The Key of F: a young adult fantasy romance (Freedom Fight Trilogy Book 1)

by Jennifer Haskin

  “I love it,” she said.

  “I thought you might.”

  “Play another? Please?” Fale got into the bed to listen while lantern light threw deep shadows across Keron’s jaw. He played songs for her, then when he began to falter, he leaned the guitar in its case.

  Keron changed in the shifting light and slid into bed. “Come here?” He held his arm out to her.

  “But Lisle…”

  “I just wanna hold you.”

  She smiled and rolled into his neck. “Mmm.” She got comfortable. “Oh Keron, go take Lisle a pillow and one of our quilts, before we fall asleep.” She poked him in the side.

  “Ah, really?” Keron complained. “Do I have to?”

  “Yes.” She pushed him, laughing.

  He rose and carried the pillow and blanket to the living room. She heard Lisle’s biting tone, but Keron simply said, “Good night, Lisle.”

  “Good job,” Fale said when he returned and snuggled her into his shoulder, “I’m proud of you.”

  “Come here and kiss me,” he said.

  “Gladly,” she grinned.

  Fale woke early on purpose to make breakfast. Oatmeal, scrambled eggs from a carton, toast and dried bacon all smelled heavenly from the kitchen. Lisle woke up first but went into the bathroom. Keron came up behind Fale, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her neck. “Good morning, love.”

  “Good morning.” She smiled. “Sit down. It’s almost done.” Lisle walked into the kitchen like a zombie, his hair everywhere.

  “Man, how am I supposed to eat with you sitting there like that?” Lisle said to Keron.

  “Like what?” Fale asked.

  “Shirtless,” Lisle said sourly.

  Keron looked unsure of himself. He was self-conscious of his mechanical parts already so Fale said, “I think his bichanic arm is sexy.”

  “Oh, I bet you do,” Lisle said bitterly. “It’s not that, it’s all the muscles he has everywhere.”

  Keron’s laugh boomed. “Jealous, Lisle?”

  “Hardly,” Lisle flexed his chest.

  Fale turned back to the stove. Let them duke it out. She had no desire to have testosterone for breakfast. She served the men their food and sat down. “I wonder what time Lucien is going to get here?" She said around a mouthful of toast and jam.

  “No idea. Will you pour me some coffee?” Keron asked.

  “Sure,” she got up again. “I wonder if he’ll come alone or not?”

  “How do you know he’ll come at all?” Lisle asked.

  “Because I need him,” Fale said with complete faith. “And he said he would.”

  They all ate and helped with the dishes, then split up to get changed. Keron and Fale took turns in the shower and they all met back in the small living room. “I can help you make up your bed, Lisle,” Fale offered.

  “Thank you. I was wondering, do you want me to contact Taran while I’m with Keron, so they can meet?”

  “I don’t know, Lisle. It seems so weird. Keron might freak out.”

  “I won’t freak out,” Keron said.

  “We have time, it’s only afternoon there,” Lisle said. “Garrith seems to be in another time and season in their dimension.”

  “Can I leave you three boys alone together?” Fale asked, narrowing her eyes at them.

  “Absolutely,” Keron said.

  Fale looked at Lisle. “Cross my heart,” he said.

  “Fine,” she sat back and closed her eyes. Her white hair was loose and parted in the middle, making her cheeks look pinker than usual. She folded her hands in her lap as Lisle began to speak in the Crion language he used for spells. Keron watched with rapt attention as Fale appeared to relax back into the couch.

  Keron saw her suddenly sit straight up and open her eyes. She carried herself differently than usual; one shoulder was higher than the other and her elbows rested on her knees, which she let bow out. “Lisle, good to see ya.”

  “Hey Taran,” Lisle said. “How are you?”

  “Can’t complain, I was shovelin’ so she’s not gonna be mighty happy ta be takin’ my place taday." Lisle laughed, but Keron was dumbfounded. “See we got company?”

  “Oh, yes.” Lisle introduced them, “Taran, this is Keron. He’s Fale’s boyfriend.”

  “Oh. I thought…never mind. Nice ta meet ya, Keron." Fale reached over to shake Keron’s hand. “Name’s Taran. I live in Garrith.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Keron shook Fale’s firm grip.

  “So, have you had any luck with finding the man we asked about? Nelson?” Lisle asked.

  “Nah. Minova an’ I haven’t seen any new men about, but we’re keepin’ an eye out. My mates an’ I still plan ta take a peek in the castle, though. Not tellin’ Minova, o’course.”

  “Be careful. Fale told us about how cruel those guards are,” Lisle said.

  “I felt bad she was feelin’ all that.”

  “Feeling what?” Keron asked.

  “When they are in each other’s bodies, they feel what the other one is feeling. Fale showed up after Taran got ten lashes,” Lisle explained.

  Taran winced. Keron was not sure about this anymore. “And what did you say you were doing?”

  “It’s work time. I been shoveling sheep shite since I got my lashes.”

  “So that’s what Fale’s doing right now while we’re talking?” Keron asked.

  “Yeah,” Taran said. “It’s terrible hot and mostly just smelly hard work. The guards’re what make it difficult. Always yellin’ and crackin’ their whips.”

  “Get her back, Lisle. Now,” Keron said.

  “She always comes back on her own,” he said.

  “She finds my sister, but she won’t be doin’ that durin’ work time,” Taran said. “You better figure out a way, or I’ll be here ‘til supper.”

  “It’s her gift, though, not mine,” Lisle said.

  “What about the spell?” Keron asked. “The one Gasten uses to get there?”

  “The Aperio?” Lisle thought.

  “Yeah. Can you do it backwards?” Keron asked.

  “I could try one using reditus. It means to come back,” Lisle said. He pulled out a book from his bag and flipped the pages until he found what he was looking for. “It was good to see you Taran. We’re looking for the machine. Fale had a vision of it.”

  Taran’s expression brightened. “Great news. I’ll tell Minova an’ we’ll keep lookin’ for Nelson. Promise. Nice ta meet ya, Keron.”

  “You too,” Keron said, tipping his head anxiously.

  Lisle began to chant his spell and Fale’s head lowered, eyes closing. Lisle kept speaking and they waited. Fale threw her arms up over her head and screamed in pain. Keron jumped up and sat by her, putting his arms around her. “You’re okay now, Sprout. You’re home. You’re home.”

  She glared at Lisle. “Do you know what Taran does in the afternoon?” She spat. “Did he tell you?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. Perhaps we should stick with evening visits,” Lisle repented.

  “You think?” Fale crossed her arms and glared at him. She shrugged out of Keron’s embrace and paced the floor. “Has he seen Nelson?”

  “No,” Lisle said. “But he’s happy about the vision.”

  “You told him about the vision? Be careful what you share with him, Lisle. I don’t want them to have false hope,” Fale said. “What if I don’t find it?”

  “We will,” Keron said. “Lucien will help.”

  A light rapping at the door a little while later made Fale jump. She stopped her pacing and ran to the door. “Lucien. Come in, please,” she said, opening the door. She ushered him in. “This is our friend, Lisle.”

  “One of the good wizards,” Keron added.

  Lisle stood. “Nice to meet you, sir.” They shook hands.

  Lucien took a seat in one of the armchairs next to Lisle, so Fale sat next to Keron. “I had a vision of the machine, but you know that,” Fale said and Lucien smiled.

  “Wh
at did this place look like?” Lucien asked.

  Fale described her vision in detail making sure to include her theories about the mountains.

  “It’s not in the mountains of Algea, where we live. I will have to take this information to my sage, but if I’m right, you’ve described an island not on the map,” Lucien said.

  “When can you tell us about this place?” Keron asked.

  Lucien looked thoughtful. “Tonight,” he said, getting up. “I will return.”

  “Thank you,” Fale called, seeing him out.

  “Should we get Izzy?” Lisle asked. “If Lucien is coming back with news tonight on where the machine is, she should be here.”

  “I guess,” Keron said. “Is everybody sure Izzy should come?”

  “This is my mission, but Lisle and I think we can convince Izzy we are the good guys if we take her with us. And you’re the Wardsman, so I guess we need everyone. Who’s going to get Izzy?” Fale asked. “I can do it.”

  “Not alone,” Keron added, “please.”

  “Lisle has people out looking for him, but he has no disguise. Will you go with me?” Fale asked Keron.

  “Of course,” he said.

  “I’ll read,” Lisle said. “No big deal. There’s food for lunch, I’ll be fine.”

  “Let’s get going, we don’t have much time,” Fale said.

  She had a feeling time was not the only thing she would be in desperate need of today.

  Chapter 18

  Keron held Fale’s hand through the marsh. “It’s nice to be alone again.” He said, pulling her into his embrace and kissing her.

  “I’m sinking,” she laughed, gripping his shoulders as the mud swallowed her shoes.

  “Can’t catch a break,” he lamented.

  “You poor thing,” she said with mock pity.

  “I want to have you to myself.”

  “Maybe when this is all over, we can hide away from everyone,” she laid her hands on his chest.

  “Sounds perfect,” he said. “If Nelson lets me live."

  Fale laughed at him. “He can’t really stop us, Mr. Palmquist.”

  “That’s right, my wife.” He kissed her again.

  “We’d better get Izzy,” she urged.

  “Yeah, or I’ll keep you in the marsh forever.”

  “Ick.”

  “Me or the marsh?” He feigned insult with his hand on his heart.

  “The marsh, dummy.” She pecked his lips one last time and pulled his hand toward the city.

  Izzy looked shocked when she answered the door. “I’m not supposed to meet you guys until tomorrow.”

  “About that,” Fale said, stepping into the apartment with Keron. “We came to get you.”

  “What? Why?” Izzy asked.

  “Fale had a vision of the machine and it’s not in Alloy City. Are you ready to go on a road trip?” Keron replied.

  Izzy laughed nervously. “Yeah, about that…”

  “What is it, Iz?” Fale knew Izzy’s expressions well and this one said there was a problem.

  “It’s just, this has been lots of fun and all, like a mystery novel, but you guys know my parents work for Control. If I go with you, I am going against them. I mean, you’re my family, too. Fale don’t look at me like that, you know what a spineless person I can be.”

  Fale was saddened. “I understand, Izzy, I really do. I don’t know what I would do in your situation. If I had my father back, I’m sure I would be torn.”

  “I’m sorry.” Izzy looked remorseful.

  “Don’t tell your parents about us,” Keron said quietly, but it sounded like a threat.

  “I won’t. I promise,” she said.

  “We should go,” Keron moved toward the door.

  “Izzy-” Fale began, but she sighed. “Be careful.” She walked to the door and opened it, waiting for Keron to pass.

  “Wait,” Izzy called. Fale turned around to see Izzy with her hand out and her eyes squeezed shut.

  “Yes?”

  “I guess if I’m going, I don’t have much choice about when we leave. And I’m going, I want to help you guys get Nelson back. He gave me a chance to be myself, but better. This had better work, because my parents are going to kill me if they ever see me again. This is the point of no return.”

  Fale smiled and shut the door. “Of course, they’ll see you again, but we’ll be heroes when we rescue my people. They will have to understand.”

  “No, I’m pretty sure they won’t understand.” Izzy looked sad.

  “You’re always welcome to be with us,” Keron offered.

  “Thanks guys. So where is the machine?” Izzy walked to her closet and took out a large duffel bag.

  “It might be on an island,” Fale said.

  “I’ll need to pack, then stop by my parents’ to get credits.”

  “We can’t-" Keron began.

  “We can wait for you,” Fale interrupted. She was excited to have all her friends together and safe.

  “But hurry,” Keron said, wanting to get home as soon as possible. “Lucien is coming to the house this evening. He’s the mage who is giving us information.”

  “I will,” Izzy promised.

  Fale helped Izzy pack the large duffel and a small one. Then she picked up her shoulder bag and wore it cross-bodied like Fale. “I’m ready,” she said.

  They walked to Izzy’s parent’s apartment where Fale and Keron waited outside with Izzy’s bags. “I’ll only be a minute. I won’t tell them the plan, but I want to say goodbye,” Izzy said, and hurried inside. Fale knew Izzy would never leave if she honestly thought her parents wouldn’t forgive her. But she didn’t know if Izzy fully understood the weight of their mission.

  “This makes me nervous.” Keron looked around them.

  “I know,” Fale answered. “She won’t say anything. Her father gives her extra credits out of a separate account, so her mother won’t know. They both spoil her.”

  “I know. She’s always been a lucky girl,” Keron said.

  “She doesn’t have any idea how fortunate she is,” Fale said. “They give her anything she wants. I just want parents.”

  Keron put an understanding arm around her shoulders. “I meant, being out here in the open makes me nervous. We’re like punching bags in a gym.”

  “Huh?”

  “We’re targets,” Keron amended.

  “Oh,” Fale exhaled. She looked around and saw an old arboretum house in brass. It was one of the city’s old projects to make the city green. The building was ten feet tall, fourteen feet long, and barely wide enough for a person to walk through two rows of plants. The metal had long turned green and the glass shards pointed skyward as if accusing the very sun for shriveling the mass of brown, crispy plant matter left behind. Fale grabbed Keron’s hand and pulled. “Come on,” she said, walking toward the back. Hardy green vines wound their way around the structure and hung down to conceal them.

  Their eyes turned to moons as they heard the crunching of gravel under boots. “It’s Control,” Keron whispered. “Hurry.” They dashed behind the arboretum, staying low, behind the planter cases.

  The men who traveled the sidewalk, however, were not Control. One was nothing but a dirty thug, any one they may have met these past days; but the other man, the other man exuded power. His clothes could not be seen, because he was covered in a floor-lengthed cape, as black as the midnight sky. He walked with grace and almost floated over the ground until he was even with the dead greenhouse, then he stopped and straightened. His head raised and Fale prayed the hood would not turn in her direction as she peered through a crack in between the pipes. He sensed her; it was clear. Gasten. He knew she was near, at least he knew she had been here. Fale shook. What did he want with her? Why did he hate her? What would he do with her if he succeeded in capturing her? Her heartbeat increased, oh stars, could he hear her?

  “Where else have you looked?” Gasten asked the man next to him. His voice had a magnetic pull. Deep and dark and p
romising evil beyond her imagination.

  “We done tore apart da underground. Nobody seen her. They swears on it. Sir.”

  “That’s not good enough,” he roared and Fale felt the tiny hairs on her arms stand up.

  “They go to the plant sayin’ it, too.” The man spoke so softly Fale had to strain to listen.

  “Maybe we should send a token to the mages. I bet they’ll know where to find her.” Gasten’s voice was loud and clear now, and his tone skimmed over Fale’s nerves like a cheese grater over a chef’s knuckles.

  “What token we be sendin, sir?”

  “I’m thinking one of Nelson’s fingers…”

  Fale didn’t notice what he said next. She only saw him getting farther and farther away from her grasping hands. “Let. Go. Of. Me, Keron. I am going to kill him.” Keron’s arms crossed her body and held her tightly to him while she struggled to go after Gasten and his minion. When Gasten was out of sight, and she stopped violently shaking her head, he removed his hand from her mouth. “Didn’t you hear them? They are going to hurt Nelson! I can’t let him do it. Not for me, not for me, not… for… me…” She slowly gave up fighting him.

  “You coming to your senses yet?” Keron asked. “You know they already have him, right? We can’t stop that. But we can try to rescue them all.”

  Fale inhaled and closed her eyes. “You’re right.” She sagged in his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Sprout.”

  Izzy was back ten minutes later. Keron had begun to nervously pace the path behind the arboretum. He took her bags and they left for the edge of the city. “How did it go?” Fale asked politely, but her voice was strained.

  “Great. I said I was going on a spring vacation and I need extra credits for a little trip. Daddy was the only one there. He asked where we were going, and I said a bunch of us were going to a little island.”

  “And it worked?” Keron asked incredulously.

  Fale looked at him meaningfully. “Izzy’s daddy trusts her.”

  “A little too much,” Keron said.

  “I’m right here,” Izzy spoke up.

  “How much did you get?” Keron asked.

  “Several thousand more,” Izzy said flippantly. Keron and Fale looked at each other and smiled.