The Sphere (The Magi Series #2) (36 page)

“Dristel!” she exclaimed when she showed him the ancient
city off the coast of Chile.

“Is it now in ruins?” Elijah asked.

“Uh huh,” Becca answered.  “One more.”

“I’m going to assume that place is also a ruined Magi city,”
Elijah said.

“Yes,” said Becca.  “It’s called Orphea.  Don’t you get
it?”  She looked quite pleased with herself.

“I guess so,” Elijah answered.  “There are cities next to
places where you think the cubes are.”

“No,” Becca corrected.  “I think the cubes are
in
the
cities.  Or, the ruins.  It can’t be just coincidence that there happens to be
old, destroyed Magi cities in the exact places we think the cubes are!  And
better yet, if this is actually true, think about how much we’ve narrowed down
the search!”

Elijah peered over Becca’s head and stared blankly toward
the dim light of a burning torch on the wall.  It did make sense after all. 
There weren’t that many Magi cities to begin with, so it did seem a little odd
that there would be four ruined Magi cities in perfect symmetry.  Plus, he
could have sworn he remembered Olivia saying something about there being a
ruined city where she was going to get the wind cube.

“But why do you think the Magi would hide the cubes in the
middle of the cities?” Elijah asked.

“I don’t know,” said Becca.  “Maybe they weren’t trying to
hide them.  Maybe they were trying to protect them.”

Elijah stood up and stretched.  He paced around the table
trying to wrap his head around everything while Becca continued sifting through
her pile of books.

So the Magi broke the sphere apart into the cubes and sent
each of them off with the nobles from different families.  Olivia had explained
to him that the nobles wanted the cubes hidden so that no one could find them. 
But what if Becca was right?  What if the Magi wanted the cubes protected and
not hidden?

“Of course!” Becca shouted.  Her voice echoed loudly throughout
the near-empty library.  Elijah almost jumped out of his skin.  “Listen to
this:

Many of the early Magi cities were associated with a
single element on which the city was founded.  Percicus, for example, a city in
Western Europe was filled with many wind controllers.  Westhaven, a city still
standing today just outside London, was known for its focus on water
controlling, although Westhaven is much more diverse today than many years
ago.  And Starling, an ancient city in present-day New Zealand, was known for
fire.”

Becca looked at Elijah.  “See?  It fits!  The cubes went to
nobles of certain cities that were known for one of the four elements.”

“Why?” Elijah questioned.

“Probably because they of all people would know how to
protect their own element.”

Becca and Elijah were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. 
Apparently their discovery would have to be put on pause because at that very
moment, the long, lanky frame of Thomas Benefield appeared as he descended the
staircase into the library.  Elijah ducked his head.

“What’s he doing here at this time?” he whispered.

Becca looked at Elijah strangely.  “What’s the matter?”

“It’s Thomas.”

“Yeah?  So?”

Suddenly Elijah realized Becca may not have had the same
reservations about a kid from Malpetra as everyone else.  It made Elijah feel
slightly guilty about his quick judgment of Thomas, but he still felt it in his
bones that something wasn’t right about him.

“Do you happen to know him?” Elijah asked, wondering if the
change in tone would help his guilt.

“No,” Becca said sharply.  “Why?  Because he’s from Malpetra
I should know him?  It’s been two years since I’ve lived there remember.”

“I didn’t mean…It’s just…”

“Spit it out, Elijah.”

“I just wondered if you had run into him before here that’s
all.  No offense intended.”

Becca didn’t answer.  She followed Thomas with her eyes as
he walked toward the back bookshelves.  His upper body didn’t seem to move at
all.  His arms hung down lifelessly at his sides as his lower body did all the
moving.  Thomas only glanced their way once as he passed and then he
disappeared behind the back bookshelves.

“Where’s he going?” Becca asked, intrigued.

“You see!  He’s weird.  It’s not that he’s from…y’know.”

Becca stood up and walked in a direct line toward Thomas.

“Hey!  Pssst!  What are you doing?” Elijah whispered.  He
looked around for anyone else so he wouldn’t be the only person witnessing the
murder of Becca Uribe.  “Come back!!!”  Elijah had the urge to duck behind his
chair when Becca also disappeared behind the bookshelves.  Two minutes later,
she returned with her eyes open as wide as they could go.

“He’s gone!” she said.

Elijah stood up.  “Good.  Then let’s get out of here!”

“No seriously,” Becca replied, looking back at the shelves. 
“He’s not anywhere!  It’s like he just vanished into thin air.”

“Let’s hope he did!” Elijah said.  “We’re done here anyway
right?”

Becca looked back again as they headed for the stairs. 
“Yeah.  But we need to talk to the others.  And we need to pack.”

They began heading up the stairs just as cluster of other
students started trickling into the library, most looking like zombies.  Just
then, the faint and panicked voice of a boy could be heard from deep inside the
library.  Elijah saw Toby Bradshaw running as fast as he could toward them, carrying
books and trying to put on his coat at the same time.

“Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!” he bellowed as he
scampered up the stairs.  Elijah briefly wondered if Thomas had come at him.

“What’s wrong?” Becca asked, looking slightly amused.

“I fell asleep!  I’ve been in the library all night!  I was
supposed to be studying for my finals, but I fell asleep!  And I think I’m
late!”  Toby’s curly hair was smashed to one side and he had red lines on his
face where he apparently had been sleeping.

“Well then,” Elijah said, “I’m sorry for keeping you.  Run!”

Toby raced up the stairs and was gone before Elijah and
Becca burst into laughter.

Elijah woke up Paul, Isaac, and Adam while Becca retrieved Hannah
from the girl’s Novice Hall.  Elijah wished he could have traded places with
Becca when Paul began throwing everything he could get his hands on at Elijah
when he opened the door and told him to get up.  Isaac continued to snore away
despite Elijah practically jumping on top of him to get him to wake up. 
Thankfully, Adam was already up.

When they were all dressed, they met in the dining hall,
skipping their class with Master Constantine for the third session in a row. 
Elijah wondered if Constantine even noticed.

Becca explained her theory to everyone as she illustrated
her main points on a napkin.  Surprisingly, no one looked as confused as Elijah
felt in the library earlier that morning.  Maybe he was more tired than he
thought.

When Becca finished, Isaac looked anxious.  He chewed on his
fingernails and said, “Wow!  I’ve always wanted to see Europe!”

“You’re not going on a sightseeing vacation,” Paul said.

“Still,” Isaac said.

“How will we get there?” Hannah asked.

“We could use the transport system,” Paul suggested.

“The what?” Elijah asked.

“The transport system,” Paul said.  “It’s mostly used by our
diplomats and international elders.  Sometimes merchants.  We have our own
transportation that takes only Magi around places.”

“Like what?” Elijah asked.

“Ships mostly,” said Paul.  “Although I’ve never seen them,
so I don’t know.”

“I’ve seen them,” Becca said.  “We have a couple ports on
the coast here, plus there are some among the common people.”

“How do they keep from being noticed?” Elijah asked.

“I’m not sure actually,” answered Becca.

“So we need to get to Spain,” Paul stated, getting back to
the main point.  “How exactly are we going to accomplish that?  Even if we have
our own transportation, six kids asking for travel to Spain isn’t exactly going
to fly under the radar.”

“What about cargo?” Isaac asked.

“What about it?” Paul replied.

“Isn’t there an entire network of cargo that the Magi ship
around on the common people cargo ships?”

“Are you suggesting we wrap ourselves up in blankets and put
a postage stamp on our foreheads to Spain and then hop our way onto a boat?”
Paul asked.

“It was just a thought,” Isaac said.  “Geez.”

“I don’t see why we couldn’t just try the transport system,”
Hannah suggested.  “If we have the money, what do they care?  I’ve been on one
of the ships and they honestly don’t ask any questions.  If they do we can say
we’re on some sort of field trip or something.”

“Don’t you have to prove you’re a Magi?” Elijah said,
thinking about the logistics of such a secretive system not even bothering to
ask for proof of identification.

Hannah shrugged.  “If you’ve got the money, why would you?  Besides,
I think having the right currency would be proof enough.”

“So it’s settled then,” Paul stated.  “We’ll use the
transport.  Where’s the nearest one?”

“It’s just on the Pacific coast here,” said Becca.  “It’s
not too far from Malpetra.  It’s too far to walk, so we’ll have to ride.”  She
looked over at Isaac and everyone else soon followed suit.  As soon as Isaac
noticed everyone looking at him, he turned bright red.

“Oooooh no,” Isaac said.  “No!!!  I’m not doing that again! 
I told you how much trouble I got in.”

“Relax, man!” Paul said.  “I know where it is.  I can get
them.  I know where the soldiers watch up that way anyway.  I can probably do
it unnoticed.  But only if someone packs for me.  I hate packing!”

“I’ll do it for you,” Isaac said.

“Great!” said Becca.  “What time should we meet?  The rest
of us can leave through Button’s secret way.  Can you get the horses out that
way?”

“I can have them meet you up a tree if you need me to,” Paul
said.

Becca rolled her eyes.  Elijah thought he detected the
smallest smile cross her face, something she rarely did for smart remarks,
especially from Paul.

“We’re traveling at night, right?” Isaac asked.

“I think we should,” Elijah replied.

“So do I,” said Becca.  “It’ll be safer.  If we make good
time through the night, it should be about a three day journey, according to
the map.”

“So then let’s meet at midnight,” Paul continued.  “I can
have the team ready to go then.  That’ll give us a few hours of riding before
we need to set up camp and hide from the Maliphists.  Is that ice cave still
available?”

Hannah shuddered.

“Oh,” Paul said, his entire demeanor changing when he
noticed Hannah.  “Sorry, Hannah.  Anyway,” he continued.  “Since we’re leaving
at night, can we go back to bed?  I’ve got a big day ahead of me what with
sneaking all the way to the Northern Gates and all.”

“Actually, that’s a good idea,” Elijah said, beginning to
feel the effects of waking up before sunrise.  “We should all try to get some
sleep.  Who knows when we’ll be able to sleep soundly again after today?”

Elijah hadn’t realized how tired he was until he woke up to
the sun setting, and he still felt like he could sleep the rest of the night. 
He rolled out of bed and grabbed his pack, stuffing in clothes he figured he
would need for a long trip.  The early December weather hadn’t been as cold as
Elijah remembered it getting in Savenridge, but that could all change in an
instant.  Even though the ancient Magi city of Orphea was near the coast, he
had no idea what kind of weather he was about to encounter.  He packed his
warmest gear and some lighter gear in case the weather was warmer.

At exactly 9:00, the time they agreed to meet, Elijah walked
to the door of Mr. Button’s quarters and knocked.  A reluctant Mr. Button
opened the door, almost avoiding eye contact, and ushered Elijah to the back. 
Elijah thought he noticed a few more gray hairs on the sides of his head, the
only place he could grow hair.

Adam was sitting by the wall on the right side of the room. 
Hannah and Becca were already stationed at the back of the room going over a
list of items they remembered to pack.

“Did you pack extra socks in case you step into a creek or
something?”

“Yes.”

“Shirt?”

“Yes.”

“Undershirt.”

“Got ‘em.”

“Toothpaste?  Toothbrush?  Hairbrush?  Soap?  Shampoo?”

“Check.  Check.  Check.  Check.  And Check.” 

Elijah was fascinated.  He had the same sized pack that
Hannah and Becca had, but it seemed they were somehow able to fit in twice as
many clothes as he did.  Plus, he couldn’t even remember if he packed
toothpaste.

Isaac came rushing in a half hour later carrying two packs. 
His hair was matted to the side.  Elijah was reminded of Toby, only Isaac’s
hair wasn’t curly, so it stuck straight up.

“Sorry guys!” Isaac apologized out of breath.  “I lost track
of time.  Did Paul end up making it out okay?”

“I don’t want to hear that!” Mr. Button lectured from his
desk without looking up.

“Sorry,” Isaac again apologized.  “So did he?” he asked
again, in just a slightly lower volume.

Becca rolled her eyes and shook her head at Isaac.

“I saw him leave his room at midday,” Adam stated.

“That should be plenty of time,” Isaac said.  “I hope.”

“Well, let’s get started then,” Elijah said.

The five of them talked about their trip.  They packed food,
water pouches, and a tarp.  Becca brought maps and compasses, plus literature
on the history of Orphea.  Isaac brought a couple large kitchen knives in case
they needed some basic defense, although they agreed any encounter with a
Maliphist would not be fought with kitchen knives.  But since they were still
all relatively new to using the elements in battle, the cutlery made them feel
a little safer.  They also packed plenty of rope and were able to just squeeze
in an already-made infirmary kit.  And despite Becca’s strong objections, Paul
brought his crossbow, which just barely fit inside the pack.  Becca tried to
convince Paul to leave it, but Paul only ignored her.  Elijah hoped they
wouldn’t have to use any of the packed items except for the maps, but he knew
the odds were most likely against them.