He just kept walking. I ran up to him with no plans of recanting.
“It shouldn't surprise me really after the hand cuffs situation,” he mumbled.
I waved both hands. “Okay, now it's really time to change the subject.”
He looked over at me with a sweet smirk. “Fine,” he said, and I sighed with very noticeable relief.
Somehow, because of how open he had been from the start, I hadn't imagined that Ikovos would get much bolder. He obviously could, and I wondered at this realization, with both fear and curiosity, what it would be like to have someone that wasn't hesitant to talk to you about anything.
I think, then, that a very different feeling replaced both fear and curiosity.
I looked carefully at the boy walking next to me. He was gazing ahead, content just to walk in silence . . . either that or simply bored. I winced at the latter. “Want to play a game?” I asked him.
He turned around to face me, walking backwards. “Yeah, but . . . hold that thought because we have to go through here.” He slowed then, pointing right, and I knew in a second where we were. It was the place I had first entered the woods from the Meoden portal, the place I'd first met Ikovos, and the place Cornelius had fainted.
Despite the nostalgia I couldn't help but fear the connotations of the spot, there was only one cave nearby.
“Look,” said Ikovos, who had walked past me during my perusal, “your bush.” He pointed to a small flowering shrub near a tree and I laughed at the memory.
“Okay,” I said, “we don't need to notice that.”
He grinned and started walking around a large group of high trees. With a last glance about I followed him. Once I was past the bend my prior suspicions were validated. There, amidst the trees, surrounded conspicuously by thickened forest, was the red, lightning-cracked, sphere that led to the Meoden dimension. A shudder ran up my spine. A reaction that I was glad Ikovos hadn't seen. He was occupied setting some items out on tiers of shelves near the portal. Next to this was a tall ladder that led to a high platform at the top of a tree.
Though I wanted to ask a question that would clarify where exactly this cave was, I didn't want him to think I was worried. I walked closer, sliding enough to the right that he would be somewhat between me and the portal.
“Is this where you were when you saw me and Cornelius come out?” I asked, gesturing up.
He nodded before sparing it a glance. “Yeah, that's the spot.”
I bobbed my head as he turned back to his work. “It must be a nice view.”
He grabbed one last object from the shelves and stuck it in his bag before standing up. “It is, especially on a clear night. I've actually slept up there before.”
I eyed him skeptically. It was at least fifty feet up. “Are you crazy?”
He just smirked. “Maybe you'd think me saner if I told you it was raining?”
I narrowed my eyes at him then recanted. “Okay, point taken.”
He smiled again and walked towards the portal.
I stalled. “Isn't it a little unsafe to have this portal just sitting out here? I mean it's not that well hidden.”
He rocked his head. “Well, the plan is to have someone up in the watch post monitoring it, but . . . we're running a little short on troops right now. And really, even apart from that, this section of the forest is already kept clear. The important part is that the other side is on constant guard,” he grinned, “which is what we'll be doing tonight.”
I started, my fears officially confirmed. I'm not the type of person that usually gets this easily spooked, but the nightmares. . . . I waited for another shiver to take me, but it didn't come. I studied the boy in front of me, it was hard to feel that afraid knowing that he would be there the entire time.
With that in mind I smiled. “Who's going it first, me or you?”
He grinned. “Why don't you go ahead. There's someone already on the other side, so that way you won't be left alone.”
I nodded. “Alright.” Then walked closer to the sphere.
Ikovos waited casually. I was surprised that by now he hadn't noticed I was nervous, even a normal person would have suspected. But I guess when you're used to doing something . . . he must just think of this the same as walking through a regular doorway.
I sucked in, tightening my fist, then looked back. “Just walk through, right?”
He nodded, and for a second I thought I saw some realization on his face that maybe I wasn't such an adept portal jumper. I didn't give him the chance to act on it, walking instantly into the sphere.
The trip was everything I remembered: confusing, fast, and painful. As I rubbed my head soothingly still unaware of where I was, a memory of Thoran's voice popped into my head. Something about the jump through the portal being easier once you got used to it. I scoffed at the inaccuracy as I opened my eyes.
It was odd then, to see that I was in the same type of place that Thoran had said it. In fact it was the exact same place. I blinked, then my mind caught up to the present and I realized that none of this was new information, I had walked through the portal in the woods with the intention of ending up in the Meoden cave. With a moan I leaned up on my elbows, turning my head around. It was definitely familiar, seeing the dark obsidian either reflecting or absorbing everything around it. . . .
At this point the whole order, the lodge, Ikovos, all of them, had this set place in my mind. Until now I didn't realize that I hadn't included the Meoden in it. . . . They were Meoden fighters after all, so that would have to be rectified.
In the moments before Ikovos appeared in front of me, my mind shuffled things into place. I smiled when the blue eyes turned down to me. He winced, offering me a hand. I took it.
“I remember that,” he said, pulling me upright. “Of course I was like ten, but . . .”
I hit his arm playfully, but added somewhat seriously, “Nice hangout for a kid.”
He shrugged, looking around. “I was mature for my age.”
I raised an eyebrow, but didn't let him see it, joining instead in the perusal. Simple enough. Dark cave, two exits. One of them I had come through before with Thoran and Cornelius, the other looked like it went up. For the first time I noticed a glow coming from a cove in the wall across from us. It was maybe twelve feet up. The color it reflected was too comforting to be coming from the portal.
“We're going up this way,” said Ikovos, who was now standing near the unfamiliar exit.
I walked over, staying directly behind him.
The way was dark. I inched my feet carefully. When the tunnel suddenly flashed blue I was instantly consoled. Ikovos waved his hand with the glowing smoke behind him so I could see. “Works well when you don't have a torch handy.”
I smiled as we continued around. The dark walls were much more tolerable now that they were reflecting the shimmery blue. In seconds I noticed another color joining it, warm, but not like the red from the portal. Around the next corner the tunnel opened up into a large cove. I didn't get much of a look around before I realized we weren't alone.
“Hello, Master Boron,” said Ikovos.
The man, who had been laying back, legs crossed, a hat covering his face, stirred slightly.
Ikovos dropped his pack in the corner. “I thought it was off that no one greeted us at the portal.”
The man grumbled now. “You try getting stuck with an eighteen-hour shift, in a dim cave, without any shut-eye.” He stood up as he said it, removing the hat and ending with a gaze at Ikovos, who was just staring back smugly. “Okay,” allowed the burly man, “try adding thirty years to that, then how would you fair?”
Ikovos frowned. “Good point. . . . Anyways, you'll be happy to know I'm here to relieve you. Well, me and . . .” Ikovos nodded over to me.
Though it was the first time that the older man looked my way, he didn't seem at all surprised by my presence.
“Evelyn, this is Master Boron. Master Boron, Evelyn.”
“Hello,” I said, wav
ing.
He didn't smile, but his face was assuring. “Very nice to meet you.”
I smiled, thankful when Ikovos saved me further attention.
“Anything interesting happen today?” he asked dutifully.
Boron reached for a sword leaning against the wall and slid it into his hilt. “A group of keepers moved through the west passage a few hours ago, but they seemed harmless enough. My bet is that you'll have a fairly uneventful night.”
Ikovos smiled. “My favorite.”
Boron gestured to me. “At least you'll have someone to keep you company.”
There was an awkward moment after he said this where everyone's eyes sort of locked. Me and Ikovos. Ikovos and Boron. Boron and me. When I glanced down during the latter gaze, the older man cleared his throat. “Well, I don't mean to rush out of here, but I'd like to make it back in time for dinner.”
Ikovos nodded and Boron walked past me towards the tunnel. He stopped short to give me a wave. “Again, it was nice to meet you Evelyn . . . if he gives you any trouble tonight, just let me know and I'll whip him for you.”
I was glad he disappeared into the tunnel as soon as he said it, because the look on my face was somewhere between disbelief and horror. I wasn't pulled out of my shock until I heard Ikovos yelling.
“I'm going to kill you for that, Boron.” He was leaning near the opening in the wall.
I didn't hear a response, but eventually Ikovos turned around. “Sorry,” he said, “he's known me since I was young and . . . we started playing pranks a while back.”
I smiled, too far past embarrassed to do anything else. “Well, as pranks go, that's not actually that evil.”
He laughed then, shaking his head. I was actually more excited that he was finally embarrassed than I was worried about myself. For all the uncomfortable situations we'd been in I'd had yet to see him lose his cool.
I smiled again, then looked around. The area was large, but cozy . . . warming rather. Two small fires lit the room. One in the far wall and another right in the middle of the floor. Around this sat a mix of sprawled out blankets, books, the ever-present weapons, and shelves, lined closer to the walls.
As Ikovos dug something out of his bag, I walked over to the opening he had yelled into. As I guessed it gave a perfect view of the red portal and surrounding cave below. I didn't look long, preferring the room I was in considerably.
Ikovos appeared busy, but I decided to bug him anyways, “So, how long will we stay here?”
He moved a box. “Through the night . . . someone usually comes by dawn.”
“What is it you actually do?” I asked.
“Just guard the portal really. Make sure none of the Meoden get through.” He didn't expound further, so I just nodded then dropped my pack and went to sit by the fire.
With a quiet sigh I leaned my chin onto my hand and watched the industrious boy carefully. Sometimes, based on his attitude, I would start to think of Ikovos as a fairly carefree person. I mean, he smiled a lot, he was always kidding around with me or the masters, in fact I had yet to see him get angry or even openly irritated with anybody. . . . I scrunched my nose. Then there were times like this that totally voided the whole carefree idea. Whenever things were important, usually something involving the order, he was always straight to business: no joking, not much talking, fairly solemn.
He isn’t aware of much else in these times either, which was strange because he's normally the opposite. For instance with me usually he's always checking my expressions or asking questions. When he's working he seems completely unaware I even exis—
“Something wrong?” asked Ikovos, rocking me out of my thoughts. He had stopped his work and was now looking at me curiously. “Your face is sort of . . . scrunching.”
Okay, so, maybe I was wrong about the last part. My eyes widened slightly. “Ah, no. I'm good. Just thinking.”
“What about?” he questioned.
Technically I was thinking about him, but that wasn't something I was about to share. I waved a hand. “Nothing important. I don't want to interrupt your work.”
He dropped a book onto a shelf and walked over to sit on the log across from me. “Actually I was just finished.”
I smiled and leaned up a little, but his open look still begged a question. “I don't even remember,” I lied.
He scoffed. “Come on, just tell me.”
I shrugged. “Don't remember.”
I tried to concentrate on the fire between us, but it didn't last. After a moment a grin spread across his face.
“It must have been good if you won't say it.”
I eyed him ruefully, but I was unable to keep my face from blushing. “Man, you're just on a roll today.”
He grinned wider, then dropped onto the floor using his seat to lean against. “Well we have to do something to keep ourselves entertained.”
I smiled, then leaned into my hand. “What do you normally do here when you're alone?”
He poked a small twig at the fire. “Eat, read, at some point I'll have to check the tunnels. Speaking of,” he added, hopping suddenly to his feet, “I'm hungry, and you still need a tour of our little watch-post.”
I laughed at his abrupt exuberance. “Okay, then.”
*
The next thirty minutes was a boisterous mix of him pointing out sections of the large cave, whilst attempting to cook food over the fire. He was in a very chipper mood all of the sudden. I guess he was trying to make me feel comfortable given the situation.
It worked. By the time we were leaning against the wall with our plates of food, I felt completely relaxed.
“So,” he said, breaking the laughter over his last comment, “how have you been here, really?”
I cleared my throat. “I don't know . . . it's only been an hour or two.”
He set his plate down and I warily checked his face. The dim light wasn't much to go off of, but I could easily see the skeptical gaze. Obviously my feigned misunderstanding hadn't worked.
On my tour Ikovos had informed me that the two fires were actually real, completely normal. They flickered substantially, filling the cave with shadows and twinkling reflections. A smirk crossed my face and I looked back at him. “It'd be way too cheesy to have a serious conversation in here.”
He narrowed his eyes, then looked around. After a second a grin appeared. “Okay, you are absolutely right.”
I smiled victoriously and took a bite of food.
“But be prepared when we get to a less romantic location.”
My chewing halted and my heart skipped a few beats. Then I got a hold of myself.
He meant it in the other way, Evelyn. Stop being a weirdo.
Before my face had a chance to turn red, Ikovos tapped my knee. “Hey, I got an idea. Do you want to look up your name?”
I tried to swallow my most recent bite. “My name?”
He nodded. “Yeah, Avest, right? I have a few books here. . . .”
Before I could respond he jumped up, dug into a pile in the corner, and came back with a small stack of tomes.
Once he was situated beside me I set my plate down on my right and looked back over, this I wasn't prepared for.
Resting on the bridge of his nose were the glasses from earlier. I bit my lip hard to hold back a threatening smile as he opened the book. When he glanced at me once, he did a double-take.
“What?” he asked.
I shook my head and narrowed my eyes, trying to concentrate on the book.
He looked back down, flipping through a few more pages. “It's L, Y, N, right?”
I lost it then, bursting into the laughter. I tried to cover my mouth as he looked at my face, but it wasn't helping much. “I'm sorry,” I burst out again, “it's just . . . I didn't expect you to—” more laughing. He cocked his head slightly and I pointed. “It's the glasses, they‘re—” I lost it completely as he eyed me, obviously still confused, and pulled the spectacles off to examine them. I covered my mouth again, finally m
anaging to keep my giggling to a minimum.
A slight grin crossed his face. “What's wrong with my glasses?”
I shook my head quickly. “Nothing.”
He eyed me dubiously. “It has to be something.”
I chewed my lip uncomfortably. “It's just . . . when you picture someone with glasses, you are not the type of person that comes to mind.”
He considered this, then his grin widened. “You're prejudiced against glasses?” It was more of an accusation than a question.
I shook my head again. “No!”
He nodded. “You just have preconceived ideas about people who wear them. . . .”
“I . . . oh. . . .” Maybe I do have a problem.
As I settled into the possibility he laughed, slipping the glasses back on and pointing to the page. “Okay, Evelyn. We've got . . . bird-like.”
I tried to catch up to his words. “Bird-like?”
He nodded.
“As in, like a bird?”
He nodded again.
I considered this then shook my head. “I don't see it.”
He swiveled his eyes at me, then threw out a hand. “Yeah right. What are birds?”
I pursed my lips. “Like their qualities?”
He nodded once.
“Umm . . . they sing a lot.”
He lifted one finger. “Okay, you totally do that.”
I scoffed. “What? No I don't.”
He grinned. “Oh, yes, you do.”
“Like when?”
He eyed me slightly. “All the time.”
I chuckled, hoping it was a joke, but his face remained serious.
“Name once.”
He waved a hand. “Easy. At the cabin.”
“The one near Tiver?”
“Uh-huh.”
“When?”
“When you were taking a shower.”
My eyes widened. “You could hear that? I was singing?!”
He nodded slowly, an entertained smirk growing across his face.
I shook my head. “Oh, no, did Jaden—”
He nodded again.
My head fell.
“If it helps, I’m pretty sure you only do it when you think you're alone.”
I looked back up. “That's great.”
Ember Page 20
