Balmythra

Chapter Twenty-Two

  An Interrogation

  My jaw dropped. "That won't be as easy as it sounds."

  Matt snorted. "It sounded easy? Then let me say this another way. Kenny, John and I are going to risk our necks to wrangle a confession from Jor, an amazingly gifted and powerful Sairon. At least, I think we are. It's not like I've discussed this with them or anything, but I'm still pretty sure they'll help out."

  "You'll have to be very careful," I said. "He's liable to guess what you're going to do."

  "Not if you drop our conversation in that hidey hole you made inside my head."

  I immediately turned and placed my fingertips at Matt's temples. Concentrating hard, I gently massaged the area for a few seconds, just as I had before. "There. That should do it." I tried to withdraw my hand.

  Matt caught my wrist and placed a quick kiss in my palm before releasing it. "Thanks."

  "Oh, uh, anytime." Flustered, I glanced away. I didn't want anything to happen to Matt, especially now that we were...what? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Ha! A few kisses didn't exactly equal love, though they had changed our relationship slightly. I mean, he'd certainly never kissed my hand before. Clearly it wasn't any easier being a teenager in Balmythra than it had been on Nodyra.

  Matt rubbed the top of his head. "There's just one thing I'd like to know."

  "Yeah?" Since my mind was now a trillion thoughts away from Balmythra, I barely heard him.

  "Why have the Sairons waited so long to try to destroy your people? I mean, you've lived together peacefully for years, haven't you?"

  "Centuries, actually."

  "Right. So why now?"

  "I don't know. All I can say for sure is that I saw what I saw, and nothing can change that." I searched Matt's face. "Where are you going to take Jor?"

  "How about that cave near Vannarius? We'll think up some excuse for him to go there again—"

  "I could tell him I want to get another look. That was where I was born, after all. He'll understand my need to see it again now that I've absorbed what's happening there."

  "You mean you're planning to help us kidnap him? That isn't exactly your normal, everyday girl work."

  "I already told you I'm not—"

  "Normal?"

  I stuck out my tongue at him. "An everyday girl. I'm—"

  "Alleana, girl wonder." Matt slapped his palm to his forehead. "How could I forget? All right, then. Let's go find Kenny and John."

  By the time we returned to the celebration, it was almost nine p.m. I could see at a glance that the younger orphans were running on fumes. Ashley, standing to one side in conversation with an attentive Jor, shook her head when I waved and pointed to where a watch would have been had I owned one.

  Since I didn't intend to be the boss of her, I didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, I summoned Ginzy, Brady, Julie, and Katie to my side. Matt, following my lead, rounded up the young boys. All of us then headed back to Goodpringle's, but not before Matt and I grabbed some supper to go.

  An hour later all the youngsters were in their beds, freshly bathed and sleeping. I ate before bathing and turning in and half expected to lie awake forever thinking of the events of the day and worrying about tomorrow. But the ceruleate juice worked its magic, and soon my head filled with dreams of dragons and rainbows.

  I got up around seven-thirty Monday morning and dressed in some new Balmythran clothes, which consisted of clingy black pants and a red, long-sleeved top. I added a silver belt and soft leather knee boots. Matt, I noticed, had dressed in local clothing, too. His muslin tunic and brown leather pants made him look rather dashing, and I decided to steal a kiss if I got the chance. Our other kisses seemed like a dream to me now. I wanted to be sure they'd really happened, and what better way than doing it again, right?

  The two of us found Kenny and John easily at breakfast. Ashley hadn't made an appearance yet. I scooped up a pillow seat and stuffed it between John and Kenny. Both of them scooted over to give me room.

  "I need to talk to you two." I kept my voice low. "But before I do, I have to create a corner in your mind where our conversation will be stored. That way, no one—" I risked a peek at Jor, who sat across the room from us "—will be able to pick your brain."

  John frowned. "Just how will you do that?"

  "It's easy. I just touch you here—" I tried to touch him. He ducked. "I promise it won't hurt."

  Looking a little doubtful, he pushed up his glasses on his nose and sat very still while I massaged the side of his head. I next turned to Kenny, who never moved an inch, but let me do what I needed to do.

  "While you're in there, could you give me a few extra abilities? For instance the power to read minds?"

  "Wish I could help you out." I lowered my hand. "But I can't." I caught Matt's eye. "They're good to go."

  Nodding, Matt shared his idea in a hasty whisper. It took what felt like ages to convince John and Kenny that kidnapping Jor was actually a good thing. It wasn't that they feared him, I quickly realized. It was more that they respected and admired him. All the same, we soon devised a plan of sorts.

  Glancing casually around the vast dining area, I checked on Jor, still seated on the floor beside Kyle and Jeremy. The boys were totally into whatever he was telling them. Since we'd been in Balmythra, he had been really good to the young poPs and so gentle with them that second thoughts almost got the best of me. How could one guy be so kind one second and so evil the next?

  At that moment, Ashley walked into the hall, scanned the place, and then zeroed in on Jor. I was surprised to see she wore a short pink tunic and not her favorite low-waist jeans. Ashley gave her blond hair the usual toss, then squeezed herself between Jor and Kyle. She really put on a show, giggling a little too loudly, leaning against Jor a little too long.

  When he scooted several inches away from her, I laughed aloud. While Ashley obviously did not think the years separating them amounted to much, Jor surely did. Or maybe she wasn't his type. At any rate, he appeared downright relieved when I walked over to them. "Busy?"

  "I can be bothered." He hopped up.

  I noted several feminine glances and immediately thought of Matt's description: Taylor Lautner of Balmythra. Well, there might be some truth to that, I admitted, counting at least five females in the dining room with their gazes glued to Jor. With his chiseled features and muscular build, he certainly attracted female attention. Too bad he couldn't be trusted.

  On that thought, Jor frowned slightly. At once, I made my mind go blank. This kidnapping literally depended on clear heads.

  "I want to go back to Vannarius." I casually bent to dust off the toe of my boot, a prearranged signal designed to summon Matt, Kenny, and John, now standing out of sight. "I need to see it again."

  Jor didn't answer at once, and during the ensuing silence, I struggled not to squirm. "When?"

  "Now would be good."

  Again he hesitated. "Can you handle it, Alleana? Remember what happened before."

  "I know what to expect this time."

  At that moment, the Nodyran teens walked up oh-so-casually.

  "What's up, guys?" Matt's manner was almost too laid-back. An actor, he wasn't.

  I smiled innocently at him. "Actually, we're going to Vannarius. Want to come?"

  "Sure."

  "Can we go, too?" asked Kenny. John added his eager nod to the request. "I want to see where you were born."

  "Of course." I turned to Jor as if on afterthought. "You don't mind, do you?"

  He shrugged to say he didn't.

  "We'll be safe, won't we?" John asked. "I mean, you said it was a war zone now."

  "We'll stay out of sight." Uncommonly anxious by now, I wondered if I imagined the slight narrowing of Jor's eyes. A wave of guilt washed over me that I quickly suppressed, but not before he shifted his gaze my way and as good as nailed me to the nearest tent pole. I knew without a doubt that he guessed I was keeping something from him. But how could I warn the guys without being obvi
ous?

  Ashley took a breath as if about to speak. I cut her off. "Would you watch the younger kids for a few minutes? I'd really appreciate it."

  Though she clearly wanted to argue, she wouldn't in front of Jor. So I got a strained smile. "Of course."

  "Thanks."

  "Have you ever psiflown?" Jor asked, planting his gaze on Kenny and then John.

  Kenny shook his head. "No, and I can't wait to try it."

  Jor liked his obvious enthusiasm. "It's something you'll learn to do yourself after you've been here a while. I'll help you."

  "Awesome!" Kenny was about to burst with excitement at the prospect. John was definitely a little green around the gills, but I could see his determination.

  Jor focused on me again. "Where we went before?"

  "How about near that cave?"

  With a nod, Jor touched the shoulders of Kenny and John. I grabbed Matt's wrist. In an instant the five of us stood on a rocky ledge with the craggy entrance mere feet away.

  Though I knew what to expect this time and had braced myself, a wave of nausea still dragged me under. I almost fell. Matt—also ready—caught me around the waist. My sudden weakness clearly startled John, who seemed to be battling second thoughts.

  But Kenny was oblivious. "Man oh man!" He punched his fist enthusiastically into the air. "That was the best."

  I caught Matt's eye. He nodded ever so slightly. "Now."

  Three teenage boys promptly jumped Jor, who fell back with them attached. Unused to violence, he didn't really fight the guys—something we'd been counting on. In seconds, his hands were tied behind his back with a woven rope. My friends then shoved him into the shadowy cave and forced him to his knees. They squatted all around, clearly ready to jump him again if it proved necessary. I sat directly in front of him.

  "What are you doing?" His flushed face confirmed the anger in his tone, not a typical Sairon reaction. Or was it? Perhaps hidden rage drove the Sairons to betray my race. But anger against who? Ionians unfailingly respected and honored them.

  "You've been lying to me. You've been lying to everyone." My voice sounded cold even to my own ears. "Now it's time to tell the truth."

  He kept his face blank. "I don't understand."

  "I'm talking about the shadows—the ones in the cave and the ones that almost got these guys. I saw you create them in the cavern yesterday. I know that you've been lying about the nature of them, what they really are. That proves you've teamed up with the Dagonel."

  "You're wrong."

  I leapt to my feet. "I'm not! I was there, Jor. I heard it all—the drums, the chanting. I saw it all—the shadows, your pride in what you'd created. How could you do this? How could you?"

  "You don't understand."

  "Sure I do." I lifted my chin. "I'm not just some silly girl. I have brains and eyes, and I use them both."

  "I know that." Jor actually hesitated as if he might be about to confess something. Then he changed gears. "What you saw has nothing to do with those shadows or the Dagonel."

  I fumed. "Don't give me that. I know better. We all do. And we're not letting you go until you tell us the truth."

  Jor returned my stare for a moment. Then he sighed and looked away. "What you witnessed Sunday morning is a secret ceremony as ancient as my race called the Gilmarden Rite. It goes back eons. You know that the Dagonel are a recent phenomenon."

  "Not that recent."

  "In these numbers, they're recent."

  I planted my hands on my hips. "I know what I saw."

  A long silence followed that declaration. Jor seemed at a loss for words and unusually subdued. I tensed, waiting for the confession that was sure to come.

  "Why don't you trust me?" His sad gaze locked with mine. "Surely you remember me letting you tag along when Rocc didn’t want you around. Have you forgotten how many times I healed your scrapes, soothed your hurt feelings, taught you things you had no business knowing? Your brother trusts me with his life. Why can’t you?"

  Something very like shame threatened my composure, but I squashed it. "Would my brother trust you if he knew you held our parents captive?"

  Jor frowned. "What are you talking about?"

  "I heard their cries for help, Jor. I know your people are keeping them prisoner somewhere in that cavern."

  "But—" He broke off with a slight shake of his head, clearly confused. "Was this before or after you broke your ankle?"

  "What’s that got to do with anything?"

  "Before or after, Leah?"

  "After."

  "Thought so. What you heard was chanting. In your confusion and pain, you thought it was your parents. You really needed them right then. It's understandable."

  I clenched my fists, an action not lost on Jor, who tensed. "I not only heard them, I felt them. There is no doubt about it. They were there."

  Jor opened his mouth, probably to argue, but never said a word before we heard a commotion at the entrance to the cave.

  Six Sairons ducked inside.