A Crumble of Walls (The Kin of Kings Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

order.
    None came, and eventually Basen caught sight of Effie and Cleve walking away from the wall. He started after them in hopes of talking. It seemed like the only way to get his mind to a better place before attempting to sleep again. But as he walked past his father speaking with Terren and Abith about the broken wall, Basen paused to eavesdrop.
    “We have plenty we can put to work.” Abith’s voice sounded more impatient each time Basen heard him speak, as if he’d become tired of his opinion being ignored. “Get the stonemasons to teach them what to do, and the wall should be rebuilt stronger and higher in the next few days.”
    Basen had seen Abith with other young mages back in Tenred, often looking bored as he waited for them to complete whatever challenge he’d given them. Basen was fortunate he learned quickly, as Abith often told him it was a relief to teach someone with actual talent.
    “Sounds like you want to take control of this,” Terren said. “So have at it. Do whatever you need to get the wall rebuilt in the next few days.”
    “That’s not what I was saying,” Abith argued, but Terren and Henry had walked off.
    Basen quickly turned toward Effie and Cleve and pretended he hadn’t overheard anything. A bristled Abith was not a man Basen knew how to deal with.
    “Basen,” Abith called after him. “Come here.”
    He sighed and marched over.
    “I wanted to tell you that you fought well in the Fjallejon Mountains, but you disappeared before I had the chance.” He smirked.
    Basen was too surprised to speak. Abith only gave compliments when he was in a good mood, which he clearly wasn’t now.
    “If I’d known you had that kind of potential with a sword,” Abith continued, “I would’ve incorporated it into our lessons.”
    “And who taught you to sword fight?”
    “The same person who taught me how to manipulate energy.”
    “Yourself?”
    Abith chuckled. “God’s mercy, no. My father. It’s a shame he died before I was skilled enough to be a real challenge to him. He’s the only man who could’ve beaten me in a duel while I was at my best.” He surprised Basen by putting a hand on his shoulder. “Keep training with both sword and wand. Perhaps one day you’ll be an equal challenge. If not, I at least have a plan for your talent.”
    He was glad when Abith took his hand off and walked away. Basen wasn’t exactly scared of Abith, but there was something about his former instructor that made him nervous.
    He hurried off in the same direction Cleve and Effie had gone. Soon he caught up enough to see them stopped behind a student house and pointing at something on the wall. They didn’t seem to hear him come up on them.
     
     
    *****
     
     
    Cleve’s breaths were still sharp from the adrenaline of battle. Effie had taken him away from the wall to speak with him privately. He was worrying about the conversation to come when he realized she was leading him toward Alex’s house.
    “Look,” she said as she pointed to the back of the house where someone had carved “We miss you, Alex” into the wood.
    “Did you do this?” Cleve asked.
    “No, and that’s the point. We’re not the only ones who hurt because of what Sanya did.”
    “Why are you telling me this?”
    Effie gave him a cold look from the sides of her eyes. “You’ve already closed off your emotions. Don’t, Cleve. You must remember how that turned out when you did the same after your mother and father died.”
    He gritted his teeth. “Don’t tell me how to—”
    “I’m sorry,” she interrupted, then gave a long sigh as she shook her head. “I know I shouldn’t tell you how to feel. I just don’t know how else to explain this to you.”
    “There’s nothing to explain. Everyone who knew Alex misses him.” Cleve gestured at the carving. “I didn’t need to see this to know that.”
    “I didn’t bring you here to speak to you about Alex. I need to know something else.”
    “What?”
    “Why