Kenji had to bring another table and more chairs from a back room so there would be space for all in attendance. The two tables together nearly filled the entire place.
Jacob was glad everyone had been able to come. He looked around, smiling at the people he’d grown to love so much. Sweet Pea was by Aloren, and Jacob hid a grin when he watched the Makalo fail to get Aloren’s attention. He was obviously enthralled that such a cute girl was near him. He clenched his jaw when he remembered she had a crush on someone else.
Ebony gave cups of water to Matt, Aloren, and Jacob, and put the pitcher on the table.
Dad turned to Jacob, his voice taking on a tone of authority Jacob had never heard before.
“We’ve gone over many things—we’ll review in a moment—but so you know, our main focus, of course, is to get the Shiengols out of August Fortress.”
“August?” Matt asked. “Is it some sort of summer retreat?”
Jacob’s parents laughed. “No, son,” Dad said. “August is an adjective—it means majestic, supreme, grand. Don’t they teach you anything in school?”
Matt snorted. “Yeah. That August is a month.”
He had a point. Jacob chuckled. He’d never heard the word used in any way except when speaking of the calendar.
“All right,” Dad said. He stood and paced. “Kenji and Ebony are building as many doors as possible. We’ll place them everywhere we feel we’ll need quick access. The first we’re installing will be at Aldo’s cabin to replace the one that was destroyed. Jacob, you’ll key Sweet Pea, Jaegar, and Akeno to Macaria today so they can head there.”
Matt’s face clouded. “Jaegar’s really young, isn’t he? Only eleven or something? Wouldn’t it be better if someone else went?”
Kenji chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Makalos age differently than humans. Jaegar isn’t a child, even though by your standards, he would be. In earth terms, he’s around fourteen. And since Sweet Pea and Akeno are basically adults, he’ll have plenty of supervision.”
Matt slowly shook his head. “Akeno is an adult?”
“Yes. We reach adulthood at fifteen, so Jaegar isn’t far from that.”
“Weird.”
Dad raised his hand and everyone went quiet. “Jacob, tomorrow after Aldo’s new door is in place, you and the Fat Lady will go through Aldo’s things there. She’s looking for a remedy for what he’s done—”
“Yes, yes! I’m positive it’s reversible,” the Fat Lady said excitedly. “Only a matter of finding out what he did—he had to have left a clue in his cabin. And Jacob, this isn’t going to be easy work—the place is in ruins, from what I’ve heard.” She looked at Jacob’s dad. “Oh. Sorry, Your Majesty. Continue.”
“Friday after school, a scouting group will head to the fortress, camp there overnight, and put up doors in a few locations around the area so we’ll have easy access through Jacob and the key, should anything go wrong. They’ll get a feel for the valley, then come back Saturday morning.”
Dad grabbed his glass and took a drink, then resumed pacing. “We’ll need time to prepare before we attempt to free the Shiengols—find out everything we can about what we’re facing. For all we know, the Lorkon traps are still active. We should expect it to still be exceptionally difficult to break in. You all know that every member of the group who tried it before died.”
Dad sat again, then drummed his fingers on the table. “Ebony, Gallus, Akeno, and Jacob, of course, with the key, will make up that scouting group.”
Matt started. “What about me?”
“And me?” Sweet Pea asked.
“Excuse me, Your Majesty,” Gallus said, “but I won’t be able to spend this much time away from the shop. I need to focus on providing a living for my family.”
Dad nodded. “That’s fine, Gallus. Take care of your store and family. We appreciate everything you already do.”
“I’ll help wherever,” Aloren said. “Gallus has trained me in many areas—including scouting and tracking.”
“I’m like Aloren,” Sweet Pea said. “Well, not like her, obviously, ‘cause she’s taller, but—”
“That’s the only difference you can think of?” Matt asked.
“Well, no—”
“‘Cause I haven’t seen a beard on her yet.” Matt looked at Aloren. “Maybe she shaves her face.”
Aloren looked confused. “Shave my face? Why would I do that?”
Sweet Pea growled, then mock-glared at Matt. “The point is, I can help wherever I’m needed.”
Akeno nodded. “Same.”
“Send Aloren,” Gallus said. “She’s got a brain on her. She’ll find anything I would.”
“Then it’s settled,” Dad said, ignoring Matt’s “No fair!” and Sweet Pea’s “Whatever!” “You’ll leave as soon as Jacob returns from school.” He waved his hand toward Jacob and Matt. “That concludes what we’d gone over before you came. Now we’ll discuss the people in the scented air. We need to pull them out. All of them.” He looked over the group. “How many of you have taken the Malono potion?”
Matt, Sweet Pea, Gallus, Ebony, Aloren, the Fat Lady, and Akeno raised their hands. Jacob hadn’t taken it—as far as anyone knew, he was immune to the traps of the Lorkon.
“Good. That’s enough. This Saturday after the August Fortress scouting group returns, we’re going to do a mass rescue. Those of us who haven’t taken the potion will wake the people outside the scented air. The rest of you will pull them.”
Jacob lifted his hand. “If the people stuck there aren’t marking where the scented air begins, how will everyone know it’s there? Won’t more people get stuck?”
“Good point,” Dad said. “Kenji, will you and Ebony put warning signs together before Saturday?”
Kenji nodded.
Dad took a deep breath. “There’s one other thing we need to discuss, and that’s recruiting Wurbies.”
“That’s going to be very difficult,” Gallus said. “They live in Ashay Hills—the most impassible mountains in this part of the land. We don’t even know if the tunnels are still open. Especially . . . especially after what happened to Jacob’s group.”
Jacob’s throat tightened just thinking about what had happened to Seden, and how powerless he’d felt.
“True, but it’s necessary. They’re the only ones who can actually help fight against the Dusts.”
Aloren raised her eyebrows. “You’ve been having problems with Dusts? They’re really easy to deal with.”
“In small groups, yes,” Brojan said, “but the Lorkon have gathered a huge army of them. In the war nearly fifteen years ago, they’d been trained quite efficiently and caused a lot of destruction.”
“Why are the ones I’ve come across so stupid, then?” Jacob asked.
“The Lorkon haven’t spent as much time on tactical things lately,” Brojan said. “And Dusts have really short memories. They forget nearly everything they’ve been taught after five or six months and have to be re-trained. Plus, they only live around five years.”
Dad nodded. “My guess is that the Lorkon will work directly with them again.” He paused. “The point is, we must have the Wurbies. It’s time to recruit.” He looked at his watch. “We’ll end now. Jacob needs to take Akeno, Jaegar, and Sweet Pea to Macaria, and he and I must begin his sword-fighting lessons.”
Jacob felt his chest expanding. His dad was going to teach him how to fight! He got up and stretched, enjoying the pops in his back. Most of the others didn’t stand right away—they looked somewhat overwhelmed, the colors swirling in the air around them switching between excitement, nervousness, and a little fear. He certainly felt the same. It was going to be a busy week.