Ethon (The Other Worlds Series Book 2) (10 page)

“October fifteenth, Will.” She glared at him.

Today was his birthday. Will blinked. How old was he turning again? Twenty-three? That sounded right.

Downstairs, the front door opened. Will glanced over his shoulder as a voice called out, “Olinia?”

“Is that Legann?” Will asked.

“Yeah, he’s coming back from school,” she replied. “I didn’t pick him up.”

“Olinia?” Legann yelled again, starting up the stairs.

“Aren’t you going to answer?” Will raised an eyebrow.

She shook her head. “He’s already on his way up to us.”

“Ohreen doveem naunt!” Legann exclaimed the Eveon expression to Will’s back.

He let out a short laugh and stood, facing Olinia’s younger brother. “Hi, Legann.”

“Will!” Legann nearly toppled Will to the floor as he yanked him into a hug, pounding him on the back. “It’s so great to see you! Wow, Olinia and I have missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Will noticed Olinia stand up behind him.

“When did you get here?” Legann asked.

“About an hour ago.”

Legann stared at his sister. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve been asleep. I woke up ten minutes before you walked in.”

“So,” Legann returned his attention to Will, “how has everything been in the Other Worlds?”

“It’s about the same as when you left.”

“The same?” Legann repeated, surprised. “How are Tiara and Archrin? Did Archrin ever find her?”

“Tiara’s doing just fine, but as for Archrin, I don’t actually know the answer to that,” Olinia said, more to herself than to Will and her brother.

“Why would you even know that?” Legann blinked.

“Because I just saw her.”

“Where?” Both Will and Legann blurted simultaneously.

She pulled a face and glanced at Will. “I saw her in your past.”

“My past?” Will frowned. There wasn’t much in his life that would merit Olinia traveling to it.

Legann looked genuinely confused. “How did you see Will’s past?”

“I’m assuming she Globed,” Will answered for her.

“But she can’t do that anymore,” Legann replied slowly.

Will turned to her. “Is that true? When did that happen?”

“It happened in the Vrenyx,” she answered. Her eyes flickered to Legann for a moment, and he blushed slightly. His eyes dropped to the floor as if he were suddenly very interested in his shoes.

The exchange caused Will to raise an eyebrow, but then he remembered what Trenton had told him. Olinia could hear everyone’s thoughts easily now. She must have replied to one of Legann’s internal opinions. He wondered if she could hear him now too. Maybe the Ethon air had changed his silence to her.

Olinia?
He thought.

If she could hear him she gave no sign of it. Instead, she returned her gaze, no, more like a glare, to Will’s face. “Now that you’re back, are you going to take us to the Other Worlds again?”

Her voice shook a little when she asked him. He furrowed his brow. “I will eventually, but we’ve got to wait for your brother. I don’t want to leave him in Ethon, too.”

She blinked. “Zedge is in Ethon?”

7

------------------

Zedgry sank down into a hard wooden chair and gratefully accepted the plate of food Milly placed in front of him on the table. “Thanks,” he murmured.

“Oh, no trouble at all.” Trenton’s maid smiled. She was always so pleasant. “It’s one of your brother’s favorites.”

That’s right. Zedgry had a younger brother, named after their father Legann. Apparently, everyone else knew this but Zedgry until he entered Ethon. Not a single person in the Other Worlds cared to mention that detail, not even his own grandparents. Now true, Zedgry had been sort of out of it for a while, under the influence of some sleeping drug, but it still was no excuse to not reveal an additional long-lost family member.

With a sigh, Zedgry took his first bite of Milly’s concoction. It appeared to be a pile of short, hollow noodles, drenched in some yellow sauce. He liked it. After a few more bites, he glanced up at Milly again. “It’s very good. What is it?”

“Macaroni cheese,” she replied. “It’s a simple American dish. I’m so surprised none of you have had it before.”

Zedgry nodded, unsure of what else to say. In Ethon, his cover was that he was an orphaned American, like his siblings. Trenton was supposedly a distant cousin, who having little family still living, chose to adopt them in their financial needs. Very kind of him. But if you asked Trenton, it was nothing in comparison to what Yrond did for him generations before.

“Oh, don’t forget to sign the documents on your bed,” Milly tossed over her shoulder as she headed back to the stove.

“Right,” Zedgry said between bites. “Thanks for reminding me.”

The documents she referred to were for something called a
passport
. Trenton was in the process of securing one for Zedgry. Apparently, in Ethon a passport was required for travel, even though it didn’t make much sense to Zedgry. Ethon had a lot of strange regulations.

As he finished his meal, he couldn’t help but think of the conversation that had taken him into this new realm. It had been with Will, back in Evedon just two days before. After Will agreed to go get some much needed rest, Zedgry decided to join his grandfather inside of Fuladrik’s home. What he found instead was Will standing in a hallway, shimmer stone in hand…

“What are you doing?” Zedgry asked, eyebrows raised.

Will whirled, the dark circles under his eyes clearly evident. “I’ve opened a portal.”

“To where?” Zedgry blinked. “You said you would go to sleep.”

“But I didn’t specify in which world I would,” Will pointed out.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ve got to get your sister.” He sighed, as if resigned to the situation. “I left her in Ethon.”

“Ethon?” Zedgry gaped. “I thought you said she was somewhere safe.”

“For her, Ethon is safe.”

Zedgry nodded once. “Alright, let’s go. What are we waiting for?”

“We?”

“You’re not leaving me behind. Who knows how long you’re going to be there?”

“I’m just going to pick her up,” Will answered. “I should be back in a couple of hours.”

“Good. No one will miss us while we’re gone.”

It was almost funny, looking back on that now. Will had been convinced that Olinia and Legann were simply waiting for him with Trenton. Unfortunately, Will hadn’t considered the possibility that time moved differently between realms. What Will had thought to be a quick in-and-out trip was transforming into an extended vacation.

When they discovered the real circumstances of Zedgry’s siblings, Will took off to meet up with them in Virginia since he already had the necessary paperwork for travel. Zedgry was left behind to get a passport of his own.

“Would you like more?”

Milly’s voice pulled Zedgry’s attention back to his plate. It was empty. Was he really done already? His stomach still felt empty. “Yes, please.”

While Milly refilled his plate, Zedgry glanced out into the forest that he had first arrived in. It had drizzled earlier that morning, but now the clouds were clearing, revealing pockets of blue sky. The odd mix of gloom and sun cast eerie shadows among the trees. Zedgry found it hard to look away, even just to eat.

“I see you fancy my woods.”

Zedgry visibly jumped as Trenton joined him at the table. He released a short laugh. “I guess I was too captivated to hear you come up.”

“Sorry to frighten you, lad.” Trenton raised a hand in apology.

“It’s alright,” he replied. “I shouldn’t have been day-dreaming. Have you heard anything from Will?”

The old man nodded. “He rang me when his plane landed. He should be to your siblings by now.”

Along with the discovery of having a brother, Zedgry was shocked to learn of Ethon’s transportation by flight and contact through mobile phones. Travel and communication were so simple in this realm. Electricity and the internet were other marvels that Zedgry had yet to fully understand. Will had not given Ethon justice when he would briefly speak of it back in the Other Worlds.

“We should be able to join them in about a week or so,” Trenton said, leaning back in his chair.

“Great.” Zedgry smiled. He was a little anxious to be reunited with his twin, and to finally meet his younger brother. Plus, it would be nice to see some more of Ethon before he had to return home.

:  :  :  :  :

When Sazx returned from his pointless drive across the Virginian countryside, he discovered Olinia and her brother were with the Key’s heir. Will had arrived while Sazx had been out. Had the drive actually calmed his nerves from the disturbance the princess had brought upon him, he might not have been ruffled by Will’s presence. However, since his one reason for disembarking from his drive when he did was so that he might catch a moment to communicate alone with Olinia, the appearance of the Key’s heir was most inopportune.

Sazx was well aware of Olinia’s preference for Will. He knew that she had once loved the Ethon. This much had been apparent during the little time he’d spent with her in the Other Worlds. But now, after so many months away without any form of interaction, her feelings for Will could have dwindled. She was certainly not the same person she was before she entered the Other Worlds. In a way, she had grown up. Visiting another realm with a completely different lifestyle had adapted her to its ways.

Even if the princess had changed over the course of her time within Ethon, she would still not belong to Sazx. Olinia wore Will’s Silver Heart. Sazx would never be anything more than her loyal defender. Despite Olinia’s willingness to kiss him that night, he knew that it did not mean to her what it had meant to him. Once again, he never should have allowed himself to give into his weakness. It wouldn’t happen again.

Watching Olinia now, Sazx could see that she was conflicted. Sazx didn't need the ability to read minds – he could see it clearly on her face. She was torn over Will’s return. The circumstance was causing her to lose her appetite. Her brother was obviously not feeling the most comfortable either though.

For Legann, the current situation was an awkward one. He sat beside his sister at one side of the table, while Will and Sazx were on the other. They had just begun the meal Olinia had ordered for them. She called it Chinese take-out. Will, a native Ethon, dove into it eagerly as Olinia picked at her food silently. After a few failed attempts at conversation, Legann resorted to simply stare at his plate. Sazx pitied him. To Legann, Will’s return was only positive. However, to his sister, it complicated her emotions. 

“So, where did you go today?” Legann asked Sazx in yet another endeavor to converse. 

“I drove to one of the battlefields and walked around,” Sazx replied, deciding to indulge Legann. Virginia was filled with old historical battlefields. After driving for an hour or so, it was hard not to find himself at one eventually.

“Oh, yeah?” Legann raised an eyebrow. “Was it the one I told you about yesterday?”

Sazx nodded. “It was oddly soothing to be in a place that once experienced the pain of war. For the first time in a while, I felt at home.”

“I suppose that makes sense,” Olinia said, lifting her eyes from her plate. “War is all you’ve known for so long that to take comfort in a place where men who could have encountered the same experiences as you seems only natural.”

She seemed to know him too well. Her insight only made her more stunning to him, even in her Ethon garb. Sazx had to look away from her face. He had learned that it was easier for her to know his thoughts when she could look him in the eyes. 

“The Dark reminded me of battlefields,” Will joined in, setting his fork down. “They have the same feel to me. Both are eerily cold the moment you step foot on them.”

Across the table, Olinia grimaced. Sazx guessed she was thinking of the Dark in her home world of Caprith. The Dark was a rotting prison her uncle started at the time of her parents’ death. It was the shame of Caprith. Sazx had always despised it. He was pleased to see the Eves overthrow it.

“Hey, I never asked you,” Legann turned to his sister, “did you talk to Porter today?”

“Who’s Porter?” Will took a sip from his cup.

“He’s a guy in one of my classes.” Olinia glanced at Legann. “I did see him, but not for very long. Our class was canceled.”

“What did you find out?” Legann took another bite.

“He’s a student teacher for DS.”

Sazx frowned. “Was that all?”

“Basically,” she said, dropping her eyes to her plate again. “He wouldn’t think of the other night.” Her vague answer convinced Sazx that she was purposely concealing information.

“What is this DS place?” Will asked.

“Not entirely sure,” Olinia admitted.

By now, Legann's food was gone. He pushed back his plate and stood. “I’m done.”

“You can’t clean up after yourself?” Olinia looked up at him.

He smiled sheepishly. “I figured you’d get it for me.”

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand toward the sink. Sazx watched as the plate flew through the air without Olinia giving it a second glance. He grunted. Living with Wends was still something he had yet to get used to.

“I think I’m going to grab that part for my car before the autoshop closes,” Legann told his sister.

“What part?” Will blinked. 

“I lost the lid to my washer fluid somehow,” he answered. “I just need to pick up another one. Want to come along?”

“Sure.”

Legann turned to Sazx. “Would you like to join us?”

Sazx eyed the princess. This could be his chance to speak with her privately, and yet, he didn’t feel it right for him to stay. If anyone should be alone with Olinia right now, it should be Will. Sazx nodded once. “I might as well.”

“What about you, Olinia?” Will smiled slightly.

She shook her head. “I’ll clean up here.”

:  :  :  :  :

Tiara returned to the exact location she had left from. She was on the floor of her room in Tlaid. The doors to her wardrobe were open in front of her. It looked like nothing had changed. That was good. She hopefully wasn’t gone for very long. With one hand, she pushed herself to her feet. Even though she traveled to the past, her present didn't stop to wait for her. Sadly, that one instance she’d paused time had not happened while Globing.

Globing. 
Tiara repeated the word inside her head. She liked that her gift had a name.

A knock sounded on her room’s door. She whirled. “Yes?”

“Tiara, are you ready?” It was Archrin.

She hurried to let him in. When she opened the door, he stared at her in surprise. “You haven’t changed yet.”

“I haven’t really been here.” She pulled him inside by his wrist and shut the door behind her, leaning back against it.

“Where-”

“I was in Ethon.” She cut him off. “Time took me to Will Patten’s past.”

Archrin blinked. “Why?”

“I don’t really know.” She frowned. “But Olinia went there with me.”

“The princess was here?”

“No.” Tiara shook her head. “She met me there. It was strange now that I think about it. I’ve never done that before.”

“So, what did you see in Ethon?”

“It’s more like what I learned from Olinia.” She ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. “She and Legann are trapped there. She begged me to come get her.”

“They both are in Ethon?” He raised an eyebrow.

“There’s more. Before Time took me, my brother was here.” She winced. “He basically said that our war isn’t over.”

“Which brother?”

“Trier,” she replied. Even though Archrin had never met any of her siblings, he knew their names and birth order. “Trier said the Fraers want me to learn to see the future.”

He stood very still. “Is it even possible to view the future?”

“If he says I can, then I guess so,” Tiara answered resignedly. “I’m to find a woman tutor, but the way he said it makes me think that she will find me.”