EPIC: Fourteen Books of Fantasy (283 page)

Jacob continued to rub his neck as he ambled past Eric. “Where did you find that one?” he spat as he mounted his horse. “And where is Aena? Is she OK?”
 

“It’s a long story; I’ll tell you everything when we get to the inn, and I expect you to return the favor.” Eric said with a surprising edge to his voice.

Jacob just nodded. They turned the horses around and tried to catch up. The forest seemed to become less congested the farther they rode. In a strange way, the more thinned-out the trees became, the more it put their minds at ease. Thinking there is something hiding behind every tree and bush can quickly test a person’s sanity.

Now that the path was opening up a bit, all three could ride side by side if they chose to, but instead they each decided to fall into their own space as they rode in a line. The sun was no longer breaking through the treetops here and there when it got a chance. Instead, now it was constantly shining brightly through the sparse leaves.

Even when they were still surrounded by thick forest, very few sounds could be heard. The surrounding silence made the clopping sound of the horses’ hooves seem alarmingly loud, as if every living thing for miles would hear them coming.
 

Eric could hardly wait to get to the inn, and not just because of the weariness sinking into his bones, although that certainly was a factor. He had so many questions for Jacob, and Jade too for that matter. But the first thing he needed to know was what had happened after he left, who was still alive. Was his dad—Henry—still alive? He was so full of questions he thought he would burst.
 

Jade lifted her hand without ever turning back to look at them and pointed off to the left. A good many feet off the path grew an absolutely enormous tree. It seemed odd, given there were hardly any trees in this area at all. There were several horses tied to a thick wooden rail at the base of the tree, but there didn’t seem to be any inn. That is, not until they got closer, anyway. On the other side of the tree was a retractable set of steps leading up into the thick leaves, and sure enough, the inn was more or less a giant tree house.
 

They pulled up to the rail and gingerly slid off their horses, relieved to have finally stopped. Jade seemed to be struggling when she attempted to dismount. Eric rushed over to help her off, assuming she would just shoo him away and refuse the help, but he was wrong. She braced herself heavily on his shoulder as he helped her down, continuing to lean against him for a moment before proving she could stand on her own.
 

A sudden feeling of guilt flooded through Eric. The girl had several wounds, he knew, but her brave face had fooled him this whole time. Just because she didn’t complain every two seconds didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt badly. He had practically forgotten. Being shaken around while riding a horse on the long trip surely didn’t help.
 

The three of them walked around to the side of the stairway. Jacob and Eric each eyed it suspiciously. It looked light and flimsy.

“It’s retractable in case of attack,” Jade said in a weak, tired voice. “Yes, I know what you two are thinking. The attackers would just climb the tree or find some other way up. It’s not humans they are worried about.”
 

Jacob and Eric glanced at each other, wondering exactly what that meant.
 

Jade rolled her eyes at both of them. “Many of the threats that roam these parts are certainly dangerous, but not very smart. This method has kept them safe for a long time.” She let out a long sigh, and her expression turned to one of sadness. “You two really know nothing of the world, do you?” With that, on unsteady legs she began her ascent. There was a thin rail on both sides, so it posed no problem.

The inn, called “The Acorn,” was truly enormous once they got a good look at it. It seemed surprising a tree could hold something that big, no matter how strong it was. At the top was a thick wooden door with an ornamental knocker in the shape of a hog’s face. The scent of pipe smoke and cooking hit them before they opened the door.
 

Jade went in first, not bothering to knock, while the other two followed. The place certainly had a festive feel to it. A man wearing a green suit with matching hat and brown boots sat in the corner as he played a lively tune on his fiddle. He stomped his feet as he played, while everyone around the room clapped along. Two couples were dancing while being heavily encouraged by all the loud folk at the bar, who had clearly been drinking for a long time. They whistled and clapped at them as the couples spun in tight circles around the white-walled room.

The art hanging on the walls was rather odd. Oil paintings of carnivals and men wearing face paint and colored wigs made the place seem more like a playroom for children than an inn.
 

Jade hobbled straight over to the tall, balding man behind the bar. “I would like a room for the night. Do you have one with three beds?” she asked in a voice that was barely even a whisper.
 

The thin man seemed more occupied with washing the mug he was holding than listening to anything she had to say. He finally responded in a surprisingly shrill voice for a man his size. “We have a couple of rooms left with two beds only, but I can have an extra blanket and pillow sent in if you want.” He kept wiping the same sparkling glass over and over, as if there were some kind of stubborn spot he couldn’t remove. He held it up in the air to get a good look before continuing to labor over it.
 

“Yes, that will be fine. Thank you. I would also like whatever tonight’s special is sent to the room, as well as whatever those two...
gentlemen
...would like.” She gestured towards the boys, who were gazing around the room as if they were lost. She just shook her head and threw a few coins on the surprisingly clean bar.
 

It seemed the barman had finally removed the invisible spot. He set the mug down. After collecting the coins with both hands, he gave a little salute. “No problem, little lady. You go on now and I’ll make sure those two know where you went.”
 

Jade gave a very weak nod in reply. She took the key he handed her and slowly walked off towards the room. There were no stairs leading to an upper level, so Jade just assumed all the sleeping rooms must be down the hall.
 

The two boys took a table in the corner, since oddly enough there were no booths. In fact, there were only a handful of tables, but it made no difference, since the only two couples in this room were dancing and everyone else was at the bar.
 

A waitress with a tight green dress and gaudy pearl necklace marched over to their table. She had her red hair tied up in a bun and was holding a black tray balanced on one hand, while the other was strapped across her flat stomach. “Hi boys,” she said with a wink. “Your friend already went to your room, so I guess it’s just us tonight.” She bobbed her head back and forth as she spoke, smiling widely. “She also paid for your food. Pork roast is the main dish tonight. Shall I bring two?”
 

The two gave each other an awkward glance. They weren’t really in the mood for this right now.

Eric finally spoke up. “Yes, that will be fine. Thank you.”

The waitress winked one last time, flashing all her teeth like a piranha and strutting away in her tight dress and black high heels.

As soon as she was out of sight, Eric slammed his hand on the table in front of Jacob. “Tell me what happened after I left. Is Henry still alive? Does Bryer even exist anymore? Tell me everything.”
 

Jacob leaned way back in his chair. With a solemn look on his face, he quietly replied, “Nothing happened.”

Eric’s eyes grew narrow at the coy statement. He was not in the mood for this.

Jacob, reading his friend’s expression, quickly continued, “After you left, nothing else happened. Those things left the second you were gone. I went to your house to find you, but found your dad—er, Henry—instead.”
 

Eric’s face turned white with the way his friend said that.
 

“Yes, he told me everything,” Jacob said in a whisper while nervously rubbing his hands together. “Well, almost everything.” His head shot up and he looked Eric right in the eye. “He told me to bring your horse and catch up with you as fast as I could. I know you’re headed to Taron. I can help you!” His voice picked up intensity as his fist came down hard on the table. Then he drew himself in again, trying to keep his emotions in check. “Eric, I have a message for you.”

Eric wasn’t sure he wanted to hear this.

“Henry said it was real for him too.” Jacob paused a moment to let that sink in. “He is sorry he didn’t tell you before, but as the years went by, he learned to love you like a son. That’s why he didn’t know how to tell you.”

Eric’s eyes began to tear up, and his lip quivered with swelling emotion.
 

Jacob reached out and touched his friend’s hand. Leaning in close, he said, “There is one more thing.” The words hung in the air for a bit. “He said the daily physical training, the books he had you read every day—well, they were no accident. He was preparing you for a higher purpose.” Then Jacob’s head sank back down again as he whispered, “It was his job.” A long minute went by. “That’s it. That’s all he told me.” Then his voice came strong with renewed energy, “But I’m here now. I’m really not sure what is going on, but I’m not going to leave you. We’ll get through this, OK?”
 

Eric was all choked up and just couldn’t find the words.

When the waitress came back with their food, they were both sitting in silence with solemn expressions. She almost started her usual flirting but thought better of it, as she could feel the serious mood in the air.

The two of them ate in silence, listening to the fiddler and watching the couples dance.

“I think I’m going to turn in. You coming?” Eric asked his friend in a voice heavy with fatigue.
 

“I think I’m going to just sit here a while,” Jacob replied, trying to force a smile. “I’ll be in soon. You go on and check on Jade, make sure she’s alright.”

“Alright then,” Eric replied, trying to force a smile of his own. Away he went, down the hall. His heart was heavy, but he still wanted answers. A part of him hoped she was still up so he could get some answers tonight, but the other part of him felt guilty for even thinking that; she was hurt and needed to rest.
 

When he got to the room, he opened the door slowly. Jade was lying on the floor with the extra blanket and pillow she’d had the bartender bring in. Eric winced at the sight. For starters, she was hurt and needed a bed, but for another thing, she had paid for this room. Eric stepped over her and knelt down. He gently rocked her shoulder a few times. She groaned a bit before opening her eyes.
 

He whispered in her ear, “Don’t you dare sleep on the floor. Here, let me help you.” He lifted her up gently and set her on the bed, covering her up. He couldn’t help the strange thoughts that struck him after that.
She is really light for such a fierce fighter,
he chuckled to himself, but the other thought surprised him even more. He wanted answers from her so badly, but now all he cared about was her getting enough rest and feeling better. As he lay down on the floor, he said to no one in particular, “We’ll talk in the morning. Good night.”

Chapter X

T
HE
ROOM
WAS
LIT
UP
with morning sunlight gleaming through the shades, which were not doing their job very well.
 

Eric was the first to wake. He stretched hard, with hands and feet going opposite directions, threatening to rip himself in half. A sudden jolt of soreness served as a reminder that he had been on the floor the whole night. Sitting up gingerly, he continued a series of stretches and flexing to try and remove some of the stiffness. He glanced over at Jade, who slept peacefully. He considered waking her but thought better of it. She needed rest more than anything else. Jacob lay face down in the other bed, snoring like a bear. Eric laughed to himself, looking at the two of them. It’s not that any of this struck him as funny, it was just that this was the most peaceful he had felt in a while, and it would seem they also felt the same. No one was chasing them right now. At least, no one he knew of, anyway. He had a feeling this peaceful break would not last, so he wanted to embrace it for as long as possible.
 

Quietly opening the door to the hallway proved to be difficult, as it creaked and popped with every inch. He didn’t bother looking back to see if anyone had stirred or not. He quickly shuffled out and made the short walk into the common room, flagging down the first waitress he saw. After ordering breakfast for three and asking to have it sent to their room, he slowly walked back, wondering if they would be up by now and also accepting the possibility it was his fault because of the loud door. As he carefully opened the door and peeked in, he saw his caution had been wasted, as both were awake now, stirring in their beds.
 

There were no chairs or furniture in this room aside from one nightstand with a mirror attached and a filled washbowl on its base.
 

“Breakfast will be coming shortly guys,” he said rather softly, considering he was unsure of everyone’s mood this morning. Nobody answered, so he remained unsure. Moving over to Jade’s bed, he cautiously took a seat beside her. “How are you feeling this morning?” he asked, softly placing a hand on her shoulder.

 
She tilted her head a bit, looking at him with messy hair wrapped around her face. “I’m much better than yesterday. Thank you,” she said, brushing the hair from her eyes with one hand and lifting her shirt with the other, revealing a cut that looked like it had healed significantly. It had very good stitching, and was covered with some kind of brown herbs she had dressed the wound with. There were other cuts, certainly, but they were not as deep as this one had been. Whatever those herbs were, they were performing nothing short of a miracle, as far as Eric was concerned. “Eric, we really need to—”