Bastial Frenzy (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 4) by B.T. Narro Read Free Book Online

visitors.”
    Effie heard discouraged mutterings from the crowd.
    “We need your complete focus and dedication, especially during these next few days,” Terren continued. “We mustn’t forget that this war isn’t over until Tenred agrees to peace and the Krepps are defeated. So that’s the next step for us. We’ve defended our homes. Now it’s time to show Tenred how strong we really are when we tear down their enormous walls.”
    Effie felt anxiety squeezing her ribs together. Steffen was right. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
    “Tenred has been severely damaged by an explosion, and now King Welson Kimard is sending nearly his entire army through the Fjallejon Pathway to scare them into agreeing to peace. All third-years from the Academy are required to go.”
    The stadium buzzed. Effie couldn’t decipher if it was from worry or excitement, so she checked the faces of those murmuring.
    Worry, she concluded.
    “First-year and second-year students are asked to come but aren’t required. It’s necessary that some stay behind in case the Krepps attack Kyrro before our army returns from Tenred. The remaining instructions will be explained by your instructors. Meet in your usual spot for battle training.”
    Is that all? Everyone was still seated, but Terren already was walking toward the instructors, who were getting up from their seats.
    It was the first time Effie had been summoned to Redfield and Terren had left her feeling worse than when she’d entered.
    Another battle, but at least I’m not forced to fight. Finally students started standing and filing out.
    “Are you going to fight?” Steffen asked her.
    “No, are you?”
    “No.”
    Many had stopped outside Redfield to pose the same question after they found their friends. Effie and Steffen ran to catch up with Zoke and Vithos.
    “Will you both fight?” she asked.
    “Yes,” Zoke answered. “The only reason I’m here in Kyrro is to fight.”
    “I fight,” Vithos added. “You not fight?”
    “No,” Effie replied.
    Steffen shook his head.
    “Where Reela?” Vithos asked.
    “I don’t know,” Effie said.
    “She not there.” Vithos pointed to the stadium.
    “How can you tell?” Effie asked.
    “Psyche. I can sense her.”
    A new worry took over. Where did Reela and Cleve go after visiting Terren?
    Effie met with the other Group One mages and her instructor, Penny, in their usual classroom. When it became clear that a few students were missing, Effie realized they weren’t just late. They’d died. The thought was like a slap to her heart.
    “We’re going to the Group Two classroom,” Penny announced. “I have to tell them their instructor fell in combat. After, I’ll explain the plan for Tenred.”
    They followed Penny to the classroom next door.
    There weren’t enough seats, so Effie and the other Group One mages stood along the walls. It was a painful sight to watch sorrow fill the faces of so many students when Penny delivered the news. A few of the girls started to cry.
    Effie thought about her last instructor, Marie Fyremore, and she cried too.
    “Your new instructor will be here tomorrow…for those of you who haven’t gone to Tenred,” Penny said. “I’ll remain in the Academy to train those who stay from Groups One, Two, and Three. For the third-years in the room, and anyone else thinking about going, this is what you need to know.”
    Penny cleared her throat and unrolled a scroll. “I’m not as good as Terren at speeches,” she admitted with a smile. “Forgive me if I must read the rest.” Her finger found a place on the paper. “For those who didn’t know, our continent of Ovira is small in comparison to Greenedge. If we exclude Sumar to the south of us, the territories in Greenedge—Goldram, Zav, and two others—each have about the same landmass as Ovira. So although we have nearly one hundred thousand people living in Kyrro, and that number may seem like a lot, in Goldram alone there are nearly