Kilenya Series Books One, Two, and Three Read Online Free PDF Page B

back in Gevkan to guard the entrance to Taga. But neither Early nor September, our Minyas, could make contact with him, so he’s either sick, dead, or has been kidnapped. And we don’t want to send more Minyas because the last time we did, one of them perished. Anything could be out there.”
    “And . . . if I agree? How am I not going to die?” Knowing Jacob’s luck, he would. He took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe they were asking him to do something so dangerous. “This sounds like a plan for failure.”
    “Don’t underestimate your abilities,” Ebony said. “You are more powerful than you know, and the future of both our worlds depends on you.”
    Jacob slumped in his chair. Their confidence in him was overwhelming. What would they do if he couldn’t get the Key? “How long would it take?”
    “Not long—maybe four or five days,” Kenji said.
    “I still can’t imagine that you guys wouldn’t be able to do it on your own. I’ve seen what you can do. Akeno knocks out Rogs, Kenji makes things bigger, and Ebony heals with sap.”
    “But if we can’t even get past the forest?” Kenji asked. “There isn’t another way to travel—not without the Key.”
    Jacob rubbed his eyes. What a nightmare this was becoming. “What about my family? How would I explain all this to them?”
    “We had a couple of Minyas give Matt instructions to let your parents know where you are as soon as they call in to check on you. And he’s pretty capable with your sister, isn’t he?”
    “Yes . . .”
    “And school doesn’t start for another two weeks—this is the best time for you to go, isn’t it?”
    “I guess. But this could mean the end of my NBA career—you know that, right?”
    Kenji sighed. “We understand you’re making sacrifices. We know this won’t be easy for you.”
    “Yeah, it . . . it won’t be.” Jacob pushed his chair away from the table. “I need to . . . I need to think things over.”
    “We’ll be here when you return.”
    Jacob left Brojan’s house and turned left, skipping the path altogether. He went around the houses until he reached the ledge, then leaned against a stone wall and looked down at the meadow and the big tree with the door.
    A gentle breeze swept his hair off his forehead, and a faint smell of spice lingered in the air, mingled with the mountain freshness. The sun was about to set and Jacob closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth on his face.
    He was so confused—there were too many new things to think about, too many new ideas. What if he really did have magical abilities? Impossible. He wasn’t Harry Potter.
    He ran his hand through his hair, then smiled, momentarily distracted. Matt was always getting on his case about playing with his hair. “ Chicks don’t dig guys with hair that stands up on end. They prefer perfectly messy hair—gelled, you know—like mine .” It seemed like forever since Jacob had last seen his brother, and he wondered how Matt and Amberly were doing back home.
    There was no way he could get the Key—regardless of what the Makalos thought or said. They would quickly discover how badly they’d misplaced their trust, how he didn’t have any magical abilities. The only power he had was in basketball. He’d been playing for as long as he could remember—since he’d learned to walk. And he didn’t want to miss the opportunities that had come his way because of years of dedication and practice.
    He left the ledge, heading toward the rope ladder and the path back home. The Makalos would have to find another way to get the Key.
     
     
     

Chapter 4. Maple Syrup
     
     
    Our journey has finally begun, after a week of preparation. It was with much trepidation that I bade farewell to King Roylance and Queen Ara Liese. Neither of them is in good health, and with the stress of their daughter’s kidnapping, is it any wonder?
    I’ve been trying to get in contact with the Makalo Patriarch. It would be wise to have his opinion on the