Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (77 page)

“What happened?”

He sniffed. “She . . . and our children decided . . . They turned themselves over to the Lorkon.”

Jacob gasped. “Why? That’s insane!”

Brojan shook his head. “She hadn’t seen everything I had. They thought they could help the Lorkon get better. Our children were adults—they made their own decisions, and wouldn’t listen to me.”

“It doesn’t make any sense. Why would they even try, after what the Lorkon had done to the kingdom?”

Brojan buried his face in his hands. “I might have led her to . . . believe that things would work out . . . that they would end up helping us in the end.” He rubbed his eyes. “I was what your country might call an opportunist. I saw the Lorkon as powerful beings who desired control. I felt if we talked to them, channeled that desire, they’d come to see our side of things.”

Jacob nearly scoffed, then remembered his manners, softening his voice. “I’ll bet I can figure out what happened.”

“The Lorkon refused to acknowledge us, and I realized I’d been foolish. Sabelle wasn’t sure. She thought that if they were exposed to even more Makalos, they’d see our potential to create a more dynamic world.”

Jacob bit his lip. Why would anyone think that? “And the Lorkon killed her?”

Brojan nodded. “Didn’t even let her speak. Slaughtered my entire family.” He closed his eyes, turning his face from Jacob.

Goodness. No wonder Brojan acted the way he did—gruff, and never personal with people. He’d been hurt really badly by what happened.

Finally, he spoke again. “After we moved into Taga Village and sealed the entrance, I had plenty of time to think about how things had gone. I recognized how weak the Makalos had become. We all did. But
I
decided to do something about it.”

He stood again. “What I’m going to tell you, you cannot repeat to anyone.” He turned and looked Jacob in the eye. “No one! Not even your brother.”

“I promise I won’t.” Jacob was nearly positive he could see where this was leading.

“Akeno . . . Akeno was the firstborn Makalo in Taga. During the Welcome Ceremony, it is customary for the Makalo patriarch to place a shield on the left ring finger of the baby—symbolic of the early Makalos’ decision to protect that finger from Kaede Sap. While I was doing it, I pretended to put it on wrong, injuring him in the process. He cried, as was to be expected, but quickly calmed when Ebony held him. The shield covered the wound he’d received when I injected him with sap.”

Brojan looked up quickly, probably to analyze Jacob’s reaction.

Jacob realized too late that his mouth was hanging open. And even though he’d heard nearly exactly what he’d expected, it was still pretty brutal. Brojan had actually
stabbed
Akeno’s finger! “Wow. Okay, well . . . wow.”

“I understand your shock. I also understand what you quite possibly do not: I have broken a very serious Makalo law. And it’s incredibly wrong that Akeno and his parents don’t know about it.”

“What would happen to you if they found out?”

Brojan shook his head. “I don’t know—we don’t have a consequence in place for this sort of action. It was unthinkable that anyone would ever do it.”

Jacob scratched at some pen markings on the desk, trying to figure out what to say. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“So that someone knows the real reason behind Akeno’s abilities. Why he is more powerful than the others. So that person can help him progress more quickly than he would otherwise.”

That made sense. “My brother already asked me why—he’ll figure it out.”

Brojan shrugged, looking worried even though his body language said otherwise. “Just . . . just do your best.”

“Okay.”

“Akeno shouldn’t know for several more years what’s happened to him. At least, not until after I’ve gone.”

Jacob scowled. “Why, so you don’t have to face all of this yourself?” He immediately felt bad for his disrespect, and quickly said, “I’m sorry. It’s just . . . I’m just trying to understand.”

Brojan held his hands palms up. “It’s been difficult living with this lie for the past thirteen, nearly fourteen years.”

“Wouldn’t telling them help get rid of the guilt?”

“I’ve told
you
. Why would I need to tell anyone else?”

Jacob blinked in surprise. He decided to keep his thoughts to himself, but it was very much unlike a Makalo to act so selfishly. “How am I supposed to keep this a secret? What if you live another twenty years?”

“You’ve become very adept at hiding things. How many of your schoolmates know what’s going on in your life?”

Jacob didn’t answer. He didn’t have to—Brojan was right. Some of the biggest things he’d ever experienced couldn’t be shared with anyone aside from his family and the Makalos.

“It’s time for me to return. If you wouldn’t mind taking me home, I’d appreciate it.”

Jacob did so, his thoughts jumbled. The last week and a half had been very hard. The hallucinations, Aloren and Kevin, Aloren and Matt, and now Akeno and his abilities.

Jacob rushed to the locker room Friday morning, so excited and nervous, he felt like his insides were about to jump into his throat. A group of people already clustered around the list, and Jacob had to push his way through.

“Sorry, man,” a guy said, putting his hand on Jacob’s shoulder.

Jacob ignored him, determined to see where he’d ended up. He quickly scanned the sheet for varsity, a sick feeling dropping his organs back into place when he didn’t find his name.

What? No way. He scanned again, making sure he hadn’t missed anything. How did he
not
make it? Wait—Kevin’s name was on the list. Kevin? He got in and Jacob didn’t? Jacob was much better!

He looked at the paper for JV and found his name there. What a . . . a . . . He couldn’t find an appropriate word to fit his thoughts. It had to have been rigged. Or—and Jacob’s heart nearly stopped when this new thought hit him—Kevin’s dad was still favoring his son. Of
course
he was. But hadn’t they gotten past that?

He backed away from the list, oblivious to the people around him, and left the locker room in a daze. He barely acknowledged a couple of girls saying hi to him as he wandered the halls. What a piece of junk tryouts had turned out to be. He’d played so well! So much better than anyone else. Why hadn’t he made it? He and Kevin played different positions—there was room enough for both of them!

Jacob didn’t notice Tani and Aloren until Aloren touched his arm, making him jump.

“You didn’t make it, did you?”

He shook his head.

Tani’s mouth popped open. “Not any team? Not even sophomore?”

“I made JV.”

“What’s that?” Aloren asked.

“Junior varsity,” Tani said. “It’s a step below varsity. Jacob, you were robbed!”

“Where did they put Kevin?” Aloren asked, her voice too nonchalant.

Jacob fisted his hands, too frustrated to answer at first. Why was she even asking? She probably knew already. “Varsity, of course. His dad wouldn’t have him anywhere else.”

Not wanting their words of sympathy, he left, heading to math early. Aloren and Kevin. Kevin on varsity. This was the worst day of his life. No—the worst
week
.

Math, woods, and lunch crawled by—Jacob ate in Matt’s truck, wanting to distance himself from Aloren and Kevin—but history and science were especially painful. Not only did Aloren keep trying to comfort him, but Shirley tried, too. He could barely handle Aloren’s awkward attempts—knowing that she was keeping her excitement for Kevin well hidden—but Shirley’s put him over the edge. She did everything she could to get the attention of the entire class, and by the end of the period, Jacob had heard “Dude, I’m sorry” so many times, he couldn’t stand it.

Anytime he saw Kevin in the hall, he turned and walked the other way. Even when Kevin called to him to stop.

There wasn’t a thing he could possibly have to say to Jacob.

That night was the last game of the football season. Jacob sat with his family and Tani to watch Matt in all his glory. Jacob glowered nearly the entire game, barely able to keep up with what was happening on the field.

His parents had been disappointed that Jacob didn’t make varsity, but said he’d probably been too young. Until he told them Kevin was on the team. Neither said anything, but Mom’s lips tightened, and she and Dad shared a dark expression.

During half-time, Jacob was listening to Tani and didn’t notice Kevin and Aloren coming until they sat right in front of him. He didn’t have the opportunity to escape.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said before either could say anything.

“Dude, knock it off,” Kevin said. “Stop being petty. I’m not trying to gloat—I want to tell you how mad I am that you didn’t make it too.”

“Yeah, well, that’s good and all, but . . .” Jacob paused. “What?”

“You heard me. Dad knows varsity needs you, but he says you don’t have enough experience.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m just as experienced as you are, and you know it!”

“That’s what I told him. He’s being really dumb.”

Aloren nodded, the expression on her face showing how badly she wanted Jacob to understand.

Jacob sighed in frustration. He believed them. Kevin had been a lot nicer since he and Aloren had hit it off, but that didn’t make Jacob any happier. At that moment, he’d rather be talking to the Lorkon.

“Okay, well, thanks for saying something. The game’s about to start again.” He turned back to Tani. He knew it was rude, but he didn’t care anymore. From the corner of his eye, he saw Kevin and Aloren leave.

Tani acted like she wanted to say something. Finally she blurted, “How do you feel about those two going out?”

“It doesn’t matter—they do what they want,” Jacob mumbled under his breath.

Tani blushed. “Oh, sorry—bad timing.” She turned back to watch the game.

Jacob had a hard time paying attention to the last quarter. He was glad it was the weekend—he didn’t think he could handle going to school in the morning and facing more disappointment and “I’m sorry”s.

Matt led Mountain Crest to victory. Jacob didn’t realize it until Tani pulled him to his feet, jumping up and down, screaming, “We won! We won!”

Chapter 7. Party!

S
aturday morning, Jacob’s mom burst through his door, making him jump up in bed. “Whoa, Mom. Everything okay?”

She nodded excitedly. “We're having the ball!”

“The ball?” The first thing that popped into Jacob’s mind was that she’d decided to take up baseball. “Did you want me to watch? Oh, wait. You mean as in one of those big dances.”

“Yes!” She hesitated. “Well, no. Much smaller. No carriages or big dresses. More like a party. Remember? We’re celebrating Aldo’s recovery!” She pulled his hand. “Get up! I need your help—we’re going to make this place shine.”

“It’s going to be here?”

She scowled at him. “Of course. Where else would it be?”

“Somewhere bigger? Maybe in Eklaron?”

She folded her arms. “And where in Eklaron would be big enough? Everything in Maivoryl City is off limits.”

She had a point. He knitted his brows, thinking. “The castle in Macaria?”

“Oh, Sondalane? That’s a great idea. Except we couldn’t get it ready in time for tonight.”

Jacob jumped out of bed, glad he always slept in a T-shirt and pajama pants. “It’s tonight? Why didn’t you say so? The yard’s a mess!”

“I know! I’ll get Matt up. Could you guys rake the leaves? The weather is going to be nice enough for us to BBQ and to have a couple games of football or basketball or whatever you want—so the yard needs to look good.”

He agreed to help, and she bounced out of the room. Jacob hadn’t seen her so hyper since she’d found out she was pregnant with Amberly, and that had been a really long time ago. Seven and a half years, at least.

He changed quickly, putting on warm clothes before going outside with Matt.

The brothers took turns raking the leaves into a pile, then jumping into it, scattering the leaves everywhere. Amberly joined them, and they tossed her into the pile a few times before getting serious and cleaning every leaf off the grass.