Rise of Legends (The Kin of Kings Book 2) Read Free Page B

focus than two-on-two combat. Sneary paired Cleve with Sanya. After all the hours they’d trained together, he knew there wasn’t anyone else who would fight more harmoniously with him.
    Except Alex, Cleve sadly realized.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    After Terren’s announcement at Redfield, Alabell tried to find Basen among the thousands of students leaving the stadium. He’d been right all this time that the murderer wanted him dead for creating portals and had killed Nick by mistake. She still felt shocked, though. She wanted to help Basen however she could but feared there was nothing she could do now. He was likely to be next.
    She cringed when she found him outside the stadium surrounded by ten people. What were they doing smothering Basen like that? No doubt this was the last thing he wanted.
    They pelted him with questions: How was Alex killed? What happened during the fight? In which direction did the attacker run? Could Basen make a portal right now?
    Alabell stood at the fringe of the group, unnoticed as she listened to him calmly answer each question as best he could. She felt annoyed for him, wanting to shoo everyone away. But if he minded, he didn’t show it. He did look exhausted, though, his dark eyes focused on the ground while he spoke. He was still handsome, she thought, with the black hair sweeping across his forehead bringing out the tan skin of his sculpted cheeks and strong chin. The women in this small audience probably were drawn to his wounded heart, some reaching out to touch the lean muscle of his arm or offer an embrace during the more severe moments of his tale.
    Penny, a familiar mage instructor, stomped toward them. “Get to training, everyone.” She swung out her arms, scattering them. “Not you, Basen,” she said as he tried to leave. “We need to speak.”
    Alabell stayed and eavesdropped.
    “I know I should’ve brought the akorell stone to you and told you about the portals,” Basen said apologetically. “You must think what I did was foolish. You’re going to tell me that my reckless behavior is why two people are dead. I already know it’s true, so if you don’t mind, I’d rather not hear it right now. I’ll give you the akorell stone, but please save the lecture for tomorrow.”
    Hands clasped, Penny waited patiently for him to finish. “I wasn’t going to say any of that. I wanted to offer you the chance to rest before training, because it looks like you need it. I can get one of your friends to stay in your house with you so you’re not alone. That’s what Effie’s doing. When you’re ready for battle training, you can join us. Even if it takes until tomorrow.”
    Basen looked surprised. “You’re not angry?”
    “I can’t be when I would’ve done the same thing you did.” Penny smiled mischievously. “Creating portals is a skill too important to ignore.”
    Basen nodded hesitantly, no doubt still expecting some sort of punishment.
    “Just bring me the akorell stone first, then you can return home and rest.”
    “I would rather stay and train.”
    She looked surprised. “Are you sure?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then I look forward to having you in my classroom.”
    As Penny walked away, Alabell approached and was welcomed by Basen’s smile.
    “What do they have you doing now?” he asked, his casual tone belying his obvious grief and exhaustion.
    She struggled to match his tone. “I’m to assist in the training of chemists who’ll be focusing more on healing than combat.” It was her specialty during the last war, but most of the other chemists had been taught to fight instead of heal. They’d been sent into combat with a belt full of potions and a sword they were barely skilled enough to use, and too many of them had perished.
    Basen didn’t seem to have a response, making the silence between them unusually awkward. The glaze of his eyes made her wonder if he’d even heard her. She went on just to fill the void.
    “Most chemists learn how to be