Ember Gods

Chapter 19

Basketball practice with Scott's group after school that day took on new energy, and they worked extra hard in preparation for Jacob's big day. After they finished, Jacob went with the group for ice cream. It felt nice, being a part of the team.

When Teegan dropped Jacob off after, Jacob knew right away something was wrong. Matt was pacing the porch. Relief crossed Matt's face when Teegan pulled up, and he met Jacob on the driveway, barely pausing to wave goodbye to Teegan.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Matt asked.

"Must not have hear—"

"The Makalos need you. They've been trying to get ahold of you for a while, but none of us knew where you'd gone."

"Oh! What's going on? Are they okay?"

"The girl gnat said they need you to key them to the Fat Lady's place as soon as possible. Something's up with her and the potion. What do you think it is?"

"I don't know—I hope it's the bud! Maybe it's ready."

"Well, let's go find out."

Jacob and Matt keyed through the front door to the tree.

Kenji was pacing inside the tree and turned with relief when Jacob and Matt stepped into the room. "Hurry, Jacob. She says it's time now."

"Awesome!" His thoughts raced to the basketball game tomorrow during lunch—would he be back in time? Who cared, if it meant getting Aloren!

"Here, you'll need this." Kenji pushed shovels into Matt and Jacob's hands. "We're all going—she'll need everyone's help."

Jacob tilted his head, confused. Why shovels?

Ebony, Sweet Pea, Akeno, Jaegar, Kenji, and Brojan all followed Jacob through the door to the Fat Lady's cabin. The Fat Lady sat on her couch, and Aldo was back in his corner again.

She jumped up—how did she move that fast? But when Jacob saw how agitated she was, he understood—she'd barely been sitting in the first place.

"We only have a few hours to find it," she said. "Just one of the trees will have the bud. If we're too late, it'll bloom."

She pushed her way through the group of people, rushing to her door.

"What about Aldo?" Ebony called to her.

"He's fine," the Fat Lady said over her shoulder as she exited the cabin. "He'll stay put—he doesn't ever try to leave." She disappeared around the side of the small building.

It was difficult to keep up with the large woman as she strode across the meadow—her height gave her an advantage over everyone.

The group entered the forest, heading right, away from the tunnel entrance Jacob and Akeno had come through a couple of months ago.

An odd gleam filtered through the trees, and Jacob squinted, trying to find the light source. As they continued forward, the radiation grew, becoming a bright silver shine. Jacob's jaw dropped when he finally saw where it originated.

Four magnificent silver trees, tall and beautiful, grew in an overhanging of the mountain, protecting them from the eyes of people on the trail. They were glorious—long limbs stretching out, intertwining with each other, shining brilliantly, almost blinding him when he first looked at them. Even the ground beneath his feet shone, marking where the roots grew. The leaves had a greenish hue under the silver, and the bark was slightly brown. It was amazing.

The others in the group were just as awestruck as he was. Except the Fat Lady. She only gave the trees a passing glance.

"They'll be like this only for twenty-four hours. They've already been shining for three, and possibly more. The bud grows on the roots of one of the four trees, and it'll only be good so long as the trees are shining. We'll split up and start digging—don't worry about damaging anything. It takes special equipment to harm these things."