The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (best novels to read .txt) 📕

my help is required, then certain ingredients are required as well. I’m very sorry it had to be your father, but I would’ve done the same to anyone else. It’s not personal, and again, I’m so sorry for the hurt you have gone through.”

Kataleya just stared at the floor for a while. Suddenly she looked up. “She could have gotten the corrupted essence from someone else’s body and claimed it was from my father’s.”

“That’s not the case,” the king said.

“How do you know?”

“Barrett has been a mage of order for a long time. He has come across many essences and other enchantments. The spell Identify doesn’t just notify him about an enchantment; it picks up a scent that only mages of his skill can discern. Think of it like a dog following the scent of a missing person. Barrett can tell that it is your father’s essence in the moonstone carried by Hadley because he has met with your father many times. His mana picks up on the scent in the same way as it did when he was near your father.”

Charlie gasped. “I had no idea that was possible. So Barrett can detect these scents from all kinds of enchantments?”

“Not now, Charlie,” the king lectured as he returned his gaze to Kataleya.

“Are you completely and utterly sure?” she asked. “That it is my father’s essence in there, and it has been corrupted?”

“I’m completely and utterly sure. Now that doesn’t mean he was a bad person. We don’t know exactly what it means. All we know is this: Whitley has helped us greatly in removing Oquin Calloum from power and fighting against dteria in every way possible. I assume what corrupted him was his greed for wealth and power. It is unusual for a man with that kind of power not to be corrupted.”

I could feel Hadley giving me an “I told you so” look, but I was too focused on the king’s next words to give her any look back.

“Even I might produce a corrupted essence when I die. But, like your father, I will die doing everything I can to help this kingdom.”

Did he honestly believe that? If so, what did it say about a corrupted essence? I had always thought of them as only coming from men who had lost their souls to dteria. Now I wasn’t so sure.

“Kataleya,” the king continued as it seemed like everyone else was quiet from shock. “I think it is time you stand up and forgive Hadley for this. You have punished her for long enough. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I need more time, sire.”

“There is no more time. Forgiveness can be very difficult—”

“Forgiveness has never been that way for me,” Kataleya interrupted. “Not until now, with her.”

Nykal thought for a moment. “Then ask yourself, for whom are you holding a grudge? Because if it’s for your father—if it’s because you think that’s what he would want you to do—you must remind yourself that he is gone, Kataleya Yorn. It has to be the hardest thing you could possibly imagine in this moment—thinking for yourself going forward—but for all of our sakes, you must do it.” He paused for a breath. “Now, do you want to punish Hadley because that’s what your father would want, or do you want to find a way to work with her? What do you want, Kataleya? Answer only for yourself, as difficult as it may be.”

She pushed herself up from the chair and looked at Hadley.

Hadley had large eyes and a naturally innocent demeanor. I honestly didn’t see how anyone could hold a grudge against her, but Kataleya had managed it very well.

Kataleya finally looked at Hadley without the same anger in her eyes. “You’d better curse the hell out of our enemies and only them.” Her tone wasn’t exactly friendly, however.

“They’ll never expect it,” Hadley replied.

Charlie asked, “Now can you explain what exactly happened when you spoke to Jon through your mana?”

I imagined Charlie was going to be very fascinated with everything having to do with the callstone.

“There will be time on the way to Koluk,” the king said. “Aliana, you’re in charge until all of you get back to Leon.”

Reuben let out a squeak of disapproval.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Eden had been telling herself for a while now that she could kill Jon. She could do it. She had to.

She had told herself that letting him live was not a smart option. He was going to be killed by someone eventually, so why not let it be her? The alternative was to go against Valinox, which was something she had been afraid of ever since he’d introduced himself to her under the disguise of the fire mage, Pearson Robinson.

But now Valinox had taken her on his back deep into Curdith Forest. Eden didn’t know if he really meant what he said, that he had another task for her. If that was a lie, that meant he was taking her deep into the forest just to get her killed, if he didn’t leave her here to die on her own.

She was wondering more and more these days if Valinox’s victory was really a sure thing, like the arrogant bastard had convinced her it was. She had met him when he came into her father’s barbershop. Of course her father was out drinking or gambling, possibly both. She pretty much managed the shop on her own when she wasn’t spending time with her old friend Greda.

Eden had noticed early on that she had an innate skill with ordia. The magical art of order just made sense to her, and she didn’t care who found out. She had a habit of flapping her lips as she cut hair, and many of her regular customers enjoyed talking about sorcery with her. It was a good way to pass the time. It was also a good way for some of the right—and wrong—people to find out about her skill.

It wasn’t as if there was anyone in her life who was smart