Firemancer Collection (Fated Saga Box Set Book 1) (51 page)

Was this where Jae spent his missing time? With Juliska Blackwell? And why?

“What is he up to?” muttered Colin in frustration. He still did not trust Juliska, even though Meghan and the Svoda did, explicitly.  

Once again, though, Colin came to the following conclusion:
If I can’t trust Jae, who can I trust?
He could not question his only real friend in this place.

Colin wondered if Meghan would have any insight and decided to message her, later. It was time to check in with her, anyway. On the walk back to the Mochries, a leaf struck him in the head.

“Like she can read my mind,” he chuckled ironically. The letter was brief.

“Col, I’m leaving soon, just for a day or two, for the Initiation thingy with Ivan. I will let you know when I’m back. How are you? Sorry I haven’t contacted you before now, very busy training.”

Colin quickly recited his response.

“Doing fine. Well, not really I guess. Jae and his dad had a huge fight today. Very unpleasant. Apparently, Jae has not been spending as much time with his dad as we thought. He would not admit where he was spending his time though and stormed off. Please be careful, whatever you are doing with Ivan.”

Colin sighed, realizing something then. He missed Meghan. He missed being able to talk with her. He had been so preoccupied with finding Catrina, he had let those memories slide away.

“It’s not the same without you here,” he added. “But I really am doing fine, no worries.” He kept his mind closed off from her, still afraid he might accidentally give something away about Catrina. Now that he thought about it, it seemed wrong, unnatural to hide this from Meghan. But she was too close to Juliska Blackwell right now. And he could not take the chance she’d find out and put a stop to his plans to search for her.

He sent his leaf reply and continued home. He assumed that if Jae did visit, and she found out anything, she would fill him in later.

Upon arrival home, Colin was surprised to find the place empty. Though it was dinnertime, not even Sheila Mochrie was there, preparing her usual evening meal.

Colin was pleased to see, however, that Corny Tibbitt had left him another page. He crept into his bedroom cubby closing the curtain, hoping this time, the pages would fit together and give him whatever message Corny was trying to send.

Colin stopped.

There was a small box wrapped in brown paper sitting on his bed, like a gift. He gawked at it, hesitantly picking it up. Balloch Flummer’s words, ‘Trust no one,” rang clearly through his thoughts.

There was no tag to say whom it was from, just like back in Grimble when he and Meghan had received money anonymously. Colin wondered if this gift was from the same person.

He untied the brown paper cautiously. Inside was another small box labeled, J & T First Aid Kit.

It included the normal things he was used to seeing in a first aid kit, like bandages and gauze, but also included items he had never seen before. He picked up a bottle called Reliable Pain Potion, with a headline that read:
Never Expires
. Drink and be pain free! The next labeled bottle said,
Smokescreen: Advantage Yours!
Bottle includes one smokescreen. Twenty seconds that could save your life! To use, break bottle.

There were also various creams for instant healing of minor bites, scrapes or burns. These, he thought, looked eerily similar to the ones Kanda Macawi had used on him and Meghan when they visited Cobbscott.

He delved into the kit a little deeper and pulled out a small scroll, unrolling it. It contained various life saving spells, like how to create water or fire. Lastly, was a thin pair of glasses, which he put on, only slightly wary of what might happen. However, nothing did happen.

“Huh,” he shrugged, putting everything back in the kit. “What an odd gift,” he whispered, wondering if someone somehow knew his plans to sneak into the valley.

The gift seemed a little too timely, and yet he could not help but admit it might come in handy, as he had no idea what lied in wait for him on this journey.

He set the kit aside and went back to his new page from Corny. It still spelled nothing coherent. In fact, it did not look like words at all.

Something triggered in Colin’s mind.

“They’re not words,” he almost shouted, rearranging the pages. “It’s a map!” A short while later Colin had pieced it together. It appeared to need one final page.

Colin hoped Corny would deliver it soon. As he studied the pages, it also became clear that it was a map of Eidolon’s Valley. There was one heavily traced path.
Am I supposed to follow it? Will this lead me to Catrina?
Colin studied the map impatiently, wishing he could depart right then.

Along the path were outlined “safe” spots. Colin’s mind reeled over what he needed to be kept safe from, but it did not matter. He could not back out now. Catrina needed his help and he didn’t have much time. Colin wondered just how Corny knew he needed this map? And how he’d known to warn him back in Grimble. He thought about asking but didn’t figure he’d get any sort of answer, seeing as he’d never heard Corny say a complete word.

Dishes clanged in the kitchen. The Mochries were home. Colin hoped that the inevitable confrontation between Jae and Irving would not get too ugly.

“Dinner,” called Sheila a short while later. Colin obligingly took his seat at the table.

Irving was not there and Jae drifted in a minute later. Mireya ate in silence, next to her mother. It was a quiet meal, with no discussions of the earlier events of the day.

Colin wondered if he was picking up some of his sisters’ intuition, as he felt a strange sense in the air. It told him that things in the Mochrie house had changed, forever.

##

##

The Feast of the Blest Arcane was beginning, which included seven days of frivolity and fun, according to Jae and Mireya. The one time a year the Svoda “let their hair down,” so to speak.

“I don’t know how out of control things will get this year though,” Jae said, “with everything that’s happened and there being Scratchers about. If you think about it, though, a week of fun doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”

Colin could not disagree. Although his current hope was that the festival would cloak his absence as he trekked into the valley. He impatiently waited for the final piece of the map from Corny, hoping he would deliver it soon. He was eager to get his quest underway.

Corny granted his wish later that evening.

It was just after dinner that Corny’s door opened and his arm jutted out, holding what Colin knew was the final piece of the puzzle. Colin attempted not to look too eager but went directly to his bed after snatching the paper. Minutes later, Jae joined him, pulling the curtain shut as he sat down on Colin’s bed.

Colin laid the final piece in its place and the two boys jumped in surprise as the pages rose off the bed and reorganized themselves, stacking on top of each other, then sealing themselves together, forming a solid, yet translucent, one-piece map.

“Corny may seems nuts, but he sure is talented,” admired Colin.

“Definitely!” agreed Jae. “It makes no sense though, how he can create something as brilliant as this map, or know to warn you about being attacked, and yet never speaks, lives in the dark and barely eats enough to stay alive.”

“He’s a genius,” Colin replied, picking up the map, adding, “Albeit a creepy, smelly, crazy kind of genius.”

Jae bit his tongue trying not to laugh too loudly.

The map was thick, yet in the form of a foldable square. Disappointingly, Colin found he could not read the map, and worse, the once outlined path he believed he was to follow had vanished.

“Maybe it will make more sense once you’re in the valley,” suggested Jae.

“I hope you’re right,” nodded Colin nervously.

One thing did become clear as they studied the map: it would be an arduous journey across unfriendly terrain, especially for the short-legged Colin Jacoby.

His thoughts turned to Eidolon. What would he do if their paths crossed? Colin would be caught breaking nearly every rule set forth in this place, and it seemed as though the Gypsies presence was little more than tolerated, on the part of Eidolon.

After allowing panic to ensue for just a second, Colin let out a deep breath, regaining control of his racing heart. He sank back against the cave wall.

“So when are you going to leave?” asked Jae. “The festival is in full swing tomorrow.”

Thinking about leaving, and actually doing it, suddenly became too real for Colin, and for the smallest moment, he did not want to go.

“Honestly, Jae, I think the sooner the better. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’ll be able to go through with it,” Colin’s voice cracked as he spoke.

Jae did his best to sound encouraging, but it was clear he still doubted Colin’s plan.

“You have a great map,” he reminded. “Hopefully accurate and readable once you get into the valley. Besides, you seem determined Colin. Otherwise I would definitely talk you out of it.”

“I am determined,” agreed Colin in a firm whisper, as much for his own benefit as Jae’s. “The thought of leaving Catrina behind is just about as dreadful as not knowing whether my Uncle Arnon is still alive or not.”

“So tomorrow then?” asked Jae.

“Yeah, tomorrow.”

“In that case, I have something for you,” informed Jae. He tiptoed to his dresser and searched for a moment. “Here,” he said, throwing something at Colin.

It was a long sleeved tunic.

“Thanks,” replied Colin, unsure why Jae would offer this to him.

“That’s not just any old shirt, Colin. You need to pack light on a journey like this. That tunic will keep you at the perfect temperature. You won’t get hot or cold if you’re wearing it.”

“Really?”

“Test it out. It’s cool in here right now, put it on, you’ll warm right up,” insisted Jae.

Colin pulled the tunic over his own shirt and within seconds, it proved Jae right, as Colin could no longer feel any chill.

“Wow. Awesome. Thanks, Jae.”

“They are pretty common, really. Nothing special.”

“Like you said though, I do need to pack light, so it’s perfect.”

Colin decided to make a list of everything he needed to bring, but when it came down to it, all he really needed was his new shirt, the J & T First Aid Kit, the map, and the Magicante; all of these would provide him with anything else he needed along the way.

“Well, I guess that’s it,” said Colin. He put his map and book in a small over-the-shoulder bag and laid out a sturdy outfit and shoes for trekking through the valley.

“Tomorrow,” he muttered.

“I will help you get away,” offered Jae. “I’m sorry I can’t help more.”

“Jae, you’ve done more than you probably should. I hate even having you involved with something that could potentially cause a lot of trouble.”

“It’s for a good cause though,” said Jae.

“Yes it is,” Colin answered confidently, reassuring his friend.

“We should try and get some sleep,” said Jae, climbing into his own bed.

Colin wished for slumber, but it would not come.

What would Meghan say if she knew what he was about to do? What about his Uncle Arnon? Or for that matter, Uncle Eddy?

Colin tried to relax and breathed deeply. He needed to rest. Tomorrow was the biggest day of his life. He was heading into an unknown valley full of potential dangers. Nevertheless, he knew deep down that Catrina was worth it.

##

##

Ivan waited impatiently, huffing and puffing through his growing agitation with Meghan, as she looked through her backpack, nervously rechecking her list.

Ivan had packed light. One small backpack, and in his hand he held a map, which was clearly marked with locations to camp, as well as their final destination.

Juliska had personally planned their safe passage through the valley of Eidolon. As they prepared to depart, the Banon was officially opening the Feast of the Blest Arcane. All eyes would be upon her… and not the two people sneaking into the forbidden valley.

Many thoughts raced through Meghan’s mind. Could she do her job correctly? Could she live through spending a few days alone with Ivan Crane? How much hell would he put her through before she cracked? She even, for a slight second, thought
, I’m only thirteen… well practically fourteen now, but why am I here? I am too young for a journey like this!
She had to quell that doubt instantly.

Her thoughts also strayed to Colin. Would he be all right without her? He had never been completely on his own before. Guilt suddenly took over as Meghan realized she had not been in contact with him for days.

She had promised Uncle Eddy she would keep the connection open, always. Moreover, look at what had happened the last time she had not … Colin had nearly been killed!

But Colin had his secrets now, too. Still, she should be taking better care of him. He might be turning fourteen also, but he’d still barely grown any taller.