Eyes of the Sun (Kilenya Series, 5)

by Andrea Pearson

  “Then how are we going to defend ourselves?” Akeno asked.

  Kenji looked at his son. “We fall back.”

  “Where?” Akeno asked. “There isn’t anywhere to fall back to. Can’t we rebuild the village?”

  Kenji made sweeping motions with his arms. “No, we can’t. We’ll retreat to Earth.”

  Dad looked at Kenji. “Earth? How would you keep yourselves hidden?”

  Kenji half smiled. “Simple. We were tree dwellers before, and tree dwellers we’ll become again.”

  “I don’t know how I feel about that,” Mom said.

  Jacob could tell she was thinking about offering their house, but there wasn’t any way every single Makalo could live there.

  Kenji put up his hand. “We can’t possibly rebuild Taga Village. We don’t have the strength to do both that and maintain this link.” He motioned to the forest that led to Mendon.

  “What do you mean?” Matt asked. “I thought it took hardly any powers to keep the link closed.”

  Kenji shook his head. “On the contrary. Most of our energies are taken up by harvesting food and keeping Earth and Eklaron safe from unwanted visitors. In order to protect Earth from the Lorkon, we’ll need to focus all of our remaining energy on the link.”

  “But what about the gardens?” Mom asked.

  Kenji didn’t respond, but stared at his feet.

  Dad nodded, looking at Kenji. “I understand. The gardens don’t matter. Right now, our main concern is finding out how to get rid of the Lorkon.”

  Azuriah stepped forward. “And along with that, we must rid this land of Lirone!”

  “What happened, anyway?” Jacob asked at the same time that Dad said, “We don’t need to worry about Lirone anymore.”

  Azuriah chose to respond to Dad. “Yes, we do. Lirone only stays where he is because the Lorkon want him there. They’ve obviously had their attention elsewhere. But now that they know we’re intent on getting rid of him, they’re going to want to move him. And what happens if they move him here? If they break through the link and station him over America?”

  Mom gasped. “Is that even possible? Could he fit through the link?”

  “The link isn’t about size,” Azuriah said. “It’s about access. Any being can cross the gateway, as long as they have access. Once the Lorkon figure this out, they’ll do anything to cause as much damage as possible.”

  “But if we get rid of Lirone, won’t they just bring him back?” Matt asked.

  “We’ll send him far enough away so that persuading him to return will become too great of a task. Shiengols can move a sky dweller in hours. But the Lorkon must resort to manipulation, bribery, and force. It takes cunning and time to convince a sky dweller to do your bidding.”

  Azuriah sat on the ground near Britt, his youngest child. She’d been wounded slightly and was resting. “We must rid Gevkan of Lirone as soon as we can.”

  “So . . .” Jacob hesitated bringing it up again. “What happened? Why weren’t we successful?”

  Azuriah grabbed a stone and threw it across the meadow. “It should have worked. Nothing clicked as it usually would. It was like we didn’t have enough strength—couldn’t gather enough.”

  “Why was that?” Kenji asked. “You couldn’t have predicted it, right?”

  Jacob knew Kenji was trying to assist—possibly by helping Azuriah think through the situation. But Jacob knew Azuriah better than that. He cringed, waiting for the outburst, and wasn’t disappointed.

  Azuriah jumped to his feet and glared at Kenji, his red robes swirling, dark hair mingling with the robes. Jacob’s breath choked in his throat. This Shiengol was formidable. And scary. Especially right at that moment.

  “Don’t you think I would’ve resolved the issue ahead of time if I’d known what it was? Do you really think I’m that stupid, Makalo?”

  Kenji’s exterior didn’t change, but by the colors swirling around him, Jacob knew he’d been frightened. He hid it well and Jacob was proud of him for not showing fear.

  Obviously, Azuriah was impressed, because the muscles in his face relaxed. “It should have worked,” he repeated. “This is ridiculous.”

  Jacob had never seen Azuriah so stumped before. He decided to start leading the conversation. He would get in trouble the same as Kenji, but at least he was used to it. “How do you know only Shiengols can get rid of Lirone?”

  Azuriah glared. “Because only Shiengols carry the light and power of the sun. Lirone is dark matter. The sun is the only thing that can clear a storm and dry the water.” Azuriah strode to his wife’s side and checked on one of their sons who’d also been injured. His hair waved in the breeze and he closed his eyes. At least Azuriah hadn’t lashed out at Jacob.

  “So . . . you’d need a lot of power to do something like that with Lirone. One or two Shiengols wouldn’t be enough.”

  “Obviously.” Azuriah didn’t turn around.

  “How many Shiengols would you need?”

  “All of them. Every single Shiengol alive must be present for it to work.”

  Jacob raised his eyebrows. That was quite the task. Getting all of them together? That seemed impossible. “How do you know where all the Shiengols are?”

  Azuriah turned then and stared at Jacob. “Have you learned nothing from your studies with me?”

  Jacob was aware that everyone was watching him. He didn’t look away from Azuriah, though. The Shiengol’s eyes were still bright from staring at the sun earlier and hadn’t yet faded to their usual level of intensity, But Jacob didn’t care.

  Azuriah continued. “Shiengols are connected to each other. Always. We know where the other Shiengols are at all times.”

  “That’s creepy,” Matt said.

  Azuriah ignored him. “Because we’re connected, I knew where to get the others.”

  “Is it possible that one of your people—or a group of them—might not be connected anymore?”

  Azuriah didn’t respond at first. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, rolled back on his heels, and raised his face. After several moments, he said, “Yes. That is possible. There is one Shiengol, one who disappeared from our sight years ago. We assumed she was dead. But her death wasn’t like the others. She drifted to and from our consciousness over the course of several minutes. Usually, when a Shiengol dies, we’re very aware of the exact moment they’re no longer living. Death doesn’t just come and go.”

  He stared down into Jacob’s eyes. “It’s your grandmother, Ara Liese. You must find her.”

  Mom and Dad gasped—they’d obviously not been expecting Azuriah to say that.

  “Is it possible?” Mom said. “Is she still alive?” Her eyes filled with tears for the second time that day.

  “Haven’t you already tried to find her?” Kenji asked.

  Azuriah scowled at Kenji, his emotion colors showing embarrassment and irritation. “Yes. But at the point where she ‘dies,’ we’re unable to follow her any longer. Something happened to her body that has prevented us from Time-Seeing even to figure out where she was buried.”

  Jacob frowned at what Azuriah was asking him to do. “If you couldn’t figure it out, how am I supposed to?”

  Azuriah shrugged. “About that, I’m not sure. You’ll find a way.” He motioned to the others around them. “And they can probably help.” He sighed and turned to face the meadow. “I’ve got work to do with the injured Shiengols. They’re upset, and we can’t risk having anyone leave until we resolve the Lirone dilemma.”

  Azuriah started walking through the people now lying on the ground, and Kenji and Ebony turned their attention to the pile of Kaede Sap packages the Makalo Kenji sent had brought. Jacob couldn’t believe it—there were only eight or nine left. Kenji was right—they would have to use all of it to heal the injuries sustained that day.

  Chapter Fourteen: Distractions

  Jacob decided to try Time-Seeing first, following Ara Liese as much as he could. There was a slight chance he’d be able to figure
things out that Azuriah and the other Shiengols hadn’t. He really wasn’t sure, but at that point, he was willing to do whatever was necessary.

  Jacob opened a permanent link from the tree in Taga to his home in Mendon. A guard was stationed on either side. This made it so he wouldn’t have to run people back and forth. He was glad when Dad suggested it—he needed to focus.

  He paced his room, pausing occasionally to look out his window to the forest. The Makalos were there, showing Akeno where they wanted their tree huts. Akeno had volunteered to try to re-build the stone dwellings in the village, but since he couldn’t control stone, everyone had agreed that his strength would better serve the Makalos by constructing dwellings using living plants instead.

  Early kept Jacob company while he messed around with his hand-held video games in his room. He wasn’t quite ready to start Time-Seeing. His focus was still off and he was mentally exhausted after the events of the day. Leaning against his window frame, video games forgotten, he continued watching the activities in the forest and tried not to replay in his mind the gruesome scenes that he’d witnessed earlier.

  After nearly twenty minutes, he realized there was just too much commotion and he’d never be able to concentrate enough to Time-See. Frustrated, he left the window, strode downstairs, and went through the link back to Taga Village. Since nearly everyone was leaving the village, he should be able to find peace there.

  The meadow and tree were bustling with activity, so Jacob veered left, following the trail that led to the gardens, Azuriah’s fortress, and Aldo’s cabin.

  He walked past those buildings and entered the forest. Rogs and other large creatures wouldn’t be a problem—they’d since moved on to other areas of the mountains. Jacob found a huge tree that had fallen some time ago and sat on it, closing his eyes.

  So much had happened that day. He pushed past the things he’d witnessed and cleared his mind. He opened his eyes to Time-See, and nearly fell off the log in surprise.

  Onaly stood in front of him.

  “Oh, oops. Sorry to frighten you.”

  Jacob scowled. “Did you follow me? And aren’t you supposed to be studying with Tani right now? I need to be alone. I have to get—”

  Onaly held up her hands. “Okay, okay. I won’t disturb you.” She sat down several feet away from him on the log.

  Jacob glared at the trees ahead of them. “Look, I’m not going to be able to concentrate with you here.” And he wouldn’t—she’d made it obvious she was interested in him, and staring at him while he was miles away in his head would make things really awkward.

  Onaly scooted closer. “Then don’t worry about that right now.” She put her hand on the log between them. “What exactly are you trying to do, anyway?”

  “I have to figure out where Queen Ara Liese ended up.”

  “Why do you have to do it?”

  She again scooted closer—now she was only a foot away. Her hand still rested between them, and Jacob knew she wanted him to hold it. He got goose bumps, thinking about that, but pushed the thought away. She was cute, yes, but . . . he didn’t want . . . he shouldn’t . . .

  He swallowed, feeling sweat drip down his back. His parents had told him he was too young to have a girlfriend, and he didn’t want to disappoint them.

  Onaly put her hand on his arm and tried to turn him to look at her. “My mom said you’re a hard worker, that you’re a good person.”

  She was trying to distract him and he knew it.

  Jacob pulled his arm away, then jumped down from the log. “Onaly . . .” How should he say it?

  She pouted. “Don’t, Jacob. Don’t.”

  “I’m in no position to get serious with a girl right now. There’s way too much for me to—”

  “I’ve seen you watching Aloren. What’s she to you? Do you think she’s actually better than me?”

  Jacob immediately thought of at least five things Aloren had going for her that Onaly didn’t. The biggest was how well he knew Aloren compared to Onaly. For all he knew, Onaly had been Ridgewood’s biggest flirt. Judging by her actions now, that wouldn’t surprise him.

  He took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter who the girl is. We’re about to have a huge war, and if I lose focus, we all could die.”

  Onaly scoffed. “If you lose focus? Why are you so important?”

  Jacob stiffened. She’d struck a nerve—her question was something he himself had been considering for a long time. And suddenly, the answer popped into his head. “I’m the only living person who can touch the Lorkon without becoming infected with a horrible disease. I’m part Shiengol, and I’ve got Makalo Rezend in me. Onaly, I really am the only one who can get rid of the Lorkon in the end. I won’t be able to do a whole lot of fighting, but it has to be me who administers that antidote.”

  She lowered her eyes. “So you’re serious. You don’t want to be around me.”

  Jacob raised his hand, about to put it on her arm, but then thought better and dropped it. “It’s not that I don’t want to be with you—it’s that I can’t be romantically involved with you. Or anyone else.” The moment those words left his mouth, he knew they were true. He had to stop wanting to be with Aloren. He needed to believe what he’d just told Onaly—his focus was that important. He couldn’t lose it. Too much rested on his shoulders. And while he wouldn’t have to battle the Lorkon on his own, his involvement in the process was crucial.

  Onaly took a deep breath, then expelled it. “I won’t give up, you know.” She rushed to go on when Jacob started arguing. “But I will back off. Give you space.”

  Then she turned and ran from him. He felt his heart beat oddly—should he go after her? Comfort her? How upset was she really?

  Deciding her departure was for the best, he returned back to the log, determined to focus.

  Concentration didn’t come, though. His stomach growled, and he realized it had been hours since he’d last eaten. He groaned in frustration and got down, then made his way back to the village, hoping he wouldn’t run into Onaly.

  Instead, he was approached by a man and a woman. It took Jacob a moment to remember who the man was, but the second a ridiculous grin spread across his face, Jacob was able to place him. It was Trunt—one of the people rescued from Maivoryl City.

  Trunt bounced forward and shook Jacob’s hand. “Jacob—I mean, Your Highness—we were looking for you.”

  “Or your father,” the woman said, putting her hand on Trunt’s arm. They looked into each other’s eyes with adoration, and Jacob really didn’t want to be there with them at that moment.

  “How can I help you?” he asked.

  “Well, first, Veese here and I would like to get married,” Trunt said. He pulled her close. “As is custom in Gevkan—or was, before we were stuck in Maivoryl City—”

  “We had planned to get married before the Lorkon took over,” Veese interjected. “But we didn’t have the opportunity to make things legal with the king.”

  Trunt nodded, his hair flapping back and forth in his exuberance. “Before, the king had to approve all marriages.”

  Jacob almost rolled his eyes. That sounded like a ton of busywork. Why would the king enact such a stupid law?

  “And second,” Trunt said, “we’d like to vouch for Myler’s character, along with giving you information about him you’ll want.”

  Jacob bit the inside of his lip before responding. “You don’t need to tell me he’s a good man—I already know it. It’s everyone else who hasn’t been convinced yet.”

  Veese raised her eyebrows. “Even after everything that happened today?”

  Jacob shrugged. “They’re stubborn. All of them.”

  Trunt and Veese followed as Jacob walked back to the tree and the open link to his house.

  “We knew him and his beloved very well,” Trunt said. “The four of us spent a lot of time together.”

  Jacob looked at Trunt, not sure if he believed the man. “Myler? Spent time with . . . you?” He raised his hands, rush
ing on. “Don’t get me wrong, but he’s really, really grouchy. And you’re very . . . well, happy.”

  Trunt laughed. “He wasn’t always this way.” The smile left his face. “Regardless of how off he seems now, he’d never do anything to harm his beloved kingdom.” Trunt took a deep breath. “He was a guard in the castle. His brothers were, too—all of them.”

  Veese motioned for Jacob to step away from the link. “What we need to tell you is important.”

  Jacob hesitated. Was it more important than figuring out where his grandmother had gone? Pushing aside his concerns, he followed them to the other side of the meadow, his full attention on them. “All right. I’m listening.”

  Trunt half smiled, showing his appreciation. “Myler’s family has always been very supportive of the kingdom—more so than anyone else I’d ever known. All five sons served in the guard, as did their father. Naturally, their mother worked in the castle as well. You’d never find a more loyal family.”

  Veese nodded. “They only had one sister, and she was my friend. She talked all the time about Arien and Ara Liese—always speaking highly of them.”

  Trunt continued. “Watching his fiancée get killed by the Lorkon wasn’t the only thing that upset Myler, you know.” He hesitated for a moment. “He was betrayed by one of the Lorkon.”

  That got Jacob’s attention. “Betrayed? How?”

  “You know who each of the Lorkon are, correct?”

  “Yes—Keitus is my grandfather. Two of them are my uncles, and the fourth . . .” Jacob stopped, then shook his head. “We actually never figured out who he was.”

  Trunt met eyes with Veese. “You don’t have to wonder anymore—we know. His name is Ferron. He was a member of the royal guard, assigned to protect Dmitri and Arien. Your father will remember him, I’m sure. He was the one who kidnapped Arien, in fact.”

  “Wow,” Jacob said. “Thanks for telling me. I know it’ll help my parents a lot.”

  “But that’s not all,” Trunt said. “Ferron is also Myler’s oldest brother. They were best friends growing up. In fact, he was the one who introduced Myler to his beloved.”