Free Embrace by Rachel D'Aigle Page B

triggered in Colin’s mind.
    “They’re not words,” he almost shouted, rearranging the pages. “It’s a map!” A short while later Colin had pieced it together. It appeared to need one final page.
    Colin hoped Corny would deliver it soon. As he studied the pages, it also became clear that it was a map of Eidolon’s Valley. There was one heavily traced path. Am I supposed to follow it? Will this lead me to Catrina? Colin studied the map impatiently, wishing he could depart right then.
    Along the path were outlined “safe” spots. Colin’s mind reeled over what he needed to be kept safe from, but it did not matter. He could not back out now. Catrina needed his help and did not have much time.
    Dishes clanged together in the kitchen. The Mochries were home. Colin hoped that the inevitable confrontation between Jae and Irving would not get too ugly.
    “Dinner,” called Sheila a short while later. Colin obligingly took his seat at the table.
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    Irving was not there and Jae drifted in a minute later. Mireya ate in silence, next to her mother. It was a quiet meal, with no discussions of the previous events of the day.
    Colin wondered if he was picking up some of his sisters’ intuition, as he felt a strange sense in the air. It told him that things in the Mochrie house had changed, forever.

    9
    The Feast of the Blest Arcane was beginning, which included seven days of frivolity and fun, according to Jae and Mireya. The one time a year the Svoda “let their hair down,” so to speak.
    “I don’t know how out of control things will get this year though,” Jae said, “with everything that’s happened and there being Scratchers about. If you think about it, though, a week of fun doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
    Colin could not disagree. Although his current hope, was that the festival would cloak his absence as he trekked into the valley. He impatiently waited for the final piece of the map from Corny, hoping he would deliver it soon. He was eager to get his quest underway.
    Corny granted his wish later that evening.
    It was just after dinner that Corny’s door opened, and his arm jutted out, holding what Colin knew was the final piece of the puzzle. Colin attempted not to look too eager but went directly to his bed after snatching the paper. Minutes later, Jae joined him, pulling the curtain shut as he sat down on Colin’s bed.
    Colin laid the final piece in its place, and the two boys jumped in surprise, as the pages rose off the bed and reorganized themselves, stacking on top of each other, then sealing themselves together, forming a solid, yet translucent, one-piece map.
    “Corny may seems nuts, but he sure is talented,” admired Colin.
    “Definitely!” agreed Jae. “It makes no sense though, how he can create something as brilliant as this map, or know to warn you about being attacked, and yet never speaks, lives in the dark and barely eats enough to stay alive.”
    “He’s a genius,” Colin replied, picking up the map, adding, “Albeit a creepy, smelly, crazy kind of genius.”
    Jae bit his tongue trying not to laugh too loudly.
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    The map was thick, yet in the form of a foldable square. Disappointingly, Colin found he could not read the map, and worse, the once outlined path he believed he was to follow had vanished.
    “Maybe it will make more sense once you’re in the valley,” suggested Jae.
    “I hope you’re right,” nodded Colin, nervously.
    One thing did become clear as they studied the map: It would be an arduous journey across unfriendly terrain, especially for the short-legged Colin Jacoby.
    His thoughts turned then to Eidolon. What would he do if their paths crossed? Colin would be caught breaking nearly every rule set forth in this place, and it seemed as though the Gypsies presence was little more than tolerated, on the part of Eidolon.
    After allowing panic to ensue for just a second, Colin let out a deep breath, regaining control of his racing heart. He sank back against