Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (44 page)

“Detainment facility?”

“Yes—where they teach you things.”

“High school, you mean? None. My mom would kill me.”

“Hmmm . . . that poses a problem. Oh, well, we’ll work around it. I’ll still get you up and fighting in a matter of days.”

Brojan leaned forward. “And Jacob, we will need your help with retrieving people from the scented air. The Key only works for you, so you will be busy.”

Jacob agreed. At least he’d be doing something.

Kenji stood. “As soon as you get out of school and finish your homework each day, meet us at the tree. We’ll need your help for as many hours tomorrow as possible, and most every day thereafter. The Fat Lady will be fine having us use her cabin as the stopping point. Matt, you’re welcome to come as well. We’ll use your help, if you’d like to give it.”

Matt nodded eagerly.

“I can be of assistance too,” Gallus said.

Sweet Pea jumped to his feet. “And me!”

“Good. We’ll all work together to wake the people up. Jacob, when you’re not pulling people from the scented air, we expect you to be learning combat. And, if all goes well, we should be ready to head to Maivoryl very soon.” Kenji looked to Brojan for agreement, and the patriarch inclined his head.

A thought occurred to Jacob. He hated having to bring it up. “We’re talking about the scented air without really bringing up an important point.”

“What’s that?” Kenji asked.

“If it’s everlasting, then how are any of
you
supposed to pull people out of it? Only Akeno’s taken the Fat Lady’s potion.”

“You’ll pull them out of the potion and hand them off to the rest of us. We’ll take them to the Fat Lady’s cabin.”

Jacob nodded.

“It’s time for Jacob and Matt to get home,” Ebony said. Why was she the only one who remembered those sorts of things? “Gallus is spending the night in the tree, so you don’t need to worry about taking him back.”

“See you all tomorrow!” Sweet Pea said.

Jacob and Matt said their goodbyes, then Keyed home.

A note on the kitchen counter said that Amberly was at Ida Mae’s house, and their parents had gone out to dinner. Matt went to get Amberly in his truck and Jacob headed to bed, lying across the covers.

He felt like his attention was being spread too thin—school, homework, basketball, learning combat, pulling people out of the scented air, and dealing with obstinate Makalos. How on earth was he supposed to get anything done? He sighed. Maybe this was how growing up felt.

Chapter 6. Footprints

Eachan checked that the bars were snug before lowering the shade. Already the villagers were wandering the streets, seeking escape from turmoil.

“Father, what should I do with her now?” Duana asked.

He sighed, turning to his daughter. The light cast her face in shadow, but the stress and worry were still evident.

“I’m not certain,” he said. It’d been a while since he’d reported any activity to the Lorkon about the girl who’d come searching for her brother. They’d sent one of their Fire Turners—part human, part Fire Pulser—to inspect and question Aloren. But everything had been silent for a while.

Eachan still hadn’t repaired the wooden floors of the Town hall where Sanso had walked, burning the grain with flames which flickered from the soles of his feet. Eachan stared at the charred footprints leading to the room where Aloren cowered all day. He shuddered, remembering the turn the inquisition had taken. The girl would be scarred for life—and not just emotionally. She’d survived, but hadn’t spoken a word since. It had been six days. How could someone go that long without uttering a sound?

Grabbing the soup Duana had prepared for Aloren, he climbed the stairs to the section of the town hall where he and Duana lived, and where he’d assigned a room to the girl. He stopped in her doorway, peering in at her. She scurried to the corner of the room, instinctively covered the burns on her upper arms.

“I’m not going to hurt you, girl. How many times do I need to tell you that?” He sighed in impatience, putting the container on the floor. “Here, eat this. It’ll help distract you from the pain.”

Eachan strode down the hallway to his own quarters, not even checking to see if she took the food. He couldn’t handle much more of this silence. It was awkward enough having her trapped in the town hall by the orders of the Lorkon. If she didn’t start talking soon, he’d . . . he’d . . . Eachan paused. What
would
he do? He didn’t even know. Turn her over to them?

Reports to the Lorkon were expected as frequently as her condition changed. She hadn’t spoken in so long, they would probably be wondering if he slacked in his duties.

He sighed, leaning against his door. He hated working for the Lorkon. Hated it more than anything else. Even maintaining his and his daughter’s sanity and health no longer seemed better than the price he constantly paid. But, as many of the people in Maivoryl City had discovered, there wasn’t a way to go back on agreements made with the Lorkon. They’d made sure of that.

He walked to his desk. It was cluttered with unfinished projects—old digging plans, paperwork on the villagers which the Lorkon asked him to complete every year, and other random things. He moved a stack of papers from the chair and sat to rest before starting dinner for the villagers.

Aloren’s presence caused so many problems. It hardly seemed worth it. Before she came, the villagers ate at long tables in the great room of the town hall. Duana usually cooked, and Eachan served the food and cleaned up. Now, however, the people had become dangerous. They suspected Aloren was still in the hall, and had tried to get at her. They wouldn’t allow her the privilege of inhabiting a healthy body.

To protect Aloren, and, Eachan admitted, himself and Duana, he and his daughter had been forced to lock themselves in, carefully putting containers of food on the porch, only going outside a couple times a day to retrieve the dishes. They rotated duties so the same person didn’t have to risk attack from the people twice in a row.

Eachan rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them from the ever-present grime in the air. Things would be easier if Aloren weren’t here.

He wished he had the courage to do something about it.

Chapter 7. Hazel

Jacob sprawled across his bed and started his homework in a frenzy, eager to get it done. He still couldn’t believe the amount he’d been given now that he was in high school.

He was nearly finished when Matt flung his door open and strode inside.

“Ready to go yet?” Matt tossed a bag at Jacob. “Here, eat.”

Jacob sat up and opened the bag—string cheese, Pop-Tarts, a can of apple juice, a couple of Lunchables, and a yogurt smoothie. He pulled out the yogurt, drinking it in a few swallows.

“I have to finish reading a chapter, and then write a page review on it.”

Matt groaned. “That’s going to take you years! Can’t you do it when we get back?”

Jacob gave Matt a withering glance. “No, I can’t. The Makalos will ask if we finished our homework, and send us back if we haven’t.”

Matt looked panicked. “Would they?”

“Yes. They’re anxious that I don’t slack off. The same goes for you.”

“Oh, well, I better go finish my essay, then.”

Jacob nodded and turned back to his homework.

Finally, they were both finished and ready to go.

Jacob stepped to his bedroom door. “Okay, let’s see if this works the way it did at Aldo’s.” He held the Key up to the door. The hole for a lock appeared.

“That’s so cool!” Matt said.

“Yeah.” Jacob put the Key inside. It fit perfectly—as usual—and he Keyed them to the Makalo village.

Kenji, Gallus, Akeno, and Sweet Pea were waiting in the tree. Gallus, not surprisingly, didn’t look at the brothers. Sweet Pea punched Jacob’s shoulder—Jacob was having a hard time thinking of Sweet Pea by his real name rather than Butch. Akeno limped to the door, a smile on his face—he looked excited to be a part of this too. Ebony wasn’t around, and Kenji reported they were to send a Minya when she was needed.

“Did you finish your chores and homework?” Kenji asked.

Jacob looked at Matt pointedly, a smile of triumph crossing his face. “We sure did!”

“Good.” Kenji rubbed his hands together, eagerness crossing his face. “Time to get to work!”

Jacob Keyed the group to the Fat Lady’s cabin, a blast of heat and the smell of rancid juice hitting his face when he stepped inside.

The Fat Lady sat on her dusty, dirty couch, playing with some sort of concoction on the short table in front of her. Aldo sat in the corner of the room, digging through what looked to be a garbage pile.

She turned to Kenji. “Who’d ya like to take the extra Malono Potion?”

“How about Gallus?”

Gallus shook his head. “No, you need someone who’ll be able to help any time he’s here.” He nodded toward Jacob.

Kenji looked at all who were present. “Give it to Matt—he’d probably be able to help Jacob the most.”

Sweet Pea’s mouth popped open. “And what about me?”

“You’re not his brother. They’ll work better together.”

“But I’m stronger than him!”

Matt snorted. “Whatever. Dude, I’m like a foot taller than you. And check out these bad boys.” He flexed his biceps.

“Yes, they’re very impressive. We’ll let you stay in your little dream world.” Sweet Pea snickered.

Matt punched Sweet Pea on the shoulder, and Sweet Pea playfully shoved him back.

Jacob laughed at them, then chuckled at the reaction of everyone else—the adults were absolutely shocked at what was happening, and a determined expression crossed Kenji’s face, like as if he was going to have to break up a fight. Akeno looked scared. Aldo jumped to his feet, a huge grin on his face, and put up his fists like a 1930s boxer. He hopped around Sweet Pea and Matt, blabbering nonsensical words, fists moving like he was about to enter the ring.

Sweet Pea laughed at the tension the adults had created. “Come on, guys, it’s how the Earth people interact. Haven’t you read any modern books?”

Akeno shook his head. “None of them spoke of physical abuse.”

Matt and Sweet Pea both laughed this time. “It’s not abuse!” Matt said. “It’s how guys mess around!”

The adults relaxed, and a smile crossed Akeno’s face.

The Fat Lady, Gallus, and Kenji started talking to each other about the different ingredients she still had to get for her potion, and where they’d find them.

Matt turned to Jacob, keeping his eyes on the large woman. “So, what’s this potion gonna taste like? Please tell me not like that sick smell in the air.”

“It’ll be worse,” Akeno said, then laughed at the horror on Matt’s face. “It does go down quickly, though.”

“Can she at least put sugar in it or something?”

“Or maybe a sweet pea,” Sweet Pea said, then chortled. “Get it?”

“All right, Matt, here you are.” The Fat Lady brought a vial over, holding it out to him in one large, puffy hand.

Matt took it from her, eying it like he expected it to come alive and crawl up his arm. Jacob couldn’t help but snicker—even though he was glad he hadn’t ever had to take it himself.

“Oh, come on,” the Fat Lady said. “Don’t tell me Jacob’s brother—his
older
brother—is a wimp.”

“I’m not a wimp!” Matt lifted the vial to his lips, then in one quick motion, poured it in his mouth and swallowed. Everyone watched for his reaction, and they weren’t disappointed. He gagged, his face turning bright red, and bent over, hands around his throat, coughing. He fell to the floor, still gagging, tears streaming down his face.

The Fat Lady laughed so loudly, the cabin windows shook. “Give me a break! It’s not that bad.” She pointed to Akeno. “
He
didn’t freak out like this.”

Matt pulled himself to his knees, gasping. “That was awful—worst thing I’ve—
disgusting
.” He slumped against the couch, panting from the exertion of trying to talk.

After Matt recovered, the group discussed who would do what. They’d form a bucket brigade, with Jacob, Matt, and Akeno searching for people who wore shabby clothing and pulling them out to Sweet Pea, who would take them to Gallus, who, in turn, would take them to Kenji. The Fat Lady, at the end of the brigade, would dump water over the heads of the people and try to get them to talk.

Jacob was surprised all it would take was some water—especially since the Fat Lady had so many potions at her disposal. “Why can’t we just take the water to them?”

“They need to be out of the scented air first, you know,” Sweet Pea said. “Otherwise we’ll just have to keep pouring water over their faces. Over and over again. And nothing would happen.”

Kenji smiled. “Plus, you don’t want to carry buckets of water all over the place, do you? You’re already having to pull people. That’s hard enough.”

Jacob agreed—that didn’t sound like a lot of fun.

Early flitted around the air, acting as lookout for Lirone and any Lorkon—it again amused Jacob how excited she was to help.

The skies were darkening as Jacob, Akeno, and Sweet Pea took the long walk to where the scented air began. An involuntary shudder passed through Jacob when he looked up at the clouds. Last time he’d been in this part of Eklaron, he’d nearly been killed several times by the cloud dweller named Lirone.

Lirone used particles in the air to pepper explosions around helpless people below him. The Fat Lady had reassured them these weren’t “Lirone” clouds, but Jacob was nervous just the same. What would they do if Lirone showed up? Or worse, what would they do if a Lorkon appeared?

At least the group was within half an hour’s walk of the Fat Lady’s cabin. Jacob had run it before, so felt reassured, knowing he’d be able to get away. He watched Akeno from the corner of his eye—the Makalo’s limp was still defined and looked painful. Jacob would probably have to pick him up if they needed to run.

Twenty or so minutes later, the group reached where the scented air began. Sweet Pea stopped, and Matt, Akeno, and Jacob continued.

Matt jumped. “It smells like fresh footballs!” he said.