by Laurie McKay
“He was there,” Tito said. He pulled out the contents and used his flashlight to read them. “It’s a service call for the fume hood. Or a printout of one.” He flipped over the envelope. “This thing was stamped last year.”
Well. Caden didn’t know what that meant. He felt his brow crease. Brynne was looking at the sky. Obviously, she didn’t know what it meant either.
Jane touched his arm. “It shows the school hasn’t done what it’s supposed to do.”
“I see,” Caden said. But he didn’t. “What does Rath Dunn gain?”
Brynne glanced back at him. “I don’t know, but it’s similar to the complaints, right?”
“Sort of,” Tito said.
Sir Horace whinnied and nudged Caden’s ear with his wet nose. Caden petted his soft gray hair. In the undergrowth, a cricket croaked.
“I’d feel better inside the house, bro,” Tito said. “I’ve had enough bugs for one night.”
Caden agreed, but he first needed to speak with Sir Horace. He scratched his stallion’s nose. “Be safe, friend,” he said. “Especially this night. Don’t fight without me. If there’s danger, run away.”
“He can’t understand you, Caden,” Brynne said. “He’s a horse.”
Caden knew Sir Horace was a horse. And he couldn’t allow Sir Horace to be insulted. “He’s a Galvanian Snow Stallion, deemed the eighth finest in the land.” He raised his chin. “He understands perfectly.”
Although . . . now that Caden considered it, Sir Horace was of the Greater Realm. And he wasn’t gifted in speech like Caden. He might not understand the local English. To be safe, Caden repeated the command in Royal Razzon.
Brynne and Tito glanced at each other, wearing expressions similar to Rosa’s and Officer Levine’s when they thought Caden unhinged. “I don’t know if he understands English,” Caden explained.
Sir Horace leaned over to nuzzle Jane.
“Either way, he should understand now,” Jane said.
Caden patted Sir Horace once more and nodded.
On the second floor, Rosa’s light came on. Tito pointed. “Ah crap. Hurry.”
Brynne and Jane rushed inside using the back door. Caden and Tito climbed the escape rope, as the attic steps creaked. Then they stored it under Caden’s bed.
A few minutes passed in silence. It appeared they’d gotten back to their room without Rosa knowing. Tito flicked on his bedside lamp. Orange light streamed across the slanted walls. “Might as well keep it on. Otherwise, I’ll think Creepy Creedly is up there creeping around.”
“A good plan.” Caden was restless. He sat on his bed and replayed the night’s events in his mind. He looked at Tito. After battle, it was important to analyze actions. “Why did you turn on your phone while we were hiding? It seemed foolish. And you’re rarely that.”
Tito grinned. He pulled out his cell phone and sat beside Caden on the bed. “We need proof, right?” he said. “Asheville-type proof, too, not crazy fantasyland proof.”
“We do.”
Tito swiped his finger across the phone a few times. “Listen,” he said. A moment later Ms. Jackson’s voice played: “I want that chatty prince, too. He’s the reason my siblings are gone.” Then Rath Dunn spoke. “That’s not part of our deal. And I’ve already promised him to his brother.” After a while, he heard Mr. Creedly’s voice. “You don’t belong here.”
“I recorded them,” Tito said. “How’s that for proof of misdeeds?”
Had they said anything truly damning? “Do you have the rest?”
“It’s muffled after that. But cool, huh?”
“It’s good,” Caden said. “We need more, though.”
“Well, it’s a start,” Tito said.
It was a start. A smart start at that. Truly, Tito would make a formidable Elite Paladin. “We should collect more evidence with phones,” Caden said. “And we need to get into the cafeteria.”
“Okay. But not until Monday. Sneaking over there again would just be dumb. Give me your phone. I’ll send you the audio file.”
After Caden had it, he played the message again. Rath Dunn’s voice sounded menacing.
“And I’ve already promised him to his brother.”
What did that mean? “My brother wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Bro, I hate to say this, but your bro didn’t seem so friendly.” Tito stood up and went to his messy side of the room. “Are you sure he wouldn’t do anything?”
Caden was sure, wasn’t he? Lest he forget, Jasan had saved Tonya. He couldn’t be a traitor, could he? “None of my brothers would work with Rath Dunn.” But he didn’t feel as certain as he wanted. He leaned back on his pink-and-orange quilt.
There was more bothering him. Rath Dunn knew it hadn’t snowed the night Chadwin died. How could he have known that? Rath Dunn was banished years before. As far as he knew, the only ones with recent contact with the Greater Realm were Caden, Brynne, and Jasan.
“Rath Dunn knows things I didn’t tell him. Jasan, Brynne, and I were the only ones brought to Asheville recently. Who else could tell him such things?” Caden took a deep breath. “I don’t understand.”
“Huh.” Tito was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “You know, there was this foster kid, Dwayne, who lived here before you. He went to college in New Zealand. That’s like being a realm away. It’s too far for him to come back and visit.”
Caden stared at the ceiling, at the orange lamplight across it. “Your point, Sir Tito?”
“He and Rosa still email at least once a week.”
It seemed Tito had no relevant point. “We’ve no email in the Greater Realm.”
Tito was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “Yeah, but you got a bunch of freaky magic stuff. Are you sure there’s no way Rath Dunn could send a message? There’s no way he could talk back and forth, especially since he doesn’t care how it’s done or who gets hurt?”
Was it possible Rath Dunn had made contact? It would be unwise not to consider the possibility. And it seemed convenient and terrible that Rath Dunn needed Jasan’s blood, and it was Jasan who had been accused and banished for Chadwin’s death. “Anything is possible, especially with Rath Dunn.”
Caden leaned back. His bed felt warm and soft, but there would be no restful sleep this night.
In the morning, Caden’s left eye was tender from where he’d slammed into the locker. He’d slept a hard, short sleep and woke feeling confused. Mr. Creedly was more monster than man. He’d caused the spelling bee swarm and attacked Rath Dunn and Mr. Bellows at it because they plotted against Ms. Primrose. He’d attacked Derek because he annoyed Ms. Primrose, and Caden because she liked him. But why had Mr. Creedly attacked Tonya?
On the other side of the room, Tito was sprawled across his bed, asleep and drooling. Caden tossed a pillow at his head. Then he asked Tito’s opinion.
Tito stumbled out of bed. “She started taking college-level math classes. She showed me her textbook. That means she’s mad smart. And I don’t say that type of thing lightly.” He yawned. “Ms. Primrose probably likes her, too.”
“But she’s in my morning class.”
“Because she stutters,” Tito said sleepily. “Not because she’s not smart.”
Ward had once told Caden that Tonya was smart as well. Caden thought about his classmates. Ward seemed attuned to the computers. Jane was a rare enchantress. She seemed to prefer art to other classes, but she also brought back high grades. Derek, unlikable though he was, scored almost as high as Tito on tests, and was his main competition for the grade award. Truth be told, the only student at the school who Caden had seen fail a test was Caden himself.
Were all of Ms. Primrose’s students exceptional? Caden wouldn’t be surprised. She did collect people. And Ms. Primrose had once called Tito her favorite jewel. Just how smart did that make Tito? As smart as Brynne?
Caden considered. “You are to receive the grade award this Tuesday?”
Tito still had his eyes partially closed. He pulled a black T-shirt from
a pile of clothes next to his bed. “That’s the plan. That’s the completion of my quest.”
Caden peered at him. “So how mad smart does that make you?”
“Super mad smart,” Tito said, but he hunched his shoulders. “And, well, I study all the time. That’s the main thing.”
“Brynne studies constantly as well,” Caden said, and headed for the tiny Ashevillian bathroom. “It only adds to her talents.”
Once in the bathroom, Caden looked in the mirror. His cheek was bruised, his eye slightly swollen. He had been running fast when that locker door hit his face. The swelling flesh was a testament to his speed. But if he failed his quest, speed would do him no good against an Elderdragon.
Now he knew Mr. Creedly had caused the bee swarm. And thanks to Tito, Caden had a nice recording of Ms. Jackson and Rath Dunn acting suspiciously. They needed proof, though.
After he washed in the tiny bath, he trimmed his hair. It was Saturday; they were visiting Ward today. Jasan was supposed to be housed next door. It was important for Caden to look like a future Elite Paladin when he saw his brother.
Jasan should see that even stranded among cars, cafés, and villains, Caden followed the noble path of the Elite Paladin. Then Caden would ask him about home, about their brothers and father. He rubbed his cheek once more. He’d ask him what he knew of the monster that was Mr. Creedly, and he’d play the recording of Ms. Jackson and Rath Dunn. He’d see how he reacted to the line “I’ve already promised him to his brother.” Although Caden would have to translate it.
The bandage Caden kept wrapped around the blood-dagger wound was pink and needed tending. He changed it, pulled on his freshly washed horse T-shirt, and fixed the sleeves so they covered the wound. Rosa would be unhappy if she noticed it.
Tito was more awake when Caden returned from the shower. He blinked slowly, then pointed at the left side of Caden’s face. “That side of your face is bruised up.”
“I ran into the locker.”
“Yeah, I remember,” Tito said. “Let’s not tell Rosa that.” He took another glance at Caden’s face, then flopped back down on his bed and groaned. “She’s going to suspect something. Why’d you have to go and get beat-up looking?”
The worst Rosa would do was take away their phones. “Even if she finds out, she won’t send us away.”
“You’re right. If she finds out we broke into the school, she’ll kill us. There’ll be nothing left to send away.” Tito sat back up. “Don’t tell her about last night, got it?”
Rosa would ask about his bruised face and Caden couldn’t lie. Lying was against the Elite Paladin code. Not even commoners in the Greater Realm lied.
“Got it?” Tito said again.
Caden touched his face and frowned. “I understand.”
Tito seemed to sense that was not a full agreement. “I wish it was Sunday. Then I could just order you not to tell.”
“Luckily for me, it’s Saturday. I’ll do what I please.” Caden was growing frustrated with his friends making light of his time of the month. It was not funny. It was life threatening. “My curse is no joke. I have to complete my quest and endure orders from whosoever speaks to me.” He felt his cheeks heat. “It could cause my death and the death of my brother.”
Tito looked contrite. “Sorry, man,” he said. “It’s just you don’t know when to lie.”
That was untrue. “I know never to lie.”
Tito grabbed his clothes and trudged toward the bathroom. “See, that’s what I’m worried about.”
Tito was right about one thing: Rosa was highly suspicious of his bruised face and blackening eye. As he and the others sat around the kitchen table eating round grains and milk, she examined him with great care. “It didn’t look like that yesterday night,” she said.
“No,” Caden said. “Not until this morning.”
“Tell me how that happened.” There was iron in her tone.
Jane watched with an even expression, Brynne with wide eyes. Tito looked terrified—much more so than after they’d fled Mr. Creedly and his swarms. A future Elite Paladin was truthful, though. Caden hoped his friends would understand.
“I knocked him with the sparring mop,” Tito blurted out.
Caden was taken aback. Tito had lied. Not only that, he’d lied to Rosa. Jane also looked surprised. Brynne seemed impressed, but mischief often impressed her.
Rosa turned her no-nonsense stare to Tito. “Is that so?”
Tito looked sicker than when he’d pointed out the dead rats.
Brynne broke into a grin. “A knock with the mop could certainly cause a black eye. Right, Caden?”
She wasn’t technically lying, but there was no reason for her to be so happy about the deception in her question. Caden glared at her, then at Tito. If he shared the true story now, it would be worse for them all. Still. Caden wouldn’t lie. “I suppose a knock with the mop could cause a bruised face.”
Jane lifted her spoon to her mouth. “I thought it would look worse,” she said.
Rosa looked at them, and her cheek twitched.
“Sorry,” Tito mumbled, and he didn’t meet her gaze.
They finished the breakfast in silence. Rosa seemed suspicious and rightly so. Caden had greater concerns than his foster mother’s disappointment, though. He needed to see his brother and talk to him in private.
Once Caden got Tito and Jane alone on the porch, he chided them on their easy untruths. “And Jane still has to be knighted. Jasan has to agree to it. As future Elite Paladins, you must be honest.”
Jane shrugged. “Rosa wouldn’t understand the truth. Not now.”
“Not ever,” Tito said.
The breeze rustled the leaves on the trees and brushed against Caden’s skin like soft wool, but it didn’t comfort him. “Future Elite Paladins don’t lie. It doesn’t matter if she understands.”
“It matters to me.” Tito ducked from the wind. “This future Elite Paladin doesn’t want to be kicked out of his best-ever foster home because he broke into his freaky school with weirdoes from another dimension.”
The screen door creaked open and shut, and Brynne stepped out. “I’m no weirdo, Sir Tito.”
“You hang out with Prince I-must-slay-a-dragon-and-never-utter-an-untruth,” Tito said. “So you’re a little weird.”
Rosa followed a few moments later with her truck keys dangling from her fingers. She looked at them and didn’t smile. “Be on your best behavior today at Ward’s house,” she said. “Get in the pickup.”
They piled into the truck—Caden in front, the other three in the back. Rosa started the engine and looked in the rearview mirror—seemingly right at Tito. “Maybe you’ll have something to tell me when I pick you up.”
“Doubtful,” Caden said.
She slid her gaze to him, and her cheek twitched again.
“I’m just being honest,” Caden said, and Tito kicked his seat.
Ward lived with his parents in a townhouse near the Trader Joe’s and Harris Teeter stores where Rosa sometimes shopped. His home was painted a pale pink with white trim. The door was painted green like a forest, and there were beds of blooming white and yellow daisies in front. In the middle of them stood a strange smiling figurine with a tall pointed hat.
It made Caden uncomfortable. It seemed to be looking at him. “What is that?”
“A garden gnome,” Tito said.
“That isn’t a gnome.” He turned to his friend. Gnomes were small creatures with bad breath and pointed teeth. “Gnomes are smaller. And meaner. And they don’t wear hats, because they wouldn’t fit over the horns,” he said. “And they only smile before they attack.”
Tito shrugged. “Asheville-type gnomes are happy, ceramic, and have tall pointed hats.”
Caden glanced at the garden gnome again. “I don’t like it.”
Tito sighed and pulled him toward the door. Caden kept the gnome in his sight, though. He didn’t trust it. Why did it have such a tall hat?
The townhouse to the
left was pale yellow. The one on the right was pale blue. Both had similar white trim and flower beds. Likely Ms. Primrose wanted her teachers in pretty, polished places, like her other collectibles. According to Ward, Jasan was living in one of these townhomes.
Rosa knocked at the green door, and Ward’s mother, Desirae, welcomed them inside. She was tall with an athletic build and wore a bright pink sundress. Caden had seen her at the social services building once or twice when he’d met his counselor. Manglor towered behind her. Caden greeted him, but Manglor just turned and went up the stairs. One day, Caden would make him smile.
“I’ll be back at three to pick you up,” Rosa said.
Desirae stepped outside to speak with Rosa while Caden and the others met Ward in the living room. He sat on a white leather couch with a game controller. At the other end of the room, large windows overlooked a small, flower-filled yard. There were more suspicious tall-hatted garden gnomes out there.
Tonya also sat on the couch. It was a good omen to see their fallen colleague returned. Caden felt a grin break across his face. “You look well, ally.”
“I’ll go b-back to school on Monday.”
“You have been missed,” Caden said, and he meant it.
Soon, Desirae brought in food. In Caden’s royal opinion, she seemed nervous. He wondered if she knew her husband was from another world. “Is there anything else you need?” she said.
A prince must always be gracious. He took her hand. “We are grateful for your hospitality and for Ward’s friendship.”
“Um . . . thank you, Caden,” she said, and returned to the kitchen. Ward turned red.
Once they were alone, Brynne eased onto the couch. Jane and Tito sat on the floor with a bowl of strange orange puffs. Caden remained standing. One, a prince didn’t sit on the floor. Two, they were here first to see Jasan, then to play games and eat weird orange food.
Indeed, Ward was a good friend, for he paused his game and said, “He’s in the yellow house.”
“Thank you,” Caden said.
Ward turned back to his game. “But he doesn’t answer the door.”
“I see,” Caden said, but certainly Jasan would open the door for Caden. Still. Their noble father had once told Caden that it was better to be overly prepared than unready. He looked to Brynne and her glimmering hairpin.