The Golden Symbol (30 page)

“They’re passing the entrance to Taga Village. The front line will reach the first traps soon.”

Akeno nodded, a cunning grin crossing his face. “Time to get to work.” He put his left hand on the tree nearest them.

The Makalo’s confidence and excitement calmed Jacob. Was it possible that Akeno really
would
do a lot of damage?

Matt turned to Jacob. “Where were the Lorkon?”

“Really far back—they’ve learned.”

“Who’s learned?” Gallus asked, jogging up to them, out of breath.

“The Lorkon—they’ve learned from their mistakes last time. They’re sending a lot of fighters first—they’re in the middle of the army, from what it looks like.”

Gallus pulled his sword down from its sheath on his back and flung it open, revealing the three long, sharp blades. “Good. We’ll have some fun before they arrive.” He stepped to the side, cocking his head. “What’s that sound?”

Jacob tilted his head as well, trying to hear. It wasn’t the drums. A sort of shrieking sounded through the forest, but not created by humans or Molgs.

“Not sure . . . let me check.” He Time-Saw and watched as the last wave of scouts was taken down by what looked like a bunch of bushes. What were those things? They were so familiar . . . Then he remembered. They were tarri—creatures the Lorkon used to keep people away from August Fortress. What were they doing? How’d they get here? He pulled back, frowning.

“Can Akeno control tarri?” he asked.

“Don’t know,” Gallus said. “Why?”

“Because there’s a bunch of them out there, fighting against the Lorkon army. Why would they do that, unless Akeno is controlling them?”

Jacob didn’t wait to hear the answer, but pushed into his vision again, watching as the tarri swarmed over the first group of fighters, including the huge Molgs who were beating the drums.

At first, it looked like the tarri were going to win the whole war. The Dusts they went up against either died quickly or fled in fear, and the humans started dropping like crazy. But the Molgs didn’t even pause or hesitate. They simply began pulling the bush-like creatures apart, ripping off their branches and scattering them.

Soon, there weren’t any tarri left.

Jacob turned to report to Gallus and Dad, who had arrived while he was Time-Seeing.

“It has to be Akeno—the tarri took down a bunch of humans and Dusts. The Molgs, though, destroyed all of the bushes.”

Just then, Akeno also returned, mentally. “Did you see the tarri, Jacob?” he asked, his eyes glowing.

Jacob nodded excitedly. “That was a great idea!”

“Only pure-blood Makalos can control creatures that are part plant. It’s something Onyev taught me.” He put his hand back on the tree, half smiling. His eyes glazed over as he focused elsewhere.

“Matt,” Dad said, “you got that Kaede Sap handy for Akeno?”

Matt lifted the canteen. “Yup. As soon as he needs it, I’ll be ready.”

Jacob stopped paying attention to their conversation as his vision shifted in front of him. Whoa. He was watching Matt
and
the Lorkon army. He frowned, concentrating as hard as he could, a dull headache starting between his eyes. Could he See both places at once? He squinted, feeling like his eyes were about to bulge from his head.

No—it was too disorienting, too nauseating. He hadn’t had enough time to practice this new part of his ability. Instead, he allowed his vision to move completely to the army, and the headache dissipated. There. That was better.

He returned to his body after several moments. “Akeno’s tarri slowed them down—they hadn’t even reached our first set of traps when the bushes attacked. That means they won’t get this far for at least ten minutes, I’d guess.”

Dad, Matt, and Gallus acknowledged what he’d said, while Jacob Time-Saw. Dad grabbed a soldier who was wandering by and had him go check on Coren. Matt leaned against Akeno’s tree, whistling and flipping a coin. Gallus swung his sword, probably making sure to stay warmed up and ready for the fighting when it came that way.

Someone—Aloren—called Jacob’s name and he turned, heart flipping inside his chest.

She stood near a huge tree apart from everyone else, beckoning him to her.

Jacob hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Dad and Gallus. But he needed to see Aloren. He couldn’t possibly know if it would be his last time. Biting his lip, he paused for a moment longer, then threw his worries aside and dashed across the distance, jumping a log and dodging a bush along the way. She backed up until they were around the tree where no one could see them. There were tears in her eyes.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, wanting to brush her tears away, but not sure how she’d react.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He really couldn’t think of anything she should apologize for.

“For dating Kevin.”

Yeah, she could be sorry about that. Jacob knitted his eyebrows. “You don’t need to apologize.”

“But I
want
to. I’m sorry for everything. For dating him. For ignoring you. Especially for ignoring you . . .”

Jacob threw aside his shyness and put his hand on the side of her face, gazing into her eyes. Her big, brown, sparkly eyes. How could he possibly tell her what was in his heart? That he really, truly cared for her? That hearing those words made his heart beat erratically and his brain turn to mush? He forgave her. He totally and completely forgave her.

She must’ve been able to sense it because she closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.

Jacob took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair. He wrapped his arms around her. Oh, how wonderful it felt to
finally
hold her like that!

Positive now she wouldn’t be offended, he kissed her forehead.

She snuggled against him more, and he grinned. He kissed her! He actually
kissed
her!

Okay, so it wasn’t on the lips, but it counted for something, right? He couldn’t
wait
to tell Matt! Oh, crap. Matt would only tease him for not kissing her on the lips. No way could he tell Matt.

“You’d better get back to your dad,” Aloren said, pulling away. She wiped a few tears off her cheeks and smiled at Jacob. She gave him another big hug, then sprinted off in the direction of the house, blowing a kiss to him as she disappeared between the trees.

Jacob sighed.

Aloren liked him. Aloren
liked
him!

Now he just had to survive the next day or so . . . then he’d probably be able to kiss her for real. And Matt would have to leave him alone for never having kissed a girl before.

When Jacob got back, Matt was giving Akeno some of the Kaede Sap. The Makalo was unconscious, his mouth hanging open. If anyone had noticed that Jacob disappeared for a few minutes, they didn’t say anything, and Jacob was grateful for that.

When it looked like Akeno was about to wake up, Dad turned to Jacob. “How far away are they?”

Jacob Time-Saw to the Lorkon army. “They’ve reached the tree—they’re about to cross the first trap.” He watched as about ten men fell into a huge pit that he knew was lined with spikes. “And they’re toast—it worked.” He pulled out of his vision.

Dad blew out a breath in relief. “Good. Let’s hope the rest of the traps are as successful.”

Jacob nodded, then returned to Time-Seeing. He watched as the front of the advancing army was taken down by archers stationed in the trees. “The archers are shooting now.” It amazed him, seeing how far and fast those arrows flew and how quickly more enemies stepped forward.

Coren was on the ground, silently giving orders, trying not to give away his position. He was in charge of the first section of the army. When all the traps had been spent, when Akeno had finished his part, Coren would step back and Dad would take charge.

Jacob knew better than to hope it wouldn’t get that far—the Lorkon army was far too huge. He sighed, returning to Dad and the others.

Someone shrieked and Akeno, hand on the tree, smiled. “That’s my cue,” he said. “My turn to take over again.”

Why would someone’s screaming cue Akeno? Jacob frowned, trying to remember. Oh, yeah. It wasn’t the scream itself, but what caused it. Akeno had set it so that when a certain trap was triggered, he’d be alerted. He’d then know it was his turn to fight once more.

Jacob Time-Saw. He searched for the Lorkon, but they weren’t anywhere in sight. Where had they gone? He could also no longer see any Dusts. Had they all been killed? Did they get scared away by the tarri? Then he saw Wurbies by the entrance to the village. They were surrounded by bodies of Dusts. They must’ve taken advantage of the confusion when the tarri came.

Jacob sent one more cursory glance over the army, looking for the Lorkon, then gave up, wanting to see what Akeno was about to do.

Vines sprang out of the ground. They wrapped around the legs of Molgs and humans. A trap keeping them in place! Awesome!

But then, the vines dragged the people into the earth. Their screams—loud enough for Jacob to hear—got cut off suddenly.

Jacob felt bile rising in the back of his throat as he watched hundreds and hundreds—possibly a thousand—of Molgs and humans get pulled into the ground. The dirt soon looked like it had been rototilled with red dye. In a couple of places, legs stuck up, completely motionless.

Disgusting.

After only a few moments, the vines stopped, and Jacob realized that Akeno must have run out of energy. He returned to the door and dropped to his knees next to the pale, unconscious Makalo. Matt was forcing Kaede Sap down his throat.

“We heard the screaming,” Dad said. “What was going on?”

Jacob looked up. “He used vines to pull people into the ground. A
ton
died that way—maybe even over a thousand.”

Gallus’s eyebrows shot into the air and he looked at Akeno with respect. “No wonder he’s out cold.”

“He’s coming back,” Matt said, fanning the Makalo’s face.

It didn’t take long for Akeno to get to his feet, the color back in his cheeks. He grinned at Jacob. “If you liked that, you’ll enjoy the next thing too.”

Jacob wasn’t sure about that—he was more concerned about how Akeno was doing. But the Makalo looked like he was ready and anxious to move on. Jacob changed his vision again, glad he wasn’t at the front of the army.

His mouth dropped when he saw what Akeno was doing this time. Huge trees bent and started picking out the leaders of the army, throwing them across incredibly far distances. It was like the Ents from the
Lord of the Rings
books, though Jacob knew they were being controlled by Akeno.

After the leaders had been taken care of, Akeno started tossing others, beginning with the largest of the Molgs.

Jacob cheered until he saw that the next huge wave of the army had just arrived. A quick glance showed that the Lorkon still weren’t in sight, and Jacob focused on the enemies. The humans and Molgs were all fully armored—he hadn’t even noticed that the last group had been lacking in that area. These Molgs weren’t as tall as the first, but they moved quickly and with an assurance that made them seem more dangerous, more formidable.

Akeno turned his attention to the leaders in the new army while the remnants of the previous battalion were picked apart by archers. No footmen had rushed forward yet and Jacob figured Coren was holding them back, letting Akeno control this part of the fighting for now.

After a moment, all the leaders in the new group had been tossed aside. The army hesitated. Jacob sensed their fear, saw it flowing in the air around them. Yes! He looked to the trees to destroy this battalion before they regained their focus.

But the trees had frozen, returning to their former positions. Akeno must have passed out again. Jacob pulled back where Matt was once again dribbling Kaede Sap down Akeno’s throat.

It took longer for Akeno to wake up this time. Jacob didn’t miss the worried expression Dad and Gallus shared.

Gallus knelt next to Matt, his eyebrows knitted. “Is he okay?”

“I think so,” Matt said. “At least, he should be soon.”

As soon as Akeno woke up, he got to his feet and leaned against the tree. “They’re going to break through,” he said. “My next part of the plan involves changing our locations as often as possible.”

An arrow whistled through the air, hitting the door frame next to Jacob. Jacob jumped back, nearly falling in his hurry to get out of range.

Gallus peered through the trees. “They’re coming!” He whipped around. “Jacob, Key us away. Akeno is right—we have to go.”

Jacob opened the link to the second door. Akeno had given them numbers and all Jacob had to say was “Mendon forest, door two,” to get there. The door was at least half a mile from the first.

Everyone followed Jacob through the link and he slammed the door shut, feeling skittish. That arrow had been meant for him—he was positive of it.

They were closer to the action now, which increased Jacob’s skittishness. Swords clanged, people screamed, and drums banged all around them. But for the time being, no one noticed them.

Dad put his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “I might have to leave soon to direct the next stage of fighting, once Akeno is done and they’re past Coren’s men.”

Jacob nodded and looked at Gallus as they all hid behind the door. “You’ll stick around, right?”

“As much as possible.” The black man tightened his grip on his sword, watching the fighting. “We’re protecting you. In doing so, we may be moved away.”

Jacob understood. He hoped that wouldn’t happen, though.

As soon as they stepped behind the door, which was set next to a massive maple tree, Akeno put his hand on the tree, his face slackening.

Jacob was about to Time-See to watch what Akeno was doing when he heard one of the Lorkon screaming and shouting at the army.

“Find Jacob and his Makalo! Find and destroy them!”

So much for Keitus wanting to keep Jacob for himself.

Jacob entered his vision, waiting to see what Akeno would do next. It took several seconds for anything to happen, but when it did, Jacob gasped and nearly dropped to his knees to get out of the way. He remembered in time that he wasn’t present in that section of the forest, though, and stayed on his feet.