Island of Dragons (Unwanteds #7)(42)

“Of course,” said Pan. “I need a short time to prepare the children for my absence, but I’ll arrive at the Island of Legends by late tonight.”

“Thank you,” said Alex. “That’s a tremendous help.”

“It’s the least I can do.” Immediately Pan began fishing with her tail as she’d done in the past, and soon she was launching large fish into the air so they’d land inside the island. “Safe travels, and take care,” she said. “I’ll see you upon my return.” She flung another bunch.

Alex held his hand up. “Good-bye for now. Let me know if you have any trouble with the wings.”

“Think no more about that,” said Pan. “Luck be with you. You’ll need it.”

Alex nodded, his heart heavy knowing she was right. He started up the boat and turned to Charlie. “Let Claire know that we’ve made it to the Island of Dragons and should be home sometime after dark tonight. Tell her Pan is heading out shortly to the Island of Legends to alert Florence, Henry, and Spike.”

Charlie nodded and went back into the cabin.

Alex directed the boat to go home, and soon the brothers were speeding over the waves.

With the boat magically piloting itself, Alex sat down heavily and put his face in his hands. “This is really happening,” he whispered. His nightmare and the discussion with Pan had brought with it a sense of real doom and an intense fear of the unknown. What were they in for? If only Alex could have a glimpse of the future so he’d better know what to do. But there was no magic spell for that.

Aaron, who was rummaging around in the supplies, pulled out two lunches and brought one over to Alex.

Alex took it and sighed, feeling defeated. “I don’t know what to do,” he said.

“Try eating it,” said Aaron.

“Not with the lunch. With the—wait. Was that another joke?”

Aaron shrugged and bit into the crust of a bulging savory pie.

“You’re feeling better then, I take it,” Alex said. He watched Aaron stuff his face, and then began eating too. He discovered he was ravenous, as he hadn’t had much of an appetite for dinner after they’d left the Island of Shipwrecks. As the boys ate their lunches, they sank back into their individual thoughts: Alex devastated by the news of the coming attack and trying to sort out a plan from a jumbled mess of ideas, and Aaron feeling mixed about his immortality, combined with having to turn back to Artimé after he’d been so ready to go to his new home. Aaron’s thoughts had taken him to consider the battle against Gondoleery, for he’d been immortal then, only he hadn’t known it.

“If you think about it,” Aaron said out of the blue, pausing before taking a bite, “it makes sense. The immortality, I mean. I got hit pretty hard in the battle with Gondoleery. I’d wondered about that—and I was really surprised I hadn’t gotten knocked out or killed. I mean, look what her fireballs did to you.”

Alex glared. “I was fine after a while.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow. “Okay, if you say so. From my perspective you looked like a bonfire, but what do I know? I was only conscious the entire time.”

Alex frowned and looked away.

“You’re right, though,” Aaron allowed after a minute. “You did pick yourself up pretty well.”

Alex rolled his eyes and finished his meal. He folded his plate until it disappeared. “So you think the seaweed kept you from getting killed by Gondoleery?”

“She hit me dead-on with a fireball at close range,” Aaron said, all traces of sarcasm now gone from his voice. “It stunned me, but I got up all right. Everybody else was getting killed or knocked out. I thought I just got lucky, like maybe her aim was bad that one time. But the seaweed explains it, don’t you think?”

Alex shrugged and shook his head in wonder. “I guess it does,” he said, looking up and catching his brother’s gaze. “All I can say is that I’m glad. It’ll make me worry less about you in this upcoming battle, that’s for sure.” He frowned and didn’t say what else was going through his mind . . . that Aaron would also be doing some worrying. Now knowing the pirates were involved, Alex was certain they’d be coming for him—and they’d be extra vigilant in getting the right twin this time.

But Alex had so much more to consider than just his own life. There was Artimé, too.

Once they’d both finished eating, Alex sat up straight, pulled out his notebook and produced a pencil, and began to scribble down all the strategic ideas he could think of. He drew maps and made a list of his strongest fighters. He wished again for Florence, but knew he might have to do this without her, and it scared him to death.

When he ran out of ideas, he called on Charlie to communicate with Lani so he could run some plans by her. And every now and then he’d ask Lani’s and Aaron’s advice on something.

“This is crazy,” Alex said at one point to both Charlie and Aaron, “but what do you think of our fighters meeting the enemies halfway? Battling it out at sea?”

Charlie soon relayed Lani’s response, and Alex translated it so Aaron could hear. “Lani says, ‘Nice idea against the Warblerans who can’t swim, but maybe not the pirates since that’s how they usually fight.’ Hmm.”

Aaron nodded. “Plus, we only have one ship. They have dozens, don’t they?”