The Path of Giants Page 5

  “No, he lives elsewhere.” She looked into my eyes, as if contemplating telling me something, but she seemed to choose not to.

  “You have a lovely hometown,” I commented.

  “Thank you. I’m very glad you’re here and can see it! No one else, of our friends, is probably going to see Livea for a long time, maybe ever.” She paused as her enthusiasm drained from her face. “I do hope they are faring well in Koluk.”

  “I’m sure Leon is keeping them safe.”

  “You know…” She looked at me quizzically. “You’re the only one who’s really seen him at his full strength, unless something has happened in Koluk that made Leon have to use his most powerful spells. But I don’t imagine members of the Thieves’ Guild putting up a fight in the streets.”

  “What do you think is happening there?”

  “Well, knowing the Thieves’ Guild’s history, I would say they are reverting to more clandestine measures to keep power over the city.”

  “What exactly is their history?”

  “They controlled Koluk before Cason started recruiting dark mages and made his home there. They despised Cason and his followers, who sent them into hiding. I’m sure after we took care of him, they’ve been wanting to regain control. But they aren’t known for serious crimes like murdering and raping. They’ve only wanted coin and control, almost boasting of this as if they thought themselves to be good people, protectors of the city, and what they stole was just payment for their service. The last king before Nykal couldn’t get rid of them, either, even with his large army. They are too good at hiding or possibly keeping their identities a secret.”

  I had been wondering about my peers in Koluk. I had figured they were spending most of their time acting almost like city guards, catching criminals in the act and arresting them. After what Kataleya just said about the Thieves’ Guild, however, I was starting to believe I had the wrong idea.

  “So what is Leon actually hoping to do there?”

  “It’s Jennava who’s able to do the most. Remember that she lived in Koluk for quite some time, posing as a loyal sorcerer to Cason.”

  That’s right. I had met Jennava in Koluk. It was she who first told us that a small army from Rohaer was coming through the forest to meet Cason in Koluk. She and I had decided together that they must be stopped.

  I hadn’t gotten to know Jennava very well. She had spent most of her time with Charlie and Eden, but I trusted her wholeheartedly after seeing her fight against our enemies.

  “Jennava knows Koluk,” Kataleya continued. “She knows the people there, and she probably even knows some of the identities of the Thieves’ Guild members. I don’t know what she is doing exactly, but I’m sure whatever it is is making life very difficult for any criminal in Koluk right now. And with our ranger’s ability to sense movement, I can’t imagine many people hiding.”

  She was speaking of Aliana Forrester, the other girl who I had grown close enough with to call a friend. Of the two others, Remi clearly admired me for helping to save her life with my healing ability, but we didn’t speak very much in general. And of course Eden had betrayed us all. I had no idea where she was right now.

  “Have you heard any news of Valinox or Eden?” I asked Kataleya, as we were soon approaching the gate surrounding her home.

  “Nothing of either,” she replied. “But I have heard news about Remi’s witch. She’s been traveling around here, probably looking for a new home. I assume you have heard the same as well?”

  “Yes, I even have some of her things with me that the sheriff of Granlo confiscated from her. I was going to speak to you about that. You probably know what to make of them more than I do.”

  “I doubt that,” she said. “None of my lessons before coming to the castle had anything to do with witches or their possessions.”

  “Still, I think you should take a look at one thing in particular.”

  “Is it urgent?”

  “It can wait.”

  “Good, because we’re going to relax and eat. My father is preparing a feast in your honor.”

  “That’s kind of him.”

  “It is. Make sure you thank him.”

  “Should I bow?”

  “Yes, please,” she replied with a cute toothy smile.

  I chuckled. I had missed Kataleya, but I hadn’t realized just how much. I assumed it would be the same when I saw Michael again.

  There were armed guards at the gate. They let us through, and soon Kataleya was opening the front door to her mansion.

  I stopped, shocked at the sight of a shaggy dog barreling toward us.

  “Oh yes, I’ve brought Jon!” Kataleya spoke as if talking to a child. “I think he likes you.”

  The dog sniffed around my hands in the midst of running in circles. He bumped against my leg several times, almost knocking me over.

  “Go ahead and pet him. Barkley von Wiggletail loves belly rubs especially!”

  “The only dog I’ve been around was a hunting dog someone had in Bhode,” I said as I ran my hand down the canine’s back. “He was pretty vicious.”

  “Not Barkley.”

  As if on cue, the dog plopped down and rolled over, showing me his stomach. I gave his belly a good rub.

  Kataleya knelt down and took the dog’s face in her hands. “Yes, Barkley missed me while I was away, didn’t he? And I missed him, too. It’s just too bad I couldn’t convince my father to allow me to bring Barkley back with me when I return. He just loves wuvs you too much, too.”

  The dog hopped back up and started running circles around us again.

  He suddenly stopped showing any excitement and started sniffing around my bag. Then he barked as he backed away, stopping soon after to whimper.

  “What’s the matter?” Kataleya asked her dog.

  “I think I know,” I said as I set down my pack and reached inside. I pulled out the red diamond the witch had cursed. The dog ran off at the sight of it, or perhaps at the smell of it. I didn’t smell anything, but I certainly felt something that I still couldn’t pinpoint.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “What is that?” Kataleya asked me cautiously.

  “I was hoping you would know. It’s what I spoke about earlier. Wait, do you hear something?”

  We fell quiet. I strained my ears as I held the diamond close. It seemed to be emitting…not exactly a sound but…I didn’t know what. It was like listening to a faraway voice, but this one couldn’t quite reach my ears.

  “I don’t hear anything,” Kataleya said.

  “Maybe ‘listen’ was the wrong word. Do you feel something?”

  She came close as we put our heads near the red diamond.

  “Something indeed, but it’s faint,” she said.

  It was more than faint to me. The feeling was like watching someone express anguish. I felt inclined to help Hadley, but I didn’t know how I could.

  “Jon Oklar I presume?” asked an older man with gray hair as he joined us in the large entrance room. Kataleya quickly moved away from me.

  “Yes, sir,” I said.

  “I’m Whitley Yorn.” He spoke his name in a tone that underscored how important he was. I didn’t think I would need Kataleya’s advice to bow. I would’ve felt inclined.

  I lowered in a deep bow. “Thank you for the invitation, sir,” I said.

  He didn’t seem too pleased about something. Perhaps my bow wasn’t low enough.

  “You should address me as your lord,” he said.

  “My apologies, my lord.”

  He gave a slight nod. “What do you have there?”

  “Something confiscated from a witch we’ve been after. I don’t know what to make of it, but it seems to have some kind of power.”

  “Explain.”

  I told him of my conversation with the sheriff and the bag of Hadley’s things he had given me. I then went on to describe the dream I had while sleeping near this gemstone. Just recently, it had felt like Hadley was trying to contact me again, but by
the time I finished my tale, I didn’t feel it any longer.

  In the short conversation that followed, it became clear to me that Kataleya had already explained to her father everything Remi had told us about Hadley, which wasn’t much. But Whitley didn’t seem too pleased about the idea of us trying to recruit a witch.

  “Witches are not good by nature,” he lectured. “It takes a certain kind of mind to seek the dark arts. This Hadley cannot be trusted.”

  Kataleya was unusually silent during all of this, but I had to speak up.

  “But the king, my lord. He only wished for Hadley to be investigated to see if she might be goodhearted like our mutual friend described.” I gestured at Kataleya, hoping she would back me up, but again she didn’t speak.

  I continued, “When Hadley fled the capital, the king’s orders were not to hunt her down but to find her and speak to her, to explain our situation and judge her based on her character.”

  “You don’t need to remind me of the king’s orders. I’m constantly in contact with him through missives. I’m only warning you not to let yourself trust this young witch. I’m sure she means to deceive you.”

  Whitley looked at me, waiting for a reply.

  I gave a nod that I hoped would look submissive, though I was feeling quite defiant.

  “I will have a message sent to the person who knows the most about sorcery in my circle. She was Kataleya’s teacher and should have something to say about this gemstone. I’ll hold onto it for now.” He stuck out his hand.

  I didn’t move.

  “Come on,” he said impatiently.

  I glanced at Kataleya. She looked as if she pitied me, possibly because of her father’s attitude toward me, but she didn’t do anything to stop it. Meanwhile, Barkley watched cautiously from the doorway.

  I handed over the gemstone. Whitley whistled, and a manservant came hurrying over. He said something softly near the servant’s ear.

  When the manservant ran off with the diamond, Whitley put on a smile directed at me. “Now, onto more important matters. I have heard many great things about you, Jon. Even before Kataleya arrived and shared some stories with me, word reached Livea about your healing powers. My people are very excited you are here. I would like to be the first person you heal here, if you need no preparations.”

  “I don’t, my lord.”

  “Excellent. They say you can even figure out what is wrong with a man before he knows it himself. Is this true?”

  “Yes, my lord. Perhaps a demonstration?”

  “Certainly, but first I’ll have Kataleya fetch her mother. Go on, dear.”

  “Yes, Father.” Kataleya hurried off, Barkley running after her.

  “Would you like me to wait until she arrives?”

  He nodded and stepped close, looking as if he had something he needed to say.

  “Are you currently in a relationship with anyone?” he asked to my surprise.

  “No, my lord.”

  “I have heard from Kataleya that you two have grown somewhat close.”

  “As friends, my lord,” I was quick to say, hoping Kataleya would return with her mother soon.

  “Good,” he said. “Make sure you keep it that way. Kataleya is soon to be engaged. I don’t want any confusion for her.”

  “I understand, my lord.”

  “Do you, though? Do you really understand that you are not an appropriate match for her?”

  I had felt more comfortable with Gerald’s pickax in my shoulder.

  “I understand,” I grumbled.

  “You understand what?”

  “I understand I am not appropriate for her, my lord.” The words felt like stones coming up through my throat.

  “Good.”

  He stepped away as we heard Kataleya returning with her mother.

  As I suppressed my anger, I realized that more than that, I was disappointed with Whitley. Although I knew Kataleya’s father was insanely rich and powerful, I had hoped the man who’d raised a girl like her would’ve been, well, similar to her. Instead, I found similarities between him and what I imagined Reuben might be like when he reaches Whitley’s age. But even Reuben had softened a bit since getting to know us. Whitley was getting on in years. I couldn’t imagine him changing.

  I wondered why Kataleya hadn’t told me to address her father as lord. She hadn’t prepared me for his attitude, either.

  Kataleya’s mother was much younger than her father, and noticeably easier on the eyes. She had the same blonde hair as Kataleya, with a slender nose akin to her daughter’s. I even saw some similarity in the shape of their eyes, though Kataleya’s mother had bright blue irises rather than Kataleya’s grayish green ones.

  Her mother smiled as she curtsied. “I’m glad to finally meet you, Jon.”

  I bowed. “You as well.”

  “My name is Mora.”

  “The healer’s about to prove if the rumors are true,” Whitley said, not giving me a chance to reply to Mora.

  Wanting to get this over with, I stepped up close to Whitley, but he showed me a disapproving look.

  “My wife first. Ladies always first, Jon. They might not teach you that where you come from, but it is nearly the law here.”

  I was getting really fed up with him talking down to me, but I approached Mora without putting up an argument.

  She didn’t have any visible injuries. I started to walk around her, and she turned with me, holding a polite smile.

  “Stay still, if you don’t mind…um.” I suddenly realized I didn’t know how to address her.

  “Lady is fine,” Kataleya helped me.

  “Lady,” I added. It sounded a little strange to me, but I went with it. I guided my hand around her without touching, propelling my mana out and feeling for signs of damage.

  It was her back. There seemed to be something wrong with her lower spine. I couldn’t tell what it was exactly, but I didn’t need to. My mana knew how to heal it. I just had to give it the command.

  “I am sure there’s something amiss with your spine.”

  “Did somebody tell you?”

  “We didn’t,” Kataleya said. “His mana tells him what’s wrong before healing.”

  “Not exactly what’s wrong,” I explained. “It’s more that it senses something that can be fixed.”

  “Are you saying you can fix my back?”

  “Yes, it will only take a moment. My healing will hurt for that moment, however.”

  “That is fine.”

  I put my hand on her lower back and casted my healing spell. She gasped as my mana worked out the damage in her spine.

  By the time I was done, I found Whitley to be glaring at me. I didn’t understand why. Mora stepped away from me, her hands on her back.

  “My word!” She twisted, then bent over and back up again. “My goodness!” she said, louder this time. “Could it be that this is just temporary?”

  “It’s not, Mother!” Kataleya said happily.

  “Are you sure?” Mora looked at me.

  “Unless you damage it again, it’s no longer going to cause you any problems.”

  She put her hand over her mouth as her eyes glistened. “Oh, thank you, Jon. You don’t know what this means to me.”

  Whitley still had a disapproving look on his face. I couldn’t ignore it any longer. “What is it?”

  He gave a sigh as if frustrated he had to explain this to me. “You are not to touch a woman of such stature as my wife without explicit permission. I would’ve figured you’d ask!”

  I looked at Kataleya. She had to say something, didn’t she?

  But she basically gave me an apologetic shrug without moving her shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t know.”

  “Yes, there seems to be a lot you don’t know. I will forgive you this time so long as it does not happen again!”

  I lowered my head. “Would you like me to heal you now, my lord?”

  “I would. There is no need for games anymore. You h
ave proven your skill. The problem is my right knee.”

  “It’s bothered him for years,” Mora said. “We’ve tried all different types of healing. Nothing has helped very much.”

  “I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” I said. “May I put my hand on your knee, my lord?”

  “You may.”

  I was not surprised to find out that the damage in his knee was not as bad as in Mora’s spine. It was going to be even easier to heal.

  However, I casted the spell with more power than necessary, just to induce a bit more pain. I couldn’t help myself.

  He groaned and hissed, but all too soon it was over.

  He moved his leg about to test his newly healed knee, then squatted up and down. “Very good, Jon. Very good, indeed. Now I don’t think the people of Livea should have to wait a moment longer than necessary. I’m going to gather them right now while you rest and eat. I should have everyone ready by the church in a few hours. I will send someone for you then.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Whitley walked out the door, and I almost let out a breath of relief when he was gone.

  I was a little surprised he wasn’t going to eat with us, though. “He’s already had lunch?”

  “He has,” Kataleya said. “But more than that, he’s just too excited to tell everyone about you, I’m sure.”

  Was she being serious? It wasn’t like Kataleya to make jokes, but her father didn’t seem to be the kind of man to get excited about helping anyone but himself.

  “Thank you again, Jon,” Mora said as she left me with Kataleya.

  “I’m happy to help, lady.”

  “Come, I’ll show you to your room as we wait for your feast.” Kataleya took me up a stairway and down a hall. The mansion was probably the size of the great hall in the castle.

  Had I just come from Bhode, I would’ve been amazed by the displays of wealth I saw, with her family’s lavish rugs, decorative furniture, and the beautiful paintings on the walls. But all of it just made me wonder how Whitley had earned so much money.

  Kataleya seemed to sense my sour mood, a tense silence between us until we made it to my room. As expected, it was beautiful. Most importantly, the bed was large and looked very comfortable. There were a couple windows that oversaw a private garden, enclosed by walls.