Ember (36 page)

Jaden shook his head. “It's not their
dimension.”

Ikovos shrugged.” They're not doing any harm
though. The groups in there aren't organized, they're
stragglers.”

Jaden was silent for a moment. It looked like
Ikovos might have won the argument, but then he spoke. “Do you know
how close it is to the towns?”

My pulse quickened. This statement hit home.
I wondered if Jaden . . . no.

Ikovos skewed his eyes skeptically. “People
there are superstitious about Sharadeen, they wouldn't go near it .
. . And no Meoden is gonna risk going into a town that close to
us.”

Jaden looked back at me in a dry,
less-than-obvious, manner.

My eyes widened and I turned my head down to
watch my feet.

Ikovos looked back at me now, too. “Sorry,
Evelyn, we're totally leaving you out of the conversation.”

I smiled, flattered that he cared. Jaden
looked grudgingly back ahead.

“What was it you were asking before Jaden
came?”

I straightened up, feeling a bit
self-conscious. “Oh, ah . . . I was wondering if you . . . and I
guess Jaden . . . if you two went through studies like the younger
boys do? Like with the exams and weapons-training and such.”

Jaden kept looking ahead. Ikovos rocked his
head back and forth. “Well . . . when we joined, the order was a
bit smaller than it is now. We did go through the same things,
but—”

“We got special attention.” Jaden finished
for him.

Ikovos seemed reluctant, but didn't argue
with him. “We were more skilled with magic, so we got separated to
a degree from the others.”

I considered this, then tried to decide if I
should take the conversation further. We were getting into a topic
that I had yet to hear anything about. The fact that I hadn't, with
something like this, meant they probably didn't want me to. I
decided to ignore the small detail, clearing my throat.

“How old were you two when you joined?”

The atmosphere turned awkward as soon as I
said it. Both boys looked at each other meaningfully. I bit my lip,
waiting pensively and contemplating regret.

Before either could answer, Jaden tripped.
Well . . . at least he should have tripped. He caught himself so
quickly it ended up looking more like a slight bounce . . . I’m not
so sure it would be possible for Jaden to trip. . . .

“What the—” He reached down a lifted a straw
broom off the ground below. Both boys eyed it dubiously.

I put a hand to my mouth with a short laugh.
The last time I was here Adzamaruha had swatted at me with that
thing before throwing it out into the woods . . . He said he was
going back to look for it, but I guess he never found it.

They both looked at me curiously.

“Are we missing something?” asked Ikovos.

I glanced at each then straightened my
expression. “Oh, ah . . . no. It's just—”

Before I could make an attempt at explaining
a loud noise came through the trees. It sounded like some sort of
explosion. A giant puff of purple smoke burst up above the
treetops.

We all quickly looked at each other then
started towards it.

The shop came into view along the road in no
time. It was just as I remembered it: eccentric, shack-like, a
variety of plants sectioned off in short fences . . . The front
looked abandoned though. We walked around to the back to see the
cause of the eruption. Or, at least I did. The two boys with me
seemed less interested.

Sure enough, a large cloud of purple was
floating near the largest fire-lit, metal pot on the row of
cauldrons. The strange spices and ingredients still hung from the
pillars that held up the awning of the small cabin. The grass was
lushly green, just as before. Still . . . there was no old man to
be seen.

My eyes narrowed as I moved forward. Suddenly
I heard coughing coming from the center of the cloud and a form
appeared.

“Adzamaruha?” I asked apprehensively. I saw
Ikovos and Jaden come up beside me in my peripheral view, but kept
my focus on the mission.

The scrawny, wizard-hatted, man coughed
again, waving smoke away from his face. His eyes still hadn't
landed on me. “Well, that wasn't the right beet-root.”

I stepped forward again. “Are you alright,
Adzamaru—”

He looked at me then, all wide-eyed and
cocked. “What the— . . . Who are you?!”

“Oh brother,” muttered Jaden.

“He does this every time,” finished
Ikovos.

The pointy-hatted man began walking forward.
I blinked my eyes and tried to straighten up. “Ah, we've met
before. I'm—”

He didn't stop, moving past instead, eyes on
Jaden and Ikovos.

“I said,
who are you
?”

I was a bit confused, but waited for the boys
to answer. Ikovos did first, shaking his head.

“Adza, you know who we are. We've been here a
dozen times.”

Adzamaruha pursed his lips as if trying to
recall then shook his head. “No, nope. I do not know you. I've
never seen you two before in my life.”

Ikovos looked like he was about to argue, but
Jaden interrupted him.

“Wait, what do you mean two?” He gestured to
me. “You're saying you know her?”

He looked at Jaden skeptically then glanced
over at me. “Of course. This is my apprentice, Evangeline.”

Jaden and Ikovos stared at him with utter
shock.

I didn't really understand why Adzamaruha
thought I was his apprentice, but I decided I should at least get
everyone to calm down.

“Let's just—”

Jaden looked livid. “You're saying I came
here to get supplies for an entire year straight, and you forgot me
every single time, but she comes once and she's suddenly your
apprentice?”

Ikovos was just shaking his head dejectedly.
“This is exactly why I can't stand this guy.”

Adzamaruha swung his arms around
extravagantly. “I do not have a clue about what you are talking
about. But you had better get off my land this instant if you know
what is good for you.”

Jaden straightened forward. “What are you
gonna do to me, old man, puff me with purple smoke?”

The white-haired wizard looked furious. Jaden
wasn't much calmer. Ikovos had just walked off to the left,
muttering something.

I stepped between them all. “Look,
Adzamaruha, these are my friends. They're safe, I promise.” I
grabbed the broom from Jaden's grip. He eyed me. “They even brought
you back your broom.”

Adzamaruha took it from my hands carefully,
then rubbed some fingers through his beard. “Well . . . I suppose
if you know them Evangeline, then it's alright.”

Jaden rolled his eyes heavily. Before I could
apologize Adzamaruha suddenly brightened, grabbing my wrist.

“Come, Evangeline, I have some new spells I
must show you.”

I surrendered nervously. “Ah, okay.” Then he
pulled me off towards the building.

*

For the next while Adzamaruha showed us
around his store, describing the more exceptional items. All of it
was outside, of course. We had lost Ikovos a while back in the book
section. Adzamaruha was now using Jaden's fire abilities to teach
me a potion spell.

“You are going to like this one, Evangeline.
It's very useful in warding off Meoden spies.”

“A . . . alright.”

He tapped Jaden's head. “Make the fire
larger, servant boy. We need more heat.” Adzamaruha turned around
to grab another ingredient and Jaden scowled darkly.

I glanced at him, biting my lip to hold back
a smile. When he caught my eyes the grim face unexpectedly
softened.

Adzamaruha came back between us then,
dropping a bright-red, pearish-looking, fruit into the pot. “Okay,
that should do it. Evangeline, take your finger and dip it into the
liquid.”

I looked at him and then at the pot. Then I
nodded. “Okay.”

Jaden eyed me. “Are you crazy? That's way too
hot.”

The purple-robed man scoffed. “I put kin root
in it, it couldn't possibly be over fifty degrees.”

Jaden glared at him. He was going to start
getting angry again. I took a brave breath, deciding it was worth a
try, and dipped my finger in. I laughed shortly. It was quite
cool.

Adzamaruha smirked smugly. “Alright, now take
it out and rub the liquid on your lips.”

I raised my eyebrows uncertainly, Jaden was
just ignoring us at this point, then did as he said.

“Good, good,” he sang. Then he reached into a
small pouch, grabbed a handful of pink dust and tossed it into the
cauldron.

A cloud of fuchsia went up around us. We all
started coughing considerably. When the air cleared, Jaden spoke
first.

“What the heck are you doing?”

Adzamaruha focused his eyes at my face then
cheered happily. “Ah-ha! A success!”

I looked down at myself. “What? What
happened?”

Jaden was staring at me too, disbelievingly.
“That's it?”

I looked at him, then at Adzamaruha.
“What?”

The old man passed me a small hand mirror. I
looked into it. Everything was normal except for the fact that my
lips had gone quite a few shades pinker. I put a hand up to my
mouth and laughed.

Jaden looked at Adzamaruha indignantly. “How
is that
possibly
supposed to help her ward off Meoden?”

Adzamaruha furrowed at him angrily, losing
his before pleasant grin. “I hardly expect
you
to
understand, servant boy.”

“It's not even that pink,” said Jaden,
pointing at my face.

Adzamaruha scoffed. “It wouldn't be very
pretty if it were too pink, now would it? . . . More natural this
way.”

“
Natural?
” mocked Jaden. “Ikovos, will
you come tell this guy he's crazy for me.”

The blond-haired boy didn't even look up.
“You're crazy,” he shouted.

Jaden eyed him. “Thanks a lot.”

I had an idea then. “Hey, is this how you
made the sheep different colors?”

Adzamaruha nodded. “Of course. They could
hardly be born like that . . . though I've often wondered what
would happen in a blue and purple one had a child. . . . Do you
think it would be bluish-purple, or blue with purple spots? . .
.”

I shook my head slowly. “Ah . . . I don't
know, may I go pet one though?”

He nodded. “Oh, sure, sure. They're just over
the ridge.”

I smiled and started off.

“It could maybe be purple with
blue
spots, though . . .” His voice trailed as I stepped through the
grass.

My smile grew when I saw the colorful sheep
grazing on the other side. Contented “bahs” could be heard moving
about the flock. I crept over carefully to one, amazed when it
actually let me touch it. It nuzzled its head into my hand. When
another came, I sat down on the grass so I could pet them both
comfortably. They were small, soft, and a rather saturated
blue.

I sighed. The weather was beautiful, even
though it wasn’t raining, a great day. As the wind blew my hair I
couldn't keep my mind from pondering that there was something wrong
with Ikovos and Jaden. They were my friends now, that I felt
certain of. And so if there was something going on, I think I had a
responsibility to figure out what.

Another coo from one of the lambs brought me
back to the present. I smiled down at it.

“Oh, you're just such a cute little guy,
aren't you?”

My head lifted when a throat cleared above
me.

“You a big sheep fan?” It was Jaden. He
looked rather bored.

I straightened, taking my hand from the lamb.
It hopped off happily. “I guess.”

His head shook slightly with a sigh . . . at
least I thought it did. In the next second he tossed a thumb
backwards. “Adzamaruha is getting the things together for Sophie
now, we should be able to leave soon.”

I nodded quickly, “Oh, okay,” then bit my
lip. “Sorry about the whole spell thing . . . that was a little
pointless.”

He shrugged. “Can't really blame
you.
I think you'd do pretty much anything if someone asked you to.” His
face was placid, I’m pretty sure he was serious . . . he was also
probably right.

I gulped, blood threatening to rush to my
cheeks.

He saved me the embarrassment with a smirk.
“Besides . . . it does actually look kinda nice.”

Never mind.

I blushed thoroughly now, smiling and turning
my head down to the grass.

“Evangeline,” sang Adzamaruha from over the
ridge. “I have your things packed.”

Jaden looked to his voice then back at me,
offering a casual hand to help me up. “Is there a reason he calls
you that?”

I shook my head as he pulled me up. “Not that
I know of.”

“And that doesn't make you crazy?”

I shrugged, patting the grass of my pants.
“At least he calls me something. . . .”

I don't think Jaden understood what I meant
by that. His eyes narrowed disconcertedly on me. I just started off
towards the building. Knowing the type of person he was, how
different we were, I don't think he
could
have
understood.

*

Just as we were waiting near the front to
leave, Adzamaruha called me over with a significant eyebrow
raise.

I went to him.

“Here are the supplies for you cabin-place,
Evangeline.” He passed me a large, leather bag.

I smiled at him. “Thank you.”

He shook his head exaggeratedly. “You say
that quite too much, my young assistant.”

My eyes fell. “Oh. . . .” He might have been
right, but I didn't know exactly what to do about it. “I'll try not
to do it so much.”

He bobbed his head approvingly, then took a
small book out of his pocket. “This is for you as well. . . . I—”
he scratched his white hair thoughtfully “—I had a curious dream
about it, so I decided I'd give it to you.”

It was small and silver, leather bound. I
took it.

“Why me?”

He scoffed, leaned to one side, and tossed a
thumb to his left. “Well, I'm not going to give it to one of
them.”