Rise of Keitus (2 page)

They’d only gone twenty feet more when the first explosion hit the city a street away. Jacob cringed when he heard people scream, and the brightness from the explosion made lights dance across his vision.

“How much farther?” he asked, praying no one had been seriously injured or killed in that attack. An acrid smell reached him, making his eyes sting. He hoped he wasn’t smelling death.

“We have barely begun,” Gallus said. “There are hundreds of Wurbies around the city.”

Jacob shook his head, rushing to keep up with Gallus. Would they be able to help everyone escape in time? He jumped when another fireball streaked across the sky and landed somewhere to the right.

Then the bombs really started falling. Lirone wasn’t holding anything back. They struck with such force that Jacob was nearly knocked to the ground several times. How would Macaria, the beautiful white city, look when all this was over?

Jacob and his friends rushed door-to-door, trying to gather as many people as quickly as possible. About an hour after the attack started, Gallus stopped at a run-down place that looked like an old saloon. The back and left side of it had been blown away by one of Lirone’s bombs.

A gust of wind pushed hot air from the building past Jacob’s face, making his eyes sting again from the acrid smell of the wreckage. He watched the smoke curl and twist, then disappear into the night sky. The idea of innocent people being attacked, combined with the strong smell of burning wood, made his stomach turn.

Gallus knocked, and a man with a close-cropped brown beard opened the door. “Good evening, Morton,” Gallus said.

“Come in.” The man stepped back, allowing them all to enter.

Somewhere a baby was bawling. Morton shut the door and then peeked out a window, barely moving the curtain. Jacob was about to ask if the baby was okay, but stopped when he noticed the colors swirling around the man—a mix of red, orange, and purple. Anger, nervousness, and distraction. That didn’t sit right with Jacob. Everyone else had exhibited fear, panic, and in some cases, excitement.

Not only that, but Morton’s actions were jerky, abrupt. Jacob didn’t know why, but a feeling of distrust flowed through him. This man wasn’t being honest, but what did he have to lie about?

Jacob’s silent question was answered when Morton grabbed him, yanking him away from the others. Something sharp pricked Jacob’s neck. The man’s breath came in fast, short bursts. He stank like something that had dragged itself out of the sewers.

Gallus raised his hands and stepped carefully toward Jacob, but Morton growled at him to stop.

“My wife is dead, Gallus. Lirone killed her. I’ve got a newborn and a two-year-old. How am I supposed to take care of them without her?” He paused for a moment. No one responded. “
How am I to care for them?
” Jacob felt Morton’s arms shake, and the blade poked him even deeper. “None of this would have happened if it weren’t for this boy.
They’re
looking for him. And I’m tired of standing by, doing nothing.”

Gallus stepped forward, slower this time, his hands up, but the knife stung at Jacob’s throat, making him gasp.

“Don’t come closer!” The man’s emotions must have changed because now panic—bright blue—added to the anger and flowed so thickly around Jacob and Morton, Jacob had to squint to see the others in the room. “I’m exhausted! I can’t do it anymore. We’re giving him over. They’ll make our lives easier. Better.”

Gallus, Dad, and Matt all started speaking at once. Dad’s voice was the loudest.

“Morton, as king of Gevkan, I promise you that no further harm will come to your family. Come stay with the Makalos and Wurbies in Taga Village. You’ll be safe there. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you, but please, please release my son.”

Morton scoffed. “You? King? Where have you been the past fifteen years? Your people have needed you, and you went into hiding.” Morton shifted his hold on Jacob, but kept the knife in place. “No man of cowardice will lead me.”

Jacob watched to see his dad’s response, but didn’t get the opportunity. Fubble screamed and ran forward, holding a rope which he flung at Morton. It landed a foot away and Morton laughed, kicking it. But the rope jerked into life. Being a Wurbie, Fubble had the ability to turn his hands into whatever he wanted.

Morton stopped laughing, watching as the rope snaked across the ground and then grabbed him around the ankle and yanked his foot out from under him. Both he and Jacob dropped to the floor.

The knife fell away with a clatter, and Fubble pounced on Morton. A brief scuffle ensued, and Dad, Gallus, and Matt quickly joined in. Morton kicked and screamed, trying to bite whoever got close to him.

Fubble tied Morton’s arms behind his back with one hand acting as a rope, his other turning into a piece of cloth which he used to cover the man’s mouth.

Morton screamed out in rage and bit the gag—Fubble’s hand. Fubble’s eyes teared up, but he didn’t let go.

“You are not touching Jacob no more!”

Gallus pulled rope from his shoulder bag and tied Morton’s arms and legs. Fubble pulled away, and Jacob watched with fascination as fingers and palms appeared where the Wurby’s ropes had been.

Without the gag, Morton started screaming. “They’ll be here to get him soon, and I hope they kill you all!”

Gallus shook his head. “Morton, we were good friends. I’m sorry you’ve made this choice.” He shoved a piece of cloth into Morton’s mouth and tied it in place.

Dad checked Jacob over, looking at the cut on his neck. “It’s bleeding, but not much. We need to continue.” He got to his feet, helping Jacob up. “Matt, Jacob, go search the rest of the house.”

Matt led the way, but stopped when he entered the next room where the baby was still crying. Jacob had to look away—the outer half of the room was demolished, and there were dead Wurbies everywhere. Sorrow and revulsion hit him—the poor, innocent creatures.

He and Matt returned to the main room and reported their findings.

Fubble’s eyes filled with tears. “My Wurbies!” he wailed. “Lirone be bad! Very, very bad!”

Gallus shook his head. “Lirone is only doing what the Lorkon have commanded him to do. He wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for them.”

Fubble nodded, wiping his eyes with a hand turned into a tissue. “Bad, bad Lorkon.” He sniffed, then straightened. “We keep going.”

“What should we do with Morton’s kids?” Jacob asked.

“Let’s take them to Bezza,” Gallus said. “She can care for them for now. I’ll return and check on them later and will decide then what to do with this pig.” He poked Morton with his foot, and the man glared up at him.

After moving the crying kids, Jacob and the others raced down another road. The next house was completely demolished. Jacob looked away from the destruction, not wanting to see any more death. He wished his group had time to stop and search for anyone still alive, but Lirone’s bombs continued to fall everywhere, and they couldn’t risk losing more innocent lives.

Cold raindrops fell from the sky, pinging against Jacob’s skin like little whips. He pulled his hood over his head and continued running.

At the next house, all the humans had been killed in an explosion and only a group of Wurbies were alive—women and children, huddled in the corner. Fubble approached and put his arms around them, telling them it would be okay, then Jacob Keyed them to Taga.

Several more buildings were in ruins, and the house Gallus led them to next was full of humans and Wurbies. They’d congregated together when Lirone started attacking. Every one of the humans begged to be allowed to go to Taga with the Wurbies, and Dad approved.

They continued running place to place, finding similar results.

Jacob realized something. Lirone hadn’t attacked him and his group directly. Why not? They still had their hearing, and not once had a bomb landed really close. Maybe Lirone had been instructed not to harm them, instead doing as much damage to the city as possible.

At one point, Jacob saw Lirone’s makeshift face. The sky monster looked at Jacob’s group, but deliberately threw a fire bomb somewhere else. That confirmed Jacob’s belief that the Lorkon didn’t want them dead. What had changed? Every other time Lirone had shown up, he’d tried to kill everyone.

Finally, the task was over, the last of the Wurbies rounded up. Jacob created a link to Taga Village, holding the door open for Dad and Matt.

Dad put his hand on Gallus’s shoulder. “You and your wife should stay here too.”

Gallus shook his head. “I’m not ready to close my shop just yet—too many people to help and protect. For the next couple of days, though, my wife and I will hide in the tunnels.”

“Okay. We’ll be holding a meeting tomorrow in Brojan’s home. I’ll send Jacob to get you.”

Gallus rested his arm against the door frame and watched Ebony and Kenji rush around, busily caring for the wounded, a sad expression on his face. “I wish there was more I could do.” He sighed and stepped away from the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Jacob closed the door of the tree and rested against the rough bark outside, very glad that the whole ordeal was over. His heart still ached, though, for those who had died.

Not long after, Brojan came down the stairs of the tree. “The attacks on Macaria have ended.” He closed his eyes. “Many, many were killed tonight.”

No one responded. Dad turned to Jacob, his eyebrows knitted, the colors of deep sorrow flowing through the air around him. “Let’s go home.”

The next day, Jacob made the usual rounds to get everyone to Taga Village for the meeting.

Dad started immediately, bringing up the Wurbies and asking about Brojan’s plans for their care.

“We don’t need to worry about them,” Kenji said before Brojan could respond. “They brought food and have already started building homes.” He half smiled. “They’re amusing creatures. It seems they’ll use anything to construct their houses, even garbage.”

Jacob chuckled. Kenji was right. The Wurby houses he’d seen a few weeks before had been made with plastic, banana peels, tile . . . pretty much whatever they could get their hands on.

“Very well,” Dad said. “Next, I’ve heard from Azuriah. He’ll be returning soon—any minute, actually—to start training Jacob.”

Jacob groaned. Azuriah wasn’t going to be an easy teacher, he knew that much already. The Shiengol was so temperamental and moody, Jacob was always on edge around him.

“And,” Dad continued, “Jacob, as decided, you’ll be studying with a tutor from your school soon instead of returning to classes.”

Jacob had nearly forgotten about that. He bit his lip, worrying over who the tutor would be and whether he would get along with that person or not. He really hoped it wouldn’t be Shirley’s mom.

“I still have to set up the time,” Mom said.

Just then, a Minya Jacob didn’t recognize flitted into the room. “Azuriah is at August Fortress, waiting for Jacob to get him and deliver him to Taga Village.”

Dad chuckled. “Speak of the devil.”

Whoa, that was fast. Jacob’s hands immediately started sweating. He’d hoped for a few more days before having to face the Shiengol. How would Jacob react? Before, when he had thought about all this, he’d wanted to punch Azuriah for not warning him that the Lorkon were about to kidnap him.

Jacob pushed away from the table and walked to the door, hoping no one else would sense his hesitancy.

He created a link to August Fortress, slowly pushing the door open. Last time he’d been there, he’d gone through more than his fair share in his opinion. He wasn’t ready for any repeats. The Key took him to his old cell, revealing Azuriah standing in the middle of the room, staring at the slime on everything.

Strong emotions—fear, stress, anxiety, and determination—flooded over Jacob the moment he saw the room where the Lorkon had kept him. It took all his willpower not to slam the door right away. He didn’t move an inch, refusing to enter. Azuriah got to his feet and strode through the link, ignoring Jacob’s distress, thank goodness. As soon as Jacob shut the door, closing the connection between Taga and the fortress, the emotions washed away. His breath rushed out of his lungs and he closed his eyes. He hadn’t been prepared to react that strongly.

Jacob returned to his seat at Brojan’s table, shaking from the adrenaline that had flooded through his system.

Azuriah didn’t sit down—not surprising. He paced the floor. No one said anything, and Jacob figured they were all doing the same thing: waiting to see what the Shiengol would say or do.

Azuriah turned around. “This is how things will happen with Jacob’s training,” he said. “He’ll finish mastering Time-Seeing. Then we’ll learn Time-Traveling and all the rules that accompany it.” He looked at Jacob. “After you figure out Traveling, you will go back and study how Keitus became a Lorkon.”

Even though this didn’t surprise him, Jacob’s heart still did a flop. He nodded, but then hesitated. What about Azuriah? “You can Time-Travel, can’t you? Why aren’t you doing it?”

“I have other things to deal with and, outside of training you, won’t be focusing on this aspect of our Lorkon problem.”

Jacob’s skin tingled when Azuriah said “our problem.” What a relief! Azuriah viewed the Lorkon as a common issue. That would make things easier in the long run. But still . . . “Aren’t the Lorkon the biggest problem we’ve got? Wouldn’t it be better if you helped me?”

Azuriah stopped, hands behind his back, and stared at Jacob. “We can’t be effective in fighting them with all the damage they’ve done to the land. The wall by Maivoryl City must be torn down. Only a Shiengol will be able to do that, and only a Shiengol can figure out how it must be done.”

He resumed pacing. “The Lorkon plan to awaken Lasia, the Fire Pulser. I will focus on keeping her in place. And the Molgs must be brought to submission or at least pacified. We can’t have them wandering the land and joining Keitus’s army at will.”

He snatched an apple off the table and took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. No one said anything. It was obvious the Shiengol wasn’t finished talking.

“This isn’t all. Not every Shiengol feels it necessary that we assist in getting rid of the Lorkon. I’ll be holding many negotiations with them. Without their help, most of these tasks will be impossible.” Azuriah finished the apple, core included. He turned and put his hands on the table, leaning over Matt to stare at Jacob. “So you, Jacob, will be obligated to research the Lorkon. And there are things about them you need to learn on your own.”