Spike traveled the short distance to the patchwork ship, weaving around the bevy of empty boats that floated untethered in the sea.
Alex climbed aboard and looked around at the mess of a ship. It would take weeks to repair the damage inflicted by the pirates. But it was still floating safe and sound, thanks to Florence and Copper’s excellent work rebuilding it on the Island of Shipwrecks—not to mention the preserve spell that covered the exterior from stem to stern.
“You did well, little ship,” Alex said, placing his hand on the mast. “Thank you for your excellent service through the years of battle.”
Alex smiled at himself, a bit sheepish after talking to the ship like it was a person. But it had been his home for a good portion of the past few years, and it had served him and Artimé well. He thought back to the first time he’d seen the ship, whispering nonsensically in the Museum of Large. And he remembered all the journeys it had taken him on. The uncontrollable trip to the Island of Fire, then to the Island of Silence to rescue Samheed and Lani. The first eel attack that left Florence crashing through the deck and disappearing over the side, to rescuing Sky’s mother, Copper. The days of rest and mayhem on the Island of Legends. And then there was the violent trip down the waterfall and around the world; who could ever forget that? And the hurricane . . .
Alex sighed. He was amazed by all that had taken place. Amazed by all he had accomplished since that day in the Commons of Quill when he had been sentenced to die.
Little did Alex know back then that he’d see his brother again. Little did he know that life was just about to begin, and that it hadn’t ended for him, after all. Little did he know, on the bus to the Death Farm, that the blue-eyed girl connected to him by a rusty chain would become his fierce friend. That Samheed, whom Alex never liked in school, would become one of his closest confidants. And that Meghan, Alex’s best friend from early childhood, would die fighting for a land no one in Quill could have dreamed up . . . except for a man named Mr. Today.
“Is everything okay, the Alex?” asked Spike.
Alex pulled out of his reverie and looked over the edge. “It will be,” he said with a languid sigh. “Very soon it will be. I’ll get Captain Ahab.”
“Good, because something seems strange here.”
“Something strange?” Alex almost laughed. “Do you really think so?” He looked around at the twenty-four foreign ships in the water, the Island of Legends sitting off the coast of Artimé, and six water dragons not far from that. Nah. Not strange at all.
Spike circled the ship as Alex gathered up Captain Ahab’s body. Then Alex brought it to the side of the ship where Spike had settled and lowered it over the side, letting it drop gently into the shallow water that covered Spike’s broad back. The whale rose up slightly to ground it.
“Something is not right,” Spike said.
Alex frowned. “Something new, you mean?”
“Yes.”
Alex groaned. “Okay, let me grab the head and we’ll go figure it out.”
“You should come right now,” said Spike.
“Okay. One second.” Alex quickly went to get Captain Ahab’s head. He picked it up and tucked it under his arm, and then hurried back to the side of the ship. He tossed Captain Ahab’s head to Spike, who caught it gently with her tail so it wouldn’t break.
But just as Alex reached for the rope to climb overboard onto Spike’s back, he heard the horribly familiar zing of swords being pulled from their scabbards. He froze for a split second. His heart raced, and without turning around, he lunged for the railing. A second later he was jerked back, choked by the robe around his neck. Somebody was pulling him.
He stumbled and tried to yell as the unknown attacker grabbed him around the chest from behind and pinned his arms down. Soon Alex felt the cool edge of a sword sliding across his neck. Alex closed his eyes and swallowed reflexively, and then he was being turned around.
His eyes flew open. In front of him on the right was Twitch, the pirate captain’s first mate. And on the left was another pirate, a woman he didn’t recognize. Standing directly in front of him was Queen Eagala herself. Alive and well.
Alex’s heart sank.
Eagala folded her hands around the hilt of her sword and held it in front of her, pointing upward, like a prized possession, guarded by her strange, long, curling fingernails that snaked through the air.
Alex opened his mouth to tell Spike to go for help, but Eagala pressed her sword to his lips, silencing him.
In her most sinister voice, she said, “Your creature had better stay still and silent, or I’ll kill you right now.” It was loud enough for Spike to hear, and Spike didn’t move.