Island of Dragons (24 page)

He turned to his team, somewhat larger than the other teams because of the recruiting Aaron had done in Quill that morning. “Stand ready, soldiers!” he said to them. “Pay no regard to me if I fall in battle. Our ultimate loyalty is to the mansion. To our island as a whole. And to . . . to the head mage. Don't fail me in this. Quill and Artimé are one! Do you understand?”

The assorted group nodded.

“Then take your places,” commanded Aaron.

They did so.

Oh, how good it felt to be in charge of something once more.

» » « «

Moments later in Artimé, a shout rang out from behind the mansion, and the ground began shuddering.

From the shore, Simber reared around with a growl in his throat, until he realized who was coming toward them at breakneck speed.

It was Florence. And she was dripping wet.

F
lorence!” exclaimed Alex, relief washing over him. “Thank goodness! What happened to you?” he asked as the lead warrior reached him and Simber at the shore.

“Pan and I got caught behind the line of ships,” said Florence. “The only way to get past them without them seeing us was to go under them and stay underwater until we rounded the north side of Quill. Even then we weren't out of sight. I slipped off her back when we got close, walked ashore, and came through Quill. She stayed hidden under the water and continued home—she said she had things to take care of.”

“Good grief,” said Alex. “I'm so glad you made it. We were getting worried. But what about Spike and Henry? Where are they?”

“I don't know,” said Florence. “I left with Pan immediately when she arrived on the Island of Legends. Henry and Spike went to do one last check on Karkinos—they were planning to follow us, but they never caught up. I'm worried they're stuck behind the ships just as we were, but unable to go underwater for that large amount of time because of Henry.”

“Did you see any eels?” asked Simber.

“We fought one on the way to the Island of Legends several days ago. Luckily, after a major fight, we were okay—though we nearly lost the medicine. Pan bit the eel's head off. We haven't seen any since.”

“That's great news,” Alex said, but he was preoccupied. He'd forgotten about the potential for eels, and now Henry and Spike were possibly stranded. “Let's hope that was the last of them.” He signaled to a squirrelicorn on the roof of the mansion.

The creature swooped down to Alex's side.

“Let our ship's team know that there could be eels prowling about,” Alex instructed, “and then tell Claire the same thing in the white boat.”

“Yes, sir!” said the squirrelicorn, and she darted off to deliver the message.

“What did I miss here?” asked Florence, adjusting her quiver on her back and making sure she had all of her arrows after the ride underwater. “What's the plan?”

Alex pulled out the official battle chart that Ms. Octavia had sketched, showing the placement of all the teams in Artimé and part of Quill. He filled Florence in on all that had happened and the strategies in place.

“Basically,” he explained, “I've got several teams stationed here on the south shore and all the way around to the west side of the island, facing the oncoming ships,” he explained. “Mr. Appleblossom's team and mine are covering the lawn from the edge of the jungle to the mansion. Simber's team is on the west side of the mansion. Also with us in the mansion area are Sky, Kaylee, Matilda, Kitten, and now you. Our teams are small, some with as few as thirty fighters, but every team has a few statues and some squirrelicorns as messengers.”

“Okay,” said Florence. “Where's everybody else?”

Alex pointed to the chart. “Heading west along the shore in Quill you can see Lani's and Samheed's teams. I gave them a few extra members each because they have the most ground to cover. Then, rounding the curve near the lighthouse is Aaron's team—he recruited some Necessaries and I gave him some strong spell casters, as well as Jim the winged tortoise and the ostrich statue.”

“So far so good,” said Florence, glancing up to check the positions of the approaching ships before looking back at the charts. “Keep going.”

“Beyond Aaron, stationed on the top of the hill at the west point, is Liam and his team. Rounding the island in the northwest curve is Gunnar Haluki and his team.”

“That's it? No one on the north side?” asked Florence.

“No—I didn't see a need.”

“And where are Sean and Carina?”

“They're on the ship with Ms. Octavia, Ahab, Fox, and a team of twenty or so,” said Alex. “I've instructed them to stay closer inland than where I expect the ships to anchor. I want our ship to act as a barrier to the mansion. They'll attack anyone coming in straight on, or force the enemy to go around them.

“And Claire—is that her in the white boat roaming in the shallow water?” asked Florence.

“Yes, with a team of six, plus Charlie. She's covering the shoreline and will help out wherever needed.”

“Good idea to have a mobile team,” Florence said. “What about the Warbler children—are they fighting against their own people?”

“Many of them are,” said Alex. “I've split them up evenly, just a few in each group so their teams can help protect them in case the attackers come ashore and try to capture them.”

Florence nodded thoughtfully as she looked over the chart. “Hmm,” she said. “Not bad work for a kid. You don't even need old Florence anymore.”

Alex grinned. “Oh, yes we do. I'm extremely glad you're back,” he said. “I did my best with the assignments, but if you want to change strategies, please do. You're the expert.”

“You put a lot of thought into it,” said Florence, growing serious, “and you did well. This is very close to what I would have done, except for one thing.”

“What?” asked Alex.

“Well, from the looks of the line of ships as they draw closer around the island, and from the directions the outermost ships are heading in, I don't think they'll only stick to the south and west sides of our island.”

“You don't?” asked Alex.

“No. Look how a few ships are fanning out as if they plan to continue past our island. I think they'll land on the north side, too. Once they reach the shore, it's not that far overland to reach the mansion.”

“So we'll be surrrounded,” said Simber. He began to pace.

“Time will tell,” said Florence, looking at Alex's chart. “But I'm going to rearrange things a little to cover our vulnerable spots.” She looked up. “And that means I need some more team leaders. Let's pull Carina off the ship and Sky and Kaylee off the mansion and have them take teams to the north side of the island.”

“Whatever you think is best,” said Alex.

Sky, standing nearby guarding the door, overheard. “But I'm not magical,” she reminded Florence.

“You don't need to be magical to stop pirates,” said Florence. “You thought about that, right, Alex? Pirates fight with swords and knives—close-range weapons. So even our best mages should be armed with some type of weapon.”

Alex froze, then glanced at Simber. “Crud. We didn't think about that,” he said. “I'm sorry.”

Florence barked an order to three squirrelicorns on the roof to go into the mansion and find whatever swords they had and deliver them to Samheed's and Lani's teams, since they were the shortest on nonmagical weapons.

Then Florence turned back to Sky, who still appeared uncertain about being a team leader. “Okay, look. You fought off saber-toothed gorillas, didn't you?”

“Well, yes,” said Sky.

“These attackers are much smaller,” said Florence. “And they won't try to eat you. So this will be easy for you, especially with that sword you wield so well. I wish we had more close-range weapons for this enemy, but we can only make do with what we have. I'll be sure you have spell casters on your team as well. I think you'll make an excellent leader, because you're smart and you think well on your feet. Sound okay?”

Sky nodded. “I guess you've convinced me.”

“Good.” Florence went to get Kaylee, and Simber flew off to collect Carina, and by the time he was back, Florence had the three new teams identified. She instructed the squirrelicorns to fly out to each of the other teams and send a few members to one of three locations on the north side of the island. “Their team leaders will meet them there,” she told them. The squirrelicorns were off.

With another glance at the ships, it appeared certain that the enemy was going exactly where Florence said they would. “They'll avoid the east side of the island because of the jungle,” Florence said wisely to Carina, Kaylee, and Sky, “so we don't have to worry about that.” She showed them the chart and the map, pointing out where she wanted each of them to go.

By now Alex was even more relieved that Florence had returned. He watched the planning over Sky's shoulder.

“The north side of the island is rocky, and there are only a few places to come ashore. I want the three of you to stay within sight of each other,” Florence said. “Once the attackers make their move you'll be able to tell if you need to spread out to cover a wide area or concentrate in one place. Send a squirrelicorn to find me if you run into trouble.”

“Why don't you think they'll land on the jungle side?” asked Alex.

“Too easy to get lost,” said Florence, “and too thick to run through. They wouldn't be able to get here very handily. And even if they did, why—let them! It's a lot easier to fight them once they break through to the lawn than trying to throw spell components through brush and trees. I doubt they'll land there—pirates are seasoned fighters. They'll know better.”

“But what about the mansion?” asked Kaylee. “Who's going to keep the people inside safe?”

Florence frowned. “Simber and I and the teams here will have to take care of it.” She looked up. “Siggy?”

Mr. Appleblossom poked his head over the side of the mansion roof.

“If you see pirates getting past us and breaking in,” said Florence, “strike them down.”

Mr. Appleblossom nodded and went back to his observation area.

“Any more questions?” asked Florence.

Carina, Kaylee, and Sky said no, so Florence sent them and a few members of Alex's, Simber's, and Mr. Appleblossom's teams north. Sky glanced over her shoulder at Alex as she set out with the others toward Quill.

Alex held her gaze. He couldn't bear to think of this as their last moment together, but with the dire situation at hand, the thought wouldn't leave him. He wanted to run after her. He wanted to kiss her and tell her to be careful and tell her to come back to him and a hundred other things. But there was no time to waste. He lifted his hand, willing her to promise him all the unspoken things.

She smiled as if she understood and lifted her hand in return. Then she faced forward and didn't look back again.

With the new teams organized and on their way across the island to the north side, there was nothing to do but wait to see what would happen.

Alex returned to the shore, looking at the huge ships looming closer. Each one must be able to hold hundreds of people. And each of Alex's teams numbered fewer than fifty. He began to doubt again. Was it wrong to even attempt to fight? His people barely stood a chance against such force. The casualties would be immense. With an anxious heart, Alex went back to Simber's side and lay a hand on his neck. “Simber,” he said, “I want to talk to them and see what they want. I have to try and stop this.”

“Pirrrates don't comprrromise,” Simber said.

Alex stood firm. “Please. I need to.”

Simber regarded Alex for a long moment, and then wearily he nodded, knowing the mage wouldn't be satisfied until he had at least tried. “Let's fly out therrre, then.”

Alex nodded. He let Florence know what he was about to do, and she agreed it couldn't hurt, though she, too, doubted anything could come of it.

The head mage of Artimé climbed onto Simber's back. Simber bounded along the shore and leaped into the air, flapping his mighty wings. They flew high over the ships, Simber using his keen sight to search for signs of Queen Eagala on the vessels.

They found her on a pirate ship straight out from the mansion, standing with a male pirate on deck.

Simber lowered himself slowly over the ship. Alex leaned to one side and looked down at them. “Queen Eagala!” he called out. “Will you speak with me?”

Queen Eagala rose to her full height, reminding Alex so much of Eagala's sister, the late high priest Justine. “Captain Baldhead and I warn you that there is no stopping this without full reparations for the wrongs you have done to our islands,” she replied.

“What is it that you want?” asked Alex.

“The Island of Warbler demands the return of all Warblerans.”