Aaron grew somber. “We haven’t found a way back to your original world, though,” he said, and then he looked down. “I hope you don’t mind that I know the truth. Kaylee figured out where we are. It’s called the Dragon’s Triangle.”
Kaylee nodded, a sad look in her eyes.
Ishibashi pressed his lips together and then spoke to his friends for a moment. “It is as we suspected all these many years,” he said after he told Ito and Sato. “But now that we are no longer stranded by the hurricane, we have renewed hope that we may be able to find a way out. Perhaps we could borrow one of your many extra ships? Ito, Sato, and I would like to take a journey and see what we can find to the north and south.”
Aaron looked up. “And me. Right?”
Ishibashi’s eyes burned into Aaron’s. “Do you wish to abandon this island?”
Aaron held his gaze. After a moment he nodded. “I do.”
Ishibashi smiled and patted Aaron’s arm.
Sato said something to Ishibashi. Ishibashi laughed and translated for him. “Sato wants to know why you would want to leave now that you have found . . . a friend?” He smiled, indicating Kaylee, and Aaron could feel his face heat up.
“I want to go with you,” Kaylee declared. “Even if Aaron doesn’t. I want to find a way home too, if there is one. Will you take me, Ishi? Please? I’m an excellent sailor. Well, I mean, obviously I ended up here, but . . .”
“We ended up here too,” Ishibashi reminded her. “The storms are insurmountable in the Dragon’s Triangle. It is nothing to feel shame for.” He turned to speak to Ito and Sato, and the men nodded emphatically. Turning back to Kaylee, he said, “We would be honored to have your expertise on board our ship. I am sure you will bring us luck.”
Kaylee pumped her fist. “Yes!” she said. And then she realized Aaron was quiet. She looked at him. “Is that okay with you? I mean, I don’t want to intrude. I know you have a special relationship with the scientists, and I know how much you like to be quiet and alone and—”
“I think it would be okay,” said Aaron, feeling suddenly bold. The turmoil in his mind about being the head mage had turned to turmoil of the heart over the proposition of Kaylee being around indefinitely. He definitely preferred this kind. “It might even be nice.”
Kaylee raised an eyebrow. “Dude,” she said. “You have no idea just how, ahem, nice, it’s going to be. Ishi,” she said, looking up, “we have a lot of work to do with this one. Good thing you’re patient.”
Aaron frowned. “What are you trying to say?” But then he thought he knew, and he couldn’t help the silly grin that crossed his face. He leaned to the side and made another bold move, lightly bumping shoulders with Kaylee.
Kaylee looked sidelong at him. “What did you just do there? Are you flirting with me?”
Aaron looked back, suddenly suspicious. “What does that mean?”
Ishibashi laughed loudly and shook his finger at the teenagers. “This is going to be a very interesting trip,” he said.
Proper Paths
While Aaron was catching up with the scientists, Alex abandoned all intentions of rest in favor of savoring his last moments acting as head mage to his people.
It was a decent run, he thought. He’d been a good mage, for the most part. He was happy with his time as their leader, once he’d found his footing, at least. But now they needed someone who could actually fight in a battle. Someone who wouldn’t struggle to cast spells. Someone whose creativity hadn’t been yanked away for good.
Yes, Aaron was the right mage for the job. And his immortality made him the perfect leader for the magical world. With Aaron in place, the island of Quill and Artimé might never have to see another transition of leadership again. There was some relief in that kind of stability.
Once Alex had visited with all the patients, he kept working to keep his mind occupied, scrubbing and cleaning until his good arm felt like rubber. Finally Simber ordered him to take a break and get something to eat. Wearily, Alex decided to listen for once.
? ? ? ?
Aaron’s party eventually broke up to help clean up the lawn. But Aaron had one thing he needed to do first. Tired, but feeling much relieved, he ran up to his room, then went in search of Alex. He found him in the dining room, slumped over a table in the corner away from everyone else, fast asleep. Next to him were the remains of what looked to be a hastily eaten meal. The room was filling up with people eating breakfast, but they were uncharacteristically quiet out of respect for their exhausted mage.
That expression of respect didn’t go unnoticed by Aaron. He gave a sad, crooked smile at the sight of Alex’s limp arm in the sling. His heart broke for his brother and the difficulties he would face learning to work with his new set of circumstances. But Alex was the most creative person Aaron knew. He’d figure it out in time.
Aaron sat down across the table from Alex, hesitating to wake his identical twin. “Identical,” he murmured ruefully. “Not so much anymore.” With Aaron’s permanently scarred forehead and Alex’s useless arm, it was easy to tell the two boys apart now.
“Alex,” Aaron whispered.