Bastial Explosion (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 3) (27 page)

The husky man was on one knee by then. “That’s a lie.”

“It’s the truth,” Alex said. “But if you want, go ahead and scream and we’ll kill you both right now.”

“Just listen to them, Brune,” the articulate man said. “I’m Jordy. I have a wife and three children. Where are you taking us?”

“Just a little ways southwest so we’re far enough from your post not to be heard,” Alex answered. “Sheathe your weapons and follow me.”

Jordy followed Alex’s instructions quickly, but Brune only tightened his grip around his sword. “I should kill you, Krepp. You’re good for nothing but testing the sharpness of my sword, traitor.”

Zoke spat on his face.

Brune let out a quick bellow of anger as he rushed at Zoke. But Vithos and Reela extended their palms and he fell, dropping his weapon as he writhed on the dirt.

“I’ll kill you all,” he said, barely getting the words out.

“Shut your mouth, stupid,” Jordy told him. “Don’t you know when to be quiet?”

“I’m going to slit his throat,” Zoke said, drawing the knife on his belt.

“Wait,” Jordy urged. “He’s going to listen now. Aren’t you, Brune?”

“Yes, I will.”

“He lie,” Vithos said.

“Brune!” Jordy scolded him. “Do you want to get yourself killed?”

“How can you be such a coward?” Brune retorted. “I’d give my life to kill this coward, traitor Krepp.”

“Let him fight me,” Zoke told Vithos. “No psyche.”

“Don’t turn this into an issue of pride,” Alex told him. “You’re not a traitor, Zoke. You’re fighting for the right side and to reunite with your sister. This man doesn’t know you.”

Brune cackled. “There’s one Krepp fighting for Kyrro…one. And he’s not a traitor?” The man laughed again. “So what does that make every other Krepp, including his sister?” Brune pointed at Zoke with his weapon. “I’m going to enjoy killing you, traitor.”

Zoke calmly marched toward the man, putting away his knife and taking out his sword instead. Vithos and Reela didn’t seem to know what to do, who to use psyche on—Zoke or Brune.

Effie was about to tell Zoke to stop, but it was too late. They two already had engaged. Everyone seemed to have realized it, now backing away.

With Zoke and Brune between them, Jordy might’ve thought it was a good chance to run. Effie noticed the quick glances over his shoulder as Vithos rushed over.

“Run and you die,” Vithos told him, now two steps from the man.

Jordy nodded to show he understood.

By the time Effie looked back at Zoke, he’d already driven his sword through Brune’s chest. The husky man uttered one last grunt before his limbs rolled out to rest against the forest ground.

“You’re going to be the one to carry him,” Alex told Zoke with a regretful tone.

“Fine.” Zoke hoisted the man’s thick body over his shoulder, not seeming to mind the blood trickling down his back and staining his leather pants.

Alex sighed and kicked some leaves over the small pool of blood that had been left behind. Effie could see it on his face—he already was regretting this plan.

Chapter 23:

EFFIE

“Am I really going to live if I cooperate?” Jordy let his question waft out into the air, aimed at no one in particular.

“Yes.”

“You will,” Reela answered at the same time as Alex.

“Who’s in charge here?” Jordy asked.

So that was the point of his question.
Effie waited to see if Alex would answer.

“We’ll be asking the questions,” Alex said.

“So it’s you, young man?”

Alex ignored him. “This should be far enough.”

Zoke tossed Brune’s body onto the ground.

“There was a woman with us,” Alex told Jordy. “Have your men caught any intruders?”

“Not that I’ve heard of,” Jordy answered.

Effie looked to the psychics for their response.

“We’ll say if he lies,” Reela said.

“Would you know if an intruder was caught?” Alex asked.

“By the end of the day, I’m sure I’d find out.”

“So she could’ve been caught,” Alex whispered, thinking aloud. “You’re from Tenred, correct?”

“All of us are, yes.”

“What are you doing here in Corin Forest?”

“We’re building—” Jordy stopped himself, then sighed. “We’re building siege weapons where we can’t be seen by those atop the Fjallejon Mountains.”

“So you’re preparing for an attack,” Alex stated.

Jordy shrugged. “Just following orders for now.”

“Where are you keeping these weapons?”

“We have a fort that way, about a mile.” Jordy pointed north.

“How many are there of you, and how many are Krepps?”

“No Krepps. There are about two thousand of us.”

“The woman we’re looking for went this way.” Alex pointed in the direction Quessa had gone. “Tell us everything you know about what she could’ve run into.”

Jordy curled his lips as he glanced in the same direction. “If she went far enough, she could’ve run into a patrol. If she curved around to the left, she would’ve caught sight of our fort.”

Alex looked to the psychics before continuing.

“Truth,” Vithos said.

“Do you plan to attack the Fjallejon Pathway, or will you bring the siege weapons through without taking it over?” Alex decided to ask.

“I don’t know yet. That order will probably come next week.”

“What do you think will happen?” Alex asked.

Jordy let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine.”

“I see.” Alex was silent for a heartbeat, looking where Effie now assumed a fort containing two thousand enemies to be. “Vithos, will you stay with Jordy for a moment?”

“I stay.”

Alex moved everyone over but Vithos. He leaned in close and started to whisper. “I think Quessa must’ve run into trouble to still not be back.”

“If she’s in that fort, I don’t see how we’re supposed to get her out,” Effie said. She wasn’t keen on leaving the woman there, but she wanted to make sure she wasn’t the only one who thought rescuing her would be impossible.

“I know,” Alex agreed. “Though I’m not sure where else she could be.”

“Let’s follow her route,” Reela suggested. “We’ll take Jordy with us in case we need to use him.”

“I think that’s the best idea.” Alex set his eyes on Effie. His glance lingered, his eyes falling to her lips. “What about you, Eff?”

“I can’t think of anything better,” she admitted.

“Then let’s go.”

Jordy went along with them, though Effie could tell he was tense, walking rigidly. From the way his eyes darted in each direction, it seemed as if he was looking for a chance to escape.

“How much farther is the next set of guards?” Alex asked.

“Depending on where they stopped along their patrol route, we should see them any moment now.” Effie could hear Jordy swallow. “What are you going to do with them?”

“We’re just trying to find the woman who was with us,” Reela informed him truthfully. “And we may trade you for her if necessary.”

“And if that’s not necessary?”

“We have no plans of killing you,” Reela answered.

No plans of killing you,
Effie repeated in her mind.
Though we all know that it’s not out of the question.
By the look in Jordy’s eyes, this was most evident to him.

“I have a family,” he muttered to no one.

“We know that, Jordy.” Reela’s voice was so soothing, even Effie felt more at ease.

Maybe we can get out of this without having to kill anyone else
, she thought.
Or should I want to kill these men from Tenred?
She didn’t know the answer.

Soon they came to two more guards. Alex came behind Jordy and put a knife under his chin, whispering, “Stay calm and cooperate and you won’t be hurt.” Then he raised his voice to call to the two men. “Shout or do anything to alert other guards and he dies. Then you die next.”

Effie felt a nag on her mind, a voice calling for her to look up. It was so strong and foreign, she figured it had to be psyche. When she did, she saw Quessa high in the branches above the two guards. The woman in black was pointing at Jordy and making a motion of slitting her throat.

She wants us to kill him…but why? What’s she doing up there?

Alex fell silent.

“What do you want from us?” one of the men said, edging forward, unaware Quessa was above.

We were looking for Quessa. But now that she’s been found, we have no use for them.
Effie studied Alex’s face, looking for some clue as to what he was thinking.

But Reela answered instead with a pressing tone. “We’re going to be leaving the forest with this man. We’ll release him once we’re out so long as we’re not followed.”

She’s doing the only thing she can think of to get out of this without killing anyone else,
Effie figured. But as Reela spoke, Quessa urgently shook her hand at Reela and repeated the motion of slitting her throat.

Reela ignored her. “The two of you must go back to your fort right now or we’ll kill all three of you.”

The two men had only enough time to share a confused glance before Quessa jumped down on top of them, cutting each of their throats so quickly that neither even had time to turn.

While they were still uttering choking sounds, Quessa already was headed toward Reela with such a look of malice, Effie found herself stepping between them.

Quessa looked above her as if Effie wasn’t there, pointing at Reela with her knife. “You’ve caused a big problem, Reela. Zoke and Alex, grab those two bodies.”

Neither moved, Alex still holding onto Jordy, who seemed frozen in fear.

“Now,” Quessa demanded, pushing Effie out of the way.

“But we—”

Alex was interrupted by Quessa driving her knife into Jordy’s heart, covering his mouth with her other hand. Her motion was so fluid it clearly wasn’t the first time she’d done it.

“No!” Reela knelt over Jordy as the light in his eyes faded.

Quessa grabbed Reela’s hair to stand her upright. “Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Stop.” Alex shoved Quessa’s shoulder to push her away. “It was my decision.”

“Push me again and I’ll stab you.” Quessa pointed her knife at Alex.

Effie could hear Reela crying, her face now buried in Vithos’ chest.

“Get the bodies,” Quessa demanded once again. “And hurry up. Plans have changed now that none of you can follow orders.”

“I don’t understand your anger,” Zoke told Quessa, walking beside Alex toward the two bodies they were told to carry. “These Humans were worried about you and made a plan to help in case you were caught.”

“I said to stay in one spot,” Quessa practically screamed, taking hold of Jordy’s limp arms and beginning to drag him. “You want to know why I’m angry? Because your actions might’ve just cost thousands of Kyrro lives.”

By then, Effie was squeezing Reela. She’d stopped crying, though it seemed to be a constant effort to keep the tears from coming.

“What do you mean?” Alex asked Quessa.

“Even if we hide the bodies skillfully, they’ll still know something happened to their guards,” Quessa said. “Once they figure that out, they’ll realize we’re aware of their operation. Now they’re going to bring in thousands more to defend the fort. They’re building siege weapons—I’m assuming you found this out through psyche, yes?”

“Yes, but how did you know about the siege weapons?” Alex asked, grunting as he dragged one of the bodies by the arms.

“I saw into their fort,” Quessa said. “But I couldn’t get down because two guards were patrolling beneath me. I was going to wait until they left so they’d never know we were here. Now that’s ruined.” She let go of Jordy’s body and fluttered her hands petulantly. “By the time we get back to inform the King, a surprise attack will be out of the question. They’ll have too many guarding the place. Now we’re going to have to do something dangerous.”

“What’s that?” Alex asked.

“We’re going to burn down the fort before they realize we’re here.”

“There are thousands of men,” Effie said. “How can we get close without being seen?”

“No.” Alex was shaking his head. “That’s impossible—suicidal, even.”

“I’m trying to help Kyrro win this war.” Quessa looked ready to fight, shaking her fist as she spoke. “And I expected the same from all of you.”

Vithos was asking Zoke questions in Kreppen, Zoke translating for him as he stood with a body slung over his shoulder.

“You saw the fort,” Alex said. “Don’t they have people watching for intruders?”

“Yes, which is why we’re waiting a few hours to use the cover of night.”

Chapter 24:

STEFFEN