Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three (67 page)

“And died when he tried to get into the fortress where the Shiengols were stuck.” Jacob thought he could see where this was going. “He left a son behind, didn’t he?”

Mom nodded, rubbing her eyes. “Yes. There was no way we were going to leave a three-year-old boy in Maivoryl City with the Lorkon coming to power—especially the child of parents who were so important to us, and loyal.” She looked at Jacob. “His mom had been my biggest help in the castle—my best friend. She and I were inseparable. And when your father and Kelson came from Troosinal, Midian fell in love with Kelson while I fell even more in love with your father.”

His parents beamed at each other, Mom’s cheeks glowing. Green swirled in the air around them and Jacob looked away, embarrassed by their obvious affection. They’d always been so . . . so painfully
mushy
.

“When we found out Midian had passed away, we brought the boy with us, intending to raise him as our own son.”

“Does he know he’d been adopted?”

“Of course. But we’ve never treated him like he wasn’t one of our own.”

Jacob thought over this new information. Matt wasn’t from Earth either! Did he remember living in Eklaron? How would he have forgotten it? “How’d you explain to him the whole being-from-another-world thing?”

“Didn’t have to. He’d been very traumatized when the Lorkon attacked the castle, and his memories of that time have always been vague. He didn’t know the difference between the two worlds.”

“But now he knows the truth, right?”

Mom folded up the blanket she and Dad had been using. “Yes. We told him the night you found out you weren’t from Earth. He wasn’t as shocked as we’d expected.”

Dad laughed. “Quite the opposite. He thought it was great.” He leaned forward, a serious expression on his face. “Kenji told me Gallus wants to get a group together to find the Shiengols.”

“Yeah. And they’ll need my help.” Jacob hesitated. “That’s okay, right?”

“Of course. And I’ve been thinking a lot . . . I’ve decided I’m coming too.”

Jacob sat up. “Really? Awesome!”

A half smile crossed Dad’s face. “And it’s about time we taught you how to fight with a sword.”

“Cool!”

Dad nodded. “The Makalos want to go during Thanksgiving break.”

“That’s this month. Yes!”

“All right,” Mom said. “I’m tired. It’s time to get back in bed.” She brushed Jacob’s hair off his forehead, feeling his temperature, then took his mug. “Will you be okay now?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Jacob climbed the stairs to his room, excited at the thought of learning how to fight from his dad.

He pulled the blankets up to his chin and sighed contentedly. This would be the best month ever. As long as he didn’t hallucinate—or have a night terror—again.

Jacob didn’t wake up until nearly noon—he was surprised Mom let him sleep that long. After showering, he went downstairs to the kitchen, where Mom was eating a tomato sandwich.

“The Makalos have been asking about you all morning—everyone over there is worried, especially Aloren.”

Aloren? Jacob’s mouth went dry and he felt breathless. “What did you tell them?”

“That I’d send you as soon as you got up.”

Jacob swallowed a shout of glee and smoothed his hair instead. “I can go visit them?”

Mom laughed. “Of course—you’re not a prisoner, and you’re not sick. Just overly exhausted. I excused you from classes all day.”

“You’re the best mom ever!” Jacob hugged her.

She patted his arm, then pulled away, looking him over. “You’ve been really stressed. I don’t want it to ruin your feelings toward Eklaron.”

Jacob rolled his eyes. It didn’t surprise him that she’d want him to fall in love with her—their—world. “It won’t, Mom. I promise.”

“Okay. Get going—they’re anxious to see you.”

Jacob grabbed an apple and dashed upstairs to get the Key and his shoes. After he’d swallowed the last bite of apple, nearly choking on it in his hurry, he Keyed himself to Taga Village. He was about to see Aloren!

The dark interior of Kenji’s place let him know no one was home. Rather than Key over to the tree, he decided to walk there.

Jacob started down the path that wound between the Makalo dwellings. He put his hands in his jacket pockets and smiled at people as he passed, picking up speed. It was cold.

When he got to the ledge, he saw that Kenji and Ebony were down by the tree, talking to Aloren.

“Hey,” he called, waving, then quickly descending the wall, using the holes etched into the stone.

He turned as Aloren threw her arms around him. “You’re here. And you’re alive!”

He laughed. “‘Course I am.”

She flushed and stepped away, tucking her hair behind her ear. Jacob’s heart thudded in his chest—she liked him! Right?

Ebony and Kenji caught up. “Your mom told us what happened last night,” Ebony said, “and we’ve been very worried about your hallucination. Especially after what took place when you were in the tunnel with the Ember Gods.”

Jacob nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty frustrating, not knowing what’s going on.”

“We’ll figure it out soon,” Kenji said, clapping his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “Or, you will. We really won’t be much help here.”

Jacob chuckled. “Good to know.”

Ebony grabbed Kenji’s arm, pulling him away. “We were on our way to visit some friends when we saw Aloren. Dear, let’s keep going. We can leave these two to catch up.”

Aloren’s face split in a grin as she turned to Jacob. “You’ve got to see what I’ve done with the tree!”

Jacob followed her, wondering if she’d added a secret room or something. The idea of being alone with her was definitely appealing.

She opened the door and waved for Jacob to go in first.

He stepped into the slightly darker interior and raised an eyebrow. She’d hung pink and blue curtains, used a matching tablecloth and a huge, brightly-colored rug, and put random things on the bookshelves. Dolls or statues or something—Jacob didn’t go close enough to see what they were.

“Isn’t it cute?” She twirled, looking around. “I love it. And what’s even better—there aren’t holes in the ground like at the tower!”

“It’s, uh . . . it’s great.” Jacob grinned, putting his hands in his pockets. They’d started sweating the moment he and Aloren had walked into the tree. They were alone. Alone. He crossed his fingers that things would go well—that he wouldn’t embarrass himself by saying something stupid.

How would she feel if he tried to hold her hand again? Would it be better to wait? Or should he just reach out and grab it? He bit his lip. No, he’d wait—he needed to figure out how not to be nervous around her first. The last time he’d tried, it had taken him several minutes to get up the courage, and just as he had, she pulled away.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked, walking to the refrigerator. “This thing keeps food cold. It’s wonderful!”

“Yeah, I love them too.”

Jacob shook his head at himself. He loved fridges? He hadn’t ever even thought about them before—aside from being something that was in the kitchen. “And yes—I’d like a drink. What’ve you got?”

“Water. And soda. Do you like soda?”

“Definitely.”

She pulled out a two-liter bottle of root beer and poured him a glass. After putting the soda away, she sat across from him at the table, tracing patterns on the tablecloth. The colors in the air around her changed from bright green to a light orange—nervousness.

She took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking . . .”

He put his cup down. “‘Bout what?”

“And I’ve talked to the Makalos and they think it’s okay if . . . I . . . I’d like to attend your school with you, so I can meet humans my age and learn more about your world.”

She’d told Jacob a couple days before that there weren’t a lot of teenagers in Macaria. He was constantly amazed at how many were killed by the Lorkon. After Jacob and his parents had escaped, the Lorkon went around killing infants and children, trying to find him. Guilt flooded over him. He’d caused so much destruction to Eklaron, simply by existing.

Then what she’d said hit him. “Wait. You—school—with—with me? That’s a great idea!” He’d get to see her on Earth, too! He paused. “We’d have to ask my parents, though. Make sure it would be okay.”

She nodded. “Can we do that right now?”

“Why not? Mom’s home, and she’ll call my dad at work.”

“Great. Let’s go!” Aloren jumped up from the table, dashed to the door, and turned, smiling at Jacob.

His heart skipped around inside his chest—her smile was so pretty—and he felt his ears redden. He looked down, fumbling with the Key in his hands. Finally, he got it in the lock the right way and took them to his house.

“Mom?” he called out, aware that this was the first time Aloren had ever been to his place. Suddenly, he was self-conscious about how small it was. “You here?”

“In the office, honey.”

Jacob started across the living room, heading to the doorway of his parents’ study, but paused when he noticed that Aloren wasn’t following. She stood at the front door, staring at everything. He looked around, seeing things through her eyes. The piano, fireplace, couches, pictures on tables and walls would all be foreign to her. He couldn’t wait to show her the TV and sound system in the family room!

“Wow,” she said, running a hand across the worn couch, fingering an old blanket, then crossing to the fireplace. “I love it—it’s so . . .” She turned to him, and he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. “So much like a real home. Where people who care for each other live together.”

He raised an eyebrow, then quickly hid his surprise. That wasn’t what he’d expected—she didn’t even comment on the things that wouldn’t be in her own world. He cleared his throat, determined to ignore her emotions. “Yup.” He motioned her to follow him to the study.

“Um . . . Mom, this is Aloren. Aloren, this is my mom.”

“Your Majesty,” Aloren said, sinking to one knee.

Jacob’s mouth popped open, and his mom blushed.

“Oh, my dear,” Mom said, walking around the desk. “Thank you—very much.” She pulled Aloren up.

“It’s such an honor to finally meet you—Gallus spoke of you and King Dmitri all the time.”

Mom’s cheeks flushed even redder. “It’s been many years since I was in Gevkan.”

Aloren nodded. Then she looked at Jacob, her expression reminding him why they were there.

“Oh,” Jacob said. She wanted
him
to ask. He quickly explained Aloren’s idea to Mom.

“Well, I think it’ll work—it’s an excellent opportunity for you to increase your experience.” She walked around the desk. “But I need to talk it over with Dmitri first. Step out for a moment, please, and shut the door. I’ll call him.”

They left the room and Jacob sat next to Aloren on the couch—his mom had just called Dad Dmitri! Weird.

Neither said anything. Jacob folded his arms and looked at the wall in front of him, careful not to inadvertently touch Aloren. She leaned back and gazed at the ceiling, staring at the light fixture with curiosity, twirling a strand of hair in her fingers. Mom’s muffled voice came through the door, but Jacob couldn’t understand what she was saying. Finally, she put the phone down and came out.

“King Dmitri and I would like to talk it over with both of you before giving our go-ahead. Come on in.” She held the door for Jacob and Aloren.

Aloren’s arms visibly trembled as she lowered herself into the chair. “Did you send a Minya? Is he coming?”

“Aloren?” Dad’s voice came out of the speakerphone.

Aloren jumped, then leaned forward, looking at the device on the desk. “King . . . King Dmitri?”

“Yes, I’m here. We’re speaking through a telephone.”

Aloren raised her eyebrows. “Telephone?” she said, stumbling over the word.

“Think of it as an object similar to a Minya, except you’re actually talking
to
me, not through a creature.”

“Okay.” She swallowed. “Wow.”

“Yes. Well, anyway, we want to make sure you’re absolutely clear on something before we allow you to attend school here.”

Aloren nodded. “Whatever you think is necessary.”

“No one—not one person—knows anything about another world and the link to it near our house. You must be extremely careful in your communications with others—both students and teachers.”

“I will. I promise.”

“And we’d rather you not get involved in any after-school activities. Once the final class lets out, you’ll return to Eklaron right away.”

Aloren folded her hands in her lap. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Last, have you spoken with Gallus about this? He’s the one who needs to give permission.”

Aloren blushed, ducking her head. “I haven’t—it didn’t occur to me.”

“Do you have your Minya with you?”

Aloren lifted the knapsack she always carried. “Yes—Hazel is here. I’m getting her out now.”

“Good.”

No one said anything while Aloren opened Hazel’s container. Hazel’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at Aloren, then she waved to Jacob, who grinned back at the little creature.

“Okay, she’s ready.”

“Hazel, can you hear me?”

Hazel nodded. “Yes.”

Dad asked the Minya to deliver a message to Gallus, telling the man about Aloren’s desire to attend school on Earth with Jacob.