put it together when Loque first mentioned digging in a mine. It wasn’t a mine. They weren’t looking for precious minerals. They weren’t hunting for weapons. Saint Dane was digging for something all right, but it wasn’t a mineral natural to Veelox.
He was trying to unearth the flume. He was trying to escape from Veelox.
I had to get out of that cavern room. I needed air.
“Rest,” I told Loque, silencing him. “There’s a lot I have to tell you, but not now.”
“Where is Siry?” he asked.
Oh man. I didn’t want to get into that yet. “He’s fine,” I answered.
He was, too. He was just on another territory with no chance of ever coming home. I didn’t think Loque needed to hear that just yet. “Go to sleep. I’ll tell you everything after you’ve had some rest.”
“Thanks. I am pretty tired.”
I started for the door when Loque called to me, “Pendragon? Is everything all right?” How could I answer that? “Yes,” I said. “Go to sleep.”
That seemed to be enough for him. His heavy breathing told me he had dropped off instantly. I was glad that somebody felt better, because I sure didn’t. When I left the room, I ran into Twig, who had come to visit.
“He’s going to be okay,” I told her.
Twig squealed with delight and threw her arms around me. I wished I could have been that happy. I was, actually. I was thrilled that Loque was alive. But the other news he delivered kind of put a damper on that.
“He fell asleep,” I added. “Stay by him.”
I left Twig with Loque and walked out of Tribunal Mountain. I walked toward the beach on Ibara, but my mind was elsewhere. It was in Rubic City. Rather it was below Rubic City. Was it possible? Could Saint Dane unearth the flume by using Flighters to dig with their hands? No wonder we hadn’t seen a single Flighter try to land on Ibara. They were busy. Busy digging. Busy trying to spring Saint Dane from the prison I’d created for him.
I arrived at the beach, sat down in the sand and looked out to sea. Ibara was truly paradise. I’d grown to consider it my home. I didn’t want anything more to happen to it. The people had been through enough, dating back to Aja Killian’s time. As I sat on that beach, smelling the sweet flowers that framed the bay, I made a decision. As much as I didn’t want to, I had no choice.
I had to learn the truth.
I had to go back to Rubic City.
JOURNAL #34
(CONTINUED)
IBARA
Youcan’t leave us,” Telleo commanded. “Not now.”
We were alone on our perch, high above the growing village of Rayne. Telleo was the first person I told about leaving. She was the only person I fully trusted to take care of Loque. She had to know that she would be on her own.
“I don’t want to go,” I argued. “Believe me. I really don’t want to go. But I have to.”
“Why?” she demanded to know.
I didn’t know how to explain this. No, I take that back. I knew exactly how to explain it, but not in a way that anyone from Rayne would understand. I decided to tell the truth, more or less.
“The guy who launched the attack on Ibara is still around,” I said. “Loque saw him. He’s organizing the Flighters. Who knows what he might try next? If we’re in for another war, we need to know about it so we can be prepared.”
“Send someone else,” she insisted. “Haven’t you done enough? You’re on the tribunal now. You can’t just run off on some…some…spy mission. Send some men from the security force.”
“It’s more complicated than that,” I explained patiently. “Trust me. It’s way more complicated.”
“That’s exactly what Remudi said before he left to go on his mysterious mission. Look what happened. He was killed playing a foolish game and we lost a tribunal member. The people look up to you, Pendragon. You have become their guide into the future. If you’re not worried about yourself, worry about your people. They love you. I love you.”
Whoa. I hadn’t expected that. Telleo stood close and took both my hands.
“Don’t act all surprised,” she said. “You know I love you. Please don’t leave me.”
Okay. Awkward. Telleo was putting herself on the line. How could I tell her I didn’t feel the same way? Things were going badly enough as it was.
“You know how I feel about you, Telleo. I wish there was another way. There isn’t. I’m going to go talk to your father now and let him know what I’m going to do.”
Telleo looked down. I think she realized that she had lost the argument.
“When will you leave?” she asked softly.
“Tomorrow morning. First light.”
She nodded. Accepting it.
“You can help,” I added. “Take care of Loque.”
“I’ve been doing all that I-”
“I know. I’m asking you to watch him. Don’t leave him alone until he’s well enough to take care of himself. Either you or Twig or Krayven should always be with him.”
“Why? What are you worried about?”
“I’m worried there might be people around we can’t trust.”
“What?” she asked, stunned. “Like who?”
“Just take care of him, please?”
“Tell me who you think-”
“I don’t think anything. I’m just worried about Loque. Promise me you’ll protect him. He deserves that.”
Telleo nodded. She didn’t understand, but she nodded.
“Talk to my father,” she said. “I’m going to stay here and look out on the beautiful village we’ve built and pretend that everything is going to be all right.”
I let go of her hands and left her alone. It was sad. Things had been going so well. The future was bright for Ibara. I didn’t want to believe that could change. I had made up my mind to do all I could to secure Ibara’s future. At that moment, to do that, I had to go to Rubic City.
I found Genj alone in the tribunal cavern. I quickly explained to him about what Loque reported to me. The Flighters were still around. They were active. They were organized. I repeated what I’d said to Telleo about the man who was running the show. Of course, I didn’t go into any real details about Saint Dane. Genj already knew of him. To Genj, he was the guy who launched the dado attack. That was enough.
“Can’t we send others?” Genj asked. “You are on the tribunal now. The people need you.”
“I know that,” I said. “And by going, I’m doing exactly what I have to do to protect them. I can’t do that from here.”
“Have you told Telleo?” he asked. “Yes. She wasn’t happy about it.”
“She loves you, you know.”
I nodded.
Genj put his arm around me and said, “We owe you a debt that can never be fully repaid. All I can ask is that you come back to us. I don’t want to lose two friends in such a short time.”
“Two?” I asked.
He gave a tired sigh. “Have you forgotten about Remudi? He also went on a mysterious mission. He never returned.”
Right. Of course. “I didn’t forget,” I said softly.
The two of us hugged. There was nothing more to say, so I started for the door. I got halfway across the
