The Golden Symbol (36 page)

The Lorkon immediately screamed and began thrashing, trying to escape, spitting, practically foaming at the mouth. The convulsions started and Jacob watched as the immortal being turned into a withered old man.

Keitus continued trying to get away.

A snap sounded through the air, and by the agony on Keitus’s face, Jacob realized a bone had broken. The old man stopped struggling. He panted, eyes closed.

“Kill me,” he whispered.

Azuriah released him. “That is not my decision.” He motioned to Dad. “The choice is yours, King Dmitri.”

Keitus moaned, rolling to his side.

Dad strode down the steps toward his father, stern, powerful. Jacob got goose bumps. His dad really
was
a king!

“There’s a girl on a faraway planet who would like to come home. The agreement was that we had to bring something of yours in exchange for her release. I think we’ll deliver
you
instead.”

Keitus glared, and a shiver made his whole body quake. “I should have destroyed you when I had the chance.”

It looked like Dad wanted to say something spiteful in response, but he paused and shook his head. “I’m sorry you didn’t—I really hate to see you so disappointed.” He smiled, then turned his back on his father. He looked at Azuriah. “Send a message to Renforth—tell him we have a delivery for him and that we expect him to allow us to Key directly there.” Then he sent a glance to Jacob. “Get that Key ready.”

Jacob nodded.

Azuriah called for a Minya and sent it to Renforth while Jacob went to check on the Makalos, holding a section of his robes against the cut in his arm.

They’d slumped to the ground, completely exhausted. There probably wasn’t anyone who
wasn’t
exhausted.

“Sorry,” Kenji gasped. “We would’ve intervened . . . earlier . . . but fell unconscious.”

“It’s okay,” Jacob said. “You did really well.”

Just then, Aldo and the Fat Lady came trudging through the forest, the branches thrashing around them.

“You know,” the Fat Lady panted, her hand on a tree, ducking when it tried to whip her. “You could have opened the link for us too. It’s a long walk from Azuriah’s fortress.”

Jacob half grinned. “Sorry—didn’t think about it.”

“What did we miss?” Aldo said, trying to see into the clearing.

“Everything. Keitus is human again.”

Aldo looked disappointed for several seconds, but then a huge grin spread across his cheeks. “We did it? We did it!” He turned to the Fat Lady, grabbed her hands, and tried to spin her around.

She barely budged, though. Her body was too heavy for him to spin. Instead, he threw his arms around her and they laughed.

Azuriah called for Jacob to come. “Renforth insists that we bring him his new prisoner tomorrow at this time. He’s in a good mood and has granted me permission to allow anyone who’d like to enter his world to do so through a link created by your Key.”

Jacob looked at his watch. The whole day had gone by—it was nearly six.

Dad nodded. “I’d hoped we could go earlier than that, but we do need to spread the word that it’s all over and get some work done.” He motioned to Keitus. “What do we do with him in the meantime?”

“Put him in my dungeon.”

Azuriah looked at Jacob.

Jacob didn’t need to be asked. He ran up the steps and opened a link to Azuriah’s fortress, then watched as Dad forced Keitus to his feet and led the old man up, then down into the dark stone building.

Keitus was secured in a cell, his broken arm splinted, and Aldo and the Fat Lady asked to guard him first. That was fine with everyone else—the two had spent a lot of time there and seemed to be the most comfortable with the place.

Jacob closed the link to the dungeon, then opened one from the manor to his home in Mendon. He shouted the news about Keitus, running through the house and out into the backyard.

Several of the injured people were there, being watched over by Sweet Pea. They cheered, tossing whatever they held into the air—hats, paper cups and plates, newspapers.

Then those who could walk crowded around Jacob, wanting to hear the details while Sweet Pea bandaged Jacob’s arm. Jacob and Dad, who’d followed him through the link, took turns telling the story. It was the best time Jacob ever had telling about an experience—the audience was enthralled, the emotion colors nearly completely green, and so bright that the people were almost impossible to see. It made Jacob’s heart swell—they’d done it! They’d won the war and defeated the Lorkon!

Dad spent ten minutes walking around the injured people, shaking their hands, thanking them for their help, and receiving congratulations.

Jacob wasn’t surprised to see that many who’d fought for Keitus were there, heads down, shame in the air around them. He smiled. At least Dad wouldn’t have an empty kingdom to rule.

Word spread quickly and everyone gathered in the backyard, where Dad decided they could spend the night. Jacob watched as friends and strangers alike straggled from the house and manor to the backyard and started pitching tents. He frowned. One person was missing. Aloren. Where was she?

He grabbed Sweet Pea as the Makalo passed. “Have you seen Aloren?”

The Makalo shrugged. “A few minutes ago, she was with Kevin by the shed we took apart. You might start there.”

Jacob knew which shed Sweet Pea was talking about—they’d used its door to Key the Lorkon away a couple of months ago. But why was Aloren with Kevin? His heart did a somersault. Were they getting back together?

He couldn’t stand it—he had to go find them. His hands started sweating as he circled the house. He bit his lips, trying not to let his thoughts go out of control. She
wouldn’t
get back with Kevin. She
couldn’t
.

The shed came into view.

There they were—standing by each other. Not right next to each other, but Jacob still wished they were farther apart. He almost laughed at himself and his silliness—at least they weren’t holding hands or looking at each other like lovesick doves.

“Jacob!” Aloren said. Without a glance at Kevin, she dashed across the yard and threw her arms around him.

Whoa. He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he hugged her back. She really
did
like him!

Kevin half waved, then walked out of sight around the side of the house.

“What were you and Kevin—”

“Just making sure things are good between us. Oh, and he wants to ask Tani out. Wanted to see if you’d be okay with that . . . I told him I thought it would be . . .?” She looked up at him, the question in her eyes. “It is okay, right? You wouldn’t be disappointed or jealous?”

Jacob looked into her eyes. “Tell him he’s totally fine—my heart belongs somewhere else.”

“Oh?” Aloren’s gaze flicked down, then back to his. “Where?”

Jacob couldn’t help smiling at that. She was flirting with him! “I think you already know.”

She swatted his shoulder. “I want to hear you say it.”

He ducked his head,
wanting
to do what she asked, but saying those words was so hard! And he didn’t know why. Curse his shyness! “Aloren, I’ve liked you since . . . well, almost since the first time I talked to you.”

“
Almost
?” She scoffed.

“Yeah. I mean, you did treat me pretty rotten for a while there.”

“Whatever!” She smacked him again. “
You
treated
me
badly!”

She laughed and Jacob joined her—he couldn’t believe how good it felt to laugh. And especially with the girl he’d liked for nearly a year.

Finally
.

Chapter Twenty-three: Renforth’s Palace

Renforth’s throne room didn’t seem nearly so big now that most of Jacob’s friends from Eklaron were in it.

Jacob stood by his father and mother, with Keitus in chains kneeling in front of them. Renforth still hadn’t acknowledged their presence, but Jacob didn’t mind the wait. The former Lorkon was about to be permanently taken off his hands.

Last night and all of today had been long—Jacob and every other able-bodied person had combed the forest, looking for survivors. Those who fought for Keitus had been offered the chance to join Dmitri. If they did, great. If they didn’t, Jacob had Keyed them to August Fortress, where the Argots would keep them contained.

Dad said that in a couple of months, they’d check again to see if anyone wanted to switch loyalties after being stuck there. With Jacob’s talents, they’d know whether the people were sincere or not.

Of the humans, every adult Jacob knew, apart from Mom, Aldo, and the Fat Lady, had been injured, though none as seriously as Gallus. He was still sleeping off the potion the Fat Lady had injected into his Lorkon wounds. As soon as he was healthy again, he’d be heading up a group to go to Tadrys to get the sick people there.

Jacob wished he could be there, in Tadrys, to see the expression on that nurse’s face—Lish—when Gallus and Onaly kept their promise. Based on her personality, she would definitely remember and would be waiting, stern and strict. He hoped not too many had died in the meantime.

Even Dad was covered in bandages. But his arm was tight around Mom’s shoulders and his other hand held Amberly’s.

Jacob sighed. Mom and Amberly were safe.

Mom told them all about Keitus’s frightening visit to the manor—she and Amberly had been at a window, Mom trying to keep Amberly from getting bored by pointing out the different kinds of trees, when the Lorkon had approached.

They ran into Queen Ara Liese’s old room and hid under the bed for several hours while waiting for the manor to empty. Keitus had stationed a guard to watch over the Lorkon potion, but sometime during his watch, the man left—presumably when the horn was blown and his fellow soldiers needed help. Mom and Amberly had again been free to roam the house. They chose to stay hidden under that bed as much as possible, though, which is why Jacob hadn’t seen them.

He leaned against Mom’s shoulder, still feeling the emotions of nearly losing her and then finding her again. He couldn’t believe how close he’d come to not having a mother. He didn’t want to—
wouldn’t
—allow himself to imagine life without her.

Jacob exhaled slowly. He felt Aloren’s hand on his back and smiled, wanting to turn around and hug her. Dad and Mom wouldn’t approve, though. Not here, in Renforth’s palace. The Shiengol might have been stuffing his face, but Jacob knew he was probably watching his visitors closely.

After Renforth finished eating a huge slice of what looked like some sort of pastry or pie, he finally called for Keitus to step forward.

Dad and Jacob lifted Keitus by the arms—the old man was so skinny, Jacob barely felt like he was holding anything—and set him in front of Renforth.

Azuriah stepped beside them. “Renforth, I present to you Keitus, formerly Ramantus, king of Troosinal.”

Without even looking at Keitus, Renforth turned to a woman. “Bring the girl.”

It seemed Onaly was waiting just outside the throne room. She dashed through one of the many openings and ran straight to Hayla, her mother. They held each other, crying, oblivious to the many eyes on them.

Renforth leaned forward in his throne, peering at Keitus. “This?
This
is the mighty Lorkon king?” He laughed loud and deep, the sound echoing along the massive granite and marble walls.

His laughter finally died off and he continued staring at Keitus. Keitus glared back, but didn’t say anything. The colors that swirled in the air around them showed that Keitus was angry and determined, while Renforth was merely amused and bored.

And apparently, Renforth didn’t care how determined Keitus was because he sat back in his chair, wiped his face with a napkin, then threw the napkin at Keitus’s feet.

“He’s not worth my time. Not even a
fraction
of my time!” Renforth chuckled. Then, with a flourish, he stood from his throne, pushing his robes aside. “You’re welcome to leave now,” he said to his visitors. “I have other matters to attend to.”

“What about Keitus?” Dad asked.

Renforth shrugged. “The deal is that he stays and I do with him as I see fit, correct?”

“Well, yes.”

“Good.”

Renforth nodded to a man in the corner, then left.

Jacob and Dad met eyes. What was that all about?

But then the man nocked an arrow to his bow and raised it, pointing at Keitus. He released the string.

Jacob shut his eyes. He’d seen enough death over the past few days and didn’t need more memories. But he knew the arrow hit its mark when the room erupted into cheers.

Keitus—Ramantus—would never again have the opportunity to lie, steal, or murder his way to positions of power.

The Lorkon king was finally dead.

Chapter Twenty-four: An Important Event

Jacob smoothed the dark blue suit Mom had insisted he wear, inspecting himself in the floor-to-ceiling mirror in his new room in the castle. The suit was one of Dad’s royal suits and the silk fabric was covered with gold decorations. He couldn’t wait until Aloren saw it.

In half an hour, Dad would be crowned king. Jacob’s heart fluttered, just thinking about it. So weird. And awesome.

Speaking of awesome, it had been really cool to see the changes in Maivoryl City.

Surprisingly enough, Eachan and Myler had started those changes. That had been a shock to everyone. When Jacob and his family arrived, the city was already being populated with normal people.

Apparently, Eachan had gone to Troosinal to recruit for his—and their—new king. He’d returned with over two hundred men, women, and children. And he had really gone all out with his goal to prepare the city.

Huge, ornate gold-and-green flags hung all along the streets. Eachan made sure they were replicas of the ones that had been there before. Flowers had been planted. Grass cut. Windows replaced. Broken doors mended.

Mom cried when she, Dad, and Jacob walked the streets, following Eachan as he showed them everything he and Myler had done. Jacob knew she greatly missed her parents and that the city reminded her of them, but he also knew her tears were tears of joy.