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

sorcerer who Jennava brought in seemed to want nothing to do with them as she walked across the courtyard toward me. This must be the ice mage Eden had mentioned, I thought, for she was beautiful.

“Jennava said you could find a place for my possessions so they won’t be stolen,” said the woman. There was an air of superiority to her tone, reminding me of the first time I’d met Reuben. She wore an expensive cloak and had a ring with a gem on each finger. She even had a gold necklace dangling down near her well-endowed chest, which she displayed in a tight bodice.

She did not look as if she had come here expecting to lift a finger, much less cast a spell. Then again, I didn’t feel much like a threat was at hand, either. That might be why I thought this could be a good chance to practice my courtship skills.

The beautiful woman was probably about five years my elder and not someone I would normally be interested in. Just from her one request, it didn’t seem as if she considered us equals. Perhaps that’s what courtship was? Convincing a woman you were right for her? I still didn’t know.

I noticed Jennava leaving through the open drawbridge, presumably to fetch the sellswords. I hoped she would bring back the Stormeagles. I hadn’t spoken to my friend Calvin in some time, and it seemed as if the wait for Luther’s arrest would be leisurely.

“You may leave your things within the great hall,” I said as I gestured at the large structure beside the keep. I thought of tacking on a compliment, but it seemed much too soon.

She considered it for a moment, a scowl on her face. Or perhaps that was just her resting countenance. “Isn’t there somewhere more secure?” she asked as she looked me up and down. “Are you a guard? Where is your armor?”

“I’m a sorcerer.” I almost called her madam, but I was trying to practice courtship and that didn’t seem like the right word to use. “The keep is locked to visitors, but you could leave your things in my room in the apartments if you’d like. I have a key to lock the door.”

“Who else has a key?”

“Just the councilman to the king, I believe.” A servant no longer woke me in the mornings, so the king had probably taken away his key.

As she seemed to be in thought, I checked on the other two sorcerers. They wore extravagant cloaks just like this woman. I figured I would find expensive jewelry on their fingers if I was close enough to see it. My peers had told me that the sorcerers around here tended to be wealthy. Wealthy and pompous.

The men were bickering so loudly, I caught part of what they were arguing about. Each man seemed interested in proving to the other that he would be paid more by the time this was done.

“That is fine,” said the woman. “Take me there.”

I gestured for her to walk with me toward the apartments. She matched my stride and looked me over once more.

“My name is Jon,” I said, offering my hand.

“Jon what? Who is your father?”

She hadn’t shaken my hand yet, as if waiting for my answer before deeming me appropriate to touch her.

I was starting to lose interest in even practicing courtship.

“Gage Oklar. Unfortunately, he passed away.”

She shook my hand. “The head guard of Tryn. He was quite the swordsman from what I’ve heard. What about yourself?”

I nodded. “He taught me well.”

We made our way through the apartments and up the stairs.

“May I ask your name?” I tried.

“You must not be from here. I’m Ice Mage Willelma.”

“I haven’t met an ice mage, like yourself,” I said.

“You haven’t met anyone like me.”

I smiled thinking she might be loosening up with a bit of a joke, but no, it seemed that she just wanted to brag, as she continued.

“I’m the only ice mage in Newhaven for good reason. Not many sorcerers can manipulate ice, and those who can, cannot do it like I can.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I was interested in ice, as none of my peers could cast any ice spells. It was within my range, as it overlapped with ordia in the same fashion that wind overlapped with dvinia, but Leon hadn’t mentioned anything about it. I would assume that he, and probably the king, thought fire would be more useful, as fire was the magical art first mentioned to me when they’d discovered my range.

“I take that to mean you know many ice spells?” I asked as we made it to my room and I unlocked the door.

“I know what I need to know.” She stepped in first and unfastened her cloak. She folded it neatly on my bed, then started to remove her rings.

She was undeniably beautiful, but I had now completely lost my desire to practice courtship. I didn’t think I could learn anything from speaking with this woman. She was too different from the kind of girl I could see myself falling for.

I stayed in the doorway expecting her to leave, but she went to my window on the other side of the room to look out over the courtyard.

“The king is almost as stupid as the two of them,” she said loudly and confidently.

I was shocked by her audacity. Was she not worried I would tell the king?

“You must know I’m loyal to him,” I said.

She turned away from the window. “Shut the door.”

I closed it only because I was morbidly curious about what she had to say.

“You seem like you could use some advice,” she said.

Everyone could use a piece of good advice every now and again, but I’m not going to get any of that from you.

“And what advice is that?”

She scoffed as if offended by my dismissive attitude. “You should trust what I have to say,” she lectured me.

I couldn’t speak without insulting her. Still curious about what she had