If Jaden hadn’t been standing so close, Kayla would’ve been skewered by the spears that shot out at them. She heard hissing but didn’t register the danger. Jaden shoved her to the ground, and she huffed as he landed on top of her, protecting her body with his own. The silence that followed was deafening.
Jaden rolled off Kayla and ran his arms up and down her body, checking for injuries.
“I’m fine,” Kayla assured him. “What about you?”
As an afterthought, Jaden looked at his own body. “I seem to be in one piece.”
Kayla saw the anger that flooded him as he turned a scarlet face toward Atu. “A little warning next time!”
Atu looked abashed. “Sorry, I didn’t know that would happen.”
Kayla put a placating hand on Jaden’s arm. “Of course you didn’t. But I think it’s safe to say we don’t want to try that again.”
Atu nodded, suddenly looking shaken. His legs crumpled, and he plopped down. “How are we going to get out of here?”
“There was a way last time and there’ll be a way this time,” Jaden grunted.
Kayla knew how much being civil to Atu right then cost him. Taking his hand, she squeezed, hoping he understood she was proud of him. She was rewarded with a tiny smile. Good enough.
“Jaden, anything on that star map that might help?” Taz offered.
Kayla had forgotten about the map. Jaden released her hand to drop his backpack and retrieve the cube. He twisted the panels to open it, and the disc fell into his waiting palm. Jaden held the disc up to the light.
“I don’t see anything.” Then his face changed as he rolled the disc between his fingers.
“What?” Kayla pressed.
“We always thought this was just a chip.” Jaden indicated the unobtrusive notch at the edge of the disc.
“Don’t I remember it,” Kayla said bitterly. The tiny cut it gave her had festered for days, until she asked Atu for healing. “What about it?”
“It looks exactly like that indentation in the grass!” Atu pointed at the lawn next to his feet. It looked like an overzealous weed whacker had chewed too far into it.
“Okay, given there’s no such thing as coincidence when it comes to this mission, what does it mean?” Jaden said.
Atu thought a moment. “What if it’s meant to show us that we should step on the stones that match the holes in the disc?”
Nobody said anything because there was nothing to say. It was the only thing that made sense.
“May I?” Atu looked at Jaden as he picked up a stone. “By my estimation, working from this chip-slash-grassy marker, the stone that’s in this row,” Atu stepped up to a row to mark it, “and the second one in should line up with a hole in the disc.”
It wasn’t only Jaden who checked his positioning. Taz even took to the air to be sure they weren’t missing something. When she called confirmation, Atu lifted his arm to throw the stone. After a moment’s hesitation, his arm dropped, and he handed the stone to Jaden.
“You know what my aim is like,” Atu muttered when Jaden raised an eyebrow.
Nodding understanding, Jaden aimed and then cast the stone. When it landed on the right circle, Kayla tensed, ready for some new danger to present itself. It didn’t.
“Alright, I think we’re onto something,” Jaden said. “Question now is, does the order in which we jump on the stones matter?”
Taz, who was still flying over them, called down, “I think you’ll find that if you start with that stone, there’s only ever going to be one other viable stone that you can reach.”
Jaden compared the disc to the stones in the circle and realized she was right. Her bird’s eye (or was that bat’s eye?) view was excellent for placing the stones, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. Jaden glanced at Han. “Just in case we’re wrong, I’ll tie that bit of rope around myself before we start. Would you mind holding the other end in case another abyss appears?”
Han gave his toothy grin. “Of course. What are friends for?”
Kayla felt her nerves stretch to their breaking point a few minutes later as Jaden leaped onto the first stone. The fact that Han hovered overhead, the rope in his talons, was small comfort. When Jaden landed without incident, Kayla wilted a little. But every jump after that was just as nerve-wracking.
Trying to keep her mind occupied, she traced the path Jaden took. Although it snaked this way and that, it was generally circular in nature, taking him ever closer to the center. She bit her lip. Would the stones hold if he had to jump back for a return trip? No, she wouldn’t think about that. One obstacle at a time.
By the time Jaden prepared to jump to the stone matching the last point on their star disc, Kayla was drenched with sweat. She wiped her hands on her smart suit, trying to dry them. This stone was one removed from the very center of the circular area. She watched Jaden leap. He landed and grinned at her.
Kayla smiled and waved. “You made it!”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” Jaden chuckled. “It was—”
The pillar that shot up from the very center of the circle scared them all. For a moment, Kayla thought Jaden would fall backward onto one of the unsafe stones, but he wheeled his arms and regained his balance. His smart suit, not to mention the rope, helped keep him in place.
With Jaden safe, they all turned their attention to the pillar. It had risen to about waist height and it sparkled in the sunshine as specks of quartz in the rock caught the sun’s eye. They all stared at the pillar, waiting for something else to happen. They weren’t disappointed. With a soft whirr, the top split into several sections. Each section peeled back like the petals on a flower, revealing two items nestled in the center: a furled piece of leather and a blindingly white piece of parchment.
Jaden stared at the pillar as if expecting something.
“What are you waiting for?” Kayla called.
“The map.” Jaden’s attention didn’t waver. “I can only see the artifact and that piece of leather. Last time, we got the cube in addition to these two.”
They waited, but after five minutes, it was apparent nothing else would materialize.
“Maybe you need to take those two to get the map?” Kayla suggested.
“It’s worth a try.” Jaden reached forward and gently removed the items.
Abruptly, mist filtered up from the ground. It was thin and wispy at first, but it rapidly grew denser until it swirled around Jaden in thick bands. The bands broadened and floated up, like ribbons being pulled into the air, dissipating as they vanished into the sky above.
“Crackerjack!” Atu whistled. “What happened to the circle?”
Kayla’s eyes flew to the ground, and she gasped. Sure enough, the circle, along with its stones and the gaping abyss, had disappeared. Jaden was left standing on another manicured lawn.
“Oh no! The map!” Jaden exclaimed.
“You mean the map’s gone now that the circle is?” Atu guessed.
“Yes. It should’ve been there with these things.” Jaden gestured at the parchment and strip of leather in his hands.
“Or perhaps there wasn’t one,” Kayla offered, thinking again of the strange patterns in the symbols. When Jaden gave her a quizzical glance, she waved an arm in the air. “There was something strange about the symbols on the wall. I feel like I’m missing something, but I just don’t know what. I can’t figure it out.”
“You will,” Jaden assured her, walking over and placing his hands on her shoulders. “If anyone can, it’s you.”
“Thanks.” Kayla smiled at him. “I just wish it would click already. It’s driving me batty.” There was a cough from Taz. “Oh, no offense.”
“None taken,” Han purred, giving Taz a pointed look.
Taz sniffed and shrugged. “I suppose.” She ruffled her wings. “Is it time to leave this heinous place now?”
“After one last thing.” Jaden handed the furled leather to Kayla.
Kayla wasn’t sure whether to slap her arm or take the leather. Her b
irthmark was burning, like she had scratched it too much. Gritting her teeth and resisting the urge to touch her arm again, she accepted the piece of leather. But as soon as she unfurled it, her arm felt like it had burst into flame. Dropping the leather, she grabbed at her arm.
Alarmed, Jaden took the hand that held her arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Just look at my birthmark. Tell me it’s not on fire.” Even as she said the words, the flames lost their impetus.
Jaden lifted her arm and inspected it. “Kayla, I don’t see anything. Do you want to take your smart suit off so Atu can look at it?”
“No, it’s better now.” Kayla looked at Jaden because it was easier than looking at the others. “I think it has something to do with that piece of leather. The same thing happened last time.”
To her relief, Jaden took her words in earnest. “Are you up for testing your theory?”
Kayla nodded. Jaden retrieved the leather strip, then held it out for her. Just having it close again made Kayla’s arm heat up. Squaring her shoulders, she flexed her fingers, then latched onto the strip. Fire flared on her arm. Ignoring the flames, she deliberately dropped the leather. The relief was instantaneous, leaving Kayla with an arm that was hot and uncomfortable, but not unbearably so.
Jaden was studying her. “Yup, it had to do with that leather strip. And no, I don’t know why.”
Thoughtfully, Jaden nodded and picked up the leather. “Just to be sure, let’s have Atu check your arm.”
Kayla removed the top half of her smart suit, revealing her t-shirt. She waited as Atu inspected her arm but wasn’t surprised when he said nothing was there except her birthmark.
After sliding back into her smart suit, Kayla beckoned to Jaden. “You’ll have to open it for me so I can tell you what it says.” Jaden nodded and spread the strip out on the lawn in front of Kayla. Her eyes ran over the glyphs. “Living with hope.”
“Super helpful, as always. Can we get more than three words next time?” Jaden yelled at the sky.
Kayla giggled. She knew that had been his intention when he turned and smiled at her. She took his hand. “I agree. Can we leave now?”
Looking back up, Jaden’s expression darkened. “Only if we’re ready to fight that lot.”
What had been a few shadows earlier was now a seething black mass threatening to obscure the sunlight at any moment.
“Just as well we have this.” Atu removed the reed Pallaton had given him, put it to his lips, and blew.
“How long should we give them to get here?” Jaden asked Han.
Han studied the ceiling. “When black blood begins flowing over that area, it’s time to go.”
Jaden nodded, then led Kayla away from the others. When they were out of earshot, he sank onto the lush grass, pulling her down next to him.
“You want some alone time now?” Kayla ventured.
“No, I want you to tell me what your birthmark means,” Jaden said.
Kayla frowned. She hadn’t told him that the mark had a translation. Maybe if she played dumb, he’d talk himself around in circles. “What do you mean?”
Jaden sighed. “Kayla, I’m not dense. I’ve seen those symbols on the wall and I’ve seen your birthmark. Then you told me that the books you learned the language from all had that symbol on the cover. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that it must have a meaning.”
It was Kayla’s turn to sigh. She hadn’t planned on telling him the translation until all this was over. Now she had no choice. “It means ‘key.’”
Jaden mulled her words. “As in, the books were a key to learning the language?”
“I guess.” Kayla shrugged.
“If that’s the case, why is that word tattooed, so to speak, on your body?” Jaden didn’t allow her gaze to slide away from his.
“That’s a question I’ve asked myself almost every day since we found the tower.” Kayla looked down.
Jaden’s fingers curled gently around her chin, and he lifted her face so that he was looking into her eyes. “This is no time for games. I need you to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”
Kayla wanted to move, wanted to get away from that intense gaze. His blue eyes bored into her, demanding the truth. When she realized he wouldn’t relent, she whispered, “That perhaps I’m a key too.” Tears of frustration spilled down her cheeks.
“A key to what?” Jaden’s thumbs wiped away the tears.
“I don’t know. You think that if I did, I’d still be worried about it?”
Noting the others turning to look at them, Jaden folded her into his arms. “Okay, it’s alright. Don’t stress. We’ll figure this out together. That’s what a team’s for, isn’t it? And look at all the great team members we have.” Jaden gestured toward the others who were drifting closer, their concern showing. “Can I share this with them?”
Kayla nodded, giving him permission but not daring to speak. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to hold it together. She had agonized over this on her own for so long that allowing anyone else in felt alien. Kayla nestled into Jaden’s arms, seeking his warmth as he explained to the others. When Iri’s supporting hand went to her shoulder and Taz’s warm breath rustled her hair, she almost lost it.
With supreme effort, she restrained the emotions. Finally, she dared peek at the others. “You’re not all mad at me for not saying anything sooner?”
“No.” Iri smiled. “We’ve all had our secrets. And I can say from my experience with all of you, this is the best place to share them.”
Kayla smiled a little. “Thanks.”
The group huddled around her, discussing possible interpretations for her birthmark, until Kayla felt comfortable enough to crawl out of Jaden’s arms and add her own thoughts. An almighty crash overhead interrupted them. A black shape slid down the ceiling. Or domed roof would be a more accurate way to describe the thing that trapped them within the Buried Forest. A moment later, another shape hit the roof and slid down.
“The cavalry’s arrived!” Jaden cheered. “Time to get out of here.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
They took to the air before any of them thought to wonder whether they would be able to escape the dome. Only when they were halfway towards the ceiling did Jaden mention this to Han. “Can we get out that way?”
Han shrugged. “As you’re so fond of saying, there’s only one way to find out.”
Jaden grimaced. “Then may I suggest that we take it slow? I would hate for us to hit that thing so hard that we do ourselves permanent damage.”
Han nodded. Apparently, they weren’t the only ones worried about breaching the ceiling. The other gliders were slowing too and approaching the dome with caution.
“Iri, can you see anything?” Jaden asked.
Iri squinted. “Nope. But we should still be careful.”
“Alright, Han and I will go first.” Securing his hold on Han’s neck, Jaden tensed as the dome neared. Ten seconds. Seven seconds. Five-four-three-two . . .
They broke through. Bedlam reigned. Gaptors fell around them. Gliders streaked past, the shapes on their backs indistinguishable blobs. There was no time to think. Jaden’s DD glowed to life, and he laid into the closest Gaptor.
Vaguely, Jaden was aware of the others popping through the dome and joining the fight. The sounds of battle filled his ears: human cries, glider twitters, Gaptor screeches. It was a blur of sound and motion. Jaden’s arm flashed up and down and around as Han twisted them through their enemies. The odious blood of slain Gaptors soon coated them.
Markov’s voice squawked over the comm, calling plays. Jaden ignored them. Those plays would be for Markov, the Legion, and those who flew with them. Jaden didn’t start calling plays of his own for their team. It would only confuse matters. Besides, it was too chaotic for him to find them. Jaden concentrated on what was in front of him. The Gaptors kept coming. And Han and Jaden kept fighting.
It felt like an eternity before the battle ended, but it was only minutes. Jade
n surveyed the scene. The dome was littered with countless bodies, friend and foe alike. He scanned the survivors, searching for Taz and Kayla. “Kayla?”
“I’m here. We’re safe. Iri? Atu?” Kayla checked.
To Jaden’s relief, they got replies from both of them. Jaden glanced to his left as a glider drew up alongside. “Markov! You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
Markov grinned. “As usual, I have to save your sorry butt.”
Jaden laughed. “If you say so.” Turning, Jaden saw the rest of his childhood friends drawing closer on their gliders. “I see Sven didn’t take long making warriors out of you.”
“They were easier to train than you were,” Sven boomed from behind Jaden.
“Do you always have to come up behind me?”
“That wouldn’t be possible if you were paying attention, no?”
Jaden could only shake his head. “I’m glad you all survived. Anyone injured?”
Bree raised her hand. “Me,” she said in a small voice.
Noticing Stovan’s glider angling closer to Bree, Jaden said, “Atu, can you work your magic?”
Atu raised an eyebrow at Jaden before speaking to Bree. “Let’s find a place we can land, and I’ll take care of those injuries.”
“Not a bad idea,” Jaden noted. “We should probably all head for a more defensible position.”
“Lead on,” Markov said.
As Han and Jaden turned to comply, Jaden noticed two gliders approaching Kayla. His eyes widened when he recognized her parents. Their exhilarated grins were like people who had just had the most incredible ride at the fairgrounds. Their enthusiastic greetings to their daughter and ensuing animated conversation about the battle just made Jaden shake his head for the second time. Who would’ve thought? They’re in their element!
Within the hour, the group descended on a small hill overlooking the surrounding countryside. The vista was peaceful. More than that, it allowed for an unobstructed view in every direction. The group took time to rest, hydrate, and eat. Together, Atu and Kayla made their way through the ranks, taking care of the wounded.
The air began to cool, and Jaden realized twilight wasn’t far off. Pulling Kayla aside, Jaden said, “It’ll be dark soon. Do you think we should try make it home or camp here?”
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