Aaron looked down. “I didn’t mean to upset anyone,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
Alex sighed. “No, it’s all right.” But something in the conversation wouldn’t leave him alone. When he’d listed all of Aaron’s seemingly effortless feats of magic like that, he’d realized the increasingly broadening scope of things Aaron could do. And it was beginning to dawn on him that perhaps Aaron was actually much more magical than anyone knew . . . more magical than Alex was. The thought made Alex’s insides hurt a little. He shifted, adjusting the robe that fastened at his neck.
The group grew silent again.
After a while, Aaron excused himself and went inside the mansion, past Simber and up the staircase to the balcony. He entered the not secret hallway and walked to the end of it, then turned into the kitchenette and got inside the tube. He pushed all the buttons at once and found himself in the jungle.
He sucked in a deep breath of the familiar, musky jungle scent, and let it out. Panther bounded over and screamed in his face, and the rock rumbled and rolled into sight.
“Panther has been very anxious to play stay and attack with you again,” said the rock in its deep voice. “None of us have heard the end of it.”
“Is that right?” Aaron smiled, and his shoulders relaxed. “I can help with that.” He picked up a stretch of vine and began shaping it into a spider. It was good to be with friends.
The Big Map
As the afternoon wore on, Lani and Kaylee went off to the library together to look for maps, and Samheed left to talk with Mr. Appleblossom about a play he’d started writing. Alex and Sky stayed in the grass, lying on their backs and watching a wisp of a cloud pass by slowly overhead. They hadn’t had much time alone together in months.
But Alex was distracted, bothered at first by the conversation with Aaron, but then his thoughts turned sharply back to the looming situation with Karkinos. “I hope Henry’s all right,” he said. “Maybe I should have gone with them.”
Sky stared at him. “Alex, please. Florence is there. Who could possibly offer more protection than Florence?”
“She’s great as long as she doesn’t get snagged by an eel. Did you hear? Multiple eels in these waters, according to the ruler of the sea.”
Sky smiled. “That’s such a great title,” she said. “Ruler of the sea.”
“It’s even greater when Spike says it,” said Alex.
“Spike is a seriously awesome creature. You really did a good job with her. I’m glad Pan is there to help her and the other sea creatures.”
“Sounds like Pan has got as many problems as we do,” said Alex, “with those eels working for the pirates and capturing her people.”
“Her people?”
Alex laughed and rolled on his side toward Sky. “Her sea people. Creatures.”
“People of the sea,” said Sky, rolling to face Alex.
They shared a kiss.
“I’m really liking this whole peace thing,” Alex said, lightly bumping his forehead against hers. “And having time to be with you.”
“Me too,” said Sky. “Both of those. And mostly I’m glad you stopped being ridiculous about us being together.”
“I am dumb; you are smart,” said Alex with a laugh. “At least I’m learning.”
Sky grinned. “At least there’s that,” she agreed.
They spent hours being lazy, then went to the dining room for a snack. There they found Lani and Kaylee standing over a large map that they had spread out over one of the tables.
Lani looked up excitedly. “Kaylee found this map up on the third floor of the library—she said her land of America is on it! Come over here and see.”
Alex and Sky exchanged quizzical glances and hurried over.
“This map is huge,” said Alex. “Look at all the land.”
“And the water,” said Sky. “Where is your America, Kaylee?”
“That’s it,” Kaylee said wistfully. She outlined a portion of land on the left half of the enormous map. “It’s this section of the continent of North America, called the United States.” She moved her finger to the right. “And I live here, along the east coast.”
“Is that where you ran into the hurricane?” Sky asked.
“Oh no,” said Kaylee. “I was far from home. You see,” she said, “I’m not sure if you know this, but the world is like a ball. This side of the map connects to the other side. It’s just lying flat on this paper.”
“Okay,” Lani said, sounding skeptical.
“I was in a race—a solo race around the world,” said Kaylee. “All the water in the word is connected, you see. It’s kind of like sailing from island to island here, only on a much larger scale.