Awaken (The Mortal Mage Book 1) Read online

  “It’s here,” Desil said as the familiar feeling of an oncoming dream struck him. Reality changed, though he couldn’t tell how exactly. The towering mountain still looked like a wall of rock. The lake still shimmered in the moonlight, a damp smell in the air. But it all felt different, as if Desil was experiencing everything through a filter, through someone else.

  Leida rolled up her sleeves as she approached the exact spot in the dirt. “Have you already watched the memory?” she asked him.

  “No, that would be wrong.”

  “I know. I just wanted to find out.”

  “Wouldn’t it cause the memory to go away?”

  “Not the way my father leaves them. You can experience them multiple times. He was teaching me how…among other things.” Desil could hear the longing to see him in her voice.

  Desil’s father had gotten himself killed a year ago, and Desil still missed him every day.

  “Do you mind if I experience it with you, then?” Desil asked.

  “All right. We’ll watch together.”

  “Let’s keep our voices down,” Desil reminded them. “Adriya, can you look around to see if we were followed? Please be subtle about it so as not to scare them off if there is someone.”

  “Only because it’s a good idea,” she agreed. “Not because you’re in charge of this.”

  “I know.”

  “Thank you, Dree,” Leida added.

  Desil watched Leida intently as she stepped closer to the spot in the dirt, her hands out in front of her. He was curious what happened to the body when the mind experienced a memory.

  Her fingers started to twitch as her eyes shut. She took in a sharp breath, then leaned back as if pushed by an unseen force. Desil hurried behind to catch her, but she stepped back and leveled out. Her hands slid through the air as she wavered, her head bobbing and weaving. It almost looked like she was going back and forth between losing her balance and finding it again but at half speed.

  She steadied soon enough, all motion coming to a stop. Her hands dropped and her head relaxed. It looked as if she’d fallen asleep standing up. A few moments later, she started to sway again. Her hands came up as if to fend off an attacker, though her eyes remained shut.

  Suddenly they popped open. She let out a breathy sound of disappointment. “Did you watch yet?” she asked.

  “No, I was watching you first. I’ve never seen what it looks like.”

  She nodded. “A bit strange, isn’t it?” There was sadness in her eyes.

  “Mind if I…?” He gestured at where she was standing.

  “Go ahead.”

  She seemed too focused on her thoughts to realize she wasn’t giving him adequate space, so he was forced to stand right next to her. He fell into the message immediately, his body lurching as if pushed from behind. He slid across the ground at an incredible speed, heading straight for the mountain. Desil tried to slow himself, but he only sped up as he was about to collide with stone fast enough to break every bone in his body.

  Everything blurred as he went faster still. The mountain bent inward to give him space, its edges wrapping around and then extending past him. Eventually it all disappeared behind him as if he pierced through. Visions appeared all around him, some in front but most to his sides. They showed him somewhere he’d never been before, all the images passing by in flashes and blurs.

  In fear of death, he sprinted away from something, although he wasn’t sure what. He turned the direction of a river, not that he knew how, to drench a threat of some kind. He slid down the vertical face of a mountain, again without knowing how, while something reached for his head. He got other glimpses of walking through forests and standing on the deck of a ship, but none came to his senses as powerful as the first three. He felt Leida with him in each one.

  He finally came to a stop, though the world around him did not. It shot back past him the other way. Trees, mountains, and water blended together at an impossible speed. Suddenly he was back by the lake, the headmaster in front of him.

  But Desil wasn’t there at all. It was only Basen speaking to an empty space.

  “Leida, I know you must be worried. I don’t have a lot of time to explain, but your mother and I are fine.”

  Desil didn’t know how the headmaster had left the memory through this perspective. Desil and Leida had only left memories looking out from themselves, not the other way around. With Leida, he’d gotten small notions of her feelings and thoughts, but now there was nothing except his own mind to distract him as Basen continued to speak.

  “I want to tell you everything, but now isn’t the right time. Your mother and I are still preparing to accomplish what we set out to do, however we need some help.” The headmaster rubbed his forehead, brushing back his still thick black hair. “I hope by now you’ve been questioned by psychics. If you haven’t, then you must avoid them after what I’m about to tell you. Go to Cleve, so long as he has already been questioned as well. Tell him to head to Regash Forest. I’ve left a note for you, Leida, with Nebre the Krepp. I hope you remember him from the time he came to the Academy, because most Krepps look alike and many of them are hostile. They won’t want anyone entering their encampment, but Cleve should be able to get in to see Nebre. He knows enough Kreppen, and they respect him.”

  Basen stopped to glance around, possibly looking for someone spying on him. “The note I’ve left with Nebre will tell you what next to do. I hope both of Adriya’s parents will side with us, but I have my doubts that they can. Even if they aren’t able to, Alabell and I must do this. I hope to see all of you soon.” He paused for a breath. “Otherwise it could be a while.”

  “Are you talking to someone?” a woman’s voice asked from somewhere to the side.

  The memory ended abruptly.

  Now Desil saw why Leida was upset. It seemed as if her parents would be leaving for a long time very soon. The headmaster was even keeping the message to his daughter from his wife. Perhaps she didn’t approve of getting Leida involved.

  But what had that been at the beginning? It seemed like he’d gotten glimpses of another life, or perhaps it was the future of this one. The memories were a window to the past, after all. Could it be possible the headmaster was skilled enough with manipulating bastial energy to provide visions of the future?

  “Did you see anything else besides your father speaking to you?” Desil asked Leida.

  “No.”

  He waited, but she asked him nothing. Even if he could get something out of her about the strange experience, this wasn’t the time.

  “It was smart of him to use the Krepps,” Desil said to stop his digression. “They won’t cooperate with just anyone. Even if Beatrix finds out about this, she can only get the note from Nebre by forcing someone else to fetch it, like Cleve. We have to be careful about leading her to your father. Did you give her any reason to be suspicious?”

  He wasn’t sure how much Leida had heard as she stared at the lake.

  “Leida, I have some ideas about what to do, but first I need to find out about your meeting with Beatrix.”

  “I’m trying to remember all of it. My mind has been scattered recently.”

  “Take your time.”

  While Leida was thinking, Adriya came back from her search. “I didn’t see anyone,” she said. “What did your father tell you?”

  “Give me a moment.”

  “I’ll tell you over here,” Desil said as he walked along the lake. “Let’s not disturb her.”

  Adriya went with him until they were out of earshot. “It was that bad?”

  “Not necessarily.”

  In a hushed voice, he told her everything Basen had said.

  “This is bad,” Adriya said when he was finished.

  Desil didn’t see why at first until he realized what it was. Adriya probably had already spoken with her parents, the two people requested by the headmaster to help, and they didn’t want to get involved.

  Leida came over. “There was one ques
tion in which I had to lie.”

  “What was it?” Desil asked.

  “If I knew why Beatrix wasn’t able to find a message here from my father. I didn’t expect the question. I said no, but she didn’t press after that. In fact she let me go just after…” Leida’s voice trailed off. “She followed me here for sure, didn’t she?”

  “Or she sent someone else,” Desil said. “I know you didn’t see anyone,” he told Adriya, “but did you see signs of someone? Footprints, or perhaps you heard something?”

  “Nothing.”

  “We should keep our voices low just to be safe.” Desil was nearly certain there had to be someone lurking in the darkness. He or she probably wasn’t able to hear them, as there was nowhere to hide close enough, but watching them could still be bad. He changed a few details of his plan as he started to tell it.

  “We don’t need Cleve to get the note. He would just be one more person who could be questioned by psychics.”

  Leida looked as if she didn’t agree. “I know my father said he had his doubts about Cleve helping, but it’s still worth the risk—”

  “Adriya already spoke with him,” Desil interjected.

  “I did,” she confirmed, giving Desil a suspicious glance. “He and my mother returned from the capital before I left to come here. I tried asking him about Basen, but my father wouldn’t tell me anything. Then he started badgering me with questions and lectures. He didn’t want me coming here, and he certainly doesn’t want me involved in this. If my father found out about this note, he would keep us from going.”

  “But would he go on his own?” Leida asked.

  Adriya showed her a pained look. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think he would.”

  “But my father is a good friend of his. I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not a matter of loyalty,” Adriya said. “The king’s troops are already watching him. Trying to help would only bring them to Basen.”

  “Which is why I haven’t included Cleve in my plan,” Desil said to ease their worries. He could feel panic starting to set in for Leida as she pressed her lips tighter the longer this went. “We can still get that note.”

  “How?” she asked.

  “You two should return to the Academy now and pretend everything’s normal. I…” He paused as he realized something unfortunate. “Adriya, it would be best if you didn’t hear this. The more people who are involved, the more likely any of us could be forced by a psychic to reveal what we’re doing. You won’t be needed yet.”

  She folded her arms and looked as if she wouldn’t be moving anytime soon. “Why do you think you’re needed instead of me?”

  “I can’t tell you without risking someone else finding out.”

  Leida stepped between them. “Dree, let Desil tell me what he’s planning. If you and I can come up with something better afterward, then we will. But I agree that the fewer people involved, the better.”

  Adriya showed her a look of betrayal.

  “Please,” Leida added.

  “You don’t know him,” Adriya reminded her friend.

  “Not at all like I know you,” Leida agreed as she touched Adriya’s arm. “But he’s helped thus far, hasn’t he?”

  Adriya thought for a moment. “Fine, but be quick.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  After Adriya left, Desil told Leida, “I’ll go to Regash Forest tomorrow morning and bring back that note for you by nightfall.”

  “How do you expect to do that?”

  “I’ve met Nebre as well. I can get to him.”

  “If that’s all that’s required, then why wouldn’t I go instead?”

  “I’ve been to their encampment before. Have you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Do you know how to get there?”

  “No. But I could come with you.”

  “It’s about thirty miles from here. Are you able to travel that distance and back?” He wasn’t sure if she realized he was asking more than just one thing with this question.

  “Perhaps if I had a horse like you…and I knew how to ride.”

  So she couldn’t cycle her bastial energy like he could. Or if she did know how, she hadn’t yet learned how to use it to increase her stamina.

  “I won’t be taking my horse,” he informed her. “There are no roads on the way there, and there’s a river that will be difficult to cross without going miles around.”

  “You can’t expect to walk sixty miles in a day.”

  “I won’t be walking most of the time. I know I can do it. Will you meet me back here at night? It’ll be the best time to follow the next of your father’s steps. You can bring Adriya with you then, but I don’t recommend telling her anything until you have to.” Desil fell silent for a breath. “It’s probably best if she stays out of this completely, at least for now, but I understand if you feel more comfortable having her by your side.”

  “I do.” Leida looked at him from the sides of her eyes as if he might be up to something. “How do you expect to get there and back in one day if it’s really as far as you say?”

  “That’s a conversation I’m looking forward to having, because I have many questions for you as well, but we don’t have time right now. I need to get back to the tavern so I can help my mother and then get to bed. It’s going to be a long day for me tomorrow. It’s up to you, but you need to decide now. Do you trust me or not?”

  “I do,” Leida answered quickly.

  “Then hurry over to Adriya so you can decide whether to follow my plan or come up with your own.”

  She scowled. “Do you order everyone like this?”

  “Not…all the time.”

  “You seem like you would go through drastic measures to get people to cooperate with you.”

  It was true that he’d wrestled a guard of the king onto his wagon when he caught the man stealing, then again when another one tried to interfere.

  “I’ll try to be less severe.”

  “You should. It’s not your mother and father who are missing.” She walked over to Adriya, who had an even worse scowl than before as she held her hands on her hips.

  They spoke for longer than Desil wanted to wait, though it did give him the chance to think of something else he should warn them about.

  Eventually they came over. Adriya sighed. “I’ll wait until later to find out what’s going on.”

  “Good, but I’ve thought of another concern,” he said. “Is there some method that could be used to gather everyone at your school?”

  “The Redfield bell,” Adriya said. She looked to Leida, then spoke Desil’s thoughts aloud. “They’ll question everyone about this.”

  “Oh, you’re right. It will be like the loyalty test,” Leida added.

  “That’s what I was getting at,” Desil said. “What’s the loyalty test like?”

  “They bring everyone to Redfield and put us all in lines so no one is missed,” Leida explained. “Everyone must answer the same questions posed by a psychic. It’s run by the school, but I imagine the same thing happening by order of the king. If it’s not tomorrow, it’ll be soon.”

  “You have to make sure you are on your way back here before then,” Desil said.

  “We will,” Leida answered.

  “Good. Then this is goodbye for now.”

  “Goodbye,” Leida said. Adriya had already turned and started walking off.

  He went back to the tavern to face his mother. She would not like this news, but he didn’t have time to stay up arguing with her. Fortunately there was a perfectly good excuse to keep her from being involved.

  “Well?” she asked as he came into the kitchen to help her finish cleaning up. All their patrons had left by then.

  “I’m doing something tomorrow, and it’s probably the last thing I’ll need to do for them.”

  “What is it, Desil?” She sounded as if she might start yelling. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d raised her voice to him. It had to have been many years ago
, when he was a child. He did remember her yelling at his father many times, though, but only when Wade was drunk.

  “I would tell you, but it’s a risk for you to know.”

  She sucked in a breath as if about to scream, but he continued before she could.

  “I agree that it could become dangerous, but it isn’t yet.”

  “Basen and Alabell have been accused of treason, Desil. Treason! I shouldn’t have to remind you there is nothing worse to be accused of. Doing anything to help them is dangerous, even if you’re only helping their daughter get in contact with them.”

  “The people of Kyrro won’t let the king hang someone for merely trying to reunite the headmaster with his daughter. Basen’s reputation with the people is even better than the king’s, and the citizens of Kyrro are not silent. Remember how they were when Father…” Desil knew he didn’t need to get out the rest of those difficult words about his father, and his poor mother didn’t need to hear them.

  “I suppose you’re right,” she grudgingly conceded.

  They finished scrubbing the dirty dishes and cleaned up the last of the grime on the counters. Fortunately Effie had calmed down somewhat by then.

  “I’m just worried about you,” she said as if to apologize for getting angry. “I know how dedicated you become when you set your mind on something. Please reconsider before it’s too late.”

  But his mind was already made up. He supposed she would suffer less if she found out sooner rather than if he waited, as he’d first intended.

  As Desil washed before bed, he thought of the right way to tell her. He stopped outside her room on the way to his. Their bedrooms were the only quarters on the upper floor of the small building. He could hear the windy sound of her practicing with bastial and probably sartious energy just before he knocked.

  “Come in.”

  He opened the door. She needed no wand as she held up her hand before two clusters of energy, bastial on the left, white as snow when compacted together, like now. He could feel the heat from it as he stood in the doorway. Sartious, green and foggy, was on the right. If her grasp on one slipped and they came together, the sartious would normally act as fuel and catch fire. But she’d gathered too much of it to burn, and he trusted her not to mix the two anyway. She was a master, which he hoped to be one day, though his abilities had nothing to do with sartious energy.