230. Unavoidable Conversations

Despite the restraints placed on them by 'professionalism,' Cove and Jacob's conversation felt like it came easy to them, as though family events between the two were events they wanted to go to instead of merely following obligation. My mind wandered as I let Cove narrate our adventures, and I began wondering what it would have been like to have Jacob as a father growing up instead of my own. 

It didn't do to think of such things. Those days had long since passed, and I'd long since put my old fears and worries to rest.

Cove glossed over our discussion on the ship, summing it up as a lack of understanding behind the reasoning on my end. He stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with me and meeting his father's eyes resolutely. Jacob lifted a hand, and Cove cut himself off short. 

Jacob's blue eyes–identical to Cove's when it was curious–landed on me, asking for clarification. I felt the urge to defend my actions, laying out the logical reasoning for our interference this time. Shahrazad'd had both the fragment and the book, and most of what we'd done would have been completed by someone else, regardless. 

Jacob waited patiently as I spoke, granting me his full attention even as Cove glared at his hands. As though he could see into our hearts and our minds, Jacob said, "I'm afraid I have to side with Cove in this matter," the words caused something in my chest to twist uncomfortably, and I thought of the trust Sinbad, and even Shahrazad, had placed in me. Had it been so wrong to accept and try to measure up to the person they believed me to be?

With great understanding, perhaps reading the expression on my face, Jacob continued with a sad, guilty smile. "As you know, Ava and I made plenty of mistakes in our youth," I thought of the Mad King in particular and found myself nodding. "Everything we did stemmed from what I thought was a simple desire to help others. I only wish for the two of you to avoid making the same mistakes I did and trust the wrong person. In these other worlds, you can only truly trust each other. Please keep this in mind next time."

He smiled kindly at me, adding, "I can't help but admire your warm heart, Hayden." 

The muscles that had tensed up, expecting a harsher rebuke, relaxed under the praise, and Jacob's smile widened. 

That same smile vanished completely once Cove got to the end of our journey, skimming over his recklessness and laying out in expansive detail my 'execution' of the Mad King. Jacob's attention returned to me. I met his eyes, keeping the memories of our friend's faith and my memory of the dream at the forefront of my mind and refusing to let my head drop in shame. He turned back to Cove, who was still speaking. 

I intervened without invitation, cutting into Cove's explanation of the recovery of the book, "I only ensured the story progressed as it was supposed to."

Jacob nodded, his expression frozen and his attention stuck on his son. "Cove was almost done. Let him finish, and then you can provide your side of things," he said, not unkindly. 

Feeling bitter, for some reason, I bit my tongue, withholding further comments. Jacob's cold expression thawed slightly as Cove finished detailing the recovery of the book, and he placed his elbows on the table, lacing his fingers as he leaned in toward Cove. His eyes danced with interest. A tiny flicker of a slightly darker emotion crossed his face before it vanished, leaving me wondering if it had ever been there at all or was merely a trick of the light.

"And the fragment?" 

Cove tossed a hand in my direction. 

Unconsciously, I reached up to my chest, where my heart would be. "Returned," I said, my recall of the library so strong I could nearly smell the books it had contained. "Once I pulled it from the book, I was able to break free from the binding of the story and save our lives. She vanished during my dreams last night."

Disappointment and worry crossed Jacob's face. 

"What?" The question contained more bite than I'd intended. 

Jacob bit his lip and said, "I only hope it truly found its way home." Each word was measured and delivered carefully, as though he'd been thinking of saying them for a long time. "It would be better in the future if you could bring them directly here so we can oversee their return. A lack of oversight was one of the many problems I faced when working with Ava."

I bit my tongue, wanting to argue that bringing it back was what I'd intended to do. 

Perhaps reading the thought on my face, Jacob's warm smile returned. "I'm sure it was fine," he said. Please don't forget next time."

"I won't," I promised. I hadn't forgotten this time, either. 

"I only want to make sure we do this right."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. 

Jacob's fingers went white as they tightened around each other, and he turned back to Cove. "The book?"

Cove pulled it out of his pocket, passing it like a hot potato to Jacob. My heart thudded in my chest as Jacob plucked it out of Cove's grasp, running his hands thoughtfully over the gilded cover. The room plunged in temperature, reflecting my nerves. 

Would we have to continue to collect the fragments? Or was the book powerful enough to alter even this reality?

The drumming of my heart pounded louder in my ears as Jacob gently pried the cover open. "Did you test it?" he asked absently, skimming through the pages. 

"No," Cove answered, looking at me briefly for the first time this evening. "Hayden wanted to," the words sounded like an accusation. 

"I see." A calculating look crossed his face, and time expanded into eternity as we waited with bated breath for Jacob to decide what to do.

Looking like it cost him great effort, Jacob reluctantly shut the book, placing it off to the side within arms reach. "We'll test it under controlled circumstances later and find out exactly how it works and what it can do."

"Now, did you run across any interference?"

Cove shook his head. 

"Not from Ava," I said, certain. Interference from other parties was questionable. It was the prime opportunity to mention the odd beings I'd encountered at the beginning of our journey, but I found myself reluctant to relay the Black Cat's words and actions toward me. They spoke of familiarity and a future level of interference I was sure Cove and Jacob would disapprove of. Whatever he'd spoken of hadn't happened yet, and I'd rather not have gotten in trouble for something I hadn't done yet. 

In lieu of explaining the encounter, I offered up additional information they'd be interested in. "I saw Ava again this morning; she seemed…" Motherly was the first word that came to mind. "The same as usual," I finished, with a damming short glance at Cove that Jacob didn't miss. 

He sighed. "I see. Perhaps I should check on her soon and ensure everything is as it should be…" Jacob mused. "Until then, you did well."

Lending back in his chair, he changed topics. "El Dorado has decided to join our alliance. You two will be heading out next week to make another portal there. We're still compiling our information, so I will summon you both within the next few days to brief you fully. Until then, you should resume training. Good work."