Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (24 page)

“How do they stop people?”

Aloren tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “By trying to kill them. Last time they actually succeeded in killing a member of my group. They believe we’re better off dead than continuing on to Maivoryl City and never returning.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow. How did the members of this city possibly justify murder? “That’s pretty extreme.”

“Not to them,” Aloren said, shaking her head. “They have a law that forbids anyone to go to the city, and the punishment for breaking it is death.”

“That’s ridiculous. How do their laws apply to people who don’t live in their city? Or who have no say in how the law is carried out? Or who don’t even know about it?”

“I really don’t think they thought about democracy when setting up their rules,” Akeno said.

Jacob laughed. “Yeah, that’s pretty obvious. All right. Let’s figure out how to get past them.” They reached the bend in the trail and he stared at the city, spread across a large area of land between the lake and the forest. A small river flowed through the city from the mountain. “Do we go through tonight or tomorrow?”

“Whatever we choose, we need to figure it out fast, before they see us,” Aloren said. “I suggest we go tonight, before the sun sets. I’d just feel better getting past it. Assuming we make it, of course.”

Jacob looked at the landscape surrounding the city. “Maybe we could go around? Through the trees on the hill?”

“No, they keep lookouts up there at all times. And before you ask, going through the water is also a really bad idea.”

“Why?”

“There are many different varieties of fish in the lake, besides Eetu, and most will eat you if given the chance. The Eetu fish start coming closer to the surface to feed in the evening, and you already know what will happen if we encounter one of them.” Aloren looked at the lake. “We tried it once. A member of the group was attacked and severely injured before we realized what was happening. Three men tried to help her while the rest of us swam to shore as fast as we could. None of those four made it. When we got out of the water, the people of the city were waiting for us.”

Jacob frowned, glad he’d not been there. That had to have been gruesome. “What happened next?”

“After interrogating us and keeping us in prison for more than a month, they made us promise never to try going to Maivoryl City again. Now they’ll just kill anyone who attempts it.”

“So, we can’t go through the water on the south, and we can’t go through the forest on the north,” Jacob said. “And we can’t very well go under the city. What else can we do? Walk through and pretend we’re not doing what they’ll know we’re doing?”

Akeno shook his head. “No, that wouldn’t work.”

“Obviously,” Jacob said, then laughed. “You know, we could always grab a bunch of bushes and hide under them—like they do in movies.”

Aloren frowned. “Movies?”

“Never mind.”

“There’s a much simpler way,” Akeno said. “One that’s guaranteed to work. I could shrink both of you and have the Minyas transport you to the other side of the city.”

“What about you?” Jacob said. “How would you get across?”

Akeno pointed up at the forest. “Use the trees, of course.”

Aloren gave Akeno an incredulous look. “I just said it isn’t possible to go that way.”

Akeno gave a mischievous smile. “But when was the last time a
Makalo
attempted it? I’ll have the trees hide me, and, if necessary, lift and carry me across their branches. No one will see me, and it won’t take any time at all.”

Jacob watched Aloren as she thought it through. She bit her lip. “Okay, we’ll try it,” she said. “But let’s get it done as soon as possible. I want to travel by sunlight as long as we can.”

“Okay, then,” Akeno said. “Ladies first.”

“What do I need to do?”

“See that big rock? Just go stand by it.”

While Aloren walked over to the rock, Jacob called the Minyas down and asked them to carry the two of them across the city and put them in a safe place out of sight of any people.

Aloren reached the rock, stopped, and turned around. Akeno reached out, squinting one eye. Aloren disappeared, and then stood on Akeno’s palm.

Akeno lifted his hand until it was level with his face. “Are you okay?”

“Wow!” Aloren said. “I’m so tiny!”

Jacob turned to the Minyas. “Ready?”

“Of course,” Early said, picking up Aloren.

“Fly her over the city,” Jacob said. “You don’t need to use your magic—just make sure to stay high.”

Early flitted off, and Jacob was surprised at how quickly she left his view, even without magic.

Then it was Jacob’s turn. He ran down the trail to the rock, turned to face Akeno, and gave him a thumbs-up. One second, he was being pinched around his waist, and the next, he stood in Akeno’s hand. September picked him up, and then they were flying through the air. Jacob kept his eyes closed most of the way to keep from getting dizzy. Only a few seconds later, they passed the city and landed on a huge rock next to Early and Aloren.

Jacob checked his bag, making sure it was in one piece, then looked at Aloren. “How was your first trip via Minya?”

She half smiled. “It wasn’t very comfortable—I’ll have to get used to it.”

Jacob turned to Early and told her to make sure Akeno didn’t need help, and to send word if anything went wrong. She left, September floated to look at something on the other side of the trail, and Jacob and Aloren sat on the rock to wait.

They were alone for the first time. Jacob cleared his throat, feeling self-conscious, and wracked his brain, trying to think of something smart or funny to say. He fished around, finally grabbing the first thing that came to mind. “You have a dimple in your cheek,” he said. “It’s deep . . . and . . . shows when you smile. And sometimes when you talk too.” He paused, then blurted out the rest. “Did you know dimples are tissue defects?”

She gave him one of those looks that only a girl can give.

“Um, not that you’re defective, or anything. I mean . . .” He scrambled for words, and then gave up. A skeptical expression crossed Aloren’s face, and he flushed. Why would he say something like that? He kicked himself mentally, wishing he’d just kept his trap shut. So much for sounding smart.

Jacob stayed quiet, breathing a sigh of relief when Akeno, Early, and September came back.

Akeno returned them to their normal size, and the group followed the trail for a while longer before deciding to set up camp deep in the forest. The brush was thick, and in no time Akeno had separated it into two separate quarters, the entrances barely visible. They ate a small dinner and then turned in for the night.

Jacob woke up the next morning both excited and troubled by the dream he’d had. The lady in the forest nearly captured him, snakes had swarmed all over him, and his skin felt like ants were crawling on it. But what she’d said to him had
finally
come back. “Danilo.” He had no idea what it meant, but at least he could tell the Makalos he’d remembered.

“Kenji said you’d be traveling near the cottage of the Fat Lady,” September said as they headed back to the trail. “You need to stop and talk to her. She’ll help you prepare to meet the Lorkon.”

“I know her,” Jacob said. “She’s in the journal. Where does she live?”

“Just up ahead.” September floated away again.

A few minutes later, September pointed out a small path that led through the tall grass. There was a cabin sitting in a meadow about four hundred yards away from the main trail. A clothesline hung to the right, and they could see a paddock behind the cabin to the left.

“I’m guessing this is it,” Jacob said, then called the Minyas down. “September, Early, please get in my bag. I want you close, but out of sight, just in case. Same as always.”

The Minyas flew into the knapsack, and Jacob closed it as they neared the cabin.

“Do you think it’s a good idea to call her ‘fat?’” Aloren said. “I mean, who likes to be called fat?”

Jacob ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s what Dmitri called her in his journal. I say we just not use her name unless it’s necessary.”

They arrived at the cabin, and Jacob knocked.

No answer. He knocked again.

“Go away,” a woman’s gruff voice shouted.

“Can we talk to you?” Jacob yelled through the door. He heard someone moving around, but no one answered the door. “We were told to stop here!”

“I’m sure you were. Go away!”

“No,” Jacob said. “Brojan and Kenji sent us, and we’re not leaving until you open this door.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Jacob turned to Aloren and Akeno. “She’s not going to open it.”

“Let me try,” Akeno said. “Kenji is my father,” he yelled through the crack.

“Right. As if
that’s
the truth.”

“No!” Jacob yelled. “He’s serious! Kenji said we needed to stop by the Fat Lady’s cabin, and she would help us know what we need to do to face the Lork—”

Suddenly the door swung wide open.

“Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

The group of travelers took a step back, looking up. The woman standing before them was indeed large—at least five hundred pounds, maybe more, and well over six feet tall. Nothing like the Fat Lady in
Harry Potter
. She smiled at them, showing an odd assortment of teeth. The top, which were mostly missing, were blackened and crooked, while the bottom teeth were straight, smooth, and pearly white. She wore massive earrings, and the holes in her lobes were stretched out. Her hair was light brown, piled in a knotty-looking mess on top of her head. Her lids were puffy, making her eyes look tiny.

She reached out with a large hand and pulled the three inside, slamming the door shut and pushing them in front of her into the main room of the cabin. “So, tell me,” she said. “What news do you bring from Tagaville?”

They exchanged quick glances.

The Fat Lady let out a booming laugh. “Cat got your tongue, eh?” Plopping into a large, furry-looking chair, she propped her feet up on a table in the middle of the room. “Sit, sit,” she said, motioning to a couch that was surrounded by piles of paper and junk.

Jacob was the first to move. He knew Akeno wouldn’t sit on the end of the couch closest to the woman, so he did.

“Tell me who you are,” the Fat Lady said. “Never seen anyone as big as me, have you?”

Aloren shook her head and glanced at Jacob, who wasn’t sure what to say.

“Speak up, speak up!” The Fat Lady pointed her finger at Aloren. “You first. What’s your name, where’re you from.” It came across more as a demand than a question.

“M—my name is Aloren. I’m from Macaria.”

“Ah. It’s been quite some time since I traveled that far. I usually only get ten feet in front of my cabin before giving up and going back home.” She laughed again and pointed at Akeno. “I’m assuming you’re the one who claims to be Kenji’s son.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Akeno said, his voice shaking. “I’m his eldest. My name is Akeno.”

“It has been several years since I last saw your parents.” She picked up a vial from the table, put a drop of the contents on her finger, then rubbed her bottom teeth. She jerked her finger toward Jacob, who almost jumped up until he saw she was merely pointing. He’d thought she was going to smear some of the stuff on him. “And you? Who are you, and who do you belong to?”

“My name is Jacob Clark. My parents are Lee and Janna Clark. I’m not from around here. I come from Earth, and it’s, well, I guess it’s not—”

The Fat Lady squealed loudly, slamming her hands on the armrests. “Oh, I’ve been expecting you!” She laughed, wagging her finger at him. “Didn’t think you were gonna hear me say something like that, did ya?” She jumped to her feet and strode to a cabinet on the other side of the room, dodging the junk and stacks of papers placed randomly on the floor.

“Oh, and call me Fat Lady,” she said. “It’s the password to enter my house, and I won’t answer to anything else.”

Walking back to the couch, she handed a vial to each member of the group. “Akeno and Aloren, drink this now. Jacob, wait to take yours. It won’t do to have you seeing things you shouldn’t see right now.”

What was she talking about? And what would the potion do to him? Jacob looked at the corked vial in his hand. The glass was swirled brown and blue, and full of a dark, runny liquid. Akeno and Aloren’s potion was different, more of a rose color.

“I really didn’t expect you to bring others with you, so it’s a good thing I thought to make those up, just in case,” the Fat Lady said. “Can’t say I blame ya, though. You know this trip will be extremely dangerous, I’m sure. All your lives are at risk. But who cares these days? As long as the job gets done, right?” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Do you know anything about that city?”

Jacob met eyes with Akeno before looking at the lady again. “Not really, no.” He knew hardly anything about Eklaron. Or the Lorkon, for that matter—besides what they looked like.

“Eh, it’s probably better that way,” she said, picking up a dirty towel that had been crumpled in the seat of her chair. She shook it out, causing a cloud of dust to fly in the air, then tossed it on the table and sat with a thump. “Knowing too much can cause a lot of problems, you know.”