Ember Gods

Chapter 29

Jacob opened his eyes and groaned, trying to clear his mind. Figures bustled around him, and he blinked several times.

"Be careful. Pull him over here," Ebony ordered.

There was a shuffling sound, then Matt screamed in pain. Jacob jerked to a sitting position, and gasped when a searing heat forked across his back and legs. He fell, trying to catch his breath.

"Jacob!" Ebony said from somewhere. "Do not move!"

Jacob didn't want to disobey—he couldn't. The pain was too great. He hated not seeing where Matt was, though. Unfortunately, when he'd passed out he'd been facing the door, and he was unable to fix his position.

Ebony barked out more orders.

"Grab his arm. Don't let his head sag. All right, everyone—one, two, three—lift."

Grunting, then a thump. Matt cried out again.

"This leg is in very bad shape."

Akeno's voice. "Will it heal?"

No one responded.

Liquid sloshing into something, more shuffling. Someone started talking, but was shushed. The sound of a heavy bowl dragging across the wooden table. More sloshing. Jacob tried not to concentrate on the pain in his back. He wished he could pass out again. Finally, after five or so minutes, Ebony sighed with relief.

"That should do it," she said.

Approaching footsteps. "Jacob, I'm sorry," Ebony said. "We had to fix Matt's leg first. The bone had splintered through the skin on the back of his leg." Jacob felt her touch his hair. "We're going to roll you onto your stomach, then pull you away from the door."

Hands took Jacob's arms and legs. He groaned when they dragged him, laid him on his stomach, and turned his head toward the room. His back felt like it was on fire again and he moaned, tears springing to his eyes.

Ebony told Jacob what she was doing as she did it. Cutting away the remaining clothes and cleaning his back and legs, putting Kaede sap directly on him, no strips of cloth. He would have blushed as she did this if it weren't for the huge amount of pain she was causing.

"We don't want to cover it—Kaede sap heats up when wrapped, and that isn't good for burns." She clicked her tongue. "This is one of the worst I've ever seen."

Finally, after ten agonizing minutes, Ebony declared Jacob finished, then put a loose sheet over him and ordered him to sleep, which he gratefully did.

***

Bitter—that was Jacob's first thought. He rolled away from the smell, then stiffened when pain hit him. It wasn't as strong as earlier, though, so he relaxed a fraction. He heard movement in the room, but waited a while before opening his eyes. They didn't seem to want to cooperate. Finally, he peeked between his lids, taking time to adjust to the lighting. He was still in Kenji's house.

"He's awake now," Akeno called, then smiled at Jacob, who sat up. "How're you feeling?"

"A little sore," Jacob said. "Where's Matt?"

Akeno motioned to one of the wooden chairs on the side of the room. Matt was asleep there, and didn't look very comfortable. Jacob pointed this out.

"He didn't want to leave without you."

Great. "How long was I asleep this time?"

"Only a couple of hours. It's still nighttime, probably around ten. My mother woke you before you finished healing."

Ebony walked into the room. "Jacob, we've got to get you both home," she said. "The sap is still working on you—it won't finish until you've slept the whole night through, and a good night's rest won't happen here. Make sure Matt stays off his leg. You'll have to help him get to his room."

Jacob crawled to Matt, too tired to stand. His brother's pant leg had been cut, and a huge bandage was wrapped around his thigh. Jacob sat on the floor near Matt's chair, facing the Makalos.

Kenji sighed. "I suppose I don't have to ask what happened, do I? You got restless and decided you needed to get Aloren."

Jacob hung his head. "I'm sorry—Matt and I thought we'd be able to get in and out quickly. There are Ember Gods guarding the city, though, and the people were much more aggressive this time."

"Ember Gods?" Kenji asked. "I've never heard of them."

"They're really Fire Turners—he said to call them Ember Gods."

"I'm still not familiar with this race."

"They're not nice people."

"I know I should be angrier with you," Kenji said. "Brojan will be pretty upset when he finds out what you've done, and I'm sure your mother will have plenty to say when she sees you." He rubbed his shoulder, watching Jacob closely. "We've had too many close calls with you, young man. You are too valuable to lose. You need to regard your own life as highly as you do that of Aloren's, and especially your brother's. You are old enough to recognize the difference between foolish and wise behavior." He sat in the chair next to Jacob. "Wisdom is being able to see the consequences of your actions, and tonight's exploit showed very little wisdom on your part."

Jacob avoided making eye contact with Kenji. His face flushed in shame.

After a long silence, Kenji sighed. "Maybe this experience taught you something important." He stood and motioned to Matt. "Wake him and get yourselves home."

Jacob woke Matt and keyed them home to a frantic mother, who needed some calming down before she'd let them go to bed.