Aloren put her hand on his forearm. “And I thank you for that. But what’s going to happen to me here that would put me in so much danger? The Lorkon are gone already.”
“Their disease remains.”
Aloren looked Gallus in the eye for a moment, and an unspoken agreement passed between them. Jacob watched with fascination as Gallus’s colors changed to blue for peace.
Gallus sighed. “All right. But promise me you will be careful.” He turned to Jacob and grabbed him by the shoulder. “Yet again, I’m putting her in your care. You’re heading to Gratitude City later, correct?”
Jacob nodded.
“If you don’t return in one piece, Aloren will be stuck here. Jacob, can I trust you?”
What a stupid thing to ask. Of course he could. And it wasn’t like Jacob’s goal was to get killed while searching for the antidote. “Yes.”
“Good.” Gallus wrapped Aloren in a huge bear hug. “Then let’s get you sick-looking.”
Jacob frowned. “What if she gets sick for real?”
“We’ll have one of your doctors heal her.” Gallus turned back to Aloren. “But you stay as far away from those people as possible, do you hear?”
She nodded.
After searching for several moments, they found a dirty shirt on the ground with blood all over the arms. Aloren plugged her nose and pulled the shirt on over her clothes.
“I’ve got Hazel with me,” she said. “Once it’s night and I have an idea of what’s going on, I’ll send word.”
Judging by the colors around Aloren, Jacob could tell she was nervous, but determined.
“At the first sign of trouble,” Jacob said, “you send Hazel and I’ll come get you as quickly as I can. Who cares about the antidote—we can find it later.”
Aloren half-smiled. “Unfortunately, you’re wrong. Finding it is more important than me staying healthy and whole.”
Gallus hugged her again, then everyone said goodbye. Jacob opened the link to Taga Village, letting Onaly and Gallus go do whatever they needed to do. He couldn’t help turning and watching Aloren walk back down the street, though. She would be fine. He hoped.
Chapter Three: Onyev’s Tests
“Are you sure?” Jacob asked. “It doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.”
Dad had just told him that it would only be him, Akeno, and Fubble heading to Gratitude City.
“Of course I’m sure. The city has been empty for quite some time, and you yourself saw no living thing there when you Time-Saw to it.”
“I know, but what if someone comes? What if we get lost or hurt or attacked?”
Dad smiled. “That’s why you’re leaving the link open. Fubble will be coming and going, and Akeno will be searching for the tree.” He put his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “I promise—things will be fine.”
Jacob nodded, but he wasn’t so sure. He knew everyone was going crazy, trying to keep up with the amount of things that needed to happen before the Lorkon came back. Gallus was working with Coren and Kevin, building new armor and repairing what had been damaged during the last attack. Mom was sorting through things in the house, hiding her valuables just in case the Lorkon army got that far again. Onaly was helping Hayla with clothing needs for those fighting. Dad and many others were getting ready to lay siege on Fornchall. The Fat Lady and Aldo were extracting fresh sap from the silver trees. Every Makalo was with Kenji, Ebony, and Sweet Pea, receiving last-minute training on archery and fighting. And even the Wurbies had tasks to complete, though Jacob didn’t know what they were.
He took a deep breath and turned to Akeno. Fubble stood nearby. They both smiled at him, as if to encourage him that things would be okay.
Early was already on his shoulder, ready and waiting. Jacob made sure he had his sword and pole and that his armor was tightened before opening the link to Gratitude City.
Akeno went through first. He immediately walked to a tree and put his finger on it.
“We’re still alone,” he said.
Akeno would be checking frequently, making sure no living dangers were approaching. Jacob had the Key so they’d be able to leave easily. Actually, he had both keys, but the Key of Ayunli wouldn’t really help in an emergency situation.
Fubble was coming too because the Fat Lady and Aldo wanted him to rummage through the empty houses, looking for any books, anything magical, and whatever caught the Wurby’s eye.
Jacob rubbed his face. Being a Wurby, Fubble was sure to find tons of interesting things. Like rotten food and clothing.
Dad had Tani guard the door—they wouldn’t need anyone stronger, not with Akeno checking so frequently for living creatures. Tani was happy to sit by with a book. She waved to Jacob as he walked away.
The city was creepy. Like many of the cities Jacob had visited in Eklaron, it had the dead-people feel, but it wasn’t anything like what he’d felt before. He shuddered, looking at the trees and the empty buildings and houses. Even though Jacob knew they were alone, he felt like someone—or something—was watching them.
“You’re sure there aren’t any tarri here?” Jacob remembered the last time he felt like someone was watching, but couldn’t see anything. Small bushes had surrounded them on their way to August Fortress. Those bushes had actually been dangerous, vicious creatures called tarri.
“Positive. You’d know it,” Akeno said. “They stink really, really badly.”
Something fell with a crash behind them and Jacob whirled, nearly tripping on his feet.
Fubble ducked his head and started cleaning up the shattered pottery he’d dropped. “Sorry, I is sorry,” the Wurby said, then dashed through the open link.
“I think I know what we feel, though,” Akeno said. “They’re not alive, but I can feel the presence of the Makalos who lived here before. It’s like they’re waiting, watching. Wanting to protect their city.”
“Great. Just great.”
“We’re not here to do damage, you know.” Akeno turned and looked at Jacob. “We’re doing what Onyev wanted us to do—they won’t stop us. They won’t do anything.”
Jacob wasn’t as positive as his Makalo friend.
“How are we supposed to find the Kaith tree?”
Akeno shrugged. “Your dad said I’d know when I got close to it.”
Jacob nodded. He for sure wouldn’t recognize it. Almost all the trees in Gratitude City looked like Kaith trees.
Neither said anything as they continued forward. Finally, after a gazillion tree tests, Akeno made a noise of triumph.
“Found it!” He pointed.
Jacob looked. He couldn’t see anything where Akeno was pointing. “Where?”
Akeno didn’t answer, but strode forward, and Jacob was amazed when the negative spaces between the trunks turned into trees. And the trees Jacob had been staring at earlier became the negative space.
“Whoa . . . How’d that happen?”
“Not sure,” Akeno said. “One of Onyev’s tricks, I suppose. Probably triggered by my Makalo blood.”
Akeno continued forward, but then stopped abruptly. “I can’t walk. Something’s stopping me. It’s stopping me.” He smiled, looking at Jacob. “The tree is still alive. The antidote has to be here—the Kaith tree is rejecting me.”
Jacob returned the smile, but couldn’t stop the shiver that crossed his scalp. What sorts of tests would he have to endure? His nerves were almost shot already from the weird feeling in the city.
Akeno backed off and Jacob created a new link to Taga Village, closing the old one. Tani didn’t even look up from her book.
He turned and surveyed the massive trunk he was supposed to dig into. It was bigger by far than the tree in Taga Village—branches extending hundreds of feet, then coming together, twisting and turning.
He took one step forward, then another. Jacob knew the tree was supposed to test him, but he wasn’t sure how. He didn’t want to mess up and lose the antidote, however, and figured going slow would be the best thing.
He’d taken only four steps when something stopped him. It felt like a hand on his chest and Jacob jumped backward, swiping at his shirt.
“What was that?” he asked.
Akeno looked at him, alarmed. “What happened?”
“A hand stopped me.”
“That didn’t happen to me—I simply couldn’t move forward. Maybe it’s part of the test?”
Jacob nodded and proceeded forward again. He wasn’t about to chicken out when he’d barely started.
Once again, a hand pushed against his chest. He looked, but couldn’t see it. Then it felt like the hand was grabbing at his skin, scratching, fingernails digging into him.
“Ouch!” Jacob’s voice cracked. “Akeno, this is really weird!”
“I can’t see anything,” Akeno said.
Then Jacob did. Someone—a man—flickered into view, a wicked grin on his face. White hair. And white eyes. Staring at him. More people appeared, surrounding Jacob, passing through him, grabbing his shoulders, arms.
Jacob whirled, trying to shove the people away. They were pushing him from the tree. He struggled against them. “Knock it off!” he shouted, shaking his hands and legs, jumping, jerking. But they kept pushing him away.
Jacob pressed forward. The ghosts increased their attack. He started mimicking their actions, pushing against them, forcing them toward the tree. Scratching, clawing.
Suddenly, with a pop, everyone was gone. Jacob took a deep breath. He was only about five feet from the tree. Was that the only test? Was he clear to go forward? He hesitated. There were more tests—he knew there were.
Jacob took another step. Everything went completely black.
Goose bumps popped up all over his skin. He turned. Akeno wasn’t visible.
“Hello?” he called.
“He can’t hear you,” a voice said.
Jacob whirled.
Onyev, the patriarch, stood in front of him. Actually, it was more like Onyev’s shadow. Or a sort of see-through version of him. The Patriarch didn’t look right—his skin was a ghastly green, and it looked like his eyes had fallen back into his head.
“Onyev?” Jacob’s heart refused to calm down. This was way too creepy.
“I can hear you,” Onyev said. “And I command you to go back. If you continue forward, you’ll lose more than the light around you.”
“Onyev, it’s me, Jacob. I need to get the antidote for the Lorkon.”
Onyev snarled. “You must fight me for it.”
Jacob’s mouth popped open. No way was he going to fight this patriarch, dead or alive. He wasn’t comfortable fighting any patriarch.
Onyev pulled a short sword from his robes and lunged forward. Jacob jumped out of the way at the last minute, but Onyev’s sword still nicked his leather armor. Jacob pulled out his own sword, ready to defend himself.
“I can’t fight you,” Jacob said.
Onyev didn’t answer. He struck out so hard that when Jacob blocked the blow, his arms shook from the impact.
“Um . . . Okay . . . You’re serious.”
Jacob parried with the Patriarch. It wasn’t anything like what he was expecting—the Patriarch was fast, yes, but he didn’t always block Jacob’s attacks. The first time Jacob’s sword struck the Makalo’s body, nothing happened. Onyev didn’t even act like he’d been wounded. Jacob couldn’t help but shudder.
He blocked blows over and over again, finally coming to the realization that the representation of Onyev would never tire. It was like he was a machine. Attacking, attacking, attacking. Only a small fragment of skill was involved, else Jacob would have been killed already.
Knowing he couldn’t fight Onyev forever, Jacob was forced to go on the offensive, stabbing, swishing, slicing with as much energy as he could. But again, none of his attacks were acknowledged. Onyev kept going.
Would Jacob have to decapitate the patriarch like a zombie?
He considered that, falling back to the defensive. Was it the only way to succeed? Could he do that? He didn’t think so. Even the thought of cutting off his friend’s head made him taste bile at the back of his throat. Gross. And anyway, decapitation didn’t feel right—like it wouldn’t work. What else, though? Maybe he would only win if he stabbed Onyev through the heart.
Then something occurred to Jacob. Makalo magic originated from the left ring finger. Perhaps this representation’s life essence originated there too.
It was worth trying. Cutting off a finger would be bad enough, but it was better than cutting off the guy’s head or trying to stab him through the heart.
Jacob concentrated all his efforts on Onyev’s left hand. But Onyev also stepped up his attack, and things got a whole lot faster and more dangerous. Jacob felt sweat pouring down his back. The sun wasn’t visible—he couldn’t see anything but Onyev—but the summer heat was still there.
Onyev’s advances forced Jacob from the tree. Farther and farther away they fought, neither gaining any advantage. Jacob half expected to bump into a tree or house, but nothing was there but him, Onyev, and the Kaith tree.
Pretty soon, they were at least a hundred, two hundred feet away. And Jacob remembered the whole objective of these tests was to keep him from succeeding—from reaching his goal.
He pressed forward, pushing, using the advantage of height to knock Onyev back. With everything he had, he attacked the patriarch. Soon, they were twenty feet away. Then fifteen.
Finally, Jacob knocked Onyev’s sword down.
Before Jacob could rethink it, he hit the patriarch’s hand with the blade of his weapon. He looked away at the last moment, not wanting to see Onyev lose his fingers.
Onyev’s representation gasped, and Jacob looked back. The Makalo stared at his left hand, now fingerless. It didn’t bleed.
He fell to the ground. Then disappeared.
Jacob bent over, hands on knees, relieved. He gasped for breath—he hadn’t even been aware he’d become winded.
The sun was still gone, but a bright light shone from behind the Kaith tree. Jacob approached it, wondering what else was in store. Weren’t there supposed to be three tests? Hadn’t he heard that somewhere? But nothing happened as he got closer, and he decided he’d imagined it.
Light washed over him as he approached. He squinted against it, trying to ignore it, and started searching for openings to the secret box inside.
Jacob searched with his fingers, probing, prying, digging. Nothing. Then he remembered he needed the Key of Ayunli. He pulled it out of his pocket and held it near the tree. Again, nothing happened, no matter which way he directed the key.
Disgusted, he shoved it back in his pocket and resumed searching with his fingers.
Jacob pushed farther, wondering if he’d need to pull the tree apart bit by bit without any tools. He pried deeper into the wood. Finally, a huge section of bark sloughed off. Several intersecting seams, now glowing gold, were under the bark, and Jacob figured out what happened. The key had worked and he would have seen these seams earlier if it hadn’t been for the thick layer of bark that had grown over the whole thing.
The rest was easy. Jacob only had to tap the container—the key had already undone the combination—and the box unfolded itself. A moss-covered shelf was inside, and laying on the shelf was a scroll tied with a black ribbon. Jacob grabbed it, then carefully closed the tree again.
The moment the bark, minus the chunk on the ground, had folded away, the sun returned, nearly blinding Jacob.
It took him a second to realize he wasn’t alone anymore.
In fact, there were many people wandering the forest.
They were calling his name.
Gallus, Dad, Mom, Aldo—pretty much everyone he knew from Eklaron, and a bunch of Earth people as well. How long had he been gone?
“I’m right here,” he said, making Aldo, who was only four feet away, jump.
Recovering from his shock, Aldo turned to the others. “He’s back! He’s here! And he looks okay.”
Everyone rushed toward h
im, but they stepped aside so Mom could get to him first.
“We were so worried!” she said, throwing her arms around him.
“You disappeared,” Akeno said. “Completely. And I couldn’t even find the tree anymore.”
“How long was I gone?”
“Three hours.”
“Three . . . three hours? No way. Totally not possible. It was barely thirty minutes.”
“What happened?” Dad asked.
Jacob explained the two tests he’d encountered. While he was talking, Aldo noticed the scroll in his hands and jumped forward, grabbing it.
“You found it! We’ve got the antidote!”
“Yeah, but open it to make sure it’s all there. I don’t ever want to go through that again.”
Aldo pulled the ribbon off and unrolled the scroll. “This is it!” He danced around, yelping with excitement. “We’ve got it! We’ve got it!”
When he’d finally calmed down, everyone tried to crowd around him to read it. But Aldo shook his head. “The whole thing isn’t written in the same language.” He turned to Jacob. “Key me to Azuriah’s fortress. Perhaps he, the Fat Lady, and I can get this figured out.”
Jacob did so. Dad asked everyone to return to their chores so Aldo and the other two could concentrate, but he, Kenji, and Jacob stayed in the fortress.
Jacob only had a couple of hours left until he, Gallus, and Onaly were to go get Aloren and Myler. While he and Dad waited, Hazel came and gave them an update on the situation. Aloren was fine, and they’d finally found her a bed. She said it was really hard to distract them from the fact that she wasn’t injured.
After what felt like forever, but was only probably forty-five minutes, Azuriah, the Fat Lady, and Aldo leaned back in their chairs.
“It’s complicated,” Azuriah said, rubbing his eyes. “Very complicated. And it’s going to require a lot from Jacob.”
The three of them turned and looked at him. His ears started burning as they turned red from the attention. “Why me?” It was always him—he should be used to that by now.
“Let’s first go over the ingredients,” Aldo said.
The Golden Symbol (Kilenya Series Book 6) Page 4
