Jacob had no idea just how much trouble he was in until he arrived at the village the next day for his fighting lessons with Sweet Pea. Kenji waited near the tree.
“Brojan canceled your lessons and called a meeting. Go get the Fat Lady and Gallus. We’ll meet at Brojan’s place.” Kenji put his hand on Jacob’s arm. “He’s pretty upset. Things will be all right, though, if you cooperate.”
Twenty-pound butterflies hit Jacob in the stomach. He wished now more than ever that he had listened to his initial feelings. He picked up the others, then took them to Brojan’s house, where he sat at his usual spot at the table. Sinking low in his chair, he was aware of the stares of those in the room. Now would be the perfect time to disappear.
Brojan began the meeting by giving a rundown of what Jacob and Matt had done the night before. He turned to Jacob. “We must deal with your impatience. We have no idea if you and Matt ruined things, but we will be acting as if you did.” He paused. “Do you understand why we asked you to wait until the Fat Lady finished the potion?”
Jacob nodded, finding his mouth too dry to speak.
“And did you understand when we told you it would take time, and that you had to be patient?”
Jacob again nodded, not meeting the patriarch’s eyes. He knew last night really wasn’t his idea, but had no desire to rat on his brother. He should’ve chosen not to go through with the plan, regardless of how badly he wanted to get Aloren out of the city.
Brojan stared at Jacob until Jacob looked up. Instead of the bright red of anger he expected to see, there was only a light orange—concern. Tenderness was on the patriarch’s face as well. He remembered learning from Akeno that Makalos weren’t accustomed to negative emotions. This made Jacob feel even worse.
“Please understand me when I say we empathize with your situation,” Brojan said. “We want to help, Jacob, else we would not be willing to work with you. The Fat Lady wouldn’t be making more potions—instead, she’d be concentrating on getting Aldo out of his current predicament.” He paused. “We will do everything in our power to get Aloren out of that city. But, Jacob, you cannot do it alone. Whatever the Ember Gods may be, they are obviously dangerous.”
Brojan rested his head against the back of his chair and stared at the ceiling for several moments. Then he motioned to Ebony. “Please give us a report on the people brought out of the everlasting potion.”
Ebony nodded. “Those who have spoken are from Ridgewood, Macaria, and other neighboring cities. One is even from Fornchall.” She turned to Kenji and Brojan. “I assume you want to interview her as soon as possible.”
“Yes, of course,” Kenji said.
Ebony continued. “None of the people so far are from Maivoryl City.”
Jacob ran a hand through his hair. He felt timid bringing anything up, especially when he was in such big trouble, but he felt his point was worth making. “We’re pulling them from the part of the scented air closest to Ridgewood. It would make sense that none of them are from Maivoryl. They’ll be on the other side.”
“Yes, we’ve considered this,” Brojan said.
“Nothing we can do,” the Fat Lady said. “Not until my potions are complete. Unless, of course, you plan to drag people two miles before getting them to Sweet Pea.”
Jacob shook his head. They wouldn’t be doing that any time soon. He sighed in frustration, still irritated. “It seems a waste of time to pull these people out when we could be working on something or someone else.”
“It’s not a waste,” Kenji said. “Every life is worth saving. They’ll be a blessing to us, you’ll see. And these are actual people we’re pulling out, not just empty bodies. When they come around, they’ll be as grateful to be alive as those who’ve exited Maivoryl City.”
“Now, then,” Brojan said, turning to the Fat Lady. “How much longer until the potion is ready? And how many doses will it make?”
“Another week, no more. And probably five doses.” She suddenly squealed, the color around her face rapidly changing to a very bright green—excitement. She bounced up and down in her chair. “And I almost forgot! I’ve found a way to permanently fix Lorkon wounds!”
Everyone around the table sat up straighter in their chairs and became animated. If she had found a cure, that would be really incredible! Akeno wouldn’t have a limp for the rest of his life, and Kenji’s shoulder wouldn’t bother him anymore!
Kenji cleared his throat. It looked to Jacob like he was trying not to get too eager about the possibilities. “What have you found?”
“An old recipe I used several years ago on a person who’d sustained Lorkon injuries after you’d sealed off the entrance. It’s one I’d lost and didn’t want to mention unless I found it again. It’s the Muteki Potion—the one I used on your shoulder injury, Kenji—times four. I made up some more this morning, and brought it with me.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a purple vial. “Either you or Akeno can try it.”
“How does one try it?” Kenji asked.
“That’s the tricky part.” She put the vial in the center of the table. “I’d need Ebony’s help. And anyone else experienced with medical things. We’d have to cut to the center of the wound and pour the potion in directly. Some by mouth, as well.” She turned to Jacob. “Also, your world has needles that will actually put liquid in a person’s blood.”
“You mean, a syringe?” Jacob asked.
She nodded eagerly. “Yes. I’ll need a few of those.” She addressed the entire group again. “The majority of the potion works directly at the site of the wound, but a little needs to be swallowed and a few drops have to be put into the bloodstream to cleanse the entire body.”
“What are the possible side effects?” Kenji asked.
The Fat Lady squirmed before answering. “Intense pain. For several hours.” She hesitated. Obviously, she had more to say and wasn’t comfortable saying it. “Also, the person can’t be on any medications and has to be fully awake during the entire process—including the healing. For some reason, sleep negates the effects, and medicines dim the potion.”
Kenji’s eyebrows were about to the ceiling by then.
Jacob was really glad he hadn’t been negatively affected by the Lorkon touch—aside from the awakening of his abilities. He didn’t think the pain was worth the healing.
Ebony shook her head. “No—we won’t do it. Several hours of intense pain? Without a numbing agent?”
Kenji sighed. “Ebony’s right. My shoulder hurts, and I can’t use it much, but other than that, I’m fine. It’s manageable.”
The Fat Lady looked crushed, and Jacob felt bad for her. She’d been so excited.
“I’ll do it,” Akeno said quietly.
Every head turned to him.
“It’s worth it to me.” The colors surrounding his face were many—deep yellow, a bit of dark blue, even some light green. His emotions were conflicted. “In my current condition, I’ll have a really bad limp for the rest of my life. It’ll prevent me from doing anything. I don’t want to live that way. I want to be normal again.”
“Son, are you sure?” Ebony asked.
Akeno nodded.
Everyone looked back to the Fat Lady, who had a hard time keeping a grin from spreading across her face. “Excellent,” she said. “I’m ready whenever you are. Oh, but I do need those syringes.” She looked at Jacob. “Can you get some for me?”
“Sure,” Jacob said, though he had no idea where to find any. “I’ll ask my mom and dad.”
“Wonderful!” she said. “We’ll be ready to go as soon as you come back.”
Brojan nodded at Jacob. “Find some and return here in two hours. We’ll talk then about your privileges with the Key. Go.”
The finality in the patriarch’s voice left no doubt in Jacob’s mind. He jumped to his feet, not sure how he was supposed to locate syringes in only a couple of hours.
Jacob Keyed home, deciding to ask his mom first. He felt a little timid approaching her about the
Makalos’ request, and she was very hesitant at first, but then even offered to ask Ida Mae, their neighbor who was diabetic, if they could buy some of hers.
Ida Mae agreed. Apparently she had a whole box of them—they came in packages of ten, and her insurance paid for a large portion. Jacob’s mom didn’t tell her what they’d be used for, which came as a relief to Jacob. He still hadn’t even told his best friends about Eklaron, and wasn’t sure he would. He felt different enough as it was.
Jacob got Matt to drive him to pick up the syringes, rather than using the Key. On Earth, just walking through another person’s front door was inappropriate—so was showing up without transportation of some sort.
Ida Mae answered the door, a smile on her face. She was an elderly British woman with plenty of zest and energy left over from years of raising ten children. She reached for the brothers and pulled them in for a tight hug, her old-lady perfume burning Jacob’s nose.
The box of syringes waited on the counter in the kitchen and she pulled several out, put them in a bag, and gave them to Matt.
“Would you like some gum while you’re here?” she asked in her strong English accent.
Jacob smiled—she’d been known as “the gum lady” for as long as he could remember, always giving out gum and candy to the neighbor kids.
“You bet!” Matt said.
Ida Mae laughed and brought down the gumball machine from the top of the fridge. She put a penny in, held the lever down, and Matt put his hand under the spout, eagerly watching as several multi-colored balls fell out.
Jacob took some as well—he’d never been a gum-chewer, but Ida Mae was so happy about giving it away that he always accepted when she offered.
“Give my regards to your mum,” she said as Jacob and Matt left her house.
Once home, they passed Ida Mae’s message on to their mom, then Jacob made sure Hazel was safe in his room—the operation might upset her. Then he and Matt Keyed back to Kenji’s place.
“Wow,” Ebony said, jumping when they entered the room. “That was much faster than we’d thought it would be.”
Jacob nodded. “Our neighbor has tons of syringes. She’s diabetic.”
“All right, the Fat Lady and I will be working on Akeno. You’re welcome to stay to help.”
Jacob hesitated—he didn’t want to see Akeno in any more pain, but he felt it was partially his fault the Makalo had ended up this way. “I’m staying.”
Kilenya Series Books 1, 2, and 3 Page 87
