Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (23 page)

“Wow,” Jacob said. “That . . . was close.”

“Yes . . . it was,” Aloren wheezed.

“What was that thing, anyway?”

“It was . . . a Molg,” Aloren said.

Jacob frowned. “A what?”

“A Molg. They’re a race that . . . lives in the Dunsany Caves and . . . as you figured out, they eat humans.” She paused for a minute, taking a couple of breaths. “They never leave their caves, and I’ve never seen one. I’ve heard of them, but wasn’t even sure they existed—that’s why I forgot about them.” She gasped. “There are probably more! We can’t stay here!” She tried to jump to her feet, but Jacob grabbed her arm.

“No, no, we’re fine,” he said, holding her down.

Aloren stopped, and Jacob let go of her. “How do you know?” she asked.

“The others aren’t even near where we are.”

“The other Molgs?”

“I’ll explain—”

“And another thing,” Aloren said. “Why could you see it, and we couldn’t?”

Jacob scratched his head. “I’m not sure. When it first came into view, it didn’t even notice us. I could clearly see it and was surprised you two couldn’t.”

“Of course we couldn’t,” Aloren said. “There wasn’t any light.”

“What changed?” Akeno asked, brushing the new dirt off his shoes.

It took Jacob several minutes to explain to Aloren and Akeno what had happened, from sensing the Molg’s feelings to touching its skin, causing him to see that the Molg had just come from a meeting with other Molgs.

He tried to keep the worry he felt out of his voice. Being able to connect with something evil was disconcerting to him. He didn’t want to let on to feeling that way—not until he figured things out.

“So, let me get this right,” Aloren said. “You pulled rock out of the wall? How?”

“Well, I’ve got this ability to feel heat in things. I don’t know why, or where it came from, but I can mold things with my hands.”

Akeno scratched his head. “I’d honestly never heard of someone being able to do that before—let alone sensing warmth.”

“Well, I still haven’t figured out where it comes from or why.” He paused. “Akeno, your parents are just as bad as my teachers at school. They’ve given me a ton of homework. ‘Jacob, figure out your abilities. Jacob, read the journal. Jacob, get the Key. Jacob, save the world.’ The pressure my teachers and parents put on me is nothing compared to this!”

Aloren and Akeno laughed.

“Wait,” Aloren said. “Get
what
key?”

Jacob mentally kicked himself. That was a stupid slip-up. “Uh . . .” His mind raced as he thought of what he could or should say. “See, there’s this key. It’s a magical key that was creat—”

“You’re not talking about the Key of Kilenya, are you?” Aloren asked.

“Actually, I am.” Jacob raised an eyebrow. “You know about it?”

“Of course I do. Everyone does. Most people just think it’s a myth. But Gallus has seen it. He told me and my mom that the Lorkon were searching for it when they took over Macaria a couple of years ago.”

“Well, that makes explaining much easier,” Jacob said. He and Akeno told her how the Key had been stolen and they’d been asked to bring it back.

Jacob sat up, feeling pain in every inch of his body. He tried not to let on that he was hurt. Matt would’ve been able to handle it. ‘Course, Matt was on the football team and was used to getting battered around. If Matt were here . . . but Jacob wouldn’t let himself finish the thought.

“You really took a beating,” Aloren said. “Akeno, can you light up the room again?”

Akeno did so, and Aloren shuddered when she looked at Jacob. There were little holes all over in his clothes from the Molg’s hair.

“Oh, wow,” she said. “Jacob, you’re stuck everywhere.”

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just bruised. I might be slow on the trail for a while.” He turned to Akeno. “How are your hands? I’ll bet you’re even worse off than I am.”

“Fine,” Akeno said. “By the time I had him, the spikes were too small to even break the skin. But it was hard to hold on to him. He really struggled to get away.”

They were silent for a few minutes. For the first time in a long while, Jacob wished he had his guitar with him. He almost laughed when he thought of it sitting in the corner of his room, dusty from lack of use. He’d bought it at a pawn shop several months before, hoping to impress a couple of girls with his mad skills. He’d given up on the idea, though, recognizing he’d never outshine Matt. Matt had always been the talented one at basically everything—including winning over girls.

Jacob shook his head, remembering what he’d heard a girl at school say a couple months before—something about how she’d just
die
if Matt ever stopped smiling. “His dimples are so
cute
!” she’d said, giggling. Jacob had almost snorted his drink when he’d heard that. It was disgusting the way the girls at school talked about his brother.

Jacob knew he wasn’t ugly—even if he couldn’t keep up with Matt. Girls always made embarrassing comments about his “really nice dark hair” and his eyes, which were the “prettiest, lightest blue” they’d ever seen. But he realized he didn’t have the type of personality that drew most girls. He wasn’t confident like Matt. He only took the lead when he was forced to, which was only when Matt wasn’t around. The thought crossed his mind that if Matt were here, Aloren and Matt would be best friends by now, talking about everything. Aloren would be giggling as Matt told some hilarious joke or story.

Jacob grunted, recognizing how ridiculous he was being. He forced himself to come back to the present. “How much longer until Lirone leaves?”

“I don’t know,” Aloren said. “I’d rather wait and be absolutely sure he’s gone, though.”

“Yeah, me too.” He lay down again, trying to relax. He smiled and closed his eyes, imagining he was in his own bed, pulling the blankets up under his chin. What he wouldn’t give for that to be true.

Chapter 14. The Fat Lady

I received word today from Lahs that his army is assembled. I was surprised at his speed in gathering an army until I learned that King Roylance had already prepared everything before he died. The army was stationed in the land east of us and has located Brojan’s army. They are ready to begin the battle as soon as I send word.

“Jacob?” Aloren asked.

He rolled to face her. She was lying on her back, not making eye contact. “Yeah?”

“I, uh . . . I’m really glad you’re here,” she said.

Jacob couldn’t help it, but a sheepish grin crossed his face. “Uh, thanks. I’m . . . glad I’m here too. Kind of.”

“We wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t been able to see the Molg.”

Jacob’s smile grew, and he felt uncomfortable—not in a bad way, but more of an embarrassed way. So he changed the subject. “What if you never find your brother?”

Aloren rolled onto her side, facing Jacob and Akeno, and curled up into a ball. “I don’t know. I guess I’d have to find somewhere else to put my focus.”

“You could live in Taga with the Makalos,” Akeno said. “I’m sure we’d have plenty of room for you, and besides, you could probably even get to know the humans from Jacob’s world if you did.”

“From Jacob’s world? I thought he was from Eklaron.”

Jacob smiled. “Nope, I’m not.”

Aloren looked at him quizzically. “Where are you from, then?”

“Mars. Ha ha, just kidding. You probably don’t even know what that is. I come from . . . well, a different land, I guess.”

It took a few minutes for Jacob and Akeno to explain to Aloren the specifics of the link near Jacob’s home and how he ended up in the Makalo village.

“Wow—a completely different world?” Aloren looked lost in thought for a moment. “If I can’t find my brother, I want to visit your land.”

Jacob hid a smile and agreed to show her around town if she came.

Aloren turned over, and Jacob assumed she didn’t want to talk anymore and needed to rest. No dad around, and a mom who’d constantly been sick, then died. How would it be? Both of Jacob’s parents were very involved in his life. Sometimes
too
involved—but at least he didn’t often get lonely. Matt was almost always there when there was nothing to do—like now.

Jacob pulled the journal out and opened it, tilting it toward Akeno’s light. The other two wanted to sleep, and he wanted information. He was willing to read as long as necessary to get it.

It has been two years since I last wrote in this journal. My father has become completely tyrannical. The tortures he places upon his subjects are too much for them to bear, and though my group of followers and I try to ease their suffering, the people can no longer shoulder their burdens. They are to the point of giving in to despair, of being beyond help—most are beginning to reject our assistance.

I am writing now because I’ve just received an upsetting note from Princess Arien. She has heard horrible things about what my father has been doing here in the castle—things of which I was not aware. Given the state of the people, I feel the time has come for me to go. I will leave behind a few members of my group, but have instructed them to depart in a week or two as well.

Jacob paused, fingering the pages. He’d just finished reading the added portion and was now about to start the journal itself.

Would a man kidnap his own daughter-in-law? The castle is in ruins, its people bloodied and broken. I suspect my father was behind it. We are trying to count how many are dead and missing . . .

Jacob read until he was tired. The journal had skipped a lot of details, because Dmitri and Arien were now married—Arien was pregnant and had been kidnapped, and Dmitri was trying to find her. And there was a woman named The Fat Lady—just like in
Harry Potter
. Jacob laughed when he read that part. He thought women hated it when people referred to their weight.

The light falling across the book changed, and Jacob glanced toward the entrance of the cave. “Akeno, turn off your light for a minute,” he said.

Akeno jerked awake. “What? Another Molg?”

“No, don’t worry,” Jacob said. “I think Lirone’s gone, though.” He got up and took a few steps forward. Sure enough, the light outside was brighter and had a warm appearance.

“Looks like the clouds are gone,” Akeno said, jumping up and dashing forward.

“Finally!” Jacob said, following Akeno.

“Wait!” Aloren called out.

They both stopped and looked back at her.

“We need to be cautious. Sometimes he hovers above the southern mountains and watches from there.”

“Aargh,” Akeno said. “I don’t want to be cautious.”

They waited for Aloren to take the lead, then walked down the tunnel, being careful to stay as close to the sides as possible. Aloren paused every couple of feet, peering into the sky.

The first step outside the cave was a little unnerving. There were still a few clouds above the mountains to the south. However, after they had watched for a few long moments, nothing happened, and Jacob relaxed. Aloren smiled in relief.

They decided to call the Minyas right away.

“Early? September?” Akeno yelled.

No response.

“Okay, we gotta find seeds, then.”

The group found some down by the lake, and Akeno put them close to his mouth and whispered.

“What are you saying?” Jacob asked.

“The names of the Minyas I want.” Akeno blew on the seeds, scattering them into the wind. “Hopefully they aren’t far away.” He sat on the ground and started taping leaves to his shoes.

Jacob looked at the position of the sun. “Will they still be able to find us if we keep going without them?” he asked. “I think we need to leave while it’s still light. I’d like to put as much ground behind us as possible.”

“We can go.” Akeno put the tape dispenser away and stood. “They’ll catch up.”

After checking their bags to make sure they hadn’t left anything in the cave, they made their way back to the trail. Jacob ached in a few spots where he’d hit the wall, but the pains were easily ignored. Being outside was so refreshing, he found it hard to focus on anything negative.

“We’re here!” a little voice announced. “You sure were gone a long time!”

Jacob turned and saw September and Early flitting in the air. He smiled. “Where did you go when the storm came?”

“We went to Taga Village,” September said, landing on Akeno’s shoulder and hanging on to his shirt. “And guess what? The humans came back!”

Akeno stumbled, almost falling. “Really?”

“Yes, they’re there,” Early said, landing next to September.

“Which humans?” Jacob asked.

“The ones who hollowed out the tree and lived there for a while.” Akeno looked anxious to be home. “It’s been five years since they last came. I hope we get back in time to see them.”

“Hopefully you will,” Aloren said. She then pointed ahead. “Ridgewood is around that bend. I should warn you—it’s a really weird place, with some of the strangest people you’ll ever come across.”

Jacob frowned. “Strange? In what way?”

“They’re superstitious about Maivoryl City. They do everything in their power to stop people from passing through their city and going on. That’s one of the reasons why I’ve never made it.”