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

“I’m telling you this for your own good. You don’t seem like someone who takes the time to think about things that might endanger him.”

I continued to hold my tongue.

“I know you young sorcerers are bound to protect the king by a contract, but such contracts can be dissolved. The king would never tell you, but it is within your right. You were not aware what you were signing up for; all the sorcerers have heard by now. You were tricked. But I know of a deninger. He’ll require a payment, of course, but I assume you have coin.”

“A deninger?” I asked.

“It does not matter for now. Just seek me out if you want to learn more.”

“What benefit would you have from it?”

“Must I need a benefit to help another sorcerer?”

“Yes,” I told her coldly. “I assume this deninger gives you a portion of the payment for your referral?”

“That is enough from you.” She extended her palm. “Your key.”

“What?” I gave a bit of a laugh. “I’m not giving you my key.”

She seemed surprised. Then she put on a smile as she placed her hand over her chest. “I’m sorry if I offended you earlier,” she told me sweetly. “You’re a handsome young man who seems kindhearted. I was just looking out for your best interest. Now please allow me to hold onto your key while I leave my possessions in your room. I promise I’ll return it before I leave.”

I knew what she was doing. “No, feel free to leave your belongings somewhere else if you want. I’m not giving you my key.”

Shock crossed her face. She quickly checked herself in the mirror against the wall.

“I don’t understand,” she said in the same sweet tone, extending her palm once again. “Please, Jon.”

“I don’t know you, and I’m partially responsible for anything you and the others might do here.”

Her expression turned icy. “Fine!” She started collecting her possessions from my bed. “I will take my belongings and myself elsewhere.” She spoke as if this was something I’d regret.

With her cloak and jewelry collected, Willelma started toward the door. She looked at me the whole way there.

I opened the door for her.

She scoffed at me again as she exited.

Good riddance.

Eden’s room was not far from mine. She had her door open, so I entered without knocking.

She was looking out over the courtyard, but she turned to find me approaching my sword on her bed.

“It’s finished,” she sang as she snatched up the sword before I could get it. “Aha!” She aimed its point at me.

A few different ways of disarming her entered my head, but all would cause at least a little pain, so I refrained.

“I just had the displeasure of meeting Willelma,” I said as I calmly took the sword.

“Oh yes, another charming sorcerer.”

“Are they all as spoiled as Reuben?” I asked. Like all my other peers, Eden had grown up in the capital here. I was the only one who didn’t know much about the city. I had expected to learn more by now, but I’d hardly had a chance to leave the castle.

“I think most are,” Eden said.

“Why is that?”

“Most come from powerful families. That’s how they pay for training.” She went back to her window to look out over the courtyard as she spoke. “Then, when they start to learn sorcery, they think themselves to be even better than the rich who cannot use a magical art. And you must already know how highly the rich think of themselves compared to the rest of us.”

“I see. Is that why the king prefers not to work with them?”

“Yes,” she said. “They are overpriced for their service, they don’t work well with others, and they’re loyal to no one but themselves and their patrons—for those who have them.”

“There has to be sorcerers who are unlike the others. Jennava, and even Leon, are different.”

“Leon was just like the rest of them when he was younger, in Tryn. Everything changed after dark mages robbed him, and then he murdered them and ended up in the dungeon below the keep. You know this, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“Most of the other sorcerers haven’t had an experience like his. I don’t suppose there are many rich where you come from, but you should know that they don’t think or act like the rest of us do. They are not just measured by their wealth but their status as well, and they are all competing with each other. Humility is a curse to them, a weakness.”

I joined her at the window because I was tired of talking to her back. “There still has to be sorcerers who learned a magical art to help others, not just for status.”

“Yes, and you have met all eight of them who exist in all of Lycast, yourself included,” Eden replied. “That is why we are here.” She gestured at the courtyard down below the window.

I didn’t believe it. Eden could be funny at times, but I didn’t know she was so cynical. I wasn’t sure why Michael was so infatuated with her.

I wasn’t certain what my face revealed, but her demeanor changed when she looked into my eyes. She grew serious.

“There are other sorcerers,” she finally admitted. “Men and women who want to use their sorcery for good. Unfortunately, you aren’t likely to meet any of them. Sorcerers who have any skill are seen as a threat by the other sorcerers who make their living from simple spells. At least that’s how it is here in Newhaven. The mean and aggressive drive away the nice and good. It’s like that with all businesses in the capital. If you can’t defend yourself or don’t want to, you’re not going to do well here. The rich control the city, always have. Imagine Rubens everywhere.”

“At least he’s learning some humility.”

“Slowly, and at great pain to the rest of us. And it’s only because he was forced to stand on equal ground with the rest of us.”

Also, Kataleya’s