Island of Dragons (Unwanteds #7)(53)

Alex frowned and thought it through. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I’d like you to do that—at least at first.”

Sky nodded. “Good. I can’t stand being stuck in here. Kaylee’s going crazy too.”

“I’m sorry—I’m not really sure what Florence usually does as far as protecting the mansion. I’ve always been outside. I wish . . .” Alex shook his head. “Never mind.” He’d wished for Florence enough times already, but wishes wouldn’t bring her back. He needed to figure out how to do this without her.

Sky smiled sympathetically and went outside, and Alex jogged to the back door of the mansion by the kitchen and told Kaylee about the change in plans.

“Thank goodness,” said Kaylee, heading out. “I mean, I know it’s crucial nobody gets inside the mansion, but it feels like prison being stuck in here when all we want to do is fight.”

“I need you to stay alive,” said Alex, “so if it gets too dangerous, please go back inside.”

“It’s a deal,” said Kaylee. She drew her sword and lashed it through the air a few times as Alex went back into the mansion. He looked in the hospital ward where Yazmin lay sleeping and found a nurse.

“What do you normally do in here when we’re in battle?” he asked. “Do you have a way to protect this room in case our enemies get inside?”

The nurse nodded. “We can close the doors and use a magical lock on them if we ever feel we’re in danger,” he said. “Henry came up with it and taught us all. He’s not back yet, is he?”

“No,” said Alex.

“I hope he comes back soon.”

“So do I.”

Alex left the hospital ward and went outside to the shore in front of the mansion where Simber stood.

“I guess you and I will have to work together this time, eh, Sim?” said Alex. “Can you stand it?”

“If I have to,” Simber drawled. “I’ve got my team on the west side of the mansion, and I told yourrr team to stay on the east side and coverrr the lawn up to the jungle. Does that sound rrright?”

“It sounds sparse,” said Alex. Usually the whole lawn was covered with warriors.

“Mrrr. Appleblossom’s team is therrre too.”

“Well, that helps. Where is Mr. A?”

“Alrrready stationed on the rrroof. We left his team on the grrround since they arrren’t as adept with theirrr footing as Siggy is.”

Alex looked up and spotted the man moving up and down the peaks of the roof without a moment’s hesitation. Mr. Appleblossom climbed to the tallest peak and called out to the three teams in the area. “It won’t be long before we see the start. The wind is on their side—be still my heart.”

“You are among the finest and bravest, Mr. Appleblossom!” Alex called back to him, remembering how the theater instructor had so nimbly saved Samheed from the boy’s own father in their first battle. “Are you afraid?” Alex asked him. The question was sincere, for Alex truly wanted to know.

Mr. Appleblossom looked down at Alex and said slowly, “I am afraid. It’s true—this scene is stark. No greater enemy have we than this. We must go forward with a blinded faith that we will see the end of the abyss.”

Alex gave Mr. Appleblossom a long, thoughtful look. The abyss. He hadn’t thought of the years of constant battles as an abyss, but once the man said it, Alex could see it that way. Something to cross. Something that stood in the way of their ultimate goal for peace. The chance to end it all lay in their abilities and actions today, and the enemy was much larger than any they’d fought before.

“We win or die today,” Alex said, more to himself than to anyone, but several Artiméans heard him and repeated the phrase to those around them. As the ships grew near, the island rippled with the words of their leader. “We win or die today.”

? ? ? ?

When the phrase reached Aaron near the lighthouse, it meant something completely different to him. “I guess I can only win,” he said grimly to himself. The gravity and fear of the war was combatting his desire for power and leadership, but it didn’t disappear. His heart was with the people of this island—all of them. And he would fight his hardest against the enemy, and against the thoughts that continued to work their way around his brain. Still, now and then he imagined what life might be like with him in charge, once all this was over.

To reach that, Alex would have to die, or at least become incapacitated. There certainly had been a time when Aaron had wished for this, but no longer. As he watched the ships grow close, Aaron clenched his jaw, trying to rid the thoughts from his mind. He didn’t have time for them now. He needed to focus and lead. “Applecorn,” he muttered. “Make Ishibashi proud.”

He turned to his team, somewhat larger than the other teams because of the recruiting Aaron had done in Quill that morning. “Stand ready, soldiers!” he said to them. “Pay no regard to me if I fall in battle. Our ultimate loyalty is to the mansion. To our island as a whole. And to . . . to the head mage. Don’t fail me in this. Quill and Artimé are one! Do you understand?”

The assorted group nodded.

“Then take your places,” commanded Aaron.

They did so.

Oh, how good it felt to be in charge of something once more.