by Narro, B. T.
“No. They were given to me.” He was unsure why he was having such difficulty telling them it could be the cure to his darkness. But when he thought of their reaction, the reason came to him. They would explode with excitement, and he was in no mood for it. Sannil and Kalli didn’t know what he’d been through. They didn’t know what was still to come.
“Who gave them to you?” Kalli asked.
“A friend you don’t know.”
“Are you really going to just hand me these seeds and wait for me to ask every question? What will grow? How much water do they need? How big will they get? Come on, Jek.”
“Don’t plant all of them at once, just a few in a pot by the window. Water enough to keep the soil moist.” Jek stopped to make sure Sannil was paying attention.
His father looked back with curiosity. “Is there something special about the seeds?”
“Once the plant starts growing, it needs Sartious Energy. I’m not sure exactly how much, but my friend said he doesn’t think it can have too much SE. So if I’m not around when it sprouts, you’ll need to give it lots of SE.”
His family looked at him skeptically. “I’ve never heard of a plant that needs SE,” Sannil said. “What’s it called?”
“Evesal. It only grows in Ovira, so take good care of it.” Jek held out his hand. “I’ll hold the extra seeds.”
Confused, Kalli handed the pouch back to him. Both she and Sannil seemed to be waiting for Jek to say something.
“Thank you,” he said. “I need to speak with Lisanda and her family.”
“Make sure you’re all back before dark,” Sannil said. “It’s going to be difficult to figure out where everyone’s sleeping now that you’re here.”
On Jek’s way to the Dancing Mug, he tried to figure out why he was angry. If he was nervous, he would’ve understood why. But he was downright mad as he thought of the Takary women singing and dancing.
That was just it. They were singing and dancing while he’d been starving and fighting. This war affected them even more than it did him, so how could they be enjoying themselves?
As he neared the tavern, he could hear Lisanda’s voice. Men and women filled the grand room to capacity. Jek squeezed through to get to the front.
Jessend joined Lisanda in song. Both had deep voices for young women, especially for their small stature. A man on a six-stringed lute accompanied them as they crooned through the chorus of Wobble Neck Nick, a terribly annoying song of puns and tongue-knots with absolutely no substance. It was what Jek thought of as a bragging song, learned for no other purpose but to earn cheap applause.
Of course, everyone in the Dancing Mug was swaying along with the princesses and laughing with delight. When Lisanda and Jessend got through the chorus flawlessly, the audience whistled and then quickly quieted to hear the next part.
Lisanda’s white teeth were practically glowing with her smile. She found Jek with her gaze and waved him toward the stage as she sang.
He was already as close as he could get without stepping up there. Is that what she wants?
Lisanda kept waving. Others near Jek started shoving him so he bumped against the stage.
“Go!”
“The Princess is inviting you on stage!”
“You’re lucky!”
Lisanda waved at him more urgently.
The men near him were confused about why he was resisting. He wondered how it was possible that no one seemed to know the world might end soon. He thrashed against the people pushing him until enough space was cleared. Then he turned around and pushed, squeezing through the crowd, shouldering everyone out of his way so he could leave.
Even out the door, he didn’t stop walking away. He didn’t know where he was going, but he couldn’t stand being there any longer. He was furious.
He heard someone run up behind him. He didn’t turn to look.
“Jek!” It was Lisanda. “Jek, stop.”
He spun around. “How can you be singing and dancing at a time like this? Don’t you know what’s going on?”
The extravagance of her dress made him even angrier. Although it was beautiful, he couldn’t appreciate it. All he could think about was that it was new and expensive.
She looked puzzled as she took her final steps toward him. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you mourn for your father?” Jek asked rhetorically, maliciously.
Her hands flew to her hips. “I’m sorry that I’m not curled up on a bed crying every hour of the day!” she yelled. Behind her, Jek could see people staring. “I thought you would want me to be happy if I could. It’s not easy, Jek, because I do know what’s going on. I can’t forget even when I want to…even when I’m singing in front of all those people. In the background, I don’t hear music. I hear nothing but my own miserable thoughts and worries. My father, this war, you—”
“Then you practically force me to get up there and sing with you after everything I’ve been through,” Jek interrupted. He wasn’t about to let her use missing him as an excuse. He’d seen her face. She’d been perfectly content.
“How am I supposed to know what you’ve been through? You’re clean and look well-fed. You’ve always liked singing. If it seemed like I was forcing you, that’s only because I thought you would thank me after a little encouragement.”
“You’re completely wrong. And look at what you’re wearing! You’re wasting money on new clothes even now, at a time like this.”
“I wanted to look nice for you!” she screamed.
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” he screamed back. “No matter what you wear, you’re always the most beautiful woman”—his tone softened—“I’ve ever seen.”
They both let out a breath.
“I’m sorry,” Jek said.
She launched herself at him and squeezed so tightly it would’ve hurt if he could’ve felt pain in that moment. “I missed you so much,” she said.
“And I’m glad you’ve been able to enjoy yourself, at least some. These next months are going to be especially rough for both of us.”
“Months?” she squeaked.
“Yes, and we don’t have much time. Can you help me retrieve your mother and sister from the tavern? There’s a lot we need to discuss.”
Chapter 39:
JEK
They squeezed their chairs around a new table Vala had bought for Sannil’s kitchen. It was made of thick wood painted black, sturdy enough to stop any fireball Jek could’ve cast. It was a waste of money and wood, and it wasn’t the only new furniture. Wherever Jek looked, he found something he didn’t recognize.
“Thank you,” Lisanda said when Kalli served their food.
“Thank you,” everyone else repeated.
“You’re welcome,” Kalli said.
In the silence that followed, Jek could tell that they were waiting for him to speak.
“What do you know about Lake Mercy?” he asked Vala.
“I know from a messenger that Raymess went there as Micah predicted. Besides that, I know little to nothing.” She didn’t need to plead for Jek to tell her Raymess was still alive, as her eyes did so on their own.
“He's fine. But there are some matters we need to discuss.”
“Please, Jek,” Sannil said, “wait until after dinner.”
“It can’t wait. We need their help.”
“Whatever Raymess needs from us, we can do.” Vala had the same expression as Lisanda when she was worried. Her eyebrows arched while her already large eyes nearly doubled in size.
Jek refrained from telling them right away about joining the Elves. He followed Fatholl’s advice instead. “At the fort, there wasn’t enough food for everyone. The enemy siege was working. Unless we found a way to get food, we were going to have to give up. But a small army of mostly psychic Elves came. They brought us food—lots of it.”
He noticed the women setting down their forks. “Was it a trap?” Jessend asked.
“It wasn’t.”
>
“But they were Fatholl’s Elves, were they not?” Jessend seemed ready to argue that it must’ve been a trap.
“They were. But they came to help.”
“Are you certain?” Jessend asked.
“Yes. Cleve was with them.”
Jessend stood. “Cleve Polken?” She looked ready to run all the way to Lake Mercy.
“Sit down, Jessend,” her mother said.
She eased into her chair like a cat lowering to pounce.
“Yes, Cleve Polken,” Jek said. “Because of him, I was able to trust that the Elves were there to help. If he hadn’t been there, we might’ve fought each other. But it was good we didn’t.” He could feel his narrative working. Their skepticism was changing to confusion.
“Why would Fatholl help?” Vala asked.
“He needed to make sure Goldram and Zav didn’t lose the fort at Lake Mercy. Doing so would mean we were likely to lose the war. When our enemies realized we had food, their strategy changed to attacking us instead of starving us. There was a battle.”
Lisanda and Vala gasped. Jessend leaned forward and asked, “Who won?”
“We did. The psychics helped ensure we suffered very few casualties on our side. But the Elves surprised us at the end of the battle. They—”
“They attacked you!” Jessend interrupted.
“No. But they did help our enemies escape. Some of our men didn’t want them to get away, and the Elves—and even Cleve—blocked our men from getting to them. Fatholl wanted our enemies to live.” Jek held out his hands to ease the panic he could see on the women’s faces. Even Kalli, with one lifted eyebrow, had stopped eating to listen as closely as possible. “I was angry and confused at first as well. Another battle almost broke out, this time between Fatholl’s troops and us.”
“Why would Cleve side with them?” Jessend asked.
“Because—this is going to be hard to hear—our only choice now is to work together with Fatholl. Cleve found this out when he came back from Ovira to help us. Fatholl has been accumulating a massive army, but he doesn’t mean to use it for anything but killing the desmarls. That’s his sole desire.” Jek slowed his speech, giving everyone a chance to catch up to what he was saying. “The desmarls are coming from both the north and south. All of them will be within Zav, Waywen, Presoren, and even Chanren soon. And if they’re not stopped, they’ll come through to Goldram.”
“That makes no sense,” Kalli said. “Why would they suddenly rush toward the center of the continent?”
“Because Fatholl sent Elves through the desmarls to the northern and southern ends of Greenedge. They have an odorous substance that the desmarls don’t like. For months, these Elves have been driving the desmarls toward us.”
“But why?” Kalli asked.
“It’s part of Fatholl’s plan to ensure we all fight against them. He’s forcing the desmarls onto our land while he has control. He’s expecting every army to come together and kill all the monsters.”
“It must be a trap,” Vala said. “He means to kill everyone but his own troops.”
“It’s not a trap. I’ve spoken with Fatholl. He’s not lying.”
“You’ve spoken with him?” everyone but Sannil screamed at once.
“Earlier today.”
“He lied to you, Jek!” Jessend looked like she was ready to slap him. “He used psyche.”
“There are others I trust who’ve spoken with him as well, psychics. They can tell if he lies. Cleve brought Reela with him. Do you remember her name?”
“Yes,” Jessend said with a bit of a pout.
“She’s an extremely powerful psychic. Reela’s brother came, too, and he’s even stronger in psyche than she is. They spoke with Fatholl and confirmed everything he said was true. The desmarls are coming, but he only means to kill them, not people. Fatholl’s going to give back the palace to Raymess. He…took control from the kings because it was the only way he could gain the power he needed for his plan to work. I don’t agree with his methods,” Jek quickly added, “but we don’t have a choice anymore. We have to fight with him against the desmarls. Think of the alternative. He’ll let the desmarls into our borders unopposed. That’s not an option.”
He waited, gauging their expressions. They glanced at each other, both Takary sisters eyeing their mother, while Sannil and Kalli looked to one another. Jek quickly filled his mouth with food that was becoming cold.
“What happened after Fatholl’s Elves allowed Waywen and Presoren’s men to escape?” Vala asked. “Did they explain everything you just said?”
“They tried. But many of our men didn’t want to believe them, Raymess being one of them. He sent the Elves away before they could finish explaining all that I just told you. He claimed he would never fight with Fatholl. I…went against him in front of people. I said he needed to give the Elves more of a chance. He called me a traitor and didn’t allow me back in the bunker, even to get my bag. He said he would have me killed if I tried to enter.”
Although there was some pain in the memory, more than that, there was anger that Jek hid as best he could. He kept his voice soft yet passionate, pleading for their sympathy like a sad child begging for food. When his eyes became wet with unshed tears, he encouraged himself to cry.
“Cleve had brought me something from Ovira…seeds that grow into a plant called evesal. Once it sprouts, it feeds on Sartious Energy. Instead of sunlight, it needs just water and SE to grow. But the pouch with these seeds was in my bag in the bunker. Raymess wouldn’t let me get it as much as I pleaded.”
Lisanda seemed to be the only one who understood. She stood and cupped her hand over her mouth. Jek had been unsuccessful in crying until he saw Lisanda’s tears streaming down her cheeks. She leaned over him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she wept.
“What am I missing?” Jessend asked.
“It’s the cure to his darkness,” Lisanda turned and told her. “Cleve brought it to him, and Raymess wouldn’t let him get it.”
“I tried to reason with him,” Jek said, now wiping away tears with some embarrassment. “I asked him if someone could bring it to me. But he refused. He was so angry that I’d spoken against him, he couldn’t think logically.” Jek took a breath. “So I snuck in. It was worth the risk of death.” He took the pouch from his pocket.
Lisanda squealed. “Thank the stars.” She kissed his cheek and squeezed his shoulders.
“But I encountered Raymess on the way out. He shouted for his men to stop me. I’m sure he meant to kill me. I shot a fireball at him to quiet him. I wasn’t going to hit him,” Jek lied. “Though, he probably thinks I was aiming at him. Then I ran and barely made it out with a friend’s help. He came with me, along with some others. I’m sure more would’ve joined the Elves if Raymess had given them a chance to finish what they were saying.”
“This is dreadful.” Vala stared at her full plate, rubbing her forehead with two fingers. Perhaps Sannil was right that Jek should’ve waited until after they ate.
Jessend gasped. “I’m just remembering you started this by asking us for help. Do you mean for us to speak to Raymess on Fatholl’s behalf?”
“Yes,” Jek said.
“Jek,” Sannil scolded, “you can’t possibly expect them to do that.”
Why not? Jek thought of what else he could say, but Vala spoke before he could come up with anything.
“I can’t tell Raymess to align with his father’s murderer.”
He felt anger replacing his sadness. Just a moment ago, he was certain they would agree with him. He glanced at Lisanda. “What do you think about this?”
“My mother’s right. We can’t tell Raymess to join Fatholl. It would be a betrayal. But…” She looked at her family. “I hear what you’re saying, Jek. It sounds like Raymess must join his army with Fatholl’s. Is that what the other leaders are doing?”
“Yes. Fatholl strongly believes it will be easy to convince the others. His followers, including Cleve and Reela, are on
their way to speak with the other leaders right now. Raymess will be the only one—of even the kings in Chanren—who still chooses to fight against Fatholl.”
“If they have everyone else, they don’t need Goldram’s army,” Vala said.
“Goldram’s army, besides Fatholl’s now, is the strongest in Greenedge. If they don’t join, Fatholl won’t fight the desmarls. He knows that unless every army comes together, no one will want to leave their territory exposed. This is the only way. Do any of you see any other options?”
“I don’t,” Vala said, “but having me or my daughters go against Raymess isn’t an option, either. Fatholl will have to convince Raymess himself.”
“Fatholl has the same chances of reasoning with Raymess as a rat convincing a cat to leave it alone,” Jek argued. “If you leave it up to him, there will be another battle before we fight the desmarls…and Raymess will lose.”
“Jek,” Sannil urged, “let them think about it. Please, everyone, finish eating.”
They fell quiet as they grabbed their forks and began to eat. But Kalli didn’t listen to Sannil. She stood and took a pot filled with soil from the window. “So in here is your cure?”
“Yes.”
“How long will it take to grow?” Kalli asked.
“I’m not sure. Father, you’ll give it SE as often as you can?”
“We’ll take good care of it.”
Lisanda touched Jek’s knee beneath the table. “Does Cleve have more seeds if these don’t grow?”
Jek shook his head. “He gave me all that he had. If none of these seeds work, the only place I’ll find more is in Ovira.”
“If you ever must go there, I’ll go with you.”
“Maybe we’ll all have to depending what happens with these desmarls,” Jessend complained.
Chapter 40:
JEK
One by one, the Takary women pushed their plates forward and leaned back against their chairs. Jek helped his family clear the table. Vala, Jessend, and Lisanda left the kitchen to speak among themselves.
