Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (32 page)

The Fat Lady stood on the step of her cabin, waving her arms and yelling. He could only pick out one word—
diamonds
. He looked at the Key still clenched in one of his fists, then back up at her, confused.

“Diamonds!” she screamed.

“She said to slide the two diamonds!” September said.

Jacob shook his head, not understanding.

“The diamonds move!” September yelled.

Jacob slung Akeno over his left shoulder, using both hands to hold the Key up to his face as he ran. He located the two different diamonds and fiddled around with his thumbs. The diamonds slid until they were aligned with each other.

Jacob looked up at the Fat Lady, ready for her next instructions, running free without the shock waves ramming his body.

The Fat Lady yelled again. “Put the Key in my door and turn it to the left! Go to Taga Village!”

Jacob still had about forty yards to go. The ground in front of him was level and hard, and he risked a quick glance over his shoulder. He wished almost immediately he hadn’t done so.

The nearest Lorkon was only a foot outside of grabbing distance. Nearly stumbling in fright, Jacob yelled, noticing he could hear his voice again. He willed his body to move even faster.

“September . . . do something . . . Lorkon.” he gasped, readjusting Akeno so he was easier to carry. The muscles in Jacob’s arms and shoulders were burning.

“Okay.” September disappeared.

“Arrgh!”

Jacob looked back just in time to see the Lorkon face-plant into the dirt. He saw a second Lorkon only ten or so feet behind the first, with the third nearly having caught up as well. Akeno started to convulse in Jacob’s arms, nearly causing Jacob to drop him.

“Are you ready?” the Fat Lady yelled.

“Yes!” Jacob gasped. His lungs were burning so badly, he was afraid he’d pass out from lack of air. They were down to fifteen yards.

“Do you know what to do?”

“To the left, Taga Village.”

“Close the door behind you or they’ll follow you.” The Fat Lady went into her cottage and shut the door.

The third Lorkon caught up to him. “September, Early! Stop the Lorkon!” Jacob shouted just as he took the last few leaps toward the door.

Reaching out, he put the Key in the hole.

“Taga Village!” he yelled, turning the Key to the left. He swung the door open. Running through, he spun around and tried to shut the door in the face of the Lorkon, but the door bounced open again. Jacob took an instinctive step back. The Lorkon had stopped the door from shutting with his foot. An evil, disgusting smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

“Now you are ours,” the Lorkon said.

Something small flitted through the air, and the Lorkon flew across the open space, blasted away from the cabin.

Before the other Lorkon got the chance to rush through the door, Jacob slammed it shut, making sure it clicked this time.

Chapter 18. Bacon and Pancakes

Jacob took in a deep breath, a familiar musty-wood smell entering his nose, then turned around. He was in the big tree in Taga Village, and none of the Lorkon had followed him. Letting out the air, he stood still, allowing his mind to relax from the stress it had just experienced. He shifted Akeno’s position, put the Key in its box, then made himself go outside.

The sun had almost set, casting long shadows all over the canyon. He was grateful it was almost night. His eyes ached from a headache that had built up behind them, and he looked forward to having as little light around him as possible.

Forcing his legs to continue to hold him up, he limped toward the side of the village. “Help! Is anyone there?”

“Jacob?” a voice called from the ledge. It was Ebony. “Oh, Jacob, you’re back, you’re back!” She began crying, calling out for Brojan and Kenji who rushed to her side, then saw Jacob.

“Help him,” Brojan said to a few Makalo men who had gathered.

Jacob raised Akeno as high as his arms would let him, and one of the men climbed down and lifted him the rest of the way.

Climbing as carefully as he could, Jacob pulled himself over the top. One of the men supported him as he rushed with Kenji, Ebony, and Brojan to Akeno’s house.

Kenji laid Akeno on the table and he and Ebony went to work, acting as a team to cleanse Akeno’s leg. Ebony soaked strips of cloth, then handed them to Kenji, who wiped the ooze from Akeno’s leg. Pretty soon the leg was as clean as they could get it. Kenji poured the rest of the liquid into the main part of the wound, which had expanded to cover Akeno’s entire lower leg.

Kenji glanced at Ebony with a worried expression on his face. “If the fever doesn’t break—”

“Wait!” Ebony gasped. “I think we might have—” She ran out of the room, still talking, her voice muffled by the wall. “Potion . . . you . . . last time . . .” She came back, carrying a very familiar vial. “I saved this.”

Kenji relaxed. “Oh, thank goodness . . . here, let me.” Using an extra cloth, he wiped up the liquid he’d poured in Akeno’s sore, then put a couple of drops from the vial into the wound. He then forced Akeno’s jaw open and poured the rest of the liquid in his mouth.

Ebony wrapped the sore with strips of cloth, then hurried out of the room, returning with her arms full of sheets. Kenji took a couple and handed them to Jacob. “Wrap him as tightly as you can from head to foot.”

Jacob started at Akeno’s head, leaving a space around his nose to breath. Ebony started at his midsection, and Kenji at his feet. Brojan held the sheets in place until they were secured.

“The sheets hold in his body heat—heat the potion needs in order to be activated.” Kenji turned to Ebony. “How long did it take for me to heal?”

“Two minutes, maybe more. His situation is fairly similar to yours.” She put her arm around her husband. “He’ll be fine.” She smiled at Jacob. “Last time, I was the one stressing over whether Kenji would live, but I didn’t need to stress. The Fat Lady really knows her stuff.”

After a few moments, Kenji pulled the sheet off Akeno’s head. His face was pink again, the dark circles gone. “It’s working!”

Ebony gave Kenji another hug. “Wonderful.” She glanced at Jacob. “Oh, Jacob, I’ll love you forever for what you’ve done for my son.” Her eyes welled up with tears, and Jacob stared at his feet. He was grateful Akeno would be all right, but felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment at the praise.

“You look exhausted.” She sniffed, and her nose wrinkled. “And you definitely need to bathe.”

A weary smile crossed Jacob’s face. “Sorry.” He pulled out the box with the Key of Kilenya inside and handed it to Ebony. “Here, take the Key.”

Ebony held the container in her hands, her expression one of gratitude. “We knew you’d be able to do it.”

“There was no doubt,” Kenji said. He took the box and opened it. The familiar tune filled the room, and peaceful colors danced across the walls.

“Wow,” Kenji said. The Makalos all looked at Jacob.

“What?” Jacob asked.

“You know it’s only doing this because you’re near it, right?” Kenji asked.

Jacob shrugged but didn’t respond.

Ebony took the box from Kenji and handed it to Brojan, then picked up the baby from a small bed in the corner. She looked over Jacob. “Oh, poor Jacob, you’re exhausted. Do you want some dinner before sleeping?”

Jacob rubbed his eyes. “No, I’m too tired for food.”

“Okay. Well, you can sleep in the tree. The humans are gone again and it’s very safe. We haven’t had any problems with the wolves since you and Akeno left. We’ve fastened a temporary covering over the entrance that should last for a couple of days. It’ll keep out any unwanted visitors, including the Lorkon and their dogs. Or, if you’d rather not take chances, I can make up a bed here on the floor. We’ll talk tomorrow morning before you head home.”

Jacob considered the options—safety versus comfort. “I think I’ll give the tree a shot.”

“I’ll take him now.” Brojan stood.

“Now? But—”

“There will be plenty of time for conversation tomorrow,” Brojan said.

Kenji looked up from checking on Akeno. “We really need to talk about everything that happened, but you’re in no shape at this time. Don’t worry—we’ll have a good conversation as soon as you’re awake.”

“Will the Fat Lady be okay?”

“She’ll be completely fine. The spells on her cabin are strong and won’t let anyone in who shouldn’t be there.”

Ebony hugged Jacob, thanking him over and over again for returning her son. Kenji also gave Jacob a big hug, telling him goodnight.

Brojan led the way out of the house. He looked at Jacob for a minute, then nodded. “It is you, Jacob. Yes, you are exactly what we need.”

Brojan was silent the rest of the way, and Jacob was fine with that. His mind wasn’t clear enough to form coherent thoughts, and he wasn’t sure what he would say, anyway.

He felt like he was sleepwalking, and they reached the tree quickly. Brojan left after making sure Jacob didn’t need anything. Deciding he was too tired to bother with a shower, Jacob climbed to the third floor, sank into one of the beds, and fell into a deep sleep.

When Jacob finally woke, his mind was clear. He stretched as far as his legs and arms would let him, then sat up, rubbing his eyes. The sun was bright in the sky, and he guessed it was close to noon. He heard voices downstairs, recognizing one of them as Jaegar’s. He grabbed the bags and went down the stairs, crouching at the bottom where the two Makalos wouldn’t see him. Jaegar was opening the windows, a little blonde Makalo followed him around.

“No, Kaiya,” Jaegar said.

She stomped her foot. “Why not? I won’t wake him. I just want to peek.”

“Mother and Father said not to go upstairs, so the answer is still no.”

“But Jaegar—”

Jacob sprung into the open. “Boo!” he yelled, then laughed when Kaiya screamed and dropped the book she’d been holding.

She jumped behind Jaegar, covering her face.

“Hey!” Jacob said. “You look a lot better.”

Jaegar smiled. “Yeah. Thank you—for everything.”

“How’s Akeno?” Jacob asked.

“Still sleeping,” Jaegar said, taking his sister’s hand. “Come—Mother and Father wanted to see you as soon as you woke up.”

Jacob sat at the table in Akeno’s house with Kenji, Ebony, and Brojan. They were eating a wonderful breakfast of bacon, eggs, and a type of pancake Jacob had never seen before. He felt refreshed and clean for the first time in several days—he’d taken a shower as soon as he’d gotten to Akeno’s house.

He felt torn between wanting to go home, going after Aloren, and talking to the Makalos, who were now giving an update on Akeno.

“The redness on his leg has almost disappeared, and the skin is healed over,” Kenji said.

“That’s awesome,” Jacob said. “Where are Early and September?”

Kenji chuckled. “They came back after you went to the tree last night,” he said. “We haven’t seen them since. They’re probably pretty tired of being ordered around.”

Jacob laughed, rolling his eyes. “No kidding. I owe them my life, and Akeno’s as well.” He rested his chin on his hands. “The Minyas told us the humans came back. When do I get to meet them?”

Kenji glanced at Ebony who was patting the baby’s back. “Soon enough—they want to properly introduce themselves to you, and promised to come back in the near future.” He pushed his plate aside. “We have more important things to discuss.”

“But where are they now?”

“They’re probably searching for the other Key—remember that two were created. Don’t worry, we’ll focus on them later.” Kenji leaned forward. “Right now, you need to tell us what happened so we’ll know what’s coming.”

Jacob nodded. “Where do you want me to start?”

“Where you last left off. When you went back to see Gallus.”

It took at least half an hour for Jacob to share what had happened over the last few days. He hesitated for a couple of seconds after completing his narration. “Do you . . . think it’s too late to get Aloren?”

Kenji sighed. “It would depend on so many things, and since we haven’t been to Maivoryl City since the Lorkon took over, we don’t know. From what you were saying about the people who live there, Aloren might be diseased and deformed beyond recognition by now.”