by Lisa McMann
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.
Back to the Jungle
Aaron 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.”
“In a moment. Just ahead is where Dog lives.” The rock pulled up to a small hollow in a large tree.
Aaron looked inside. He didn’t see anything. Then slowly the outline of the dog appeared—it had blended in with the rich brown background of bark and dirt. The dog looked peaceful, sleeping there. But Aaron still had the teeth-size scabs on his arm to prove otherwise.
The little dog opened one eye, saw Aaron, and jumped to his feet. His tail wagged. Aaron stepped back, but the dog didn’t attack. He barked a few times.
“Hello again,” Aaron said. “Just passing through. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
The dog’s pointy teeth gleamed. He barked again.
“He’s happy to see you,” said the rock.
“Oh,” Aaron said. “That’s nice.” He waved, and then felt stupid about waving, so he folded his arms over his chest. He really had no idea how to communicate with animals. Or . . . statues. Or people, for that matter.
Aaron and the rock said good-bye to the dog and went back the way they’d come, toward the tube. When they reached the clearing, the rock switched directions and headed down another path.
“Where does this one lead?”
“This leads around the outside of the east wall of Quill. The only other way to access that end of the jungle from Quill is through the secret passage.”
Aaron stopped in his tracks. “The . . . what?”
“Marcus didn’t tell you about that either?” the rock thundered.
“No.”
“Well.” The rock stopped moving. “I’m sure he’s blocked it off by now. He always meant to.” He stayed still. “There’s not much down there, anyway.” Abruptly the rock turned, nearly running over Aaron’s toes to get to the clearing once more and travel down a third path.
“This is the way to Artimé. It’s quite a long walk. My path takes you as far as a stream. You’d have to cross the stream and travel quite a distance to go the rest of the way.”
“Where do you end up?” Aaron asked.
The rock looked at Aaron for a long moment, and then he said in a skeptical voice, “Are you sure you’re qualified to be doing this job?”
Aaron felt his face heat up. “Mr. Today died very suddenly,” he said, getting defensive. “He didn’t have time—”
Just then a furry gray creature dropped from a nearby tree onto Aaron’s head. It bared its fangs and hissed. And then it chomped down hard on Aaron’s shoulder. Aaron screamed and fell to the ground.
Aaron Hatches a Plan
Release him!” the rock thundered.
The furry gray creature paused mid-chomp.
“Release!” screamed Aaron. Pain ripped through his shoulder, and he tried to shove the thing off of him. “Agh! Release!” He couldn’t think.
The creature withdrew his fangs and hopped out of the way of Aaron’s flailing arms, ran down the path to the nearest tree, and scurried up it.
Aaron flopped to his back in the dirt. “Ugh,” he cried out. “What was that?” He squirmed, gripping his shoulder. “Why does everything here have to stinking bite me all the time?”
The top of the rock leaned over, peering at Aaron. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not!” Aaron said. He rolled to his good shoulder and rested there for a minute before he got to his feet. “What was that thing?” he asked again.
“That was actually not one of Marcus’s creations,” the rock rumbled. “There are a few of those around. Dropbears. They drifted to Artimé many, many years ago on some wreckage from a ship, or at least, that’s what I remember from Marcus’s story. But they are carnivores, so Marcus sent them here to the jungle. They’re quite cuddly and fun loving . . . if you’re not edible.”
Aaron lifted his hand to check his shoulder. “At least it let go of me.”
“Yes. The dropbears aren’t magical creatures, but Marcus did train them not to eat him by bringing them food.”
“Perhaps you should have mentioned that to me last time,” Aaron grumbled.
“I’m continually surprised at how little you know about us.” The rock’s cave-mouth closed. He rolled back to the clearing where the tube was. “You can clean your wound by the creek if you’d like.”
“Sure, and wait for something else to attack me? I think I’d better go.” Aaron pressed his shirt against the puncture wounds.
“Panther will be sorry she missed you. She’s rather taken a liking to you. I don’t think you’ll find her attacking you anytime soon. Your work on her tail has made her loyal to you. If she’d been here, she’d have put that dropbear out of commission.”
Aaron looked up at the rock. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she now?”
“Out hunting, I suppose.”
“Oh.” Aaron looked at the rock.
“I hope you’ll come back again.”
Aaron didn’t quite know what to make of such language. Nobody he knew actually said such . . . such emotional things, or expressed themselves quite like this rock was doing. Well, besides Alex. To Aaron, it didn’t seem logical to hope anyone would do anything—did it? Either Aaron would come back or he wouldn’t, and the rock would have to be fine either way. Hope was a waste of time.
“I will, I suppose.” Aaron’s shoulder throbbed, and his mind turned back to what the rock had said a moment before. “So, about Panther. You’re saying she’d attack others if they seemed like they were trying to hurt me?”
“I think so, yes. But I don’t know her thoughts.”
A new idea was forming in Aaron’s mind. “Actually, yes,” he said slowly, “I’ll definitely be back. Soon. Tell Panther I’d like to see her. I’d like that very much.”
&
nbsp; The Apology
Those who needed sleep slept. Those who didn’t need sleep spent the hours conversing quietly or contemplating in silence. Namely, Simber.
In the morning, when Alex awoke, Simber approached.
“Will you come for a rrride with me?” Simber asked, his voice more gruff than usual.
Alex resisted the urge to say, “I thought you’d never ask,” and instead played along with Simber’s game, knowing the proud cat found it extremely difficult to admit failures of any sort, even the smallest kind. He climbed aboard, and the two of them soared ahead of the ship.
Alex could see the new island in the distance, and it gave him a little thrill of fear and excitement. The island had a deep red outline. It was almost perfectly rounded, like a soup bowl floating upside down on the water. Trees grew on it, taller and more concentrated in the center.
“It looks quite nice from this far off, doesn’t it?” Alex ventured after a bit.
“It does,” agreed Simber. “Therrre’s something odd about it. I haven’t figurrred it out quite yet, though.”
“Odd how?”
Simber didn’t speak at first, and then he said, “Odd like Warrrblerrr, when we rrrealized therrre was no sound.” He paused again. “It’s not that, though. I can alrrready hearrr things. Bits of things. Nothing clearrrly, of courrrse.”
“Life?”
“Yes.”
Alex nodded. He could see Spike a short distance ahead of them, her spike cutting through the water. She hadn’t let up her pace, and Alex had a feeling she could go much faster if she wanted to. He was so glad they’d found each other once again. It was interesting to see how she learned things.
“What do you think of Spike?” Alex asked after a bit.
“She’s verrry smarrrt,” Simber said. He clamped his jaw shut.
Alex felt the cat tense underneath him. “Yes, she seems to be picking up on things at lightning speed.” He frowned, puzzled by the cat’s reaction to the question. “I imagine she’ll be a big help to us in the future,” he continued.
Simber was silent. Alex could see him working his jaw.
