Island of Dragons (Unwanteds #7)(49)
Alex nodded and glanced at Samheed, whose eyes held great respect for the theater teacher. “Quite right,” Samheed murmured.
“Thank you, Mr. Appleblossom,” said Alex. “Your words bring a very special comfort and they ring true with Simber’s. I’m very glad you see the end to this, because I admit that for me, it’s hard to look past this moment. We are all tired, it’s true. And sometimes this cycle of fighting feels endless. So thank you. We take your words to heart.”
Mr. Appleblossom bowed his head. “Your fearlessness and drive will lead this charge, and happy we will be to see the end. And in that hour of victory we’ll meet in Artimé . . . and start the world again.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” said Alex warmly. How he wanted it! He was beginning to feel better. And even if he wasn’t, he had to fake it for the sake of his team. He stood up a bit straighter. “Our final battle,” he said to the group, with conviction. “Let’s make this our final battle forever. And when it’s over, like Mr. Appleblossom said, we’ll start the world again. With peace, and with family, and with friends.” He looked at Aaron, and Aaron held his gaze.
Alex went on to everyone. “I must ask all of you to vote. As you have no doubt noticed, my brother Aaron chose to return with me from the shores of his future home once we heard the news of the pending attack. He has unselfishly agreed to fight with us again. So I ask of everyone here: May I offer him spell components? I will only do so with the consent of everybody present.”
A murmur went up in the group, and Alex waited patiently while the people and creatures talked it over. Aaron stared at the ground.
Alex cleared his throat. “All in favor of offering spell components to Aaron, please say aye.”
The group’s voices rose up in a resounding “Aye!”
“Are there any opposed?” asked Alex. “If so, please speak now.” He looked earnestly around the group, his eyes moving to the ones who had been suspicious of Aaron. Samheed and Carina both nodded their approval at Alex. Claire didn’t meet Alex’s gaze, but she remained silent.
“No,” said Aaron suddenly, startling everyone. Perhaps even himself.
They turned to look at him.
“I don’t want any,” Aaron said. “It’s true I know how to use them. But I can’t bring myself to accept them. I would rather everyone in this community be entirely comfortable having me near them.” He dared a glance at Claire. He’d barely spoken to her during his time in Artimé, knowing she must hate him for killing her father. But he also knew that if his new appointment as head mage were to be revealed, he’d need to strategize properly, and Claire would be his main hurdle. Claire looked up, and they both hurriedly looked away.
Alex shook his head, frustrated. “I’m sorry to hear that, Aaron, because you could be a big help to our spell-casting team.”
“Take them,” Claire said suddenly. “Please, Aaron. How would I feel if you were caught without any way to defend yourself? Your injury or death would be on my head then, wouldn’t it? And it wouldn’t do a thing to bring my father back. I don’t wish death on you, no matter what has happened in the past. Let’s put that aside for the sake of Artimé.” She reached into her vest pockets and pulled out a handful of scatterclips and gave them to Aaron. “I don’t have any heart attack components,” she said.
Aaron took the scatterclips and looked at Claire. “Thank you,” he said. “Are you sure?”
She held his gaze and nodded. “You’ve more than proven yourself to be a friend of Artimé.”
Aaron put the scatterclips into his empty component vest pocket. “I am sorry,” he said quietly.
“I know,” said Claire. She looked up briskly. “Please continue, Alex.”
“Thank you, everyone,” said Alex. “Now, let’s figure a few things out. First, we have one ship and one boat. Mr. Appleblossom, I’d like you to commission Captain Ahab to board our ship and take a crew with him. Sean, Carina, and Ms. Octavia, I want you and your teams fighting from the ship to protect it from takeover and help defend us and the mansion here on shore from approaching enemies.”
They nodded.
Alex went on. “Claire, please take your team in the white boat and be our eyes around the island so we know where the ships are and where they intend to attack. You’ll have first crack at taking out anyone who gets close enough. Got it?”
Claire nodded. “Excellent plan, Alex.”
“Mr. Appleblossom, once you’ve got Captain Ahab convinced to board the ship, I’d like to have you and your team stationed at your poste d’observateur on top of the mansion. The squirrelicorns can help with communication between you on the roof, Claire in the white boat, and Sean, Carina, and Ms. Octavia in the ship, as well as having a few of them stationed with each team. Also, please send Kitten and Fox to see me. I’d like to have Kitten near me, and I want Fox on the ship—but have him check in here first, please.”
Mr. Appleblossom nodded.
Alex went on, though his confidence faltered a bit—he wished he had Florence’s guidance when it came to protecting the mansion. “I’d like Sky and Kaylee armed with your swords and stationed at the entrances to the mansion, at least until we understand what kind of attack we’re dealing with. It’s crucial no enemies get inside. I’ll have those who are choosing not to engage in battle go to the lounge. In case there’s a breach, the lounge will be a hard place for intruders to find since they won’t know what to do with the tubes.