Island of Legends (The Unwanteds) (27 page)

“There is another island. I saw it last night when the sun went down and the moon was rising. I wanted to howl, but as I am a cat, I would never do that.”

“You’rrre not a cat,” Simber said to Fox through clenched teeth.

Alex knew there was one more island in this direction. He looked up at Simber. “Can you see it?”

“Yes, it’s therrre.”

The fox licked his lips and resisted the urge to pant.

From alongside the ship, Spike said, “That is where the squid went.”

Alex rushed to the railing. “Really? I’ve been wondering about her crushed tentacle.”

Spike looked up. “Oh, hello.” She paused, as if realizing something. “The Alex. You are finished with the coughing.”

Alex grinned and saluted. “Hello again, Spike Furious. Yes. Thank you for saving me.”

Spike considered that for a long moment. “Yes, and thank you as well.” She dove down and circled back. “The other big one went that way too, I think.”

“What about the eel?”

The whale frowned. “The eel moves around. It doesn’t live at the island. But the squid . . .” The whale trailed off, swimming just below the surface. “Oh no.” And then she sped up and jumped into the air, landing with a splash, and with a swish of her tail she was speeding to the west.

Simber sampled the air and stared hard after the whale. “I’m going to follow herrr,” he said. “Something strrrange is happening.”

Alex looked at Simber, who pumped his wings and flew off, following Spike. Fox stood at the bow of the ship, eyes like slits against the wind, and began yipping excitedly.
Alex wasn’t sure what was happening, but he was very sure he didn’t want to miss it or go home, especially with two of Artimé’s finest creatures heading in the exact opposite direction.

“Captain,” Alex said with a decisive air, “follow that whale.”

C
aptain Ahab couldn’t have been happier to take off after a whale. Sean helped the captain adjust the sails, and soon the pirate ship was sailing at a brisk clip, following Simber and Spike. After a time, Simber slowed and waited for the ship to catch up.

Alex went to the stern of the ship, where he and Simber had often talked privately. Soon the cat pulled back even more until he was flying just over Alex’s head. Alex wasn’t sure if things were still off between them. He felt like they might be, and it troubled him greatly.

“I can’t stand this anymore. I’m sorry, Simber,” Alex said,
looking up. “I messed up. I should have known more about Florence—I got distracted, and I never thought to wonder about it. Can a giant warrior made of ebony swim? Does she breathe? I mean, I come from a very different world, where no one questions such things because they don’t exist. But I’ve been in Artimé long enough to know I have to think harder, and differently, and I need to act more . . . more responsibly now that I’m in charge of so much. And I will.” He thought again of Sky, and his heart twisted. “I will. Again, I’m sorry.”

Florence, who was sitting near enough to hear, narrowed her eyes but remained quiet.

The cheetah harrumphed a few times. “All rrright,” Simber said. He harrumphed again.

“Is something stuck in your throat?” Florence asked him. She wore a stern look. “An apology, maybe? What happened here, anyway?” She looked at Alex. “What’s going on?”

Alex shoved his hands in his robe pockets. “We— I didn’t know if you could swim. And I didn’t know if you needed to breathe in order to live. And I should have known that before we set out. If I’d known, I could have had Simber do something more to help you against that eel. We were so worried—”

“Wait a second,” Florence said. She looked at Simber. “Both of you seem to have forgotten that I am the Magical Warrior instructor. I command our army. And I was fully aware of the risks I was taking. If I had needed or wanted help, I would have asked for it! That eel couldn’t hurt me, and I knew it. It was crucial—
crucial
, Simber, that you got everyone out of the water as quickly as possible, because that eel could hurt
them
.” She paused. “I’m a little bit angry that you didn’t trust me to know what I was doing.”

“But you could have been stuck on the bottom of the ocean forrreverrr,” Simber muttered, clearly not happy about being called out.

“You don’t think I can walk home just because I’m underwater? Simber, please.” Florence folded her arms.

“You werrre in a cage until I rrrescued you.”

“Come on. I could have broken that glass just as easily as you. I was waiting for you to carry out the mission first so I didn’t mess anything up!”

Simber was completely silent. He glared out over the water.

Alex sat very still, trying to disappear, as a few others overheard and edged a bit closer to hear the argument.

“But, Florence, why didn’t you move at all?” Carina asked, skirting around the hole in the deck and joining in. “We thought you were dead.”

Florence tilted her head. “I’m sorry. I considered that. I truly did. But think about it. If you lived in that underwater island and you saw something like me
moving
, wouldn’t that be a little bit alarming? Alarming enough to draw a lot of attention, and maybe have a band of pirates actually do something to me, and hinder your rescue efforts? I had to play statue so I didn’t look like a threat.”

Carina nodded. “That makes sense.”

Alex silently agreed. Florence was a brilliant warrior. She’d done what she had to do for the sake of the mission. She’d let the eel take her away to save the rest of them, and she was fully aware of her own capabilities. She was a hero.

Florence turned to look at Alex. “I know you’re the mage, Alex,” she said, “and I will do whatever you command me to do. But I don’t expect you to know every detail about my abilities and my weaknesses. I expect you to trust me, as a leader of Artimé, to know what I’m capable of and to ask for help if I need it.” She glanced at Simber, who remained silent above
them. “I know it’s hard when things like this happen. It’s painful. Sometimes we make sacrifices. Sometimes we lose dear friends whom we love deeply, and that makes us want to hold our other loved ones closer so we don’t lose them, too.”

Lani glanced at Samheed, who stared stubbornly at the deck. Sky smiled at her mother and flicked away a tear. Carina’s face was melancholy as she gazed out over the sea toward home. Sean watched her for a moment, then looked away.

Alex was silent. Florence didn’t take her eyes off Simber’s face.

Finally Simber looked down at her. They held each other’s attention for a long moment. “Shut up, Florrrence,” grumbled the cat.

Florence’s laughter rang out across the sea.

A
aron had a hard time sleeping these days. Thoughts, ideas, and plans raced through his head. He hadn’t been this excited in a long time, yet he kept his penchants hidden from the intrusive Secretary. But now he had Liam living at the palace too, adding another watchful eye on the high priest’s daily activities.

“Why not give Haluki’s house to Liam?” Secretary asked innocently one morning. “No one is using it.”

“No,” Aaron said a little too quickly. He shifted in his chair.

“But why? I don’t understand. You don’t even like Haluki.”

“I despise him,” Aaron said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m
going to give his house away. Besides, I don’t think Liam would want it after all the time he spent there.”

Secretary sighed. “Well, that’s probably true.”

“We’ll have one of the old governors removed. Liam can have their house.”

Eva Fathom feigned confusion. “But not Haluki’s, which is already empty.” Then her face cleared. “Oh. Is this about the tube? I thought you destroyed it.”

“The . . . the what? Oh, that,” Aaron said, trying to sound nonchalant. “Yes, well, I tried to destroy it, but it’s too big and solid. We certainly don’t want anyone living in that house with such a dangerous thing in it.” He paused. “And, by the way, the house was all wet inside the other day.”

Eva appeared to be surprised. “You were there the other day?”

“To try to destroy the tube.”

“Oh, right. Wet? Did you say wet?”

“Yes, the floor was wet, and water was dripping from the ceiling. I, um, I forgot about it until just now.”

“Oh my. That’s very strange.”

“Yes, isn’t it?” Aaron tapped his fingers on his desk. “Well
then. Off with you. I’ve got a very busy day. I’ll be gone for a bit, so don’t worry if you can’t find me.”

Eva nodded and headed toward the door. “Strang and Liam are already out there handling complaints and taking in information from our good citizens today.”

“Keep an eye on Gondoleery,” Aaron said.

“If she shows up,” Eva said lightly. “Maybe we should consider keeping
her
in the palace.” She disappeared into the hallway, leaving Aaron alone.

After a minute, Aaron opened his drawer, picked up the two heart attack spells, and put them in his pocket. He stood up and went to the window, wondering if anyone was hanging around the driveway. When he saw it was clear, he headed out of the palace, down the driveway, and past the guards at the portcullis, where a short line of Wanteds waited to tattle on their neighbors to the new governors in exchange for food. Aaron slowed, thanking them for coming to share their concerns or information. “You’re making Quill a safer place to be,” he said. He continued on down the road.

As Eva Fathom went outside to call in the next visitors, she
saw Aaron in the distance turning down the governors’ road. “Now what’s he up to?” she muttered.

She went back inside and looked around Aaron’s desk, checking the drawers. “He took the heart attack spells? Whatever for?” She looked up toward the closet and called out in a soft voice, “Matilda.”

The gargoyle peeked out.

“Has Aaron been seen in Artimé?”

Matilda shook her head.

Eva frowned, then walked over to the gargoyle. She retied the bow around her horn and wiped some dust from her shoulders. “Poor thing, stuck in here all this time without Charlie. Are you holding up all right?”

Matilda smiled and nodded.

“I suppose it’s a bit easier for statues,” Eva admitted. “Anyway, tell Charlie that if Aaron shows up in Artimé today, to beware that he’s got heart attack spells in his pocket.”

Matilda nodded once more and climbed back into the box in the closet where Aaron had dumped her and forgotten her long ago.

» » « «

Arriving in the jungle once more, Aaron stepped out of the tube. He didn’t see anyone at first, but soon he could just barely feel the earth vibrate below his feet, and when he turned, the enormous rock was right there. Aaron sucked in a startled breath. The rock’s ability to sneak up on him was uncanny.

“Hello,” Aaron said.

“Welcome back,” the rock replied in his soft, rumbling voice. “I’m surprised to see you so soon.” He seemed pleased.

Aaron smiled. “I wanted to make sure Panther was all right.”

“She’s fine.”

Aaron started walking, venturing into the jungle down an obvious path that was just wide enough to fit an enormous moving rock. “And how are you?”

“I—I suppose I’m well too.” He moved along with Aaron. “Would you like a tour?”

“I think I have time,” Aaron said. He was dying for a tour, but he didn’t want to seem too eager.

“Stay close to me, or your life could be in danger,” the rock said.

“I will,” Aaron said. “But won’t everyone out here obey me?”

“Not everyone.”

“Not even if you tell them I’m the new head mage?”

“No.”

Aaron pursed his lips. He didn’t like hearing that. He fingered the heart attack spells in his pocket, which he’d brought along for protection even though he hadn’t thought he’d actually have to use them. Now he wasn’t so sure. “This really is a dangerous job, isn’t it?”

The rock seemed to nod. “This path,” he said, “leads into the deepest, thickest part of the jungle, where no light can penetrate. The scorpion lives at the end of the path in a pitch-black cave of branches and vines.” He paused. “Don’t worry. We won’t be going that far.”

Aaron slowed. “Um, we could turn around now if you like.”