He tucked the book back in his closet, then rummaged in his backpack until he found the key and strode downstairs.
His mother looked up when he entered the kitchen. “I’m not finished yet —”
“I want you to keep this with you,” Jaden interrupted, handing her the key.
Curious, she took it. “A key?”
“Yes. I want to know I can find you.”
“How will this help you find us?” Clara examined the key.
“The key’s an artifact, something that comes from the gliders’ world, but which is here in our world now. It can lead me to you.”
“I still don’t understand how it works. Does it send out some sort of tracking signal?” Then, perplexed, she changed her line of questioning. “Why would you need to find us? We’re not going anywhere, or at least, not that I know of.”
Jaden hadn’t wanted to explain, but she just wasn’t getting it. “In case your dream comes true. In case they come for you and Dad.”
“Oh.” His mother’s reply was weak, understanding crushing the breath from her.
“It’s just a precaution,” Jaden reassured her. “Maybe the dream is only that, something meant to give us warning, not something that will actually happen.”
Clara sighed. “Jaden, if the dream does come true, you know you can’t come looking for us. That’s why I told you what could happen—so you would know it’s a trap.”
Struggling to suppress the anger that bubbled up, Jaden managed a measured reply. “And because you told me it’s a trap, I’ll know to be careful. Mom, I’m not letting him have you or Dad!”
Clara hesitated. “Thank you. I’ll keep it with me.”
Jaden smiled, relieved. “I know it will probably be a pain to carry around, so maybe you could put it on a necklace? You know, the same way Kayla keeps her medallion with her?”
“Yes, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll go find one now to put it on, shall I?”
Jaden waved her on her way, noticing the beginnings of a smile quirk up the corners of her lips.
“Alright, I’m going already.” Clara hustled out the kitchen.
His burden lifted, Jaden was suddenly starving. He picked up one of the half-made sandwiches on the counter, finished making it, and then took an enormous bite.
“I hope that wasn’t one of the sandwiches I was making for your trip.”
Jaden gave his mother a sheepish grin. “It was.”
She giggled, the musical sound tinkling in the air. Jaden grinned. She was almost back to normal. “How about I make another two sandwiches for those I’m going to eat now and then help you finish the ones you’ve already started?”
“Deal,” Clara approved.
“What are we doing?” Atu asked, joining them.
“Making lunch and some food to take on our journey,” Jaden answered.
“We’re leaving?”
Jaden grimaced “Sorry, I told Kayla and then meant to tell you, but I got sidetracked. Would you be ready to leave in about thirty minutes?”
“Sure.” Atu nodded, grabbing a sandwich.
It was actually forty-five minutes later when Jaden left his room, wearing his smart suit and with his backpack slung over his shoulder. Would their gliders be waiting on the roof? Stopping outside Atu’s room, he asked, “You ready?”
“Yes, good to go.” Atu slung his own pack over his shoulder and followed Jaden to the stairs.
When they exited onto the roof, Jaden was astonished to find his father waiting with his mother.
“Your mother called and told me that you were leaving on the next part of your journey,” Ty explained. “I wanted to be here to say goodbye.”
Jaden pulled his father into a hug. “Thanks, Dad. That means a lot.”
His dad held onto him for a while, not letting go. Jaden didn’t begrudge him the farewell. For all they knew, this really was a final goodbye, and it couldn’t be rushed. When his father released him, Jaden allowed his mother the same rights. Over her shoulder, he saw his dad pull a shocked Atu into a hug. He caught his dad’s eye and smiled.
“You boys take care of each other. And Kayla,” his dad ordered, his voice gruff.
“We will,” Atu promised.
Jaden stepped back from his mother and looked toward the ‘pod. They would have to take it after all.
“Dawdlers!” Kayla called.
Jaden whirled. Kayla and the three gliders hovered off to the side. “Nice to know our gliders can still sense when we need them.”
“Of course we know,” Taz huffed.
Grinning at her indignation, Jaden caught his parents’ startled glances in his peripheral vision. “Our gliders are here, along with Kayla.” Then, after a moment’s thought, he removed his relic stone and handed it to his mother. “Why don’t you say hello?”
His mother grinned like she’d just won the lottery. Sliding the ring onto her finger, she began conversing with the gliders. Jaden’s father stepped closer, and Clara filled him in on the parts of the conversation he couldn’t hear. As he observed, Jaden realized something. Two things, in fact. First, there was a slight time delay between when the gliders arrived and when the time freeze kicked in. Second, perhaps more importantly, while his mom wore the ring, the time freeze didn’t affect his father. Did the relic stone nullify the time freeze effect?
His attention returned to his parents, a mixture of joy and grief washing over him. They looked so delighted to be talking with the gliders. Ultimately though, they would have to allow the teens to leave.
As if sensing Jaden’s thoughts, Taz cleared her throat. “Lovely as it has been to see and talk to you, we must be getting on.”
Clara bit her lip as she removed the ring and returned it to Jaden. “Here you go, love.”
Jaden eyed her as he placed the ring back on his own finger. “We’re going to be okay.”
“Yes, you are,” his mother said vehemently. “And so are we.”
Jaden quirked an eyebrow, and Clara lifted the necklace that had been hiding under her shirt. Attached to it was the key. Jaden smiled.
Atu glanced at Jaden. “Now?”
Jaden nodded. They had agreed they would wait until they were actually leaving before summoning Pallaton for the second time.
Atu blew on the reed. Then he nodded to Clara and Ty. “See you soon.” With that, he leaped toward Aren, and they arced away, making space for Han to drop down for Jaden.
“I love you both. We’ll be back before you know it,” Jaden said, before making his own leap.
His mother’s comment to his father drifted up. “I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to that.”
“Me either,” his dad agreed. “I wonder if it will make a difference this time, knowing they’re gone.”
“It won’t. If we wait here a few moments, they’ll suddenly reappear like they did last time—even though they were gone for all those months.”
Jaden never heard his father’s reply because Han lifted beyond hearing at that point. Sighing, Jaden faced forward, hoping his parents wouldn’t have to wait long.
Chapter Eight
Kayla, Jaden, Atu, and their gliders circled the area, waiting for Pallaton and the Legion.
“Healer, you called?”
Kayla relaxed. Pallaton’s voice was a welcome sound. Jaden was also more at ease. The lines that constantly creased his brow during their week of training had vanished.
On their third day away, when it was just the two of them huddled close to the fire, she had cornered him about it, and Jaden confessed his fears that his parents—or hers—would still get taken despite Pallaton and the Legion’s protection. His concern for her family’s welfare had warmed her heart, and she snuggled into his shoulder, snaking her arms around his waist. Savoring the hard lines of his body pressed against hers, she had melted into him when he kissed her and scattered her thoughts. That was the end of the conversation, but the lines had persisted. What had changed between then and now to give him such peace?
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Jaden addressed Pallaton. “Thank you for coming. I apologize for calling you back again so soon.”
As they talked, Kayla noticed they weren’t the only ones exchanging greetings. The legion’s chirps and twitters mixed with those of their own gliders. Would what she saw last time the groups met reoccur? On cue, gliders circled closer to Taz, then dropped beneath her. Definitely bowing, or giving her some sort of obeisance. Kayla swiveled on Taz’s back and watched the members of the Legion approach Han. They drifted closer, floating next to him and peeling off, but they certainly didn’t drop away under him as they did for Taz.
“Taz, are they bowing to you?”
Slight as the movement was, Kayla felt Taz jerk in surprise. “What makes you say that?”
“That’s what it looks like. And you didn’t answer my question.”
Taz tensed under her. “Now is neither the time nor place for that conversation.”
“It seems that’s the standard reply whenever you don’t want to give an answer.”
“There’s a good reason this time, believe me!” Her terse reply warned Kayla that she was serious. Kayla glanced around, wondering who or what was making Taz skittish. She didn’t see anything unusual. Then again, just because Kayla didn’t see anything didn’t mean there wasn’t anything to worry about.
“All right,” Kayla conceded, keeping her voice low. “But I expect an answer sooner rather than later.”
Taz relaxed under her. Was Taz aware of another danger she hadn’t told the voyagers about? Only time would tell. Taz wouldn’t divulge something she wasn’t ready to share.
As they left, half the Legion detached themselves from Jaden’s home and headed towards her own, comforting Kayla. Not having to worry about her parents’ safety meant one less thing to distract her. Kayla eased into the rhythm that was flight. A while later, she glanced at Jaden on her right and noticed his grin. “What?”
“Want to race?”
Kayla giggled. “What’s the point when we know who’s going to win?”
Jaden laughed. “Too scared to try then?”
Kayla lifted her chin at Atu, flying on her left. “What’s your take on this?”
Atu shook his head, raising his hands in the air. “I’m not getting involved. You two sort it out. Aren and I are just here to enjoy the scenery.”
Kayla looked down. It was breathtaking. The air was clear, and she could see for miles. Glittering lakes shimmered with the promise of cool water. Fields dressed in emerald, gold, and rust, waved as they passed. Small clumps of trees in all shapes and sizes invited them to take respite under their shadowed forms. The combined effect was picturesque enough for a postcard. “Maybe I’ll side with Atu on this,” Kayla told Jaden.
Jaden visibly slumped on Han. “You guys are no fun.”
But he was taking in the scenery too. They flew on, enjoying the changing view. Soon, the landscape took on the red hues and barren characteristics of the semi-desert they had crossed over once before, although not in the same place. Kayla could feel Taz’s impatience rising. “Hey boys, let’s do that race.”
As if Taz had been waiting just to hear those words, she put on a burst of speed, and Kayla felt the familiar crawl of her face mask over her skin. The goggles snapped into place, and the aerolator followed as Taz accelerated further. Kayla laughed with sheer delight. This was flying!
Jaden and Han streaked past, and she stopped laughing. “They’re not beating us,” Kayla told Taz.
Taz chuckled, increasing her speed to match Han’s even though she wouldn’t be able to maintain it for long.
Reading her mind, Taz murmured, “Set a finish line.”
Kayla yelled to Jaden. “The finish is that strip of sand on the horizon.” In a quieter voice, she said to Taz, “Close enough?”
Taz only nodded as she pushed her limits. They shot ahead of Jaden and Han.
“Catch them,” Kayla heard Jaden yelling to Han.
“I can’t,” Han bit out. “She’s always been faster over shorter distances. And smarter too, it seems, since she set the goalpost within reach.”
Jaden’s chuckle floated across the distance as he said, “I believe it was Kayla who called the finish line.”
“And who do you think told her to do that?” Han growled.
Jaden roared with laughter, and Kayla turned then to see him rub Han along his neck. But Jaden kept his voice low this time, and whatever he said to Han was for them alone.
Looking past them, she was shocked to see Aren and Atu keeping pace. Aren looked like he was out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. “Aren looks too relaxed by far. Is he faster than you?”
“He’s chosen not to reveal that,” Taz said. “Although why he would hide his abilities is beyond me.”
Kayla studied Aren, confirming that he did seem to be taking his time. Or maybe that was just how he looked when he flew. All relaxed. Sighing, she decided she wouldn’t know the answer until Aren had a reason to show his true potential.
A second later, Taz shot over the finish line ahead of Han and angled her wings to glide for a while.
“Nice work,” Kayla congratulated, massaging the silky ridge of fur along Taz’s neck.
Taz purred. “Be careful when you do that, or I might forget to keep us in the air.”
Kayla giggled. “You enjoying the massage?”
“What do you think?”
“Yup, silly question. I never say no to a back rub.”
The boys caught up and took their places to her left and right as before.
“Nice win.” Jaden grinned.
Hmm, that grin is way too smug. He’s up to something. “Thanks. Are you going to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?” His stunned expression was priceless. Kayla laughed. “What, do you think I don’t know when you’ve got something up your sleeve?”
Jaden opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“I think it’s about time for food,” Atu commented, inserting himself into the conversation.
Jaden snatched at the straw. “Definitely.”
Kayla chuckled. “Don’t think you’re getting out of it that easily. We’re not landing until you tell me what you were thinking.”
This time, Jaden had a ready reply. “Ironically, I was thinking we only lost because we needed some sustenance.”
Kayla wasn’t sure she believed him. Although she was starved. Something about being out in the fresh air and flying with Taz boosted her hunger. “Alright, I’ll let that pass. Taz, let’s find somewhere where we can have lunch.”
In a few minutes they were on the ground and tucking into the sandwiches Mrs. Jameson prepared. Kayla wasn’t sure if Mrs. Jameson was simply an excellent cook or if it was because she was so hungry that the food tasted heavenly. When Kayla finished eating, she flopped onto her back. Taz noticed and ordered them back into the air. Kayla groaned. “Isn’t there some sort of rule about not flying too soon after you’ve eaten—you know, like the one about swimming?”
Taz sniffed. “Perhaps you should’ve eaten less. Han, Aren, and I are leaving. You can either come with us or stay here. If you elect to come, we’ll be back for you in five minutes.”
Taz leaped into the air. With apologetic shrugs, Han and Aren followed.
Kayla scrambled to put things back into the respective packs. “I can’t believe she just did that.”
“Well, she did,” Jaden said, his hands working just as quickly.
Kayla huffed. “I guess she was tired of arguing. It’ll serve her right if one of us barfs while we’re up there this afternoon.”
They were all still grinning when their gliders picked them up. However, the afternoon passed without any gastronomical eruptions. If they’d had to do any rolls or routines, Kayla’s grim wish might’ve come true. In truth, the afternoon was so dull she might’ve even fallen asleep if the terrain under them hadn’t begun changing again as they set a more easterly path.
Washed-out reds and dreary grays transformed into
more vibrant colors as trees and grassy hills filled the canvas beneath them once more. Kayla revived and began enjoying the day again. It wasn’t long after that when she noticed Jaden squirming. “What’s up?”
“I’m not sure.”
Kayla watched as he turned this way and then that, looking down at the ground and then off to the side. He kept twisting on Han’s back, as though trying to pinpoint something. “Jaden?”
He ignored her, still turning on Han’s back. Suddenly, he said, “We need to land. Over there!”
The gliders eyed him suspiciously.
“Why?” Taz demanded.
“I don’t know. I just have this feeling that’s where we’re supposed to be. Please!”
Kayla recognized Jaden’s agitation for what it was. “One of those ‘feeling’ feelings?”
Grimly, he nodded.
Kayla was instantly alert. “Taz, I think—”
“We should do as he says,” Taz finished. Kayla’s eyes widened in surprise. “Yes, this isn’t the first time he’s had those when we’ve been around.”
Kayla smiled. No, it isn’t.
Taking their cue from Taz, Han and Aren tilted their wings, chasing after Taz as she aimed for a sizable wooded area. “Be on your guard,” Taz commanded.
Cautiously, they circled the area Jaden specified. After two complete circuits without Gaptors rising to attack them, Taz determined they would need to land to get a grip on things.
“But I don’t like it,” Taz stated. “It smells like a trap. Once we’re on the ground, it’ll be more difficult to fight enemies lurking there.”
“If there are any Gaptors down there, they would be at the greater disadvantage,” Jaden pointed out.
“True,” Taz allowed. “That doesn’t mean we should be any less vigilant. Jaden, can you point out a more precise area we should be focused on?”
Jaden indicated a spot near the western edge. “There.”
“Alright, this is what we’ll do,” Taz said.
Kayla listened as Taz outlined her plan, impressed. Taz hadn’t had long to come up with that. When had her glider become such an excellent strategist? Then again, Taz had been the one with a plethora of exceptional ideas when they were caught in the desert with all those newly arrived Gaptors.
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