudly drop to the table. “I’ll just use my claws.”

  Something seemed to catch the Krepp’s attention, for he jerked his head up to look over Effie. She turned behind her and found two girls turning back to face the other way. Clearly, they’d been staring.

  When Effie faced Zoke again, he was grimacing. “I hate how you Humans stare, and then when I look, you turn away as if pretending you weren’t.”

  “It won’t always be that way—” Effie tried to explain, but Zoke continued talking, ignoring her words.

  “Krepps make no effort to hide their hatred, unlike you cowards!” His voice had risen, and now he was getting to his feet to shout. “If you’re going to stare, then stare!” Zoke glared in each direction as he spoke, the clamor of the dining hall dying down.

  “Don’t be cowards!” Zoke yelled. “Stop pretending you’re not staring when I look back. If you’re going to stare, then do it!”

  Effie nearly tripped over the bench in her hurry to run around the table to Zoke. She tugged on his arm in a feeble attempt to have him sit. But he kept shouting, his muscles stiffening in her grasp.

  “If you have something to say, then come here and say it!”

  “Bastial hell, Zoke, shut up and sit down,” Effie hissed. I’d better bring Reela next time. Only she could fix this.

  Zoke still stood, breathing hard and waiting for someone to say something. Everyone within earshot was looking at them, most just as frustrated as Zoke, it seemed. Many were leaning to the side and whispering to each other while their eyes remained steady on the Krepp.

  Then Effie noticed Marie coming over. The master mage put herself in front of Zoke to catch his gaze.

  “Zoke, will you come with me so we can talk?” Marie asked sternly.

  Zoke took a breath to see if anyone else was going to say something. When he realized they weren’t, he grabbed the rest of the potatoes from his plate.

  A dreadful thought came to Effie that he was going to mash them in Marie’s face. But thankfully, he just put them in his pants pocket—the only article of clothing he wore—and then reluctantly followed Marie out of the dining hall, his bare feet slapping hard against the floor with each step.

  Only when Effie felt a hand to her shoulder did she realize that she was on the verge of crying. She turned to find Alarex standing there and quickly wiped away the budding tears.

  He pulled her in for a hug, her chin just barely getting over his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him.

  “I think he’s taking what happened to Vithos harder than the rest of us,” Alex said. “Except for maybe Reela.”

  “You’re right,” Effie agreed, making a mental reminder to tell Alex later about Reela’s Elven side. Zoke had never been so aggressive before. It had to be the grief that was doing this.

  They parted, but Alex took her shoulders in a firm grip before she got too far from him. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he behaves during battle training. Well, I’ll try.”

  Oh, that’s
right, Effie remembered, Alex is a Group One warrior as well. “Good luck with that.” She meant it seriously, but she could hear that her tone was dubious, giving away that she had little hope Alex could control the Krepp.

  Effie followed with a question. “Are you done eating? Walk back with me?”

  Alex extended his elbow for her to wrap her arm around. “Of course.”

  On their way out of the dining hall, Effie couldn’t help but wonder what Marie would say to Zoke. And what will Zoke say back? Effie felt as if the Krepp was her responsibility. It didn’t seem right to leave him unsupervised with an old woman, even if she was a master mage. Effie started to wonder if she should chase after them.

  But when a familiar face came into the dining hall, her heart jumped, and Zoke slipped from her mind.

  “Effie!” His eyes locked to her. “I haven’t seen you in so long.” He was making an obvious effort to ignore Alex as he leaned down for a hug, forcing Effie’s arm to unwind from Alex’s elbow.

  Effie chose to introduce the two of them when the quick hug was done. She was unsure if Alex would want her to introduce him by his nickname, so she gave his full name instead. “Brady, this is Alarex.”

  The men shook hands without a word, barely even a glance.

  “I’m so glad you’re back.” Brady turned his attention to Effie once again. “Did that Krepp act this way the entire time you were with him?”

  “No,” Alex answered for her. “He’s just having a tough time adjusting.”

  Brady held a smile, looking to Alex for just a blink before bringing his gaze back to Effie. It seemed as if he was waiting for her to answer him instead.

  “Yeah,” she muttered, “he’ll get used to the school soon enough.”

  A heavy silence came next.

  Effie was thankful when Brady interrupted it. “Well, I’m happy to see you’re safe. Until later.” He put his palm on her lower back as he passed by, giving her such a slight rub she wasn’t even sure she’d felt it.

  Outside the dining hall, she and Alex still walked beside each other, but she no longer was hooked around his elbow. She would’ve taken it if he’d offered, but he didn’t.

  “Friend of yours?” Alex asked.

  “Kind of,” Effie answered, reluctant to say more—that she’d kissed Brady the first time she’d met him. That she might have feelings for him. That she was the reason he and his girlfriend had broken up.

  She sighed as it all came back to her.

  Chapter 6:

  ZOKE

  “Where are we going?” Zoke asked Marie, her slow pace making him impatient.

  “To my quarters,” she answered, content to say no more as to why.

  They walked by Warrior’s Field. A few young men were stretching, while others seemed to be fighting.

  “What are they doing?” Zoke asked, pointing with his claw. He thought Humans within the Academy wouldn’t fight each other when their war was against Tenred and the Krepps.

  “They’re dueling,” Marie answered with a sly grin. “Something you’ll be doing soon as well.”

  Why is she smiling like that? But Zoke decided to ask a different question. “What’s dueling? I haven’t heard this word.”

  “Well…”

  Marie seemed to have trouble determining how to describe it. The leathery skin on her forehead was scrunched together. “In this case, the word refers to warriors engaging in combat with one another in order to train. They don’t wish to harm their opponent.”

  “How can they train with a weapon without using it to harm their opponent?”

  Marie let out a breath, already a bit winded from their walk. “I think it’s best to direct any questions about dueling to Warrior Sneary when your class begins. He’s the Group One instructor. You and I have other things we need to discuss.”

  Zoke didn’t like her tone. It was dismissive, as if she was about to scold him for asking questions. He felt the need to spit, this time deciding not to swallow it like before with Effie. He let the saliva go, directing it away from Marie…at least for now. She grunted in disapproval.

  Why is everyone expecting me to be something else besides a Krepp? Then he realized what it was. They want me to be Human.

  But the last thing Zoke wanted was to be more like them.

  Sometimes he found himself wondering why he was still in Kyrro. It was Vithos who’d wanted to join the Humans. The Elf had convinced Zoke that it was the only way to reunite with Zeti. But now with Vithos dead, did these Humans have any chance of defeating the Krepps…at killing Doe and Haemon?

  Well, they’re going to fight against my old tribe anyway, Zoke reminded himself. I can either be part of that battle or not. Those are the only options I have…and I’ve already been marked as a traitor by my own kind, so I’ll just be killed if I return. Then he remembered that this was the argument that had caused him to stay with Vithos in the first place.

  He hadn’t expected the Elf to become a friend. It made him wonder if he was capable of forming as close a bond with Humans as he had with the Elf. The idea made him want to spit again, though he didn’t know why.

  His thoughts went to his sister. I hope you’re safe, Zeti. Keep your distance from Doe and Haemon.

  Marie brought him back with a question. “How old are you, Zoke?”

  It was the first time a Human had asked. He knew Krepps and Humans didn’t think of age in the same way, so he didn’t know how to explain it. He decided to start with how he would answer a Krepp and go from there.

  “I’m pra durren—four,” he said, not knowing if there was a word for pra durren in common tongue. “It means I’m four years into adulthood.”

  The morning sun was just coming over the western Academy wall, causing the old woman to shield her eyes. Zoke squinted and raised his hand as well.

  “And what makes you an adult?” she asked.

  Zoke might’ve been annoyed, but her question held no judgment. She’d done well to show that she had no doubts that he was in fact an adult. Or she just was skilled at holding back her ridicule.

  “Krepps become adults when we shed our birth skin. After this is completed we mark the day, and each year from then on we’re one year farther from our pra durren—one more year into adulthood.”

  “So it’s been four years since you’ve shed your birth skin?” Marie asked.

  “Yes.” And I left the Krepp encampment right as Zeti was shedding hers. She’s going to look so different when I see her again…if I see her again.

  “And how many years from birth does it take before Krepps shed their birth skin?”

  “Most pra durrens start on the eleventh or twelfth year after birth.”

  “And what was it for you?” Marie asked.

  “Twelve.”

  “So that means you’re only sixteen.” Marie stopped and glanced up and down his body. “I was told Krepps are generally a lot bigger and taller than you. Is this because you’re still young?”

  “I’m not young. I’m a full-grown adult. Other male Krepps are a head taller than me, yes, but not because of my age.” Zoke didn’t go on, reluctant to tell this mage about being born with the inability to smell, not eating as much as his fellow Krepps, and being belittled because of it. She wouldn’t understand what it was to be a gurradu, not that other Krepps would, either.

  Zoke asked a question before she could give him another of her own. “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because I need to know more about you in order to help you.”

  Help me? Zoke wanted to claw her across the face. It would be so easy to tear open her skin—the lack of challenge alone made him lose interest. “Even if I needed your help, I wouldn’t want it.”

  “You may not now, but you’ll see once you get it that you’re wrong.”

  For some reason, that made Zoke smile. He even found himself holding in a laugh. Perhaps he was entertained by her stubbornness, or maybe stupidity was a better word for it. Who was she to be so confident that she
knew what was good for him? She’d never even spoken with a Krepp before.

  “And how are you so sure?” Zoke decided to ask, feeling his laugh building up, ready to burst.

  But the mood was ruined when she showed him a flat mouth beneath a glare. It reminded him too much of the look his father usually wore.

  “You need to start trusting us, Zoke,” Marie said. “We’re all on the same side here.”

  They were silent until they came to whatever building the old woman was leading him to. She opened the door and gestured for him to go in first.

  If there was one thing Zoke appreciated about the Humans, it was their enormous buildings. Marie led him down a hall, five doors on each side, then up a flight of stairs. It twisted halfway up, bending back to send them the other way when they reached the second floor.

  He marveled at how sturdy the thick wood felt beneath his heavy body. This structure could hold hundreds of Krepps, possibly thousands.

  A door had her name on it with a title tacked on: “Marie Fyremore: Master Mage.” She opened it, this time letting herself in before Zoke.

  “Please, sit down and get comfortable,” she said, going behind her desk to sit.

  “I can’t be comfortable when you Humans keep using words like ‘please.’ ” He sat, the desk now between them.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try not to use it.”

  Zoke grumbled. Then Marie must’ve realized her mistake. A hand came over her mouth for a blink.

  “It might be harder than I thought,” she said, taking a breath. “I’ve heard some about you from Terren, the head of school, but I want you to tell me everything that led you here to the Academy. Give me every detail, even if I might’ve heard it before.”

  “Why?” It seemed like a lot of effort for no reason.

  “I need this information in order to help you.”

  Zoke glanced over his shoulder at the door. He wasn’t completely heartless—he would feel some guilt if he left without a word, but it might be better than staying with Marie until frustration overcame him.