“Um…so…” I said awkwardly as I sat down beside Miles.
“Yeah,” he said heavily. “We just broke up.”
I nodded. “That’s kind of what it looked like. I’m so sorry, Miles.”
He shrugged, avoiding my eyes. “She couldn’t deal with my schedule any more. I can’t blame her. There was no room for spending time with her, what with everything I’ve got going on here for my schoolwork and, you know…” he looked around anxiously. “Over there. I haven’t exactly been the best boyfriend recently.”
“Still, haven’t you guys gone out for, like, four years?” I asked, a little indignantly. Miles was one of my best friends, and I knew how much Clarissa meant to him. “It’s hard to believe she’d just drop you like this.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” Miles said, suddenly looking shifty. “And I don’t really want to talk about it any more. How about you? What’s been happening in your love life? I saw you and Kurt hanging out this morning. What’s happening there?”
I balked. Not only was I not sure what to do about Kurt, but I didn’t want to talk myself up and make Miles feel even worse. “Oh, nothing much,” I said nonchalantly. “We’ve started to hang out, but it’s no big deal really.”
“Cool,” he said, discouraged. He picked savagely at the food on his plate.
The rest of our lunch passed in silence. None of the others showed up to speak with us at our table, and soon the bells rang to summon us back to class. I went through the rest of my classes with a weird mix of emotions: happiness at the thought of going out with Kurt a second time, confusion about whether I should be going out with Kurt at all, and regret for Miles.
Soon enough it was the end of the school day, and I walked out the front door feeling like I’d spent the whole day exercising or walking instead of sitting in a chair. Using brainpower did that to me. It was always more exhausting for me to spend a day studying than it was for me to spend a whole day doing something physical with my body.
My mom was waiting for me in the parking lot. As soon as I pulled open the door and sat down beside her, I could tell something was wrong. She had that serious look on her face—the look she had when there was a talk coming, but she wasn’t looking forward to it.
“Hey mom,” I said cautiously. “What’s up?”
“Hi, sweetie,” she said with a too-bright smile. “Your dad and I want to have a quick conversation with you about something we found out today.”
Red flag. “Um…okay,” I said. “What is it?”
“Why don’t we get home, and then the three of us can talk about it together?”
“Sure,” I said, sighing and leaning back.
The whole way back, my mind was racing. Was it something to do with the hospital? Something to do with school? Had some of my grades started to slip, and my teacher reached out to my parents in concern? Maybe the doctors had seen something in their final round of blood tests that came up as a warning sign, and they wanted to bring me back in. That would be incredibly annoying. I’d finally made it back to school and had a great day. The last thing I wanted was to end up back in the hospital.
We pulled into the driveway, and I shot out of the car like I’d been stung by a bee. I helped my mom get her purse and briefcase out of the back of the car, then marched inside with her as fast as I could.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s talk. I don’t like wondering what’s wrong.”
“I’m sorry about that, honey,” she said uncomfortably. “Steve!”
My dad shot around the corner, as though he’d been waiting there to be called. Maybe he had. “We ready?”
“Yes, dear,” my mom replied. “Come on. Let’s all sit in the living room together.”
I sighed, already dreading this. Living room sit-down chats were usually long, boring and awkward. It was where my parents held uncomfortable discussions, couching them in the comfort of plush chairs and a sofa. It was a nice attempt to make the awkward less awkward, but it didn’t usually work. I had a feeling it wouldn’t work this time.
“So,” my mom said once we were all settled in our seats. They each took an armchair, so I draped myself lengthwise along the couch. “We had a talk with Ester’s parents today.”
I blinked. That wasn’t good. “Okay,” I said cautiously. “What about?”
“Well, Ester’s mom was told about this medical program that’s going on at a local hospital,” my mom began.
I sat up. “Stop. I know where you’re going with this. You want me to go in for the Medicorp clinical trials.”
My parents stopped and looked at each other. Clearly they weren’t expecting me to know about this already.
“Raven told me all about it,” I said. “She was really upset at her parents for trying to bring her in to it. I can’t say I blame her. They’re doing it in a psych ward, mom.”
“Well, that’s not all it is,” my mom said. “They’re a regular hospital with a psychiatric wing.”
I shrugged. “Potato, po-tah-to. Point is, I already saw the guy talking about the program on TV. It’s not for me. The guy’s weird. He creeps me out, and besides, it’s not like I’m in any danger.”
“Well, the doctors don’t know that for sure,” my dad pressed. “And that’s one of the reasons we’d really like to get you in for this trial. These people know more about sleep disorders like yours than anyone else in the world. They can tell us for sure whether it’s any danger to your health or not.”
“It’s not,” I said firmly. “There’s nothing dangerous about it.”
“I know it seems that way now,” my mom said, “but—”
“Mom,” I said, interrupting her. “Dad. I don’t want to go. I’m not going in for the trial. Okay? It makes me really uncomfortable even talking about it. I’ve heard stories about places like this. Stories about people who go in for one thing, and then the doctors decide they need something else, and then bam—they’re put on all sorts of crazy meds and given operations that have nothing to do with what they went into the hospital for. I don’t want that to happen. Especially when what I’ve got is so small. It doesn’t really affect my life.”
They both stared at me for a moment. Then my mom sighed and nodded. “Fine. If that’s really how you feel about it. But I can’t promise we won’t bring this up again. We really want to help you move through this, sweetie. And if we can do something to help, we want to. Okay?”
“Okay, fine,” I said. “I understand that. But for now, let’s drop it.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Neither one of them went to move, so instead I got up and left the living room. I felt nervous. Anxious. First Raven’s parents. Now mine. How long before everyone’s parents were trying to push them into Medicorp’s arms? How long before one of us was forced in?
It would be the end of us. I was certain that Terrence received photographs of everyone who came in. He knew what we looked like. He’d immediately recognize any of us if we were to come in for the clinical trials. Then he’d have the Association track the rest of us down, using the first one as the link in the chain to find every one of us. Maybe he’d kill us and make it look like an accident, or maybe he’d simply have his men find us and wipe us out in broad daylight. What did he care? We’d be dead in Midrealm, and no new Realm Keepers would be able to come through. And that was all that mattered to him in the end.
I headed for bed, feeling my skin crawl as I felt myself slowly drift off to sleep.
TAKEN
SARAH
WE LED OUR HORSES OUT of the inn’s small stables. For all of the poverty and dirt of Kirsch, our mounts had been well cared for. The master of the stable was a kindly looking old man, and his stable boys looked too young and naive to be lazy or cruel.
There was a vague sense of disquiet as we made our way through the town. I assumed that word of the skirmish at the Runehold had spread through the town. Those who did look up at us looked sullen, but not angry. It was as though all the fight had been knock
ed out of the town. It made me sad. These people already had so little, and now they had been subdued by a dozen travelers who’d merely intended to pass through their small town.
“You’d see more cheer in a graveyard,” remarked Barius quietly.
“They’re probably just in awe of my good looks,” said Blade, flashing a grin at the people we were passing by.
“Ugh,” said Raven and I.
Calvin was oblivious, waving cheerily to the people all around like we were on parade. In a way, we were, I supposed. We seemed to be the only things moving in the entire town.
“Calvin,” said Darren quietly. “I do not know if such behavior is appropriate. Or necessarily wise.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” said Calvin with a smile. “We’re probably the most excitement to come through this town in years.”
I gave Cara a significant look. “You’re probably not far wrong,” I said.
We left through the town’s western gate. There I saw a familiar face: the tall guard who had greeted us at the gate when we’d entered Kirsch. Now he guarded the gate through which we’d leave the town behind us for good. The other guard with him was a different man than we’d seen when we arrived.
“Well met, Lords and Ladies,” he said. “You’ll be on your way, then?”
“Only due to pressing concerns elsewhere. Not for lack of hospitality,” said Cara. If you weren’t listening for it, you would have missed the sarcasm.
The man’s mouth gave a wry twist. “Ah, yes. I seem to have heard something about an altercation in the Runehold last night. I’m truly sorry if you or yours were disturbed.”
Cara shook her head. “Think nothing of it. Never will I say that Kirsch was lacking in entertainment.”
The guard looked around as though searching for something. Or perhaps looking to see if anyone was watching him. Only the other man at the gate was paying him any attention, and that was scant. The guard stepped forward to stand at Cara’s saddle.
“I’ve reason to believe that the man you had words with last night was brother to the guard who stood by me when you arrived to town,” he said quietly. “The man’s deserted his post this morning, and no sign of him’s to be seen anywhere.”
I realized why the man in the Runehold had looked so familiar. He bore similar facial features to the shorter, darker guard we’d met yesterday.
“You think the guard told his brother about the purse I carry?” Cara asked, an eyebrow arching.
The guard nodded ruefully. “So I fear. And for that, I’m truly sorry. Time was, most men in the guard could be trusted. That one’s always been a bit shifty, but I never thought he’d stoop so low. If his brother or mates did you any harm…”
Cara shrugged. “As I said, think nothing of it. Only they suffered for their actions, and not strongly. And now you’ve lost a man on the guard who it seems didn’t belong there in the first place.”
The guard nodded gratefully. “Your words are gracious. Thank you. We may be a backwater town, but some of us still have our pride.” He looked sadly across the dark buildings of his town, the mud that seemed to cover everything and the tired, downcast eyes of his people. “Even though it seems there’s scarce here to be proud of.”
Seized by an impulse, I nudged my horse forward to stand beside Cara’s.
“My name is Sarah,” I said. “What is yours, soldier?”
He looked at me quizzically. “I am called Dolnor.”
“There’s lots to be proud of here, Dolnor,” I said gently. “You’re a good man, and there’s more like you in Kirsch. The city’s got a long, proud history. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Realm Keepers return here one day to restore peace and good order, and see you all removed from the shadow of Chaos.”
Cara stiffened beside me. The man looked up at me, his head cocking slightly as his eyes remained fixed on my lips. Then his eyes widened imperceptibly. He looked around at the twelve of us, his eyes roving from us to the Runegard and back. I could almost see him counting in his head.
His eyes found mine again, and I nodded. “Though they may have important business to attend first, I’ve heard they never forget an honorable man.”
His blank stare was my only answer for a few seconds. Finally, he nodded. “If my Lady says so, I’m certain it’s true.”
“Can I trust you to keep these words in confidence, Dolnor?” I asked.
His right hand cross his breast, his fist closing over his chest right where his heart would be. “So you can, my Lady. I thank you for your words.”
“You are welcome. Good day.” I yanked on the reins, guiding my horse’s head to the open gates before us. We rode through them and into the West, the rising sun climbing away from the horizon before us.
“That was foolish, my Lady,” said Cara the instant we were far enough away from Kirsch’s walls.
“It was the honorable thing to do,” I said. “But yes, it was foolish. Greystone would probably tell me that hope is always foolish. But it’s all people have in a place like this.”
She shot an uneasy look over her shoulder at the shrinking city behind us. “Perhaps. But still, our mission is paramount. We cannot needlessly risk it.”
I sighed. “You’re right, of course, Cara,” I said. “I’ll be more careful.”
We rode on and up a mountain path until long after Kirsch had disappeared into the valley below us. We were silent except for Nora, who would break forth occasionally into snatches of song.
When we stopped for our midday meal, I could almost feel the knots and sore spots starting to form in my back again, anticipating many more nights spent sleeping on the hard ground. I groaned as I dismounted and plopped down on a tuft of green grass, a bread roll and slice of dried beef already pulled from my pack.
Calvin sat beside me, and then Darren sank to the ground beside him, facing me. He grinned at me easily as he took a hearty bite from his own meal. The grin was so identical to Kurt’s that I felt the same stirring, the same butterflies as I had for nearly every minute of our date two days ago.
I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. This wasn’t Kurt. This was Darren. He was a Runegard in Midrealm. Kurt was a high school kid on True Earth.
Get it together, Sarah.
Cara sat down on the side opposite Calvin, digging into her own food without a word.
“What’s next?” I asked, trying to dispel my unease with conversation. “How long till we reach the next city?”
Cara held up a finger, trying to finish chewing the mouthful she was working on. Seeing her hesitation, Darren jumped right in, much to my dismay. “Days, at least,” he said. “That is, if we aren’t swept off course into the Elf kingdoms.”
“The Elf kingdoms?” Calvin said in excitement. “Are we going there?”
“Oh yes, one way or another,” Darren said, nodding. “We’re aiming for another town, but it’s common for travelers to get turned around on this road. We may miss the town entirely and end up in the forest.”
“So the Elves live in the forest, huh?” Calvin asked. “Are they, like, straight-up Wood Elves, or are they more like civilized elves who just happen to live in the forest?”
Darren blinked and looked at me. “What is a Wood Elf?”
My cheeks burned as his eyes met mine, and I quickly looked down. “I don’t know,” I shrugged, pointing at Calvin. “Ask the expert here.”
“Just, you know, Elves who live in the woods, in houses made of trees and such,” Calvin said with a shrug.
Darren’s brow furrowed. “But all houses are made of trees.”
Calvin rolled his eyes. “No, I mean trees that haven’t been chopped down yet. You know, like growing the tree in the shape of a house that the elves can just live in. That sort of thing.”
Darren looked back and forth between us excitedly. “Is this something you do on True Earth?” he asked eagerly. “It sounds wondrous.”
Calvin gave a frustrated sigh. “No, it’s not. That’s why I was hoping it was s
omething you did here. Because yes, it sounds about as wondrous as Samus with a lightsaber. Let’s try this another way: what kind of houses do the Elves live in?”
Darren shrugged. “Who knows?” he asked. “Elves haven’t been seen in Athorn in centuries.”
“In Athorn, maybe,” growled Barius. “But I’ve seen them before. I traveled south once, when I was a younger man. And I’m sorry to tell you this, little Lord, but they live in homes of brick, stone and wood, just like any man. Although I’ll admit that their houses are a long way fairer to look at than our own.”
Calvin sighed and shrugged. “Ah well. That’s cool.”
Darren looked at me, half his mouth curling in a smirk. “And what of you, Lady Sarah? Are you as excited to see the Elves as Lord Calvin?”
My voice caught in my throat. “Uh…oh, you know. I don’t think anybody’s as excited about anything as Calvin can get about these things.”
He laughed. It was a beautiful sound. “No, I suppose not.”
“None of you should be excited,” said Barius. “You should be cowering in fear. The Elves are fearsome fighters, and they hate us.”
“What? Why?” asked Raven. “We never did anything to them.”
“He doesn’t mean us, he means all humans,” said Melaine, ripping a hunk of meat off with her teeth. It looked like she swallowed it whole. “Elves have always had a deep-seated distrust, even a dislike of humans. But then, they have never trusted anyone but themselves. Well, possibly the Dwarves.”
“Really?” asked Calvin in surprise. “That’s a shock. In our world, Elves and Dwarves always hate each other.”
Miles looked at Calvin with concern. “Calvin. You realize there are no Elves or Dwarves on Earth, don’t you?”
Calvin rolled his eyes and waved his hand. “You know what I mean. In books and stuff.”
“I absolutely do not know what you mean, but okay. So long as you’re not delusional.”
“Well, if tales from your world say that there is hostility between Elves and Dwarves, then those tales are wrong,” said Barius. “The two people have shared an ancient friendship since Man first came over the sea to meet them, in days when we wore only loincloths and animal furs. There was a peace between our people once, but then a great war caused us to be sundered. An uneasy truce was eventually established, and in time we resolved our differences with the Dwarves to the point where there is once again trade between our peoples. But the Elves have never truly forgiven us.”
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