Ember (42 page)

He leaned forward. “I'm saying all this to
tell you that you proved me wrong . . . and that doesn't happen
often.” My heart skipped. That was unexpected. “Things have been
chaotic of late, I don't have the time to spend on spare charity
cases . . . But that's not what you are, and I treated you as
such.”

I couldn't believe the words that were
passing his lips. I would have refused so much credit, but he said
it all in the same inarguable way he said everything else.

He lifted his eyebrows. “I suppose there are
some things I can learn from the younger generation still. . .
.”

Silence fell. The candles of the room rippled
softly, the only sound was the wisp of an occasional turning page.
The whole mood was almost eerie.

“Evelyn, do you know how most of the boys
came to be here?” his voice was low, serious.

My eyes widened internally, face turning up
to him. “No.”

He tightened his jaw as if considering.
“You've met some of the younger ones.” Nathan, Trevor, Jacob . . .
their faces flashed through my head. “We negotiate with the Meoden
because we must, but make no mistake, they are evil creatures.” His
eyes focused on me, hands folding together. “They go into towns,
into homes. They murder, torture, and worse. Sometimes on a small
scale, a single family or an inn on the outskirts . . . but often
whole colonies at once.”

My chest tightened. I remembered some of this
from the dark book, and it filled me with grief.

“When they're done the women won't survive.
The men are usually killed right away, as are many of the boys . .
. the ones that aren't have the worst fate of all. They twist them,
change them, into something much more harmful than any Meoden could
ever
be.”

“I don’t . . .”

He leaned forward. “You know surely, Evelyn,
that there is little as wicked in this world as what is at the
heart of every man.” My breath shook. “The Meoden make sure this
comes to rule them.”

I looked down.
So the boys here . . . were
from those homes . . . ?

Thoran took in a breath. “We do what we can
to keep the creatures out. When they do get through, we try to see
to it that those left alive aren't lost.” He nodded around. “That
is the case with most of those here now.”

My heart sank at the thought of pour Nathan
and Trevor, so young, their families, mothers, sisters . . . and
what would have happened to them.

Suddenly a realization hit me. A fierce anger
rose in the pit of my body. My eyes shot to Thoran. “Did that? . .
. Is that what happened with Ikovos and Jaden?”

Thoran looked surprised. I was too avid to
regret showing my concern. His eyes held. “It is not my place to
say . . . but I will tell you that they have not had easy
times.”

My chest was rising heavily. I looked
off.

Thoran readjusted his arms. “I did not tell
you this to upset you. And you must not let it take over, yourself.
I told you so that you will understand why we do what we do, and
what it has cost those committed.”

I met his eyes.

“I came to ask you if you were capable of
accepting the grief of the truth, so that you can help fight it.”
My eyes watered. He wrapped his hands around mine. “But I can see
already that you would not return to blissful ignorance while
others suffer.”

I blinked. Tears spilled. “Of course not . .
.”

He smirked, tightening his grip. “I am glad
to hear it.” Then he released, widening the smile, the atmosphere
seemed to lighten around us immediately. “You don't know how
valuable it will be to have another offense artisan in the
order.”

I smiled, feeling more at ease around the man
than I ever thought I could.

He took a gulp from his mug. “You'll need to
keep training of course. Are things going well with Jaden?”

There was something more to the way he said
it . . . not that I should be surprised. Adults aren't stupid and I
already botched up with Sophie a few times, which he could very
well have heard about.

“Yes,” I confirmed, anyways. “He's very
supportive, and Ikovos helps a lot too.”

He nodded once. “That's good. As of now
they're the only ones that know about your magic use, correct?”

My eyes checked around us, suddenly
suspicious. “Yes. I think so . . .”

He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “I think we
should keep it that way. For a while at least.”

I nodded in agreeance, but wondered at the
reason.

He must have read this. “I imagine the boys
would have a tendency to make quite a big ordeal of it, and right
now . . . well, they don't need distractions.”

My eyes dropped. This was it, the thing I'd
been sensing since the meeting. The reason he and the other Masters
hadn't been around, the reason they all looked so worn out . . .
something was happening. I bit into my lip.

“You should know that you won't have as much
opportunity to train in the following months. Jaden's detainment
ended today. He and Ikovos share most of the external
responsibilities, which are only intensifying. They're going to be
quite busy.”

I sucked in a breath at the words. It
reminded me of when they'd disappeared for three days . . .

That was horrible. And now I'm sure it would
be even worse. I'm so used to having them around almost
constantly..

Thoran nodded to me assertively. “That's why
I'm sending you on their town trip with them. They go once a month
and they're already overdue.”

My eyes widened with surprise, but Thoran
kept on.

“It will be a good opportunity for you to
train . . . And I trust that you'll take great care to keep things
appropriate throughout?”

I nodded profusely. “Yes. Of course.”

He laid his hands on the table. “Good. I
already let Ikovos know that you would be going. . . . Now, do you
have any questions you'd like to ask before we end?”

I bit my lip. That was a loaded sentence, I
had a
million
questions to ask.

. . . But for tonight . . .

I shook my head. “No. You've already told me
so much. Thank you.”

His eyes lifted with a smile and he leaned
up. “Alright then. I'm sure you'll be leaving early, so you'd
better get some sleep.”

I stood up as well.

“Good luck on the trip. I look forward to
seeing you progress in your skill.”

I almost wanted to bow my head to him
respectfully . . . too many idealistic books I guess. Instead I
just bobbed it once. “I'll work hard. Thank you again.”

He gave me an approving look, then grinned.
“Goodnight.” Then he turned, heading for the door.

I was expecting to sigh heavily as soon as he
left the room, but . . . I didn't.
I guess by the end I wasn’t
that scared any more.

I picked up my book and walked through the
room.

To think that someone like
him
could
be impressed by
me
,
believe
that I was supposed to be
here. I tightened my hand securely. Today had been one of the most
fulfilling of my life. I'd finally used magic, and most of all,
everyone I cared for was safe and close.

I didn't think about all that Thoran had said
until I was lying in bed, preparing to sleep. The Meoden, the boys,
all the families lost . . . and tomorrow I would be going on a trip
with Ikovos and Jaden, a fact of which I was both nervous and
excited. I spent the next while trying to decide whether I would
tell them about what I'd heard or keep it a secret . . . To do as
they wished and never ask about their pasts, or to press them
further . . .

I fell asleep, still undecided.

~ ~ ~

“. . . KNOCK, knock, knock.” The end of a
long line of pounds came into consciousness.

I squeezed my pillow, settling back to
sleep.

The rhythmic knocking came again. I rolled my
head over. It was still dim in the room. I yawned again, stretching
up. “Coming.” My eyes narrowed when I saw Tanis leaping around on
the shelves of the bookcase, but I shook it off.

When I opened the door Ikovos was standing in
front of it. He didn't look morningy at all, well . . . only in an
appealingly disheveled sort of way. Not like me who I knew was a
laughable mess, but not like Jaden who I absolutely never caught
looking sleepy.

“Morning.” He smirked. I knew he was used to
my early appearance by now.

I smiled back, unreasonably wide. “Hi.”

He let out a short amused breath, then
straightened. “Ah . . . did Thoran tell you we were going to Rizenn
today?”

I nodded, recalling with a hand to my temple.
“Um, yeah . . . he said you and Jaden were going and that he wanted
me to go with you . . .” I rocked my head in realization. “Which is
why you're here.”

One side of his mouth tipped up. “You got
it.”

I ran a hand through my hair. I had showered
the night before, but had been too tired to brush it, I'm sure it
was a disaster.

“Right . . . well, it'll just take me a
minute to get ready.” I yawned. “Uh, sorry—” then gestured in “—Do
you . . . want to come inside, or . . . ?”

He shrugged. “Surely.”

I moved back, leaving the door open for him.
“I'll try and hurry.”

“No rush,” he assured as I walked into the
bathroom with a change of clothes.

I caught my face in the mirror.
Eh, it
isn’t so bad . . . I just need to embrace the wild look . . .
though I'm not sure that the pink goes.
My lips were still
oddly saturated from Adzamaruha's spell. I shrugged, then rinsed my
face hurrying on to getting dressed.

“How did it go with Master Thoran?” asked
Ikovos from the other room.

I assumed he meant last night . . . it was a
little awkward to answer like this. “Um,
good.
It went
good.”

I tried to keep from falling over as I pulled
up my dark, straight-legged, pants. They had ties on the side that
left a bit of skin showing up to my hip. I wondered exactly what
Sophie was thinking, but I couldn't really go out and grab a
different pair.

“What did you go over?” he asked.

I threw my shirt over my head. “
Ah
. .
. a lot of stuff actually. He wants me to keep training,” I added.
My shirt was white and flowy, almost like a tank-top, only it had
off the shoulder sleeves.

I ran some fingers through my hair quickly
and picked up my clothes.

“Did he mention anything especially
interesting?” asked Ikovos.

I opened the door amidst his question. He was
tracing a finger along the edge of a book on the shelf. His eyes
turned immediately to meet me, expression pensive.

“Yes,” I answered truthfully.

He seemed dissatisfied, and I think I knew
what about. Still, I went over to put my clothes away without
further explanation, then put together a couple things for the
trip. When I turned around he was closer.

“And?” he questioned.

I almost ran into him, but regained my
footing shuffling past. “
And
, what?” I grabbed my blanket
then walked back over to my pack.

“
And,
what did you discuss that was
especially interesting?”

This is really driving him crazy,
I
tied the top of my bag tightly,
but if he isn’t ever going to be
forthcoming with me on the subject, I’m not going to tell him what
I know either. . . .

“Is there something you want to ask, Ikovos?”
I flipped around as I said it. Then gave him a brave look before
walking towards the door.

He grabbed my wrist, stopping me. He looked
down, blue eyes striking.

I sunk.
This is what happens when I try to
be on top.

His gaze was intense. He looked like he would
say something . . . but then he just released me, sighing and
shaking his head.

“Sorry . . .”

I straightened. “No. It's fine. . . .”

He ran a hand back through his hair until he
was scratching the back of his head in his usually manner, then
grinned. “I'm just tired, forget that. This is going to be a fun
day.”

I nodded. “Yeah . . .”

Then he walked towards the door.

I sighed.
Maybe I should have just told
him the truth . . . that Thoran was about as talkative about his
past as he was.

I headed after Ikovos towards the door, but
Tanis stopped me, leaping onto my arm. I looked down and he chirped
once.

“What, do you want to come with?”

He chirped again.

I looked up to Ikovos for permission. The
amused face he was giving made me realize that not everyone
considers it normal to talk to animals.

“I don't care,” was all I got.

I shrugged down at Tanis. He twirled around
excitedly, then leapt into my knapsack.

As we made our way to the cafeteria, we
passed the high room full of sleeping boys. I hadn't been up early
enough to see them like this in a while. It was still dark. When we
entered the kitchen it had that chilled morning feel to it. Ikovos
headed straight the pantry to pack supplies. Every sound he made
echoed across the room.

I leaned uselessly back against the
counter.

My arms crossed.

Then I sighed.

Coffee would be nice
. . .

The percolator sat on the counter, along with
the beckoning grounds. My eyes slid to the stove then back.

Nah. Evelyn, you can't do that much.

I'd only seen the coffee made fresh once.
Only seen the stove lit once . . . a certain boy did it using magic
and, while I’m sure there were matches around somewhere, I didn’t
know another way.

Ikovos was even deeper into the closet now.
With a checking glance around the room I leaned down and opened the
stove door.

No wood.
Darn, that would have made it
easier.
The spell to conjure fire away from the hand was only
slightly different than the first, but supposedly significantly
more difficult.