Ember (62 page)

“Is this about what Sylvanus said? About the
army?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I said. Another
sob broke through.

He searched my face, pulling my head
down.

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter? I know
that you’re—” He stopped suddenly, eyes shifting behind me. “Why is
that book up there? . . .”

His tone was haunting. His eyes moved to me
and I just stared back at him, taking one slow step back. He
re-intensified then, moving up and grabbing my shoulders.

“Tell me what you
did
. Eve, tell
me.”

The tears spilled down my eyes. There was a
long paus0e in which I realized that I didn’t have the will to
resist his questioning. I spoke softly.

“I talked to the Gaeln.” I tried to smile.
His face was pained. “They’re going to go with you, they’re going
to help fight the Meoden.”

He didn’t lighten at all. He just leaned in
and looked down at me. I didn’t need him to speak for me to tell
what he was asking:
Then what’s wrong?

“I just . . .” my head dropped. “I’m just not
going with.”

He darkened furiously, grip tightening on my
shoulders.

“Like hell you’re not. I don’t care what you
told them. We’re going back,
now.
” He started to pull me
harder. My breath broke and I struggled against his grip.

“Why are you
doing
this?! This is what
we came for! This is what you
need!
”

He looked back at me, pausing in his steps.
“No,
this
is what I need.” He moved forward, kissed me, then
wrapped me in his arms tightly.

I just broke into more sobs, head buried into
his chest.

“You’re trusting in something you know
nothing about, we can fight them without the Gaeln’s help.”

My crying continued. I wanted to go along
with what he was saying, but I knew in my heart it wasn’t true.
Inescapable resolve was filling me, and I knew if I was going, I
had to make it sooner rather than later. Fiercely, I reared my head
back to eye him.

“All the boys will die, Jaden.
You’ll
die. Is
that
what you want?” I pushed away; his face was
strained. “I
won’t
let that happen when I could stop
it.”

He swallowed, eyes widening, as if he could
see he was losing me.

“I’m not letting you leave,” he forced
out.

My brow dropped in grief. Then my head shook
slowing, feet moving backwards.

He groaned, face panicking.

Tears started to spill over again.

He took my face in his hands as if that way
he could control me. “
N
o.”

I placed a hand on his cheek and looked up at
him, taking in the shape of his features, his enraged expression,
fierce eyes, and firmly pressed lips. My breath escaped me. I
couldn’t believe how lucky I was, even if I was losing him.

“I love you, Jaden.” I whispered. Then I slid
my arm behind me and placed it on the silver book.

The next thing I saw was black. . . .

ONE month later . . .

“So that’s the last of them then,” said the
plump, sullen-faced man. He was sitting on a velvet cushioned couch
in a small, well-decorated room.

“Besides the smaller groups. But they pose no
real threat,” answered Thoran, the taller man with course features
that sat beside him on the sofa. A yellow fire warmed the space
around them.

Cornelius pursed his lips. “I suppose this is
the best shape we’ve been in for years.”

He gave the other man a weak smile.

Thoran sighed. “Try not to sound too excited,
my friend.” His voice was thick with sarcasm.

They met eyes, falling only a moment before a
knock pounded on the door.

Thoran slid his gaze over. “Come in.”

A young man with light hair walked in. Face
worn, expression blank. He seemed to hesitate before wrapping
around the corner to the larger part of the room, eyes fixed to
something in the hall. Then he sighed and looked to the older
men.

“Just got back from the east border, it was
clear - nothing but stragglers.” He declared it curtly.

The taller man on the couch nodded. Cornelius
grinned warmly at him.

“Thank you, Ikovos . . . you really didn’t
need to go on again that time, but I’m sure your presence made all
the difference.”

The boy stared for a moment, then simply
nodded once.

The room was awkward, silent. Thoran broke
it. “Go get some rest, Ikovos. Make sure Jaden does too.”

“Can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “We
already told Tirk and Luther we’d take their shifts. I’ll check in
tomorrow when we get back, though.” He turned toward the door
without pause.

Cornelius stopped him. “Ikovos, ah . . .
Sophie had an idea of putting on a sort of celebratory feast in the
cafeteria.” He smiled. “Something to assure the boys all is well. I
thought you could—”

The boy’s arms flinched, eyes hitting
Cornelius darkly. The stout man sobered and Ikovos started to walk
off again.

“How long do you plan on staying like this,
Ikovos . . . ?” asked Thoran. His volume increased. “Jaden, get in
here.”

There was a pause, then a dark-haired boy
walked stiffly into the room. His face was hard and somewhat
beaten, obviously as fatigued as Ikovos. His eyes were distant, but
they hit Thoran duly.

“It’s been a
month,
” said Ikovos.

Thoran nodded. “Yes, one month and the
entirety of the army set to destroy us has been defeated.
Much
to be grateful for.”

Jaden scoffed. Ikovos just drew his mouth
into a firmer line.

I understand how you feel boys,” began
Cornelius, clearing his throat. “I miss her too. Though I’m sure .
. . not as much.”

Both of them cringed at the words, removing
their eyes from the man.

“I don’t expect you to get past it quickly.
But for the sake of the younger boys, you could try to be around at
least a bit more.”

Jaden’s mouth drew coldly. “I think that
there’s enough people here watching out for their interests.” His
eyes shifted to Thoran.

Thoran’s jaw tightened.

“It was no one’s fault, Jaden,” said
Cornelius, rising firmly. “
She
made the choice that, if you
remember, saved us all.

Ikovos looked down grimacing.

Jaden sneered. “Oh, yeah, the Gaeln. They
were a
big
help for all of the
three weeks
that they
were here. What is it? One life gets you twenty days? Maybe next
time we can get a special in bulk. There’s plenty here to trade
with.”

“
Jaden,
” reprimanded Thoran, he held
the boy’s eyes hard. “You belittle her sacrifice with your
words.

The boy kept his gaze hard and cold for a
long second, then he broke, eyes hitting the floor and wandering
about. No contention remained in the room. Only sorrow.

Cornelius was especially narrowed. He took a
breath. “Take the extra shift for now. We’ll talk about the dinner
when you get back.”

Thoran also sucked in and the boys nodded
darkly. Then they walked out.

The short and tall man just looked up at each
other uncertainly as the door clicked shut. Outside of it Jaden and
Ikovos walked a fast pace down the hall, quiet for a very long
time. Eventually Ikovos spoke.

“They’re right, you know.”

Jaden looked over at him derisively, then
back. “I don’t care.” He continued walking.

Ikovos contemplated, then sighed lifting back
ahead. “Me neither . . .” It was barely a whisper, probably even
Jaden didn’t catch it.

The next hall they hit stopped them. A young
boy was blocking the path down the hallway almost as if he were
waiting for them. He had dark hair and chocolate brown eyes.

The older boys looked him over then Jaden
started to push by. “Watch out, Nathan.”

The small boy put a hand up. “
Wait.
”
Jaden sighed and looked down again. “You . . . you guys know Evelyn
. . . ?”

Jaden’s jaw clenched, features hardened, he
gave Nathan an irritated look.

Ikovos eyed the darker boy reprovingly then
bent down on his feet, expression sympathetic. “You miss her?”

Nathan shook his head, “No,” then adjusted.
“Well, yes, very much, but that’s not what I wanted to say.” They
waited. Nathan gave somewhat of a wince. “I know we shouldn’t have
been eavesdropping, but me and Trevor sort of heard the Gaeln
talking a few times, or a lot maybe . . . actually we were pretty
much just spying on them all the time . . .”

Ikovos smirked and Jaden patter the top of
his head. ‘That’s great, kid. You—”

“I wasn’t telling you so you could
congratulate me,” said Nathan, pushing his hand off and eyeing up
at him.

Jaden looked a bit surprised.

Nathan shook his head. “I’ll be in trouble as
it is. Trevor told me not to tell you guys because you’d disobey
the Masters again, but
I
don’t care, I’d rather get Evelyn
back even if it is disobedient, and I know that’s wrong, but—”

Jaden interrupted him, dropping down beside
Ikovos with an intense look. “Nate, what are you talking
about?”

Nathan paused, looking into the severe faces
of both older boys in turn, then he took a breath.

“I think I know how we can find Evelyn.”

End of Book One