The Sphere (The Magi Series #2) (22 page)

“I don’t know,” Olivia said.  “But one thing I do know is
that we need to be on guard again, especially you.”

“I thought they only needed me to find the sphere,” Elijah
said.  “Isn’t that why they wanted the book so badly?”

“Yes,” Olivia answered.  “But the moment they find out the
sphere doesn’t work the way they want it to, where do you think they’re going
to look?”

“They’re going to come back here, aren’t they?” Elijah said.

“Most definitely,” Olivia said.  “While I am away looking
for the cubes, you must be very cautious.  You’re the only living person they
know of who has been in direct contact with the book.  If they run out of
leads, you’re a logical choice to start interrogating.  Plus they know
you
think it’s valuable.  You did risk your life to come back for it, after all.”

Elijah sighed.

“Like I said,” Olivia explained.  “They’ve started the
race.”

Elijah flattened the short hairs on his arms which had
prickled up during their conversation.  He had the urge to check behind him.

“So what now?” he asked.

“Help me finish packing,” Olivia said.  “I had hoped to leave
tomorrow morning, but as things stand, I think it’s best I leave tonight.”

Elijah looked outside.  “It’s pouring out there!  Are you
sure?”

Olivia chuckled.  “I’ll be fine with a little rain.  I’m
more worried about being spotted.  The darkness and the poor weather should be a
perfect camouflage.  Do you mind trying to explain things to Phinneas tomorrow
morning?  I’m so sorry to put you in this situation.”

“Sure,” Elijah assured her.  “What do you need me to do?”

Olivia gave Elijah different tasks and errands to do while
she darted around the house, shoving maps and supplies in saddlebags and
packs.  Elijah helped her load the horse and the instant they finished Olivia
kicked off and was out of sight, leaving Elijah with a hollow feeling.  It was
only his first week of training and already Olivia was leaving him.

The following morning, Elijah woke up to the sound of
cupboards being opened and closed and dishes being moved.  He found Phinneas
searching deep inside the cupboard against the far wall.

“Can I help you with something, Phinneas?” Elijah asked
delicately.

“Oh, hello Elijah!” Phinneas greeted.  “I’m just searching
for the cider.  Have you seen Olivia?  I think she’s misplaced it again.”

Elijah sighed and looked at Phinneas.  To look at him now,
one would never know anything was wrong.  Phinneas still looked completely
healthy and coherent.  His spirit was still there.  His eyes still flashed with
energy—at least, the one not covered by the patch.  It was as if at random
parts of the day, someone completely erased everything that happened since the
last erasing and made poor Phinneas start over.

Elijah grabbed his cloak.  “C’mon.  Let’s go to town to get
some cider.”

Phinneas lit up and spoke in a whisper.  “Okay, but let’s be
fast.  The best flavors always sell out first.”

The walk to the city center was slow.  Phinneas limped along
purposefully, but Elijah had to stop frequently to let him catch up.  Phinneas was
breathing hard and had to rely heavily on his cane.  His face reddened and a
slight sweat glistened above his brow, but he didn’t complain once.  In fact,
he looked like he was having the time of his life.

Elijah wondered if this outing was such a good idea.  He
thought a trip to the markets for cider would be comforting to Phinneas.  It
was the least Elijah could do seeing that he was responsible for looking after
Phinneas, but he also didn’t want to be responsible for pushing an old man to
the point of injury.  Elijah tried walking close to the trees to keep out of
the puddles and soggy grass, but more than once he had to catch Phinneas who
struggled to keep his footing.

During their walk, Elijah tried to explain that Olivia had
left to find the first cube.  Phinneas didn’t question her sudden departure,
but he didn’t approve either.  He nodded as Elijah told him Olivia’s plan.  He
even smiled when Elijah said he would be checking in on Phinneas every once in
a while.

“Can’t say I’m sad about that,” Phinneas said, grinning ear
to ear.

At long last, they arrived at the marketplace.  The crowds
were much smaller than Elijah was used to seeing, but then he wasn’t used to
going to the city center on a Thursday.

Phinneas was clearly on a mission.  He marched to one of the
southern-most areas of the market—an area which Elijah had never visited—and
cut through the street to a group of very small shops.  He walked toward a shop
called
Bitter/Sweet:  Teas and Ciders
and marched right inside.

The store was much more crowded than it looked from the
outside.  It was narrow, and the walls were lined with all sorts of tea and
cider, a hanging sign labeled “Bitter” on the right side and “Sweet” on the
left.  The herbs and spices were packed from the floor to the ceiling in jars,
boxes and barrels, and some were out for taste testing.  Toward the back was an
area with experimental flavors that could be tested and a comment box was
placed right next to it so testers could write down their thoughts.  There was
a small line waiting for a chance to try a new blend of mango/passion fruit
cider at the far left corner.

“Well I’ll be,” said a voice from the back of the store.  A
middle-aged man with an apron walked right up to Phinneas.  “If it isn’t
Phinneas Rose.”

The voices in the store became still.  A few people turned
around.

“It’s been a long time,” the clerk said as he gave Phinneas
a gentle hug and then shook his hand for good measure.  “What brings you here?”

“Cider!” Phinneas said loudly.  Everyone laughed.  “Have you
met my friend Elijah?”  Phinneas boasted as would a grandparent with a new set
of baby pictures.  Elijah lowered his head.

“I can’t say that I have,” the clerk answered.  “But I’ve
definitely heard all about him.  How are things at the barracks?”

“Fine,” Elijah said.

“That’s good,” the clerk responded.  “So what’ll it be,
Phinneas?”

“I’m not sure, Rob,” Phinneas said, stroking is chin.  “It’s
been a while.”

“Not to worry,” Rob said.  “I’ll show you some of the new
flavors.”

Phinneas was given the royal treatment.  The clerk made the
line of people ready to pay wait for him to usher Phinneas around the store,
picking through different flavors of cider.  Elijah felt bad for making the
other patrons wait, but none of them seemed to mind.  They watched Phinneas
patiently, every once in a while whispering to each other with curious
expressions on their faces.

After Phinneas had paid for his cider, one after another,
people greeted him exuberantly and shook his hand.  It was as if he hadn’t been
out since his return from Malpetra.

Suddenly, Elijah wondered if that was true. 
Was
this
the first time Phinneas Rose had been out since being released from the
infirmary last year?  Had Olivia been keeping him secluded on purpose?  Did
Elijah make a huge mistake by brining Phinneas out?  Before Elijah sent himself
into a huge panic, he reminded himself that Olivia would have surely said
something to him if she didn’t want Phinneas to leave.  Or was his stay at the
house a given?  Did she just assume Elijah wouldn’t even think of taking him
anywhere?  If so, Elijah indeed made a huge mistake just hours after being
given this responsibility.

After Phinneas had gotten enough cider to satisfy his
craving, he and Elijah left and took the slow journey back to the house.  Phinneas
went straight to work, meticulously placing the cider into small containers and
arranging them about the kitchen.  He hummed and even spoke to himself out loud
as he organized his treasures.

Phinneas made Elijah a cup and brought it to him in the
living room.  Then, for the rest of the afternoon, he kept pretty much to
himself.  He seemed comfortable.  At peace.  Elijah wondered if his time in the
Malpetran prison made him more inclined to be isolated or if he was naturally
happy to be alone.  He had heard of prison time doing some funny things to
people.  He remembered reading about some prisoners of war who, after being
released years and years later, were so used to life alone, some in horrible
conditions, that they refused to sleep in regular beds, and some even had
trouble eating a nutritious meal.  It was a wonder, really, that Phinneas
looked as strong as he did.

Once Phinneas was settled for the night and prepared for the
coming week, Elijah left for the barracks.  He arrived well after dark, which
was much later than he originally intended.  He stopped by front office by the
door to check in.  The clerk, a very round boy with curly hair and blotchy
skin, handed him an envelope with the words “Employment Assignment” written on
it.

Elijah tore open the envelope as he walked back toward his
room.  Inside was a very short letter.

“Dear Elijah,

Thank you for your application for employment at
the Savenridge Barracks.  We feel that based on your application, you would be
best suited for a position at the library.  Please report to Master Graham on
Saturday afternoon for your specific assignments and duties.”

Elijah was thrilled.  Working with books for hours suited
him just fine.  He was just about ready to head to his room when Paul caught
him, looking very anxious.

“Where were you today?” Paul asked.

“I went to the market with Phinneas,” Elijah answered.  It
wasn’t until he saw the confused look on Paul’s face that Elijah realized he
hadn’t come up with any kind of cover for being gone.  He assumed Olivia had
cleared his absence with the teachers, so he never thought anything of it.  But
Elijah completely forgot about the interrogation that was certain to come from
his friends.

Paul looked around.  “You’re gonna get busted for ditching!”

Elijah figured he was in deep enough already to try to make
up an elaborate story, so he decided the truth would be the best.

“My lesson with Olivia ran long yesterday, so I had to stay
the night.”

“Then why did you go to the market?  And why with Phinneas? 
I thought you were with Olivia.”

“I just had to.  Let it go, will ya?”  Elijah began to feel
defensive and wanted nothing more than to go upstairs and rest.

“I’m telling you,” he said sharply as they walked toward the
Preliminary Hall. “I’ve done my fair share of trying to get out of training. 
Button may seem like a loon, but he’ll eat you alive if you tell him what you
just told me.”

“Just drop it, Paul.”

“Is there something going on?” Paul asked, his voice rising. 
“’Cause you’ve been a little put off lately.  I can see it.  You’ve been
walking around all tense-looking since you got here.”

Elijah stayed silent.  It would be so much easier to just
tell Paul now instead of harboring a secret as big as the potential all-out war
between the Magi and Maliphists.  The reality of his predicament became very
clear to him right then.  His friends would soon learn that something
was
going on.  They would ask him questions, and he would have to ignore them. 
They would wonder why he was always leaving, and he would have to lie to them. 
Soon they would give up and ignore him, and he would have to isolate himself. 
And the worst part about it was he couldn’t see the end of it all.  He may have
to keep it up for months.  Years.  Maybe forever.

He looked back at Paul and sighed.  “I’m sorry,” Elijah
managed.  “I wish I could tell you but I can’t.”

“C’mon, Elijah.  What’s going on?”

“DROP IT!”

Paul stared at Elijah for a moment and then nodded slowly. 
“Okay.  Sure.  If that’s how it’s going to be, then that’s how it’s going to
be.”

Elijah furrowed his brow.  “What do you mean ‘if that’s how
it’s going to be’?”  He did his best to mock Paul.

“I mean so be it.”  Paul crossed his arms and made a passive
smirk that irritated Elijah.  “All I wanted to do was make sure you weren’t
going to get into trouble, but apparently you have it all figured out.  Elijah,
the great and powerful!  I’m sure a lowly servant like me couldn’t possibly
understand.”

Elijah now burned with anger.  “Hold on!” he said, his voice
rising.  “You don’t need to be stupid about this!  I told you I can’t tell you!” 
A roll of thunder outside indicated that the lazy rain had turned into a
storm.  The preliminary students raced into their rooms to look out their
windows, leaving Elijah and Paul alone in the hall.

“And I told you so be it,” Paul retorted.  “Look, I don’t
care.  Seriously.  Keep your secret, whatever it is.  You’re obviously very
important around here.  I wouldn’t want to bring down your status.”

Elijah shook his head.  Paul was infuriating!  He wished
Paul could understand how much he
wanted
to tell him.  Then again, maybe
he
was
too dumb to understand.

“I can’t believe this,” Elijah growled.  “This is such a
stupid thing to be upset about.  Can’t we just drop it and forget about it?”

“Consider it forgotten.”  Paul turned and walked away stiffly,
leaving Elijah alone in the Preliminary Hall.  The sound of the walkway door
slamming behind Paul echoed as loud as the continued thunder outside.  Some of
the Preliminaries poked their heads out of their rooms.  Apparently, Elijah’s
isolation would be starting sooner than he thought.

Elijah finished his narrative just before Master Constantine
walked into the classroom.  Hannah was alone, sitting by the far wall just like
the last session.  She waved Elijah over to the seat next to her.  Paul and
Isaac soon walked in.  Hannah also waved them over, but Paul made a deliberate
right turn and sat clear across the room.  Isaac followed.  Hannah slowly put
down her hand, looking very puzzled and concerned.