Tani didn’t respond—she looked really pale, actually—and Jacob worried she’d faint or something. He was about to start fanning her face when the undergrowth cleared around them, allowing her to pass through. He pulled on her arm until she followed.
They entered the meadow with the huge tree looming overhead. Several Makalos were walking briskly, going to and from the gardens and village.
Tani stopped and stared. But she covered her surprise quickly and dropped her gaze. “Dwarves. Dwarves everywhere. And I’m staring at them—so rude.”
Jacob shook his head. “They’re Makalos, not dwarves. And they’re magical.”
She tilted her head, staring at him. “There you go again.”
“Come on. I’ll introduce you to Akeno, one of my best friends here.”
He pulled her past the tree and they climbed the wall on Kenji’s side of the village. As they followed the path leading toward Kenji’s house, Tani stopped walking several times to stare at the Makalos. Jacob had to guide her around the holes in the ground—she nearly stepped in them because she was so distracted.
“There’s something wrong with these people—they’re not normal! And they glow blue!”
Jacob only laughed in response. A moment later, they reached Kenji’s house.
Akeno answered Jacob’s knock. “Jacob! Hey. Who’s this?”
“Her name is Tani. She’s my best friend from Earth, and my parents just gave me permission to tell her everything.”
“Wow. That’s awesome! Hey, Tani!” Akeno led them into his house, shutting the door. “How are things going?”
Tani smiled at him and Akeno chuckled.
“I want you to show her your abilities,” Jacob said. “Oh! Start with how you light the rooms!”
Akeno chuckled. “Okay.” He turned to Tani and said, “Watch closely.” Then he put his left ring finger up to the wall near the door, touching a glowing stream of silver. The lights in the room went off, and Tani gasped.
“Just wait!” Jacob said. “The best part is turning it all back on.”
Akeno pressed his finger to the stream again and light erupted from his fingertip, trailed up the wall, and connected with streams that zigzagged across the ceiling.
Tani slumped against the wall, staring up, her mouth open. “Wow.”
“Isn’t it awesome?” Jacob asked.
“How’d you do that?”
Akeno shrugged. “I’m a Makalo. We’ve got a magic called Rezend inside us. It allows us to control electricity, plants, water, and other stuff to an extent. Things of nature, basically.”
Jacob nodded. “And his finger acts like a flashlight—show her.”
Akeno held up his hand, bright blue light emanating from his finger. Tani squinted at the glare and turned her head away.
Jacob smiled. “Cool, huh?” He motioned to Akeno. “Shrink something.”
Akeno stretched out his arm and pinched with his fingers. A chair from the other side of the room disappeared than reappeared in his palm. He handed it to her.
Tani turned it over in her hand several times. “Are you a magician? Show me how you did it.”
Akeno took the chair from her, reached out, and dropped it. It appeared back on the other side of the room full-sized. “I have magic inside me, but I’m not a magician—not like what you’re thinking. As I already said, I’m a creature called a Makalo. We live here on this world, Eklaron, and there are a lot of other magical creatures here. Jacob discovered us last summer when he accidentally came through the link from Earth.”
Tani didn’t respond. She stared at Akeno like he was from a different planet. Jacob chuckled at his thoughts—Akeno was from a different planet.
“Is there anything you’d like to know?” Jacob asked her.
“I . . . I . . .”
Akeno tilted his head, a sheepish expression on his face. “I think she’s seen enough for today.”
Jacob nodded. “Tani, did you walk to my place?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll get you back home.” Jacob pulled the Key out of his pocket. “This Key is magical. I can use it to create a link between here and your place.” He put the Key in the lock, turned it left, and said, “Tani’s house in Mendon,” then pushed the door open. He motioned for Tani to go ahead.
She stepped across the threshold, then stopped when she apparently recognized her front room. “How? Wha . . .?” She stared at him.
“It’ll take time for things to sink in. I’ll tell you the full story when you’ve had a chance to think it over.”
“Uh. Okay.”
“I’ll see you later.” He smiled at the spacey expression on her face, then closed the link and turned to Akeno. “Wow. She took it much harder than I thought she would—she’s like a completely different person right now. Usually she’s bouncing all over the place and telling everyone what to do.”
“She’ll catch up soon, I’m sure.”
Jacob nodded.
Later that night, he gave Tani a call, wanting to make sure she hadn’t discounted everything she’d seen that day.
“Jacob! Okay, so I want to go back. When can I go back?”
Jacob chuckled. He should’ve known she’d be fine. “Soon, I hope. They’re letting Kevin come several times a week, and that’s been all right. Aloren convinced them, and so far, no one regrets it.”
“Aloren? She knows about that place?”
“She’s from Eklaron,” Jacob said.
“Really? No way!” She paused. “Wait a second. You said Kevin. Kevin knew before me? Jacob! I can’t believe you. You call me your best friend? Well, some best friend you are!”
Jacob cringed. She was right. “Sorry. We didn’t give Aloren permission to tell him, but he started figuring things out, and she didn’t want it to get out of hand.”
“I can’t believe it. Your worst enemy knew before I did.”
“Not my worst enemy, actually. That would be a Lorkon by the name of Keitus. He’s tried to kidnap me many times—he started the uprising against my family, is the reason we left, and he wants to control my abilities.”
“Abilities? You mean, like basketball?”
Jacob shook his head even though he knew she couldn’t see him. “Nope. First off, I can sense weakness in things and mold them. Remember how I used to get in trouble in Mr. Coolidge’s class all the time? It’s because I was molding my desk. He freaked out—said I was destroying school property.”
“You’re definitely going to show me! I won’t believe it until I see it.”
Jacob decided to tell her about his other powers later. “Okay, okay. But I’m going to bed now. We’re having a meeting first thing in the morning—we, as in, the people who are working to get rid of that guy, Keitus.”
“All right. Thanks for calling.”
Jacob sighed with contentment. His best friend didn’t hate him after all.
Dad started the meeting the next morning by announcing that it was finally time to get the Molg map.
“Those who will be going are Akeno, Sweet Pea, Matt, Ebony, and Jacob.” He pulled his chair closer to the table. “It should be fairly easy—in and out. Jacob can Time-See to make sure the cave is empty before you go in.”
Brojan cleared his throat. “I’d like to go as well.”
Everyone stared at him, but Brojan’s expression didn’t change. He turned to Kenji. “Do you remember Dreget?”
Kenji nodded. “Of course. But I doubt he’s still alive.”
“Who’s Dreget?” Matt asked.
Brojan looked at Jacob’s brother. “The Molg I used as a spy during the war against the Lorkon. It was very difficult to get him to turn to our side, but once he did, he was a great ally. It would be perfect to have him working with us again.”
Jacob folded his arms. “What if he’s turned on you?”
Brojan lifted his hands. “It’s entirely possible, but I’d like to find out just the same. And Jacob, you can communicate with the Molgs—
I want you to help find Dreget by interpreting.”
“I don’t communicate with them. I touch their skin and see what they’re thinking about.”
“That’s fine. I’ll do the talking and you tell me what the creature sees. It’ll work.”
Dad tapped the side of his face with a finger. “I don’t know, Brojan.” He sighed. “No offense intended, but at your age, the group will be slowed down considerably.”
Brojan looked away. The orange-pink color in the air around him showed that he was offended.
Jacob smiled. Then he had an idea. “How about we ask Akeno to enlarge a door right when we need Brojan, and he can come then? He doesn’t have to be with us the whole time.”
Brojan and Dad both nodded, agreeing to that.
Dad steepled his fingers. “Now then. Sweet Pea and Ebony, as soon as you’re back from getting the map, you’ll start training those humans who choose to stay and fight. From what I understand, there are several who are ready now.”
“They sure are!” Sweet Pea said. “Ready and waiting for orders.”
“Good.” Dad pushed back from the table. “That’s everything.”
It didn’t take much time for Jacob and the others to get ready to leave.
He Keyed them to Aldo’s cabin and then led them up the trail, following the steps he’d seen the Molg take. When they reached the switchbacks, Jacob took them to the left.
“I’ve never been over here,” Akeno said.
Sweet Pea rolled his eyes. “Dude, you’ve been in, like, two places outside the village.”
Akeno snorted. “I’ve been to more places than you.” He playfully slapped Sweet Pea on the arm, his hand flailing through the air. Sweet Pea snorted, and Akeno glanced at Matt, a questioning expression on his face.
Matt and Sweet Pea both started laughing, and Matt gasped out, “You did it all wrong, Akeno.”
“But you said it’s okay to hit other guys jokingly.”
Jacob couldn’t help but smile, though he felt bad for Akeno. The Makalo had been trying really hard to grasp American culture outside of what he’d read in books and seen in movies.
Matt wiped his eyes. “Yeah, I know, but you can’t just slap him. It’s really . . . It’s just wrong-looking, okay? You gotta punch instead.”
“Like this?” Akeno punched Sweet Pea’s shoulder, but it looked worse than the slap.
“No!” Matt gasped. “That’s how girls hit when they like a guy! And when I say ‘like,’ I mean, when they’re romantically interested!”
“Well, I don’t know what I’m doing!” Akeno said.
Ebony put her arm around her son’s shoulders. “And it’s totally fine. You don’t need to hit other guys anyway.”
“If he wants to fit in, he at least needs to learn what’s not okay to do,” Matt said. He smiled at Akeno. “Just don’t do it at all—that would be best.”
Akeno nodded. “And you already said that most of how I act and talk is fine.”
Sweet Pea pounded his chest. “What he said was that you needed to start talking like me.”
“Insolent and arrogant? That’s not my personality.”
Sweet Pea shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He smiled at Akeno, then led the way up a small hill toward a cave. The group fell silent when they went inside. It was dark, and after only a couple of feet, Akeno lit up his finger so they could see the way.
“Why does Eklaron have so many tunnels, caves, and underground passageways?” Matt asked.
Jacob carefully stepped across a small pit. Twisting an ankle wouldn’t be good. “I’ve wondered the same thing.” He waited for one of the Makalos to say something, but none of them did. Just then, they entered the huge caverns with ceilings full of holes. The sun was at the right height—directly overhead—giving them a good amount of light to see by.
“Awesome!” Matt said. He took off running across the vast space.
Jacob looked up. Many of the bubbles had broken along their sides, forming rough arches and large passageways that connected the caverns to each other.
“Come on!” Matt called.
Matt jumped across a stream and turned, splashing the others. A very cold water fight broke out. Ebony caught up while the boys were soaking each other with the nearly frigid water.
“Careful! I don’t want you to get sick. It’s freezing here!”
“Not when you’ve been running,” Sweet Pea said.
A moment later, the boys calmed down and the group continued. When they reached the tunnel at the other side, Jacob stopped them.
“Should we set up the door before or after we find a Molg?”
Akeno shifted from foot to foot. “I’d feel much more comfortable doing it before, just in case, and to keep it out of sight of the Molg.”
“Then we should do it here—the map isn’t far.”
While Akeno enlarged a door and Matt and Sweet Pea put it in place, Jacob Time-Saw into the tunnels ahead of them, moving past the map’s location. A Molg was wandering the tunnels fairly close to the group.
“Okay,” Jacob said, pulling back, “there’s just one Molg, and it’s a little guy. I’ll go get Brojan, we’ll talk to the beast, then let’s grab the map.”
The others waited while Jacob created a link to Brojan’s place, opening the door. The patriarch was sitting at his table, dressed in warm clothing and holding a walking stick. He stood when Jacob waved at him and walked through the link.
When everyone was ready, Akeno held his hand up, helping the others see, then led the way into the tunnels.
“Akeno,” Jacob whispered, “dim your light—I don’t want the Molg to go berserk before we find it.”
Jacob alternated between Time-Seeing and telling Akeno which turns to take. Not long after, they caught up to the Molg. Catching it was easy—Akeno maxed out his light and shone it in the creature’s eyes right when Ebony, Sweet Pea, and Matt jumped and pinned the beast to the ground. They tied it with ropes, then turned to Brojan and Jacob.
Holding his breath and trusting the others would keep the Molg from attacking, Jacob approached and put his finger on the beast’s forehead. He nearly recoiled from the feel of the clammy skin. Instant visions entered his mind—boredom, aimless wandering, lust after a female Molg, and frustration with rules from the Lorkon. Last was the irritation at being stopped by humans, followed by a fleeting thought about delicious-looking creatures.
“We need to hurry,” Jacob said. “He wants to eat us.”
Brojan nodded and approached cautiously. “Molg, my name is Brojan. I want to ask you a couple of questions about one of your own I used to know.”
The creature under Jacob’s hand didn’t do anything—just stared at Brojan—but Jacob saw the patriarch in the Molg’s mind.
“You’ve got his attention.”
“His name was Dreget—”
Suddenly the Molg roared and jerked around, reaching for Brojan. Jacob lost contact with its skin. The beast nearly broke free, even with the ropes and people holding it down.
As soon as the others regained their control over the monster, Jacob put his hand back on its forehead. He gasped as he saw strong visions and felt intense emotions, then looked at the Molg’s face. The hatred there was intense, the colors swirling around it confusing—Jacob wasn’t adept at reading the emotions of Molgs, but he knew they weren’t positive.
“What is it?” Ebony asked, not loosening her hold on the beast’s left arm.
“It’s obvious he’s super angry.” Sweet Pea said. “Tell us what you saw.”
Jacob quickly relayed the visions as they came to him. “Dreget is dead. He turned against the Molgs to help Brojan. It caused a huge war within their civilization that didn’t end until the Lorkon killed him. Many Molgs died—oh, gross. Molg eat their dead.”
He swallowed, willing that particular vision to leave his mind. “When the Lorkon came, they took control, establishing some order within the civilization. The Lorkon taught the Molgs to depend on them, to kill an
y of their kind who ever turned again.”
Jacob looked up. “This Molg is young—only around ten years old. But they pass their stories down, and his hatred for Dreget is not to be underestimated. Nor is his loyalty to the Lorkon—he . . . he wants to kill you, Brojan. He wants the recognition that will come from destroying the one who caused the Molg war.”
Brojan shook his head. His face showed impassiveness, but he took a slight step backward. Only a small amount of nervous yellow flashed around his face. “He won’t be able to get to me.” The patriarch looked at Ebony. “Do you have the map?”
“Not yet—we brought you as soon as Jacob saw a Molg nearby.”
“Let’s get it.”
“What do we do with this thing?” Matt asked.
Sweet Pea grunted. “Kill it, obviously.”
Ebony frowned at the Makalo. “That wouldn’t be right. He’s not attacking.”
“But he would, if given the opportunity.”
“Let’s just leave him here,” Matt said. “Make the knots tighter so he can’t get away.”
Jacob nodded. “And I’ll mold the rope into the cave wall, just as a precaution.” He warmed the stone right behind the Molg, then waited as Matt fed a thick, knotted chunk of the rope into the hole he’d created. Then he sealed it all up and cooled the stone, making it stronger than before.
“Done.”
Akeno and Jacob led the way, Akeno using his finger to light the tunnel and Jacob using his abilities to find the correct place. They made it to the map without a problem. Ebony pulled it off the wall. Jacob, remembering the books the Molg had in his pile of junk, got on his knees next to the pile and started shoving as many as possible into the backpack he’d brought. Who knew if one of them would be useful.
He got up and was about to lead the way when Ebony put her hand on his arm, stopping him. “Let me use the map to get us out—we need to familiarize ourselves with it as much as possible.”
He nodded and stepped back so Akeno could light the old leather while Ebony studied it. When she was ready, she took them forward, around a few turns and past several forks. But after ten minutes, Jacob realized she was lost—it hadn’t taken that long to get inside.
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