Hunted Sorcery (Jon Oklar Book 2) by B.T. Narro (chapter books to read to 5 year olds .txt) 📕

to do anything more than you’re already doing, healing the sick and defending the city. I just want to do what I can to help, which isn’t much.”

“Well, I really appreciate it.”

“I’m glad.”

She left, and I hurried to finish my bath. I didn’t know what time it was, but I figured many of my peers were already in bed. I didn’t think any of us had slept very well in the forest last night.

I entered the great hall hesitantly, as it was near pitch black. There was just one candle lit near a lonely plate at my usual place.

It was eerie to eat alone in the dark, so quiet. Normally, I wouldn’t be frightened by the situation, but I had real enemies out there past the wall, and possibly one in here.

I ate quickly.

Eventually I heard movement in the dining hall, but I couldn’t see anything in the thick dark that enclosed me.

“Who’s there?” There was a tinge of fear in my voice.

“Jonnnnnnnn!” an ominous voice reverberated. “I’m the ghost of digestion! I’m here to haunt you because you always eat too faaaast!”

I grinned as I recognized Michael’s voice. “Very funny!” I called into the darkness.

I heard his footsteps. Then he came close enough for me to make him out from the surrounding darkness.

“Need some company?” he asked.

I chuckled as I saw what he was wearing.

“What?” He sounded offended as he looked down at himself. “You don’t like my nighttime attire?”

He wore a silly white coif on his head, the straps holding tight under his chin. His robe was open at the front, showing white shorts and a thin shirt of the same color. He closed his robe petulantly.

“Some friend you are!” he said. “As soon as I heard you were still up, I hurried over here because I know how scary the dining hall can be at night.”

“I’m sorry. Yes, please, I would love some company.” I gestured at the bench on the other side of the table.

He sat down across from me. “I get cold at night, all right?” he said, pointing at the coif.

“That’s no problem,” I answered with a laugh. “How did you know I was here?”

“I asked the princess if she had seen you. She usually seems to know where you are.” He gave a wink. “Anyway, she said you fell asleep in the bathing quarters. But that’s all she told me. I’ve been wondering how she found out?” He held a smirk, the shadows from the candle making him look sinister.

“She didn’t see anything. So how did you know the dining hall was scary at night?”

“Fine, I will let you change the subject,” he said with a lifted finger. “Because we are good friends, but I would hope that, as the good friends that we are, you would tell me if something happened between you and any girl here, including but not limited to the princess.”

“I would. And I will tell you right now that nothing will happen between me and her.”

“That’s probably wise. Speaking of wise.” He stood and looked as if he would say something else, but then he just started walking off.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“You asked me how I knew what the dining hall was like at night. The answer is from snooping. It’s the same reason I know about this.”

“What?”

“Just wait there.”

Michael traversed the long room. But as soon as he disappeared into the darkness, I heard him slam into something.

“Ow! Good god, my shin! I’m fine, don’t worry!”

“You sure you don’t need the candle?”

“No, there are windows in the kitchen and the moon is bright. I just need to—” I heard him run into something else. “Dammit! The same shin!”

I picked up the candle and walked over. As the light bathed him, I saw him hunched over near a bench, nursing his shin.

“Thanks,” he grumbled and exited through the door to the kitchen.

Sometimes I didn’t know if Michael looked foolish on purpose, just for the sake of entertainment, or if he was just being himself. Either way, my meal had become a lot more enjoyable since he’d arrived, and I was going to start appreciating things like that from now on.

“Don’t come in!” he called from the kitchen. “It’s a surprise.”

I waited outside the door for some time. I was not surprised when he came back later with two mugs filled with what I assumed to be ale.

“I shouldn’t,” I told him, even though I appreciated the gesture.

“Just one drink,” Michael said, walking past me back toward our table. “The ghost of digestion says you shouldn’t sleep right after eating anyway. One drink,” he repeated.

“All right,” I gave in. The last time I had any ale was when I had met Scarlett, in Tryn. It was a short meeting, Barrett arriving soon after and convincing me to go with him to the castle. I was very glad he had, but I had to admit to myself now that even he could be working against us.

“What’s with the face?” Michael asked as we sat down across from each other again.

Here I was already losing appreciation as I worried about the future. I smiled and lifted my mug. “Just tired. I’m glad you’re here. To your snooping.”

“To my snooping,” Michael agreed as we clanked mugs.

We drink in silence for a little while.

“Did the king tell you anything interesting?” Michael asked.

My skepticism sent off alarm bells but just for a moment. This was Michael. If I couldn’t trust him, then there was no point of sharing anything with anyone here.

“He just wanted a summary and gave me my next assignment. What about you?” I asked, hoping to deflect as I figured out how much I should share. “What will you be doing tomorrow?”

“I’m practicing a new spell, actually, with Leon’s help. ‘Windshield.’ Apparently, I just needed to add uD to the wind spell, which is the highest note I can reach, so it makes it easier.”

“I’m just learning that uD adds density to every spell, also thanks to Leon, actually.”

“The