Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) (11 page)

“There is a meeting in town between Mr. Haroun, the townsfolk, and the Legion. After which, we will go and hastily construct a cabin for you and Mr. Harvus, though I cannot fathom why it must be done in such short order.”

Augum could think of a few reasons. He noticed Bridget and Leera’s royal blue robes folded neatly on a chair in the living area. His heart panged. Suddenly he felt alone. He missed Leera terribly. He missed Bridget’s smiling face, her level head, her friendship.

“Augum, is there perhaps something you would like to tell me?”

Augum felt the blood drain from his face. Great, Mr. Okeke
did
think the worst of him. “No, Mr. Okeke,” he said meekly. He returned to his soup, keeping his eyes low, mind once again racing with ideas. They could tie Harvus down and run away with the artifacts. No, that would still leave them short of a library trip—

“Augum, is Mr. Harvus … is he mistreating you?”

Augum’s spoon briefly froze in midair before continuing to his mouth. How was he supposed to answer that? And what could Mr. Okeke possibly do about it anyway? He had no arcane powers, and if he got involved, who knew what Harvus would do to him or Jengo in revenge? It was no secret the two quietly despised each other. Yet something about the way Mr. Okeke was looking at him told him he could trust the man with what he longed to tell him, to tell
someone
.

Augum quickly checked the windows, half expecting to find Harvus’ pale pudgy face peering in. Seeing them dark and empty, he left the spoon in the bowl and sat up, jaw firm. “Harvus is keeping the Agonex and Orb of Orion hostage.”

Mr. Okeke immediately slammed the table with his fist. “I knew it, that foul dog. If I had any arcane—”

“Mr. Okeke, I never did anything …
untoward
… with Leera—”

“Of
course
you did not! You have not done anything any of us have not done before manhood or womanhood, and although I was opposed to it at first, my own son is going to marry a young Tiberran woman when they turn of age next year. Young love is precious, especially in these dark times, and we as a community must nurture it. Although I urge strong caution with young love—there is no need to rush into marriage, for example, for you have your entire lives ahead of you—I do now recognize people
must
be allowed to make their own choices, their own mistakes, and choose their own paths.”

“I … I can’t tell you how much it means to hear you say that, Mr. Okeke.”

“You are almost a man grown, Augum. You have a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders, far more than any youth I have ever met, or probably ever will. Far more than I think healthy for one so young. You
will
make mistakes. You
will
know failure. But I have no doubt—none whatsoever—that you will make the best of those situations, and learn from them.” Mr. Okeke finished his speech with a slow, proud nod that lifted Augum’s spirits even more.

Augum swallowed and nodded his thanks, not knowing what more to say. But a creep of shame still remained—he only hoped he could live up to Mr. Okeke’s expectations.

Mr. Okeke glanced toward the door. “Mr. Harvus has to realize this is
not
Canterra. I have never liked the man. There is something … not right with him.”

“But without Nana, we’ll need him to get to the library in Antioc.” If he’d even take them there. Everything was in question at this point. They had to solve this Harvus problem, and soon.

“He is cunning. What does he want?”

“I think he’s only waiting for Nana to pay him, then I think he’ll quit. Or at least I hope he will.”

Mr. Okeke pressed his hands together. “Augum, do you honestly believe he will give up the Agonex and the Orb of Orion even after he is paid?”

Augum bit his lip in thought. Harvus had to know the immeasurable value of both of the artifacts, yet who would buy them from him? Only the Legion, and the man hates the Legion. But surely even he wouldn’t do such a thing … would he?

“I guess not … err … I’m not sure.”

Mr. Okeke nodded slowly. “Do you mind if I speak with Albert on the matter?”

“Of course not, Mr. Okeke.” If only Harvus had a weakness—suddenly it occurred to Augum that he
did
have one—

“Wine,” he blurted.

“I’m sorry?”

“Harvus likes wine.”

There was the sound of footsteps and talking outside. Mr. Okeke gave a knowing nod and fell silent. Soon the door opened and in spilled the entire throng—Jengo, Mr. Goss, Leland, Bridget, Leera, and lastly, tight-lipped Mr. Harvus, whose beady eyes immediately found Augum. There was a victorious glint in them.

“Those Legion soldiers are taking a mighty risk indeed, Leopold,” Mr. Goss said, continuing his conversation from outside. “I think them brave men indeed. Perhaps we could all work together somehow.”

Harvus cleared his throat in a reminding fashion when Mr. Goss had not placed his shoes in a straight manner, something the trio had long learned to do. For a moment, Mr. Goss was taken aback, but then happily arranged his shoes, chortling, “You are quite particular, Leopold, almost as particular as my dearly departed wife, bless her soul.”

Augum noticed Leera staring at him, but when he turned in her direction, she looked away, cheeks reddening. His insides buzzed like a scion.

“Perhaps a quick nightcap?” Mr. Okeke offered with a smile.

“I am afraid we still have work to do,” Mr. Harvus said. “The cabin for Augum and I needs to be built, and I simply cannot do it myself.”

He
could
do it himself though, Augum thought venomously, for he was an
earth
Warlock. Only he didn’t want to risk getting his hands dirty!

Mr. Okeke retrieved a bottle of wine, readying to uncork it. “Surely one drink will not slow us swarthy men down?”

Harvus’ gaze fell greedily upon the bottle. “No, I … I better not. Perhaps another time, Mr. Okeke. But a piece of chocolate would be nice, thank you very much.”

Mr. Okeke’s face fell. His eyes met Augum’s and they briefly shared a look. He put the bottle away and found some chocolate, passing it around to everyone. Augum used the opportunity to stand near Leera, who still refused to meet his gaze.

“So, uh, how is Haylee?”

Bridget flashed Augum a strange warning look. It suddenly occurred to him Harvus might have threatened them, and he moved away from the girls, not waiting for a reply.

They stood around eating chocolate in silence, the tension as thick as porridge. Mr. Harvus was the only one who seemed unconcerned, adjusting his hairpiece—now dry and properly combed—and glancing around the room. There certainly was no joking about that mop of fluff now. In fact, nothing about the man seemed remotely funny at the moment.

“I have never really noticed these before, Mr. Okeke,” Harvus said, approaching the carved ebony figurines. “What are they, and why are they so … grotesquely malformed?”

“Sierran nightmare carvings. When a Sierran has a nightmare, he is supposed to carve it into a figurine. He will then not have the nightmare again.”

“How … superstitious and utterly barbaric, I must say.” Harvus turned. “And I mean no offense of course, Mr. Okeke, I am sure you yourself do not believe in such … peasant fancies.”

Mr. Okeke’s ebony face flushed. “But are you not a believer in the gods, Mr. Harvus?”

Harvus stiffened. “I am indeed, Mr. Okeke, but I hardly think believing in the gods is superstition. Such talk is considered heresy in Canterra, and is liable to result in the separation of one’s head from one’s body.”

“But Canterrans consider warlocks heretics as well, do they not? Witches, in fact, if I am not mistaken.”

The corner of Harvus’ mouth twitched.

After an awful silence of the two men glaring at each other, Mr. Goss hoisted Leland with forced cheer. “Perhaps now would be a good time to build that cabin, would it not, everyone?”

Harvus caught himself. “It would indeed, Mr. Goss. Come, children, put on your shoes, change into your robes, and help your mentor and your elders build a cabin for Augum and I.”

The group gathered themselves and left, sharing fleeting looks.

Discoveries

They built the cabin on the other side of the stream. It had taken a lot longer because Harvus refused to use his arcane powers to help, except to fell some logs. He did not touch anything with his white gloves either, except his hairpiece of course. The trio and Jengo performed most of the labor using Telekinesis and saws Mr. Okeke had brought from his cabin. He and Mr. Goss did what they could, sawing and setting logs into place; even Leland helped, squishing mud between the cracks. It was a hard-won effort that took them past midnight, all to complete a crude one-room cabin with one shuttered window and one door.

Throughout, Augum had not exchanged a single word with the girls, other than giving them instructions or asking for help. It was as if they were meek servants suddenly, too shy to reply. Even Mr. Goss noticed, once asking Leera if anything was the matter. She immediately said, “Nothing at all, Mr. Goss,” and hurried off to help Bridget.

At the end of the night, they were tired, sweaty and muddy. Augum’s palm light had dulled with his exhaustion—all he wanted to do was go to bed.

After the trio mutedly bid Mr. Okeke, Mr. Goss, Leland and Jengo goodnight, Harvus had them wash up in the stream. He then made them watch as he cast a protective spell on their cabins, as well as one more spell on Augum and Leera. Augum thought it another touch alarm spell, except this time it had to do with the cabins somehow.

“Just in case you get any impure ideas,” Mr. Harvus said with a cold smile. “Now off to bed with you. I will be back soon.”

Augum retreated to the empty cabin. He watched Harvus depart, taking the Orb of Orion and the Agonex with him. As soon as he was gone, Augum opened the door, finding Leera and Bridget already standing in the doorway of the other cabin across the stream. Both girls placed a finger to their lips. Bridget glanced to the hill and quickly scurried over.

“Aug, we’re in serious trouble—” she began in a frightened whisper.

“I know. Harvus took the Agonex and the Orb of Orion as hostage.”

“That’s not the worst of it,” Bridget said. “I don’t think he’ll give them back even after he gets paid.”

“What did he say to you?”

“He told us that if we don’t start behaving he’ll teleport both of us to a place no one will ever find us, and I
believe
him, Augum.” She swept her long cinnamon hair out of her eyes and sighed. “Leera misses you terribly.”

Hearing that filled his heart with bittersweet joy. “Tell her I miss her too—” He reached out to his friend for comfort but she recoiled.

“Better not, you know—”

“Yes, of course.” He fidgeted. “I told Mr. Okeke about it all. He’ll tell Mr. Goss. Not sure what they can do though.”

“Good.” She paused, glanced at the ground. “I’ve been a fool, Augum. I shouldn’t have been so trusting—”

“Don’t even mention it.” He smiled.

She swallowed, nodded, and returned a half-hearted smile. “Listen, I was thinking you need to focus tomorrow, really learn Summon Minor Elemental. The words to the spell are ‘summano elementus minimus’. Can you remember that?”

“I think so. Sunnamo elementus niminus.”

“No, you’re switching your n’s and m’s. Again—summano elementus minimus.”

“Summano elementus minimus. And the spell name is Summon Minor Elemental.”

“Good. Practice it just the way I said it—and make sure to hit the inflection on the last couple letters.”

“Right. Still a mouthful.” He glanced back at the dark hilltop. “You better go, don’t want you to get in trouble too—oh, and Bridge, stay on his good side if you can. One of us has to.”

“Good point. Good luck tomorrow,” and she ran back to Leera, who gave Augum a forlorn look.

“Miss you,” Augum mouthed.

“Miss you too,” Leera mouthed back, before disappearing inside.

Soon the light in their cabin went dark and Augum was left alone again. He curled up on the floor and waited, reciting the name and words to the spell, being particularly sure to nail the inflection. Sometime later, Harvus returned with a cozy bedroll, a pillow, washbasin, and blankets, but none of them were for Augum. In fact, Harvus completely ignored him, which suited Augum just fine.

* * *

“Time to get up, young man,” Harvus said in the morning. “We have a long day ahead.”

Augum had slept terribly on the floor. It had been a cold and damp night and he shivered through most of it. His brain was addled with tiredness, something he knew might affect his spell casting—if there was one thing being a warlock demanded, it was getting a good night’s sleep.

Harvus knocked on the girls’ door while Augum washed up in the stream. At least it was a sunny day. Birds chirped merrily. A light wind stirred the treetops. The snow was almost completely gone, though the incessant drip of snowmelt continued on, mixing with the bubbling stream.

Soon they were on their way to the Okeke home for breakfast, something Augum was actually looking forward to since Harvus never took breakfast with them, preferring to eat at the inn. Maybe they could come up with a plan together. But when they arrived at the Okeke cabin, Augum was disappointed to see Harvus invite himself in.

Mr. Goss stood in greeting. “What a nice surprise, Mr. Harvus.”

Augum exchanged a secret look with Bridget and Leera—that was the first time Mr. Goss had called Mr. Harvus by his proper title and not by his first name. Mr. Okeke had to have told Mr. Goss everything—but what were the two of them up to? They were smiling like a pair of conniving foxes.

There was a mild look of surprise on Harvus’ face as he took off his boots.

“How did you sleep, Mr. Harvus?” Mr. Goss pressed, offering a seat to the man. Augum noticed an extra bowl had been laid out on the table—they had obviously expected Harvus to join them.

“Very well, thank you, Mr. Goss.” Harvus picked some dirt off one of his white gloves. “Though I much prefer the privacy and comfort of the inn, of course. However, sacrifices have to be made for the good of all.”