by Lisa McMann
“I won’t. Keep my secret, I beg you.”
“You’re putting me in danger,” the driver said, his eyes darting this way and that. “Her greatness ain’t sending people to the Ancients anymore—she kills ’em outright if she don’t like ’em now.”
Alex and Lani looked at one another in alarm.
Liam paled. “Oh dear. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you someday, I promise. But I need your help.”
The driver silently considered the plea. “What ’appened to them babies?” he asked, eyes narrowed.
It took Liam a moment to realize that the driver was talking about Fifer and Thisbe. “They’re safe too. But you must never tell anyone.”
The driver’s face softened. He looked at the ground. “What do you want?”
“Come with me. Just right over here. Only for a moment.” Liam pointed down the embankment to where Alex and Lani were hiding. “Hurry.” He started down the hill and motioned for the driver to follow him.
With a panicked look on his face, the driver hesitated, looked around, and then followed. A moment later, Alex and Lani were face-to-face with the man Lani would soon impersonate.
Alex began sketching at a frantic pace.
“Don’t be afraid,” Liam said. “This is Alex Stowe, not Aaron. Alex is the leader of Artimé, where Secretary . . . well, you know. And this is Lani Haluki.” Liam hesitated as he realized that even after all this time, he didn’t know the driver’s name.
No one noticed, for the driver had started at Lani’s familiar surname. “Haluki?” he asked. “Like the old high priest?”
“He’s my father,” Lani said, holding out her hand. “What is your name?”
The driver looked surprised to be asked such a question, for he was accustomed to answering to “Driver!” most often. He shook her hand. “I’m Sully,” he said, his voice hushed. “Your father was a kind man.”
“He still is,” Lani said. She smiled and, after a moment, removed her hand from Sully’s grasp, all the while studying the man carefully, noting his mannerisms and gestures so she could imitate them properly. The man gazed at her with respect.
Seeing an opportunity, Lani caught Alex’s eye, wondering if he saw it too.
Alex nodded ever so slightly and held back, giving Lani the reins to present their predicament.
“We’ve got a big favor to ask you, Mr. Sully,” Lani began.
“Just Sully,” said Sully.
“Sully,” Lani agreed.
“What is it?” Sully grew fearful again. “I ain’t sure if I can . . . You see, since the ice disappeared, High Priest Gondoleery’s been fuming, and striking people down . . . dead.” He looked at Liam. “Now you—you been good to me too, Governor, but I can’t risk no more trouble for my family. Not with her shooting fireballs this way an’ that wherever her whimsies takes her.”
Alex’s face clouded over, and he stopped sketching. “It sounds even worse than I imagined. What else is Gondoleery doing to the people of Quill?”
“So far it’s just the ones what get in her way,” Sully said. “Palace workers and whatnot. But she’s plotting to do a full sweep of Quill, pretending to ask the people what they are needing, then shooting them down with her magics if they say anything.”
A burst of wind seemed to come from nowhere, sending up a cloud of dirt and nearly knocking Alex and Lani over. Silt rained down on them.
Sully looked fearfully over his shoulder at the upper floor of the palace. “That kind of thing ain’t natural—that wind. It’s her doing,” he said.
Alex and Lani exchanged a serious glance as they righted themselves and shook the dirt from their clothes.
“Sully,” Lani said, taking the man’s hand.
Sully looked at her. “Yes, miss?” He seemed to gain confidence being so close to an offspring of the one good high priest Quill had ever seen.
“We need you,” Lani said earnestly. “We want to overthrow Gondoleery Rattrapp before she hurts anyone else. She’s gone too far.”
Fear sparked in his eyes. “Overthrow?”
“Destroy,” Alex said.
Sully looked at Alex and cringed—the young man looked exactly like Aaron, who was awful. “And then what?” he asked. “You take over the island with your killer beasts and monsters?”
Alex reared back. “Wait. Killer beasts?”
“The one that killed Secretary. We heard all about ’em from Governor Strang. What else do you got in there? No, sir. Nobody here trusts your crazy world full of Unwanteds and monsters.” He said it matter-of-factly.
Liam cringed, and Alex’s pencil froze in his grip. He cast his glance away, looking over the gentle waves of the sea as he recovered from the verbal blow. He knew the man didn’t know any better. But would it always be this way? It would, he decided, until somebody taught them, like Mr. Today had taught him and his friends.
Lani dropped her eyes, but her temper rose. Keeping her voice low, she said, “If the Wanteds are really so intelligent, why can’t they see we’re trying to help them? Aren’t you afraid Gondoleery will take you down next?”
A weary look came over Sully’s face, and he sighed. “I work long days for a little food and water for my family. Every day of our whole lives we live in fear: Will the high priest let me go home today? Or will she find a reason to send me to the Ancients? Now she’s gone even further. But . . . ,” he said, and lost himself in thought for a moment.
“But what?” Lani asked softly.
Sully looked at her. “Sometimes I think the high priest striking me down without warning might be the best thing that could ’appen to me.”
A Proper Disguise
Leaving Liam, Alex, and Lani with nothing to say, Sully wearily climbed up the hill behind the palace and returned to his post. The three stood for a long moment, then soberly picked their way down the hill and walked back to Artimé.
Upon their return, Lani and Alex met with Mr. Appleblossom to give him the drawings and to begin working on Lani’s disguise. She’d use magic to transform her features, and Mr. Appleblossom would help with the costume.
Once the costume making was well under way, Alex returned to the mansion to brood about the state of things. Tugging at his mind was the question Sully had asked following Alex’s announcement about intending to take down Gondoleery. “And then what?” Sully had asked. And indeed, Alex hadn’t thought about that. Would the island become one land or stay separate? Who would be in charge? Perhaps Alex should leave it as it is and put Haluki back in charge of Quill.
“It depends what the people of Quill want,” Alex muttered, but immediately he knew that was more difficult than it sounded, because the people of Quill didn’t know how to make decisions. They’d been trained to have no opinion. They didn’t know what they wanted. They only knew what was familiar. And he doubted his own ability to motivate them in any way, especially after what Sully had said about nobody trusting the people of Artimé.
» » « «
A few days later, as Alex studied the pile of books he’d selected from the Museum of Large’s library, trying to find the most deadly spell possible, he heard a noise. He turned to look, and gasped.
“Sully,” he said, alarmed, wondering how the man had found his way into the somewhat secret hallway. But then his surprise faded, and he grinned. “Lani, I sure hope that’s you!”
“It is,” she said in Sully’s voice. “Hope you don’t mind me leaving the 3-D doorway up so I can get up here. How do you like it?”
“It’s good!” Alex said. “Even your voice. How did you do it?”
“Concentration, imagination, and a little help from Mr. Appleblossom’s junk drawer,” she said mysteriously. “Not sure how long I can hold it—I’m figuring that part out now. It seems easy enough as long as I concentrate and stay in character, though. No ten-minute limit on this spell.”
“It’s really weird seeing you like this,” Alex admitted. “You’ve even got his little eye twitch down.”
�
�You think it’s close enough?”
“Definitely,” Alex said. “How are the others coming along?”
“Their costumes are ready. Just waiting on the plan of attack.”
Alex nodded. “I’ve been studying some of Mr. Today’s books. Found a journal here that’s fascinating, but he wasn’t into deadly spells until our group of Unwanteds showed up, I guess.” Alex frowned. “He didn’t seem to be too worried about Artimé being discovered until I came along.”
“We know you wrecked it for all of us,” Lani teased.
Alex didn’t smile. He would never quite get over the fact that it was his fault the fighting had happened in the first place. And while he tried to push past the guilt as Mr. Today had told him to do, it still hung there in the back of his mind. He sighed. “Anyway . . .”
Lani, still disguised as Sully, gave a crooked smile. “Anyway,” she agreed. “Look forward, Al. Here’s your chance to create a surefire spell just to destroy Gondoleery.”
Alex nodded and closed the book he’d been reading. “You’re right. And I think I have just the thing in mind that will do the job.”
Lani rubbed her man hands together. “What is it?”
But Alex only smiled. “You’ll see,” he said. “But I want you to know I got the idea for it from you.”
One of a Kind
Later that day, Sky found Alex standing barefoot on the beach, staring at the sand and occasionally moving his feet through it. “What are you looking for?” Sky asked. “Did you lose something?”
Alex looked up, his heart quickening at her unmistakable voice. She had her long hair piled on top of her head, the natural highlights like thin rays of sunlight bursting from a knot there. Her light brown skin drank up the sun, and her orange eyes sparkled despite Sky’s earnest intentions to help him find whatever he was looking for.
“I found it now, thanks,” Alex said, looking at her, and then blushing because he sounded ridiculous. He hastened to say something less stupid. “Where’ve you been? I’ve hardly seen you in days.”
“I’ve been learning my way around Quill and practicing being a person from there,” Sky said. “What a horrid place. Mr. Appleblossom has been helping me. He even made a pair of disguise eyes to cover up my orange ones.”
Alex smiled sadly. “I hate that you have to cover up your eyes, even for one day.” He reached out and ran his thumb over her bare shoulder.
She smiled back at him. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic about it.” She put her arms out and pulled him into a friendly hug.
Alex laughed, surprised that she would hug him, as it had been a while since she’d acted so friendly. He relaxed into her, resting the side of his face against the side of hers, and closed his eyes, his heart longing for something he couldn’t describe. He knew that whatever it was, he didn’t have it. But this was close. He slid his hands around her waist and held her, and they stood together like that for a long moment.
Alex wished he had a clue about what might be on Sky’s mind. He could smell her skin, tropical and sweet, like pineapples and coconut. Without thinking, he pressed his lips against the curve of her neck.
Sky stiffened. “Alex,” she whispered.
It brought him around. Hastily he pulled away and stepped back. “I’m sorry.”
She looked at him, brow furrowed, and her lips twitched. Alex thought he saw longing in her eyes, or maybe that was just what he hoped to see. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he knew she was not going to give in and let him, or kiss him back. Alex had caused their breakup, and if he ever wanted the chance to kiss her again, he’d have to first figure out how to lead a nation without messing it up, while having successfully deepening relationships at the same time. And then convince Sky that he’d succeeded in doing it.
Unfortunately, at this moment Alex had a crucial spell to create, and he couldn’t afford to make a mistake. He dropped his gaze and focused on the sand once more. “I was actually looking for a small stone,” he said gruffly, and cleared his throat. “Just the right kind of stone, the kind that you can see through as if it’s glass. I’ve seen a few in the past, which made me think it would be perfect for . . . for something, but there aren’t very many of these particular stones, and they’re hard to find. Because they’re clear, I mean.”
Sky, grateful for the distraction, walked a few steps away and began sifting through the sand with her toes. “What’s it for?” she asked.
“A spell component.”
“A new one?”
“Yes.”
Sky glanced at him. “Is it for Gondoleery?”
“Yes.” Alex didn’t say more. It was going to be the most formidable spell he’d ever created, and he was already deep in thought over how to do it just right.
After several minutes of searching in silence, Sky spied something sparkling in the sunlight. She picked it up and examined it, squinting at it. “I think I found one,” she said.
Alex looked up eagerly and hurried to Sky’s side to take a closer look. She dropped it into Alex’s open hand. “Is this the kind you mean?” she asked.
“That’s it!” Alex said, peering at it. “Thank you. It’s the perfect component for the spell I have in mind.”
“Do you need a few more?” Sky asked, raking her toes through the sand once more. “Since you’re putting all this work into creating a new spell, I mean. Seems a shame to make just one. What if you misplace it?”
Alex thought about how he’d feel if he lost such an important and deadly item and shook his head. “If I misplace this component, I’m not fit to run Artimé,” he said in earnest. “It’ll be extremely dangerous if it gets into the wrong hands.” He pinched the stone between his thumb and forefinger and slid it carefully into his robe pocket for safekeeping.
Sky tilted her head. “Well, then. If you’re sure.”
“Yes,” he said decisively. “I’m sure. I don’t want any more of these things to exist. Ever.” He gave a resolute nod. “I’ll have this ready by tonight. Tomorrow we’ll put our plan in action. I’ll alert Charlie. Can you let the others know?”
Sky nodded. “We’ll be ready.” She reached out to give his arm a squeeze, then stopped and instead dropped her hand to her side. “Good luck,” she said with a half smile.
“Thanks. And . . . I’m sorry about before.” He held out his hand in friendship, and awkwardly Sky shook it.
The two walked to the mansion together. Inside at the foot of the staircase they parted ways: Sky continuing on to the tubes, and Alex ascending the steps to the upper level, where he would attempt to fill the tiny glass spell component with the darkest, deadliest magic he had ever tried to create.
» » « «
In the morning, the team assembled. Alex left his colorful robe with Claire so he wouldn’t stand out, and wore a component vest dyed gray to blend in with the clothing colors of Quill. He carried his typical arsenal of spell components in his vest in case he ran into trouble with the palace guards, along with the small bit of glass that sat alone in one pocket. He tied his hair back and wore a brimmed hat so he wouldn’t be easily recognized or mistaken for Aaron as he lurked around the palace.
Lani still looked like herself but wore a driver’s uniform that was way too big for her, having decided that if things moved quickly, she didn’t want to have to take the time to change into it. She loosely pinned up the fabric so she could walk properly.
Alex tried not to worry too much about Lani, but he couldn’t help it after what had happened to Meghan. “Are you sure you can do this?” he asked.
“Yep,” said Lani. “I’m still sure. Just like the last time you asked.”
Samheed, Carina, and Sky were dressed in the gray, threadbare clothing of the Necessaries. In the colorful world of Artimé they looked eerily out of place, like refugees from Quill. Carina and Samheed hid components wherever they could find space in their clothing, while Sky declared she preferred fighting her way, with her wits and her fists, if the incident called for it. And Cha
rlie, who was already communicating with Matilda, wore nothing, as usual, and awaited the signal that would tell the Artiméans that Gondoleery was planning to go out.
“Everybody ready?” Alex asked, offering approving glances at each member of his team. “I sent instructions to your blackboards this morning. Are we clear on the plan?”
They all nodded.
Samheed took a step forward. “I’ve been working on something for you,” he said, and held out a handful of strange-looking scatterclips to Alex. “I call them stickyclips,” he said. “I just perfected them last night using some of that rubber cement stuff we got from Ishibashi’s island. Thought they might come in handy at the palace, Al. You just throw them like scatterclips, but instead of them sending your enemy flying backward and pinning him to the nearest solid object, these will actually hit your target and pull him directly to you wherever you are. That way you can do whatever you need to do to him while remaining out of sight.”
“Great thinking, Samheed,” Alex said, taking the clips and looking them over. “These are excellent. Thanks.” He secured them inside his bulging vest pocket and looked up. “Okay, it’s time to go. Lani, you and I will head out along the shore with Charlie. Sam, Sky, and Carina, you’ll go to the desolate area as discussed, and take your places. Have components ready, but remember—you’re Necessaries in trouble, waving down the vehicle, and you don’t know how to do magic. Don’t fire any spells if you don’t have to, or Gondoleery will know something’s up.”
“Got it,” Carina said.
Samheed echoed her. “Got it.”
Sky shoved her hands into her empty pockets and nodded.
Alex continued. “If all goes according to plan, I’ll pull Sully out, Lani will replace him, and once Lani’s safely on the move with Gondoleery, Charlie and I will sneak around to Haluki’s, take the tube back here, and meet you guys in the desolate area well before Lani gets there with Gondoleery. I’ll be ready with the special spell.” He patted the nearly empty pocket of his vest. “She won’t know what hit her.”
“What’s the spell called?” Samheed asked.