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

dismissed,” Nykal said. “You all will be paid, some now and the rest later. The amount of the second payment depends on whether you are required to defend the castle.”

He produced two bulging coin purses. One large older man went to collect one, while the leader of the Stormeagles, who Calvin had pointed out to me, fetched the other. The king walked back to his keep, a guard opening the door for him. The same guard closed it and locked it after his majesty had entered. I figured the inside of the keep would be barred as well as locked.

I watched as Calvin’s leader counted the coins and eventually flicked one from his thumb to Calvin. The gold of the coin flashed as the sun hit it just right. Calvin caught it and slipped it into his pocket.

A gold coin for coming here, one to all ten of the Stormeagles. The king might even give them another ten when this is done. Twenty gold coins was equivalent to the cumulative stipend of five of my peers, and that was for a week of service.

I reminded myself that we were also given many perquisites. We lived in lavish rooms in the castle. We ate the finest food in the kingdom. We were given lessons of sorcery, lessons that would normally cost a small fortune for a commoner like me. Perhaps we weren’t that cheap after all.

“What do you spend your coin on?” Calvin asked me.

“Besides clothing, I haven’t figured out what else I should buy. What do you use your coin for?”

“What don’t I use it for? Everything costs coin. Armor and weapon repair, food and lodging…a bit of fun here and there.” He lifted an eyebrow. “I do save as much as I can.” He lowered his voice. “Some of the others blow everything on card games and prostitutes. Not me. I want to be done with this in a few years. I’m going to buy a boat and fish.”

“Fishing? I had no idea.”

“What’s not to love about the sea? The smell of the air on open water, the tilt of the boat above the waves, and of course the feeling of pulling in a great haul.”

It was almost as if I was losing Calvin as his eyes took on a distant look.

“My father was a fisherman,” he said. “But he fought during the rebellion and was killed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

Calvin nodded.

I noticed something going on around us that made me a little nervous. There were people walking in and out of the great hall. Some were clearly amused with the extravagance soon after entering, but others seemed to go through the open doors with purpose. The king had left them open, no doubt because there was nothing valuable in the great hall that they could pocket, but I still didn’t feel very comfortable about it.

Then I noticed one of the fire mages trying to get into the keep. I rushed over.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

“A place to relieve myself, unless you want me to piss in the corner of this courtyard?”

I directed him toward the great hall and explained how to get to the privy. There were others on their way there, so it should be easy for him to find.

I went to check the door to the apartments just in case. It was locked. Many of the castle workers, who lived on the first floor of the apartments, were probably in their quarters right now waiting for this threat to pass. All had curtains drawn.

When I met back with Calvin, he asked me, “Was that your first time speaking with Pearson Robinson?”

“Yes, I haven’t formally met him or the other fire mage.”

“Josef Webb is the other. He’s not much better.”

How did I know that name?

My heart dropped when I realized who he was. He was the one Remi had…traded with. I gaped at the much older man. He stood alone with his arms crossed, looking as if he had somewhere better to be.

“So you have heard of Josef,” Calvin said.

“A little. Nothing good.”

“There isn’t much good to say about him or Pearson. They both want to drive the other out of the city. It’s been that way for years.”

Another point of Eden’s that seems to be true.

“They both only know fire?” I asked.

“Seems that way. The Stormeagles haven’t had to deal with them much, so I can’t say for certain.”

Eden approached us. “Some of these men are disgusting,” she told me, ignoring Calvin. “One old enough to be my father just propositioned me.”

“Which?” Calvin asked.

“The one with a graying beard.” She gestured with a swing of her head. The man was one of three flirting with Willelma now. Fortunately, Barrett was in the midst of breaking them up, sending them to their assigned posts.

“He’s one of ours,” Calvin said. “I’ll share a few strong words with him later.”

“Thank you.”

“Calvin,” he said as he offered his hand. “I’m with the Stormeagles.”

“Eden. I’m with the king.”

“I figured. Are you the enchanter I’ve heard about?”

“That depends on what you’ve heard,” she said with a flick of her hair. “For example, do you recognize me because of my lauded beauty?”

“Oh I, um.”

“She’s teasing,” I said.

Eden grinned.

“I see,” he said with a nervous chuckle.

Barrett came over to us. Addressing Calvin first, he asked, “Who are you with?”

“The Stormeagles, sir.”

“You watch the eastern wall with the rest of them. Eden, you should be in the great—”

A commotion broke out on the wall high above. An archer screamed as he fell off the wall.

“We’re under attack!” rang out.

I lost the stricken archer at the last moment as he fell amidst the dispersing crowd in front of me. I didn’t keep track of where Eden, Calvin or Barrett went as I ran to the injured archer, knowing he must be in need of healing.

A dense cloud of smoke rose out from where the archer had fallen. I didn’t understand how there could be so much when I saw no fire.

Soon it enveloped me,