by Laurie McKay
“Good,” Jane said. “My mom’s gone because of her. And now Tito’s hurt.”
At the mention of Tito, Caden felt his smile fall. His friend and foster brother was injured. They needed to get to the hospital to see him.
Officer Levine used the car to pull himself to his feet. He looked from Caden to the sky and shook his head. “Well,” he said. “That was interesting.”
“No,” Caden said. “That was an Elderdragon.”
They spent the afternoon at the hospital. That night, Rosa stayed there with Tito while Officer Levine stayed with Jane, Brynne, and Caden at the house. They sat around the kitchen table and ate French fries. Officer Levine listened somewhat less skeptically to Caden’s tales from the Greater Realm.
“You can tell Rosa I’m telling the truth,” Caden said.
“I could,” Officer Levine said.
“You’ve now seen an Elderdragon.”
The policeman was being difficult.
“She’ll believe you,” Jane said.
Brynne swiped three of Caden’s fries.
Officer Levine leaned back in his chair. “Maybe,” he said. “But there are some things you have to see to believe. We may need to ease her into it.” He chuckled. “I may need to ease myself into it.”
Caden sighed. The kitchen and house seemed strange without Rosa and Tito. “Then she’ll still think I’m crazy. She’ll try to send me away. Who knows what Ms. Primrose will do to me then?”
“That,” Officer Levine said, and picked up a fry, “I can talk to Rosa about. Son, she’s not going to send you away. Not with all this going on. And you were right about the building falling.”
Wednesday afternoon Tito was released from the hospital, and he and Rosa came home. Officer Levine still didn’t leave. Well, he left to work, but found reasons to stop by and see them. So far he’d brought them doughnuts for breakfast. Then more doughnuts and pigs in blankets for lunch. While the pigs in blankets weren’t woolly like Caden expected, he still refused to eat them.
Officer Levine also brought Tito a framed grade award. “When I went by the school, I picked this up for you,” he said before he and Rosa went out to the porch to talk in private.
Tito was thrilled. He sprawled on the living room’s green couch with his twisted leg elevated, a doughnut in his hand, and his grade award leaning against his side. Sugary crumbs looked like sand on his black T-shirt. “The doc said that two of my injuries would’ve been fatal if shifted a centimeter either way.” He seemed proud of this troubling information, and he’d been in a good mood since seeing the framed award. “The doc wasn’t sure why the knock to the head didn’t damage my brain. But, hey, it didn’t.”
“Better you not be injured at all,” Caden said.
Caden sat on the floor, which he didn’t like, and beside Brynne, which was not bad. Officer Levine walked past the front window. Caden couldn’t hear what he or Rosa was saying, but they were speaking in low, serious tones. No doubt discussing Tito’s injuries or reconsidering Caden’s imminent—and eminent—nuthouse trip.
Jane sat on the coffee table. She smiled at Tito. “I’m just glad you’re all right.”
“Of course he’s all right,” Brynne said. She reached up and pulled Tito’s necklace out from his shirt. “He wears the enchanted necklace . . . oh.”
Caden leaned over to look. The usually shimmering necklace was dull against Brynne’s fingers. The black stone was cracked. The interwoven wires had no luster. The doughnut looked more magical.
“I thought enchantments were forever,” Caden said.
Jane, too, looked confused. “My enchantment is gone?”
Brynne creased her brow and pushed her short hair behind her ear. She’d magicked herself so the new length looked planned and stylish. “Perhaps the only way to break an enchanted item is to drop a building on it?”
Jane reached for the necklace. “I didn’t think it would wear out. I wonder why?”
Brynne bit her lip. “There have never been many enchanters. Not all of their enchantments worked the same way. Some could only enchant fabric. Some only metals, like you. And we’ve been experimenting with controlling it. Maybe these things have affected the enchantments?” She shrugged. “We’ll have to experiment more.”
Jane nodded. “And we’ll experiment with mixing our magic.”
Brynne’s face lit up. “We will, indeed.”
Soon Caden would probably have a cursed Enchanted Fork of Eating. He turned to Jane. “What matters is the necklace you made likely saved Tito’s life.” He looked up at Tito. “But it’s useless now.” To make sure Tito understood, he added, “Don’t rely on it for protection.”
“I don’t wear it because it’s enchanted,” Tito said. “I wear it because Jane gave it to me.”
Jane smiled. “But I gave it to you to protect you.”
After that, they seemed content to smile and stare at each other across the gap from coffee table to couch. Brynne made a disgusted face.
The school was closed Wednesday. Caden’s curse faded along with the moon. His will became his own again. Thursday it was announced the building would open again on Friday. The seriousness of the collapse seemed to diminish from people’s minds with an almost magical speed.
Tito spent Thursday sleeping. As did Brynne. She remained weakened from all her magical moving of large rafters. Caden practiced fighting styles three, four, and six with Jane. He grew more restless with each strike. Where was Jasan? Officer Levine had promised he’d check on him, but he’d yet to do so. Ward had texted that he’d seen lights in the yellow town house, but not his brother. Sir Horace hadn’t visited.
After dinner a large Suburban pulled into the driveway. The windows were tinted, the paint the color of desert sand. Officer Levine and Rosa went to greet the driver while Caden and Jane watched from the window. Tito dozed on the couch. Brynne had fallen asleep in the chair.
Jane pointed outside. “Perhaps they’ve come for you,” she said.
Caden felt his cheeks pale.
“It was a joke, Caden,” she said. “They’re not going to take you away now.”
Outside, the driver’s door opened. Manglor, Ward’s father, stepped out. He towered over Officer Levine and Rosa. Officer Levine reached out to shake his hand. Ward’s mother, Desirae, got out of the passenger’s side, holding a casserole dish. She greeted Rosa warmly. The rear door opened. Caden expected to see Ward hop out.
But it wasn’t Ward who stepped out. It was Jasan. He was wearing a slate-blue T-shirt and dark jeans. He squinted up at the house with a look of disdain. His right hand was bandaged and wrapped to his chest. He nodded at Rosa and Officer Levine.
Caden ran out, leaving Jane at the window, then ran down the porch steps to his brother. They stared at each other. Jasan tensed, but reluctantly patted Caden’s back with his left hand. Caden peered into the Suburban. It was big, but not big enough to carry Sir Horace.
Caden spoke in Royal Razzon. “Where’s Sir Horace?”
Rosa reached out to pull Caden to her. “Caden,” she said gently.
Jasan seemed perfectly content to have him pulled away.
“Caden,” Rosa said. “He isn’t your brother.”
“He is,” Caden said.
Jasan’s expression brightened like he recognized the word. He motioned from himself to Caden. In a thick accent, he said, “Brothers,” in English so Rosa could understand.
Rosa looked skeptical.
Manglor cleared his throat. His deep voice sounded like velvet. He pointed to Jasan. “His English is limited, but he and I share another language.” He pointed to Caden. “He says that one is his little brother.”
“What language is that?” she said.
Manglor didn’t answer. Likely, he’d also translated wrong. “Little” wasn’t the word Jasan would use. “You mean half brother,” Caden corrected.
The janitor peered down at Caden. “That one”—he pointed again at Jasan—“said little.”
D
esirae looked between them. “There is a resemblance.”
Officer Levine turned to Rosa. “We can do a DNA test,” he said. “Find out what’s what.”
Rosa shot them glares and looped a protective arm around Caden’s shoulder. “Maybe. Assuming it’s a match, I’d like to know where his family has been for the last few months.”
“They’ve been looking for him,” Desirae said.
“Then why didn’t he come directly to me?”
Jasan seemed to be losing patience. Of the seven Elite Paladin virtues, it was his weakest. This he and Caden shared. Jasan glowered at Manglor, stomped his foot, and pointed from Rosa to Caden. Manglor didn’t seem inclined to do or say whatever it was Jasan wanted.
Not that Caden was surprised. In his experience, stomping at people rarely made them inclined to do anything. Well, Manglor did look as if he might want to squash Jasan. Jasan, however, was likely too quick to be squashed. Who had won when Jasan and Maden practiced? To Caden’s memory, Jasan’s speed and Maden’s strength had been evenly matched.
Desirae spoke gently. “Would it be possible for Caden and his brother to speak in private, just for a moment?”
Caden untangled from Rosa and smiled at her. He wanted to speak to Jasan alone, away from the prying eyes and ears of the others. “Just give us a moment,” he said in English. “Please.”
Rosa hesitated. “You can talk on the porch,” she said. “But I’ll be watching the entire time. You signal if you need anything.”
Once on the porch, Jasan spoke in Royal Razzon. “Did you make a deal with that Elderdragon? This is what she told me. Right before she told me she sadly couldn’t eat me despite my delicious temperament.”
Caden answered in the same tongue. “Only to protect you and the school.”
“You don’t make deals with beings like that, Caden. They are dangerous.”
“If I had refused,” Caden said, “she would’ve eaten us both immediately.” He paused. “There’s something I’ve found out.” He told Jasan of Rath Dunn’s plan to destroy the barrier between worlds, of his communication with Maden. As Caden spoke, Jasan’s expression grew stonier and stonier. His body tensed. For a long moment after Caden finished, Jasan was quiet.
From the drive, Rosa watched them with obvious concern.
When Jasan spoke, his words were low and harsh. “Why should I care?”
“Our family is in danger.”
“Our family betrayed me.”
“Because they were tricked.”
“Because they believe me capable of killing my brother.”
Jasan frowned at the mountains, likely thinking they were too small and too warm when compared to their homeland. Caden motioned to them. “The spell would also destroy this land. These people are innocent. Just consider it. Please.”
Jasan inhaled deeply. His nostrils flared. “Fine. But I don’t want you making any more deals with dragons.”
Desirae was hugging Rosa. “I’ve worked with children.” She gestured at Caden. “And I’ve counseled people in his position before.”
Rosa glanced at Officer Levine. “It’s your choice,” Officer Levine said.
“I’ll think about it.” Rosa said.
“Please do.” Desirae smiled. “Ward doesn’t have many friends. And I like Caden. I’d be happy to help.”
Manglor snorted. It seemed he didn’t share her affection, but he was warming to Caden. Most people did. Jasan had. Eventually, Manglor would as well.
The school reopened Friday, as promised. As Caden ate a breakfast of milk and grains, he mentioned the oddity to Brynne, Tito, and Jane.
“Maybe there’s some of your world’s freaky magic in the forms,” Tito said. “You know that Rosa had to sign something when she enrolled each of us. All the parents did.”
Caden suspected that as well.
“I was sent back after the lunch people kidnapped me,” Jane said. “No one said anything. No one even seemed that bothered by it. Not even Rosa.”
“I gotta say,” Tito said, “I thought that was strange, especially for Rosa. She sent us back after all the accidents, too. And I don’t think a single student has ever moved away.” He grabbed his crutches from where they leaned against the wall. “Graduation. That’s the only way out.”
At the school, the auditorium was cordoned off behind bright orange netting and barrels. There were men and women in hard hats removing debris and working. On the lawn, there were more people—they wore matching green T-shirts. They were replacing the sickly looking grass with new bright green grass squares. Many of the black-barked burned trees had been removed. Other green shirts were planting new trees. Crimson-colored roses were planted where the dead yellow ones had been.
In Caden’s first class, Mr. McDonald kept hidden behind a thick book. His brow was sweaty despite the chill from the air conditioner, and his fingers shook when he turned a page. Tonya and Ward were seated at their computers. Ward leaned over. “Pa had a talk with Mr. McDonald.”
“I’m surprised Mr. McDonald is still alive, then,” Caden said.
“We are, t-too,” Tonya said.
“Pa has sworn off killing people,” Ward said. “He says he doesn’t do that anymore.”
Like Mr. McDonald, Mrs. Belle was jittery in science class. She showed the class a video on the secret life of bugs. Caden sat at the front of the class with Tito and Jane. Brynne’s desk was in the back.
“Perhaps this will give us insight into Mr. Creedly,” Caden said.
Tito looked skeptical. Jane shrugged.
Caden was about to say more when the speaker system interrupted. Mr. Creedly’s raspy voice filled the room. “Send Caden to the principal’s office.” Like Mr. McDonald and Mrs. Belle, his mood sounded worse than usual.
Mrs. Belle tapped her bloodred nails on the white board. She looked from the wall speaker to Caden like she was going to argue with Mr. Creedly over the intercom, or insist he not go. It was a fleeting thing, though. After a moment, she raised her chin like she was defending herself, tapped his shoulder, and walked him to the door.
As they passed the back row of desks, Brynne leaned over. Her silvery eyes glinted. Her short dark hair framed her pretty face. “Be brave, dragon charmer,” she said, and grinned.
Caden smiled back, but Mrs. Belle pulled him away. At the door, she stopped. She looked conflicted about sending him down the hall. “Be careful, Caden,” she said. Then a strange expression crossed her face like there was something devious under her makeup and gentle words. “And tell your brother you’ve been summoned.”
That sounded like a warning. “Why?” he said.
She pursed her lips. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Trust me.”
A moment later, she went back into her classroom and closed the door. He was alone in the hall. Trust her? He wasn’t too sure about that. She conspired with Mr. Creedly, an inhuman and cruel creature. Whatever she was worried about, she hadn’t spoken up for him, or asked any questions. She’d still told him to go.
Jasan had given Caden his phone number the previous day. Before Caden turned down the long hall, he snuck his cell phone from his back pocket and called Jasan. He didn’t answer, so Caden left him a voice message.
At the end of the hall, Mr. Creedly had his too-long arms folded over his chest. His hair was slicked back. He looked like a spider huddled in a corner. A sad spider. Caden wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
“What’s wrong with you?” Caden said.
Mr. Creedly untangled his long limbs and stood. Behind him, his shadow reached across the wall. “The pest control comes today,” he said, and his voice sounded as if it ached. “They come to kill my kind.” Then the shadow behind him seemed to stretch, to grow darker. “One day, you will be engulfed by us.”
Not a pleasant notion. Caden stepped around him and toward the office. He squared his shoulders. “Not today, though.”
“Not today.” Mr. Creedly sank down into his chair. The long shadows drew back toward
him. He pointed a too-long finger at the office. “Today, they wait for you.”
They. They waited for him. And this time, neither of them was Jasan.
The office smelled faintly of roses and heavily of paint. The walls were red. The bowls of beads, buttons, and cheap plastic things on the shelves were gone, and replaced with books—many with pictures of food on the covers. There was a stack of boxes in the one corner like someone was moving in or moving out.
It wasn’t Ms. Primrose who sat behind the carved desk. It was Rath Dunn. Ms. Jackson stood beside the tyrant. She held Jane’s ladle. Caden stood stunned. She should have been eaten. She should no longer be a threat.
His stomach twisted, and he looked at her. “I thought you’d been devoured.”
She leaned forward. He saw gray bands in her hair, wrinkles on her forehead. “You’d have liked that, wouldn’t you?”
“I wouldn’t have not liked it.” The book-filled shelves worried Caden. “Where is Ms. Primrose?”
Rath Dunn’s eyes brightened. “During the auditorium incident, she was removed as principal,” he said, and grinned. “Don’t worry. The locals have full faith I’ll be able to perform exemplarily in her place. And she still has all her other jobs: vice principal, placement counselor.” He flapped his hand. “Whatever else.” He stood and put his hands on the desk. “I have plenty of work for her.”
Ms. Jackson cackled.
Caden studied Ms. Jackson’s face and motioned to the ladle. “Why are you holding that?”
Her face scrunched in fury. The wrinkles seemed to make her once-glowing skin look saggy and dull. “I can’t let it go,” she said.
So this was Jane’s plot. A ladle enchanted with age. A dark enchantment.
There were few enchantments known to cause harm. After all, enchantment was a magic of giving, of sacrifice. It wasn’t selfish and evil like ritual magic. Nor was it neutral like Brynne’s mind magic.
But there were some such dark items. Rath Dunn’s blood dagger was an example of one. Caden peered at the ladle. Was it draining her of her stolen youth? Perhaps it wasn’t evil, then, but fair. Enchanted item number one hundred thirty-four, renamed the Aging Ladle of Justice.
