Bastial Energy (14 page)

“I realize this may be dull compared to the tasks you normally do for me, but excitement awaits us farther north. The land changes drastically, and you’ll see inspiring sights.”

Zoke held in a judgmental snort. At that moment, he felt as though nothing could inspire him more than the promise of returning to camp, except for salted pork perhaps.

“How far north have you gone?” he asked. It was an attempt to redirect their attention away from his discouraging thoughts that Vithos might have been able to sense.

“Deep into Nor, but far east, not toward western Nor where we’re headed. I’ve always wished to travel through western Nor.” Vithos suddenly seemed nervous, like he’d said something he hadn’t meant to.

Zoke was surprised by this reaction because the Elf usually spoke very carefully. “Why haven’t you gone before?”

At that, Vithos chewed in silence until his kupota was finished. “I have information I need to share with you. As much as I’d like to do so now, it’s best that I wait one more day. You’ll understand after you hear it.”

That stirred up serious thoughts, but he knew Vithos to hold to his word. If the Elf wouldn’t speak of it until tomorrow, there was no point in prying.

Miles later, Zoke’s spirit was lifted when Lake Lensa finally crept into view from behind small hills. The sun hidden below the horizon colored the lake magma as it reflected the sky above. Mountains guarded the lake’s northern end, while a line of trees stood along its eastern side.

By the time Zoke was close enough to feel the humidity from the water against his dry skin, there was no longer a trace of the sun. The lake had grown black, merged into the surrounding darkness.

“It’s too dark for any more walking tonight,” Vithos said, stopping. “Any farther and we may stumble into the water before we know it’s there. I’ll take the first watch while you rest.” With that, the Elf took two steps and disappeared into the black of the night without even waiting for an answer. As Zoke could hear him pacing away, he decided not to wonder where he might be going. As usual, there was no way to know what Vithos was thinking.

Sleep wouldn’t take him. Zoke’s mind raced in curiosity about Vithos had to say, while the dry sand he laid on sounded like it was screaming with each shift of his weight, no matter how slight. He tried to focus on the physical relief he felt pulsing from his back to his feet, and soon the sounds of the sand stopped completely and he drifted away.

Deeper he went, floating on a small island into the middle of the lake. He could hear the sound of water growing louder as he drifted. His name was called, but he couldn’t lift his heavy head to find the caller.

Zoke, Zoke,
she continued to shout until it came to him; it was Zeti, but he was too tired to shout back.

“Zoke, time to wake.” Suddenly, reality had returned in such a rush his head spun. Vithos was shaking his shoulder. “Do you need help waking?”

“Help?” he asked with confusion. “No, I’m awake.” Zoke sat up. Everything was still masked in black.

“Need help staying awake, I mean? I could use psyche.” Vithos had a hesitant tone, well aware Zoke probably would refuse.

Even with the Elf’s tone, Zoke was annoyed that Vithos would ask. “No,” he answered, refraining from spitting. Zoke had never known a Krepp to wish for a psychic spell, and he was no different.

“I’m going to sleep now,” Vithos said.

Zoke grumbled, still getting used to being awake in the middle of the night. “What am I watching for while you rest?”

“Anything that moves. There’s nothing near us at the moment, but it’s rare for this lake to be left undisturbed for an entire night. And some animals are hungry enough to let their curiosity overcome their sense of danger. Don’t wake me for an animal, though, unless you can’t handle it. Do wake me if you hear or see another Krepp. Understand?”

“Yes.” Zoke stood to patrol the area and shake off the drowsiness.

He began to wonder why Vithos seemed concerned about other Krepps. He thought every tribe had joined with Doe and Haemon.
Could there still be wild Krepps willing to attack an Elf?
That battle ended before I was born. The Elves are no longer a threat, I thought.
When his internal discussions began repeating without answers, his thoughts turned to Zeti.
She’s certainly a woman by now.
If she grows tall, she may pass my height in the next few years.
His hand reached for his absent sword.

When the light from the sun began to peek over the hills, Zoke was looking for a stick with the same weight as his beloved sword. He found one that nearly matched. It was just long enough to reach the ground from his grip, making it useful for walking.

He squatted to wake the Elf. “Vithos, the sun is rising.”

Vithos sat up and rubbed his eyes with a grumble. “I would like to rinse my face,” he muttered. His long hair was matted against his cheek. “I can fetch water for us as well. I know how Krepps hate the water.” He reached out a hand. Zoke dug out the leather water pouches from their bag and passed them. “Come with me,” Vithos said, now on his feet and making adjustments to his groin. “If there are any fish near the shore, I’ll catch one.”

Zoke followed him to the edge of the azure water and watched as Vithos filled the pouches from the sandy shoreline, left them there for Zoke to retrieve, and then slowly walked into the lake. He splashed his face and drank from cupped hands.

“There are fish. Do you know how to clean one?” Vithos held a hand beneath the surface.

“Not without a knife…” Zoke let his voice trail off.

“You already know I have a knife on my belt,” Vithos replied plainly, keeping his back to Zoke.

That was true. It had caught Zoke’s eye during the first few hours of their trip.

Vithos lifted his hand from the water and calmly turned toward the shore, holding what appeared to be a dead fish. Vithos extended the handle of the knife to him, but Zoke didn’t accept it. He couldn’t take his eyes off the fish in Vithos’ other hand. He waited for it to move, but it didn’t.

“Did you kill it with psyche?” Zoke asked, finally taking the dagger.

“No, it’s unconscious but still living,” Vithos said. He slapped the fish against his hand twice as if to show off and then handed it to Zoke. “Show me how to clean it.”

Zoke stared at the live creature within his claws. Its steady eye looked right through him. There was no difference between it and a dead fish.

“Can you do this to Krepps?” Zoke asked hesitantly.

“You have trouble sleeping?” Vithos asked.

“No, that’s not…I mean can you do
this
to a Krepp.” Zoke lifted the fish and shook it. “This fish won’t wake even though it’s suffocating.”

Vithos smiled in a way that made Zoke regret his question. “I’m unaware of my full abilities because they’ve never been tested. If you’re asking if I could put you in such a deep slumber that even submerged underwater you wouldn’t wake, then the answer is”—Vithos stared into Zoke’s eyes and then toward the tranquil waters of Lake Lensa—“maybe.”

He’d hoped for a different answer.

“Want to help me test it?” Vithos asked with a frightening smile.

“No.”

If this was Vithos’ sense of humor, the trip would feel even longer than he’d first thought.

Zoke began to cut into the fish, explaining the process of removing the entrails as he went. They ate the meat raw, following it with kupota to fill the emptiness in their bellies.

After they finished eating, Vithos’ mood grew serious again. Zoke could tell he was finally going to hear what he’d been waiting for. He could see it in the Elf’s eyes, and it made his full stomach clench, causing him to feel somewhat nauseous.

“I’ll now tell you what I’ve been regretting to say.” Vithos puffed in air and then exhaled loudly. “First, you should know we’re going northwest to Merejic, and we’re not looking for the Slugari colony.”

Chapter 17: Wrong Answer

ZOKE

Merejic
…

It took a moment before Zoke could place it on the map of Ovira in his mind. “The great forest east of Nor? What’ll we be doing there, and why aren’t we looking for the Slugari colony?”

“We’re ignoring Doe’s order—it was delusive anyway. Let me explain.” Vithos tensed his shoulders and lowered his head. “I believe Doe and Haemon want me dead and have for some time. But like you, they don’t know what I’m fully capable of, so they haven’t made an attempt on my life in fear it would fail and I would retaliate. Sending me off to Nor was just a way to get rid of me safely. For all I know, they may have sent Krepps after me—after us, I mean. Even if not, I’m confident they’ve already moved the encampment.”

So that’s why he’s been looking behind us—he’s gone mad with paranoia!
Zoke tried to hold back a judgmental look, but he realized there was no point. The Elf probably could sense his cynicism anyway. Zoke figured he might as well ask exactly what he was thinking. “How can you possibly believe that?” He decided to leave off the part about Vithos being insane…for now.

“It’s true. They want me dead.” Vithos stated it with such seriousness that Zoke was afraid to argue back. The Elf’s tone remained that way as he continued, staring deep into Zoke’s eyes. “I’ve been sensing their ill-harbored emotions toward me in recent years, and the responses I’ve received from them to certain questions about my past have tipped me off. I don’t expect you to understand yet, but you should trust that I’m confident they wish to get rid of me.” Vithos’ glance shifted south toward the land they’d already traveled. He held his hand over eyes for a better view and took a long breath before turning back to Zoke.

“Now that you’re out here with me, this involves you as well,” Vithos said earnestly. “It’s best we start working together more.” He started north, keeping one eye on Zoke as he went. “First, we’re going to Merejic so I can look for answers about what really happened to my family.”

Zoke didn’t move. “Stop!” he ordered. His chest tightened with fear, for he’d never disobeyed Vithos before. But he couldn’t let this madness continue. “Even if you’re right, I don’t want to be a part of this.” He turned south. “I’m going back.”

“As I said, the camp has been moved, and even if you somehow find them, you’ll be killed as soon as you’re seen.” Vithos raised his voice as he continued to shout after Zoke. “That’s why I needed to wait to share this with you! I didn’t want you to return before they moved or you would be given a traitor’s death!”

Traitor’s death?
That stopped Zoke in his tracks. “Why would I be considered a traitor? I’ve followed every order. My loyalty is with Doe and Haemon and the tribe. You truly are insane.”

Vithos tilted his head and squinted. The insult had offended him, but he kept his voice low and strong. “Think about this through their perspective. They want me dead, and they must assume that I know that because of my psychic ability. To protect themselves, they’ve sent me off and moved the camp. That was the whole point of this fake mission—to get rid of me. Even if you returned without me, they would still assume you were on my side, so they must have given orders to kill you. They don’t care about your life. As long as there’s a small chance of you leading me to them, they would eliminate you.”

Zoke couldn’t believe it. Vithos didn’t sound like he was lying…but still!
Me—a traitor?
It couldn’t be right. He wouldn’t be cast out from the tribe simply for following an order. And what about his sister? His head was spinning.

“Zeti wouldn’t leave with them,” Zoke stated firmly. “She would wait for me. Other Krepps may not have left as well.” He thought of Grayol next. Neither of them would think he was a traitor. But then he thought of Dentar.
He always considered me a traitor just for following orders…could others as well?

“Why would Doe and Haemon give her, or any of them, the choice?” Vithos opened his palms. “Any Krepps remaining in the camp have the chance of communicating with me later if I returned. That makes them a threat. Zeti either left with them or they killed her.” Vithos knelt to clean his hands with lake water. “I’m curious what they discovered that could be used to find the Slugari now that they no longer need me.”

“I don’t care about that! I don’t care about Merejic or what happened there! You don’t need me for this!” Zoke threw the bag of food at Vithos. “You should’ve told me this before we left! You could’ve given me the option to stay.”

“Unfortunately that’s not true.” Vithos sighed and slowly rose. “Your fate was determined as soon as I chose you as my companion. If you’d stayed after that, they would have considered you a possible traitor and killed you.” Vithos walked over and scooped up their bag to check on the rope keeping it closed. “I thought you would want to come. You’ve always seemed to enjoy your work with me, and the other Krepps treat you no better than they do a weed.” Now Vithos was firm, glaring even. “You’ve even admitted you have no interest in eating Slugari. So what reason did you have to stay?”

Zoke was so frustrated he couldn’t contain it any longer. He screamed as loud as he could, “I wouldn’t have left Zeti!” He wanted to draw his sword, but all he had was the stick. Nonetheless, he aimed it at Vithos, unsure why.