Island of Dragons (Unwanteds #7)(34)

“It’s all rrright,” said Simber. “The boat will be morrre comforrrtable forrr you anyway.” He paused, sampling the air as he often did, and then gazing in the direction of Warbler Island to the west. “Besides, I’m mildly concerrrned about what’s happening overrr therrre.”

Alex followed the statue’s gaze, but he couldn’t see whatever Simber was able to see. “You mean the ships that Pan told us about?”

“Prrrecisely,” said Simber. “Therrre’s some activity happening that I’m not completely comforrrtable with—ships sailing between the pirrrate island and Warrrbler. It’s out of the orrrdinary forrr them, which makes me suspicious.”

“Of course it does,” said Alex, reaching out and putting his hand on the cheetah’s neck. “I wonder if the pirates are selling sea creatures to Warbler. I honestly can’t figure it out—who else is there to buy them? Whenever I ask Pan, she gets quiet.”

“I don’t know,” said Simber. “And I don’t think Marrrcus knew, eitherrr, orrr I hope he would have told me.” Simber didn’t sound like he had much faith in that, though. The original head mage of Artimé, Marcus Today, had kept many secrets that went to the grave with him.

Alex shrugged. “At least we freed the sea creatures—some of them, anyway.”

Simber frowned. “The pirrrates neverrr came afterrr us. I admit I’m surrrprrrised by that.”

“Ah, but they did—they just went to the palace by mistake and retaliated against the wrong guy,” Alex reminded him.

“Trrrue,” said Simber. “I wonderrr if they’ll everrr rrrealize theirrr errror. With theirrr rrrelationship with Queen Eagala on Warrrblerrr, I imagine they will.”

Alex shook his head. “Please, Sim. We’re finally at peace. Give us a little chance to enjoy it before you go imagining other problems, will you? Besides, they would have attacked by now. It’s been months.”

The statue growled softly, but he let the conversation die. Soon they reached the edge of the jungle. They turned around and walked back toward the mansion. The lawn was beginning to fill up with residents of Artimé. Mr. Appleblossom held a fencing class there, where he had Kaylee teach some moves since she was well trained in the sport.

Ms. Morning was on the lawn meeting with Lani, who was showing off some new spell components she’d invented. And quite far away, Liam Healy, former governor to the former high priest Aaron and rescuer of Thisbe and Fifer, was standing near the front door of the mansion with Aaron himself. Both appeared to be scanning the lawn in search of someone.

Alex waved, and Aaron waved back. Alex climbed on Simber’s back. “They look like they need something,” he said.

“Let’s go,” said Simber. He began to run with Alex holding on around his neck. Soon they reached the mansion and Alex hopped off.

Aaron’s face was anxious. “What time are we leaving?” he asked.

“I’ve decided we’ll go around sundown,” said Alex. “That way the boat will have us to the Island of Dragons by morning. We’ll want to attach the wings during daylight, don’t you agree?”

“I—well, yes, I should think,” Aaron said, but he sounded distracted. “Thanks, that’s perfect. I was hoping we weren’t heading out first thing. . . .” He trailed off, and then dashed back inside the mansion before Alex could say another word.

“What was that about?” Alex asked Liam.

“I d-don’t know,” said Liam, who often stammered when nervous. “But as I was telling Aaron, I’ve got the sacks of dirt ready to go. So, um . . . where . . . ?”

“That’s great, Liam,” Alex said. “Thank you. I’ll help you load them on the boat.”

? ? ? ?

While Alex and Liam loaded the Claire with hundreds of pounds of soil, Aaron was far away in the deepest part of the jungle, trying to be strong. He’d been here a lot in the past few days, always thinking it would be his last visit, but then finding a way to come back one more time.

Upon his arrival, Panther had come running, her sleek black body shimmering and her muscles rippling. Hanging from her jaws was one of the spiders made of vines that Aaron had constructed. Panther dropped it at Aaron’s feet and batted it with her paw.

Aaron grinned and picked it up. “Stay,” he said.

She sat obediently and rubbed her whiskers against Aaron’s side. Aaron picked up the vine spider and threw it with all his might. Panther’s body jerked, but she stayed in place, waiting for her cue.

“Attack!” Aaron shouted.

The panther leaped in the air and charged toward the spider. She slid to a stop on the jungle floor, picked it up and shook it, and then brought it back to Aaron.

“Well done!” Aaron praised.

They played the game for nearly an hour, until Aaron’s arm grew tired. He sat down near a pile of vines and began constructing more spiders for Panther—he wanted to have enough for her to play with for a long time. He began piling them up on one side of him, while Panther lounged on the other side, her face pressed against Aaron’s thigh and one paw resting possessively on his knee. She closed her eyes.

“I’m going away for a while,” Aaron said softly. He reached out and petted Panther between the ears.