Ember (55 page)

“So why
did
you tell me then?” I
asked, looking back at Ikovos.

He moved beside me. “Because, like I said, I
don’t enjoy lying to you . . . and . . .” I waited “. . . I knew
what you would do about it.”

This shocked me. My eyes widened immediately.
“You mean you don’t care if I?—”

“Oh, I care,” he stated, putting a hand up.
“I just also think it might the right thing to do.’

I bit my lip again, mind already running
through how I would go about finding the Gaeln.

“Did they say anything about how you can
reach them?” I asked. He shook his head right away, but the heavy
wind whistling past sent a rush of fresh hope through my body.

“Something tells me they
know
. . . ,”
he allowed. “But they didn’t mention it in the meeting.

“Could you—”

“They’d suspect something if I asked,” he
said, head shaking before I’d even finished.

Hmm . . .
A thought hit me.

“I’ve got an idea. I could go see Adzamaruha
about it.” He gave me a deeply dubious look. “He
is
the one
that gave it to me,” I reminded him.

The light-haired boy looked out as if
considering.

“When could you go?” he asked.

I thought about it, then nodded dutifully.
“Tomorrow - when you’re patrolling. It’d be the perfect time.”

He considered it again, then nodded.
“Alright. It’s a start at least.” Then he turned to me. “Just make
sure you don’t stay out long.”

“Yeah,” I nodded, then I smiled brightly to
him. “I’m still surprised you’re letting me do this when Thoran
said it might not be safe . . . that’s pretty unusual for you.”

He crossed his arms and smiled, leaning
closer to me. “Well, I never said I was going to let you do it
alone.” I turned down for a moment, then warmed, lifting my gaze
back up. “Haven’t I told you enough times that I’d never really let
you that far out of my sight?”

I took a short breath. He smirked and chucked
my shoulder.

“It’s late, you better get to bed.”

I obeyed, moving towards the door. When he
wasn’t following I turned back. “Aren’t you coming?”

His head shook, hands still wrapped around
his waist. He looked rather menacing in the darkness. “I’ll go
around out here. It’s quicker.”

“It’s not a dangerous patrol, right?” I
asked, freezing just as I was about to turn the handle.

The corners of his mouth raised a fraction.
“Would you believe me if I said no?”

I considered this, then stuck a confident
finger out. “Yes, because you said you don’t like lying to me.”

He moved closer, calmly folding my finger
back with his hands. “I’ll be okay.”

I didn’t know how assured I felt, but I
smiled back anyways.

“Besides - you want me to go,” he noted,
letting go of my hand. Suddenly he had a devilish sort of
smirk.

I narrowed skeptically.

“That way I can find out how Jaden’s
doing.”

My heart hit a double beat. The statement
wasn’t so bad, it was the look on his face and the way that he’d
said it. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to darken further at him or
run away.

His grin just broadened.

I scrunched my eyes and opened my mouth to
argue at least twice, wimping out every time. Finally I just made a
threatening face, turned the knob, and spun to walk through the
door.

When I got inside I had to stop myself from
freaking out.

I wonder if he knows
. . . My face
contorted at the prospect.

Something about it felt painful . . .
it
shouldn’t feel painful. Strange maybe, but . . .

I put a hand up to my chest, then started
off.

*

The next morning I got up early to help
Sophie prepare breakfast so that I would have time to visit
Adzamaruha. I got to spend most of the morning with just Trevor and
Nathan, which was nice because somehow I felt that if I ended up
going after the Gaeln . . . I might not see them for a while.

Once Sophie seemed to have things under
control. I downed a mug of black coffee and picked up an apple,
tossing it into the air as I walked out to leave.

I almost barreled into Thoran at the
doorway.

“Oh.” He stopped, looking down at me. “Sorry,
Evelyn.”

When my eyes met his they were as piercing as
ever. I suddenly felt like an eight-year-old that just got caught
cheating on a test. I cleared my throat nervously. “Ah, that’s
alright. I wasn’t watching where I was going . . .” I added the
tiniest hint of a smile, but I think with my lowered brow it
probably looked more like a wince.

Thoran regarded me oddly for a moment, then
nodded and walked on.

I barely got out a breath before he stopped
again.

“Evelyn?”

I looked back, expression innocent.

“Have you talked to Ikovos at all this
morning?” His gaze was hard and speculative. Internally I was
flipping out, he obviously suspected something. Thankfully I didn’t
have to lie.

“No. I think he’s out scouting.”

“Oh, that’s right,” he said, face
relaxing.

I smiled. “Anything else?”

“No,” he answered, distractedly. “That’s
all.”

I walked off with his expression still
contemplative.
Jeez, could I have been more obvious.
My head
shook and I marched towards the closest exit dutifully.

By the time I’d finished my apple I was close
to reaching Adzamaruha’s shop. Still moving briskly, I looked up at
the sky. There was something strange about it. It was probably too
early to tell, but it seemed like one of those days where there
were so many clouds in the sky that it didn’t even look like there
were any. Rather that the sky had simply turned silver and the sun
had decided to take a sick day.

I wasn’t about to complain about the last
part, but I couldn’t shake the troubled feeling.

I dropped my head back straight, chucking my
apple core in to the woods.
This is what I get for letting my
imagination win out for so many straight days.

When I finally reached the magic shop it
seemed quite abandoned. Out front absolutely nothing was visible,
which had me immediately worried. When I walked around to the back
there was little more. The pillars and walls usually loaded with
items were all-but barren. The row of cauldrons was empty and
unlit. I stepped over the hill to check on the colored sheep.
Nothing.

Again . . . very unsettling.

With a frown and a furrowed brow I stepped
around befuddled, noticing for the first time that the wind was
blowing substantially today. Suddenly a noise came from within the
house. I moved forward, then held my breath as a figure walked out.
It took me a moment to realize that it was just Adzamaruha, he
didn’t look like his usual self. He had on a large, brown,
slick-leather, robe that covered his entire body. The only
identifier was his wizard’s hat and long white beard.

“Finally!” he burst out, eyeing me with a
wide grin. “Hello, Evangeline.”

I let out the air I’d been holding and
marched forward. “Adzama, you’re here. I was worried with the . .
.” I gestured around. “What happened?”

He moved his eyes from me to study the area,
then back. “Oh, you mean all the—” he adjusted his hat “—the
merchandise.” I nodded. “And the ingredients.” I nodded again. He
raised an eyebrow. “The cauldrons . . .” I sort of just rocked my
head now. He took a heavy breath. “I cannot tell you, Evangeline.
Though I trust you infallibly as my closest assistant, that
information is far too dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” I questioned. I didn’t like the
word.

“Yes, dangerous.” He nodded exaggeratedly.
“I’ve been forced to relocate . . . surely you know the state of
things.” He scoffed, then marched over to pick a pot off the
ground.

“You mean with the Meoden?” I asked,
following.

He straightened up. “No, the weather, it’s
just been terrible of late.” I looked up confusedly. “Of
course
with the Meoden,” he clarified, tossing the pot he’s
just picked up as he did so.

I bit my lip. “Oh . . .” then I stepped
forward again. “Adzama, that’s why I came. You know the—”

He crossed his arms, leather robe flying
about him. “I know why you came. I’m the one that gave you the
book, aren’t I?”

My eyes widened, more than a little
surprised.

“And now you want to know where to go.”

Again, shock hit me.

“Yes.” I answered.

His hands went to his beard. “What will you
do if you find them?”

This was strange, he actually looked serious
. . . as much as anyone could with a high pointy hat on
anyways.

I narrowed, thinking. “Well, I’ll ask them
for help.”

“And what makes you think they will?” he
asked curtly. His own brows dropped dangerously.

I thought about it, chest lifting. “They’re
good, aren’t they?” My face was pleading, unsure.

He looked down at me, then off. “Never for
free . . .”

I barely heard it, a breeze rushed past
us.

“What?”

He turned up, cock-eyed face resurfacing. “I
have what you need here.” He went back inside. “I
should,
I’ve only been dreaming about it for days now.”

I waited. This was all moving a bit fast for
me . . . but it usually did with him. When he came out he was
carrying a small slip of paper, purple paper.

“That tells you where to go,” he said,
handing it to me with a nod.

I opened it. It was a map, sort of, similar
to the one in the basement, only Adzamaruha had scribbled all
around it. A large circle marked what I supposed was to be my
destination. He pointed to it.

“You must go there, and soon . . . it’s the
only chance they’ll have.”

I looked up. “Who? What are you talking
about?”

He waved a hand. I think he was irritated. “I
only know what I know and nothing else . . . honestly there’d be no
point for it to be any different.” He put a hand to my shoulder.
“Be brave, Evangeline. And prepare for a long trip . . .” His mouth
fell. “I myself will not see you as such again.”

He let go and moved back. I folded the paper,
following him.

“You’re leaving?”

He went into the hut, came back with a bag,
and pulled the hood over his head. “Indeed. I was simply waiting
for you.”

I shuttered, face thoroughly contorted,
grasping for something to say. “Bu-but . . . what about the
sheep?”

“The sheep?” He eyed me darkly. “Humph, I’m
glad to see you’re concerned with
their
wellbeing.”

I put a finger up to argue, but then he
grinned widely tossing a hand.

“No,” he chuckled, “I know what you meant. I
was just testing to see how you’re progressing at not apologizing .
. .” His head shook. “I don’t enjoy being the one to tell you this,
Evangeline, but I don’t think you’ll ever quite grasp it.”

I furrowed.
Wasn‘t it saying
thank-you?

“But I wasn’t even trying to—”

Suddenly his face went fierce, eyes darkening
to the woods behind me. “You need to go now . . . and I the
same.”

I tried to argue, checking once behind me. He
didn’t give me the chance, putting an arm on my back and pushing me
till we were at the road in front of the building. His eyes kept
darting back into the forest. It was scaring me.

When we stopped and he let go his head was
still turned.

“Adzama, what’s wrong?”

“No time to explain,” he urged. Then he
looked at me, eyes hidden beneath the hood. “You must go back,
don’t tarry. And remember what I said.” He tapped my head and
turned around to start off.

I groaned. “Said about what?”

No response.

“Adzama! Said about
what?
”

He put a hand up without stopping. “You’ll
remember when you need to. I will see you again someday.”

My brow dropped deeply.

After he had gone on a ways I sighed, looking
up at the sky. It was getting windier now, the tree tops were
shaking noticeably. With a glance over to the thick woods, I turned
around and started down the road.

As Adzamaruha had instructed I did hurry . .
. breaking into a run until I was within view of the lodge.

~ ~ ~

WHEN I GOT BACK the first thing I did was
head to the cafeteria to see if Ikovos had returned yet. I knew I
needed to take a better look at the map, but I still felt shaken
up. I just wanted to wait till we were together.

It was lunch now. I didn’t expect it to be
that late. As I walked through the doorway, just beginning to
recover breath from my run, my eyes scanned for Ikovos. Instead of
him they caught Cornelius at the counter. My stance rocked
immediately. I didn’t want to see him, not now. He knew me to well
and I didn’t like keeping things from him. The problem was,
his
eyes had caught mine too.

I took a strong gulp and walked up towards
him with a smile.

“Hey, Cornelius,” I greeted.

“Hello, my dear . . .” he started, warmly.
“Are you alright? You look a bit overheated.”

I put a hand on my neck. “Oh, yeah, um . . .
I was running.”

“Ah,” he nodded in acknowledgement.

I glanced out again, over the buzzing room,
trying to seem casual. It was the first time I’d really gotten to
see him since everything had happened and I was half-lying. I hated
it.

My eyes dropped dangerously low and I turned
to him.

“Cornelius?”

He caught my intensity immediately, features
falling.

“Whatever happens . . . I just, I just wanted
to say thank you, for everything.” He darkened further and I had to
turn down, a bit overcome with emotion. “I’ll never forget it.”

He moved forward, drawing my head back up
with a hand to my shoulder. His face was questioning now.
Crud,
I’d done it again.