Quest Maker (15 page)

“Bro, I hate to say this, but your bro didn't seem so friendly.” Tito stood up and went to his messy side of the room. “Are you sure he wouldn't do anything?”

Caden was sure, wasn't he? Lest he forget, Jasan had saved Tonya. He couldn't be a traitor, could he? “None of my brothers would work with Rath Dunn.” But he didn't feel as certain as he wanted. He leaned back on his pink-and-orange quilt.

There was more bothering him. Rath Dunn knew it hadn't snowed the night Chadwin died. How could he have known that? Rath Dunn was banished years before. As far as he knew, the only ones with recent contact with the Greater Realm were Caden, Brynne, and Jasan.

“Rath Dunn knows things I didn't tell him. Jasan, Brynne, and I were the only ones brought to Asheville recently. Who else could tell him such things?” Caden took a deep breath. “I don't understand.”

“Huh.” Tito was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “You know, there was this foster kid, Dwayne, who lived here before you. He went to college in New Zealand. That's like being a realm away. It's too far for him to come back and visit.”

Caden stared at the ceiling, at the orange lamplight across it. “Your point, Sir Tito?”

“He and Rosa still email at least once a week.”

It seemed Tito had no relevant point. “We've no email in the Greater Realm.”

Tito was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Yeah, but you got a bunch of freaky magic stuff. Are you sure there's no way Rath Dunn could send a message? There's no way he could talk back and forth, especially since he doesn't care how it's done or who gets hurt?”

Was it possible Rath Dunn had made contact? It would be unwise not to consider the possibility. And it seemed convenient and terrible that Rath Dunn needed Jasan's blood, and it was Jasan who had been accused and banished for Chadwin's death. “Anything is possible, especially with Rath Dunn.”

Caden leaned back. His bed felt warm and soft, but there would be no restful sleep this night.

In the morning, Caden's left eye was tender from where he'd slammed into the locker. He'd slept a hard, short sleep and woke feeling confused. Mr. Creedly was more monster than man. He'd caused the spelling bee swarm and attacked Rath Dunn and Mr. Bellows at it because they plotted against Ms. Primrose. He'd attacked Derek because he annoyed Ms. Primrose, and Caden because she liked him. But why had Mr. Creedly attacked Tonya?

On the other side of the room, Tito was sprawled across his bed, asleep and drooling. Caden tossed a pillow at his
head. Then he asked Tito's opinion.

Tito stumbled out of bed. “She started taking college-level math classes. She showed me her textbook. That means she's mad smart. And I don't say that type of thing lightly.” He yawned. “Ms. Primrose probably likes her, too.”

“But she's in my morning class.”

“Because she stutters,” Tito said sleepily. “Not because she's not smart.”

Ward had once told Caden that Tonya was smart as well. Caden thought about his classmates. Ward seemed attuned to the computers. Jane was a rare enchantress. She seemed to prefer art to other classes, but she also brought back high grades. Derek, unlikable though he was, scored almost as high as Tito on tests, and was his main competition for the grade award. Truth be told, the only student at the school who Caden had seen fail a test was Caden himself.

Were all of Ms. Primrose's students exceptional? Caden wouldn't be surprised. She did collect people. And Ms. Primrose had once called Tito her favorite jewel. Just how smart did that make Tito? As smart as Brynne?

Caden considered. “You are to receive the grade award this Tuesday?”

Tito still had his eyes partially closed. He pulled a black T-shirt from a pile of clothes next to his bed. “That's the plan. That's the completion of my quest.”

Caden peered at him. “So how mad smart does that make you?”

“Super mad smart,” Tito said, but he hunched his shoulders. “And, well, I study all the time. That's the main thing.”

“Brynne studies constantly as well,” Caden said, and headed for the tiny Ashevillian bathroom. “It only adds to her talents.”

Once in the bathroom, Caden looked in the mirror. His cheek was bruised, his eye slightly swollen. He had been running fast when that locker door hit his face. The swelling flesh was a testament to his speed. But if he failed his quest, speed would do him no good against an Elderdragon.

Now he knew Mr. Creedly had caused the bee swarm. And thanks to Tito, Caden had a nice recording of Ms. Jackson and Rath Dunn acting suspiciously. They needed proof, though.

After he washed in the tiny bath, he trimmed his hair. It was Saturday; they were visiting Ward today. Jasan was supposed to be housed next door. It was important for Caden to look like a future Elite Paladin when he saw his brother.

Jasan should see that even stranded among cars, cafés, and villains, Caden followed the noble path of the Elite Paladin. Then Caden would ask him about home, about their brothers and father. He rubbed his cheek once more. He'd ask him what he knew of the monster that was Mr. Creedly, and he'd play the recording of Ms. Jackson and Rath Dunn. He'd see how he reacted to the line “I've already
promised him to his brother.” Although Caden would have to translate it.

The bandage Caden kept wrapped around the blood-dagger wound was pink and needed tending. He changed it, pulled on his freshly washed horse T-shirt, and fixed the sleeves so they covered the wound. Rosa would be unhappy if she noticed it.

Tito was more awake when Caden returned from the shower. He blinked slowly, then pointed at the left side of Caden's face. “That side of your face is bruised up.”

“I ran into the locker.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Tito said. “Let's not tell Rosa that.” He took another glance at Caden's face, then flopped back down on his bed and groaned. “She's going to suspect something. Why'd you have to go and get beat-up looking?”

The worst Rosa would do was take away their phones. “Even if she finds out, she won't send us away.”

“You're right. If she finds out we broke into the school, she'll kill us. There'll be nothing left to send away.” Tito sat back up. “Don't tell her about last night, got it?”

Rosa would ask about his bruised face and Caden couldn't lie. Lying was against the Elite Paladin code. Not even commoners in the Greater Realm lied.

“Got it?” Tito said again.

Caden touched his face and frowned. “I understand.”

Tito seemed to sense that was not a full agreement. “I
wish it was Sunday. Then I could just order you not to tell.”

“Luckily for me, it's Saturday. I'll do what I please.” Caden was growing frustrated with his friends making light of his time of the month. It was not funny. It was life threatening. “My curse is no joke. I have to complete my quest and endure orders from whosoever speaks to me.” He felt his cheeks heat. “It could cause my death and the death of my brother.”

Tito looked contrite. “Sorry, man,” he said. “It's just you don't know when to lie.”

That was untrue. “I know never to lie.”

Tito grabbed his clothes and trudged toward the bathroom. “See, that's what I'm worried about.”

T
ito was right about one thing: Rosa was highly suspicious of his bruised face and blackening eye. As he and the others sat around the kitchen table eating round grains and milk, she examined him with great care. “It didn't look like that yesterday night,” she said.

“No,” Caden said. “Not until this morning.”

“Tell me how that happened.” There was iron in her tone.

Jane watched with an even expression, Brynne with wide eyes. Tito looked terrified—much more so than after they'd fled Mr. Creedly and his swarms. A future Elite Paladin was truthful, though. Caden hoped his friends would understand.

“I knocked him with the sparring mop,” Tito blurted out.

Caden was taken aback. Tito had lied. Not only that, he'd lied to Rosa. Jane also looked surprised. Brynne seemed impressed, but mischief often impressed her.

Rosa turned her no-nonsense stare to Tito. “Is that so?”

Tito looked sicker than when he'd pointed out the dead rats.

Brynne broke into a grin. “A knock with the mop could certainly cause a black eye. Right, Caden?”

She wasn't technically lying, but there was no reason for her to be so happy about the deception in her question. Caden glared at her, then at Tito. If he shared the true story now, it would be worse for them all. Still. Caden wouldn't lie. “I suppose a knock with the mop
could
cause a bruised face.”

Jane lifted her spoon to her mouth. “I thought it would look worse,” she said.

Rosa looked at them, and her cheek twitched.

“Sorry,” Tito mumbled, and he didn't meet her gaze.

They finished the breakfast in silence. Rosa seemed suspicious and rightly so. Caden had greater concerns than his foster mother's disappointment, though. He needed to see his brother and talk to him in private.

Once Caden got Tito and Jane alone on the porch, he chided them on their easy untruths. “And Jane still has to be knighted. Jasan has to agree to it. As future Elite Paladins, you must be honest.”

Jane shrugged. “Rosa wouldn't understand the truth. Not now.”

“Not ever,” Tito said.

The breeze rustled the leaves on the trees and brushed against Caden's skin like soft wool, but it didn't comfort him. “Future Elite Paladins don't lie. It doesn't matter if she understands.”

“It matters to me.” Tito ducked from the wind. “This future Elite Paladin doesn't want to be kicked out of his best-ever foster home because he broke into his freaky school with weirdoes from another dimension.”

The screen door creaked open and shut, and Brynne stepped out. “I'm no weirdo, Sir Tito.”

“You hang out with Prince I-must-slay-a-dragon-and-never-utter-an-untruth,” Tito said. “So you're a little weird.”

Rosa followed a few moments later with her truck keys dangling from her fingers. She looked at them and didn't smile. “Be on your best behavior today at Ward's house,” she said. “Get in the pickup.”

They piled into the truck—Caden in front, the other three in the back. Rosa started the engine and looked in the rearview mirror—seemingly right at Tito. “Maybe you'll have something to tell me when I pick you up.”

“Doubtful,” Caden said.

She slid her gaze to him, and her cheek twitched again.

“I'm just being honest,” Caden said, and Tito kicked his seat.

Ward lived with his parents in a townhouse near the Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter stores where Rosa sometimes
shopped. His home was painted a pale pink with white trim. The door was painted green like a forest, and there were beds of blooming white and yellow daisies in front. In the middle of them stood a strange smiling figurine with a tall pointed hat.

It made Caden uncomfortable. It seemed to be looking at him. “What is that?”

“A garden gnome,” Tito said.

“That isn't a gnome.” He turned to his friend. Gnomes were small creatures with bad breath and pointed teeth. “Gnomes are smaller. And meaner. And they don't wear hats, because they wouldn't fit over the horns,” he said. “And they only smile before they attack.”

Tito shrugged. “Asheville-type gnomes are happy, ceramic, and have tall pointed hats.”

Caden glanced at the garden gnome again. “I don't like it.”

Tito sighed and pulled him toward the door. Caden kept the gnome in his sight, though. He didn't trust it. Why did it have such a tall hat?

The townhouse to the left was pale yellow. The one on the right was pale blue. Both had similar white trim and flower beds. Likely Ms. Primrose wanted her teachers in pretty, polished places, like her other collectibles. According to Ward, Jasan was living in one of these townhomes.

Rosa knocked at the green door, and Ward's mother, Desirae, welcomed them inside. She was tall with an athletic build and wore a bright pink sundress. Caden had seen her
at the social services building once or twice when he'd met his counselor. Manglor towered behind her. Caden greeted him, but Manglor just turned and went up the stairs. One day, Caden would make him smile.

“I'll be back at three to pick you up,” Rosa said.

Desirae stepped outside to speak with Rosa while Caden and the others met Ward in the living room. He sat on a white leather couch with a game controller. At the other end of the room, large windows overlooked a small, flower-filled yard. There were more suspicious tall-hatted garden gnomes out there.

Tonya also sat on the couch. It was a good omen to see their fallen colleague returned. Caden felt a grin break across his face. “You look well, ally.”

“I'll go b-back to school on Monday.”

“You have been missed,” Caden said, and he meant it.

Soon, Desirae brought in food. In Caden's royal opinion, she seemed nervous. He wondered if she knew her husband was from another world. “Is there anything else you need?” she said.

A prince must always be gracious. He took her hand. “We are grateful for your hospitality and for Ward's friendship.”

“Um . . . thank you, Caden,” she said, and returned to the kitchen. Ward turned red.

Once they were alone, Brynne eased onto the couch. Jane and Tito sat on the floor with a bowl of strange orange puffs. Caden remained standing. One, a prince didn't sit on
the floor. Two, they were here first to see Jasan, then to play games and eat weird orange food.

Indeed, Ward was a good friend, for he paused his game and said, “He's in the yellow house.”

“Thank you,” Caden said.

Ward turned back to his game. “But he doesn't answer the door.”

“I see,” Caden said, but certainly Jasan would open the door for Caden. Still. Their noble father had once told Caden that it was better to be overly prepared than unready. He looked to Brynne and her glimmering hairpin.

She arched a brow. Her face flushed. “I could go with you.”

“Good, I may need you.”

Brynne stood up and stretched like a wind cat. “You often do, prince.”

While the others played games, he and Brynne slipped out the back door, through the garden, past the creepy gnomes, and out the back gate. In the area outside the gate to the yellow town house's garden, Caden spotted hoofprints. Familiar-looking ones. He bent down.

“What?” Brynne said.

Caden pointed to them and smiled. “Sir Horace has been here.”

“Why would he come here?”

“He explores. He must have seen Jasan and followed him.”

As Jasan had trained both Caden and Sir Horace in
riding, Sir Horace seemed to consider Jasan a close friend. Truth be told, Sir Horace listened to Jasan's commands as much as Caden's. There was no way Sir Horace would have such love for a traitor.

Caden and Brynne walked to the back of the yellow town house and peeked into the rear window. Except for a small tan couch, a cushioned chair, and a coffee table, Caden saw little inside. He pounded on the back door. No one answered.

“Maybe he's not home?” Brynne said, sounding disappointed.

“Then I'll wait inside until he is.”

Brynne seemed fine with that. “I'll wait with you.” She pulled out her hairpin and smiled brightly. “You're ever so lucky I'm a sorceress and a thief.”

She didn't have to be quite so thrilled with the prospect of seeing Jasan. Caden frowned at her. A moment later, they were inside.

The yellow house's living room was a mirror image of Ward's living room, only with different furniture. There was a small booklet on the coffee table. It looked a little like Tito's booklet of hard-to-spell words. It was tattered as if it had been passed from person to person. He picked it up and showed Brynne. Half the words he recognized as being of the common tongue of the Greater Realm. He couldn't read as many of the other half, but he knew their English letters.

“He needs to learn some English to teach here,” she said.

There were also papers nearby written in the Royal Razzon language—plans for the fitness class. He'd drawn quick neat sketches of exercises and fighting stances. It seemed Jasan planned to use the pictures to teach. If he'd prepared so much, it meant he wasn't completely ready to throw away his life. At least, that was what Caden hoped.

“I suppose I could magic him for you,” Brynne said. She sounded quite thrilled with the idea. “I'd have to do it each morning, though.”

No Elite Paladin would use magic to enhance an ability, and such spells would drain Brynne even more than she already drained herself. He set the papers back down. “No, I'll teach him some words. And he has his sketches.”

“We'll see,” said Brynne.

Just as in Ward's house, the kitchen was in the front. A window with soft blue curtains let in sunlight, and the daisies outside framed the bottom of it. Unlike Ward's house, the sink was loaded with dishes. The Enchanted Whisk of Mixing sat beside the sink, dirty with dried eggs. The countertops were smooth, pale granite. A clear box with a cell phone in it sat near the edge, and there were candy bars stacked beside it.

Brynne reached around Caden and pocketed two bars. Then she smiled like she was daring him to speak. Truth be told, Jasan shouldn't be eating candy bars. They were
not proper food for an Elite Paladin, so Caden ignored her thieving.

He opened the refrigerator. It was filled with fruits and eggs—those were okay—and what he recognized as fast food containers. He picked one up and sniffed. Some kind of poultry fried in heavy, unhealthy batter. He put the container back and poked at a box on the bottom shelf that said “Pizza.” Inside was a round slab of dough covered with melted cheese and greasy meats. Caden made a face. Pizza, fried fowl, and candy bars weren't approved by the Elite Paladin dietary guidelines.

“Eeek!” That was Brynne.

Caden spun around, one hand ready to strike, one hand still on the refrigerator door.

Jasan stood in the kitchen entrance. He wore a fitted gray T-shirt and loose black sweatpants. His hair was damp like he'd just gotten out of the shower. He looked weary and not at all happy to find Brynne in his candy and Caden in his refrigerator. He held Brynne's wrist.

She was turning bright red. “Your Highness,” she said. She spoke in the common tongue. “I didn't think you'd mind if I took the candy. I hope—”

Jasan glanced at Brynne like he wasn't concerned, and he released her. He spoke in the elegant tongue of Royal Razzon. “Keep it.”

Caden also spoke in Royal Razzon. “We need to talk.” He nodded at Brynne to leave. “Alone.”

She sighed like it was a great imposition. “Fine. I'll wait next door.” She smiled at Jasan. “I can spell you to speak English if you need me to, Prince Jasan.”

Caden waved her away. “Just go,” he said.

After she left, Jasan leaned against the granite counter. He seemed annoyed, like when their father had ordered him to help Caden with swordplay or riding. “I told you to stay away from me. It wasn't a request.”

Caden had no intention of staying away. He wanted to sound calm and collected, but his words sounded more hurt than anything. “I'm not going to do that.”

Jasan clenched his jaw and took in a deep breath. That was good. Jasan wasn't fond of solving things with conversations, but his controlled breathing meant he was going to talk, and not just yell or speed away somewhere. “Caden,” he said. “My enemies here are many. You need to understand. You could get hurt.”

Perhaps Caden had been stung more by Jasan's words in the gym and after the spelling bee than he'd admitted. He felt unsure. “So you do care then?”

“Sometimes.”

That was more than Jasan normally admitted. Caden felt a small smile form on his lips. His confidence started to return. “All times, you mean.”

“Don't push it,” Jasan said.

Jasan's eyes seemed weary. Dark shadows filled his face. Caden looked down. The floors were a limestone tile.
They badly needed sweeping.

“Look at me,” Jasan said, and Caden looked back up. “Listen. If you and that little sorceress can't leave the school yet, then keep quiet and guarded until you can. Sit quietly. Don't draw unnecessary attention. The villains are dangerous, and Rath Dunn won't hesitate to hurt you.”