He had no choice in Quill but to obey. He tightened his grip on the twins as first one then the other began to cry. “Shh,” Liam said. He glanced up the steps.

Seeing Liam’s hesitation, the lead guard cleared his throat and approached, followed by two more. “We’ll arrange your ride,” the lead guard said, his voice cold as ice.

Liam whipped his head around at the sound, his eyes wild and panicked.

When the guard opened the door to call for a driver, Liam darted out, twins in tow. He broke through the confused line of Quillitary soldiers and ran across the driveway, half sliding, half hopping down the bank toward the sea, knowing that his wasn’t the only life that depended on his stamina and speed. And hoping against hope that the thundering of footsteps behind him that grew louder by the second would stop . . . or he was never going to make it.

Home at Long Last

They’d spotted Quill at dawn looming large on the horizon, and now it was only a matter of time before Alex and the team would be home. Alex stood with his friends at the bow, the sun warming their backs, their faces to the breeze, thinking about their soft beds and all the wonderful food in the kitchen awaiting them.

“I’m going to collapse in my room and order up everything on the menu,” Samheed said. “I’m glad Ishibashi-san gave us all these fruits and vegetables, but I’m hungry for some real food.”

“Me too,” Lani said. “And ready for home cooking.”

Alex’s stomach growled thinking about it. He could just barely see the top of the mansion reflecting the morning light. But he was anxious, too. “I hope everything’s okay.” He glanced at Simber overhead.

“It seems quiet,” Simber said. “People arrre sitting on the lawn. Earrrlierrr I saw a cloud of dust rrrise up frrrom the farrr side of the island. I’ll bet that was anotherrr chunk of the wall coming down.”

Alex shook his head, trying to imagine Quill without its wall. “What else can you see?”

Simber flapped his wings. “I’m not surrre what to think of this, but at dawn I could see the outline of a pirrrate ship behind us, heading east. We must have passed it durrring the night.”

“Strange,” murmured Alex. “Or maybe not. I’ve never seen another one, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t out here sometimes.”

Simber was quiet for a moment, and then he said, “Look towarrrd Arrrtimé. Tell me if you see something.”

Alex and the others did so.

“There’s a tiny sparkle,” Henry said.

“A bunch of them,” Sky said. “They’re all over the lawn.”

Alex nodded. “I see them too.” He looked up. “What do you think it is, Simber? Can you tell?”

“I’ve been seeing the little glints of light forrr some time, and I think I’ve just figurrred out what they arrre.”

Alex held his hand up to his eyes to protect them from the glare on the water, straining to see Artimé. “What are they?”

“They’rrre glass shields,” Simber said. “The people on the lawn arrre all sitting behind them. We’rrre seeing the sunlight rrreflected off them as we move along.”

Alex leaned forward. “Why would they all be sitting behind—” He stopped short, and then, along with Samheed and Lani, said, “Ohhh.” The three friends looked at each other as the realization came over them.

Samheed looked up at Simber. “What’s going on?”

“I think they arrre expecting company. And not just us.”

Alex’s heart raced. “Do you think Quill is going to attack? Like, now?”

Simber focused intently on the things no one else could see. After a minute, his eyes widened.

“What is it?” Alex asked.

“Therrre’s a steady strrream of dust rrrising frrrom left to rrright on the nearrr side of the island,” Simber said slowly. “The kind of dust a line of vehicles would make if they werrre headed frrrom the Quillitarrry yarrrd towarrrd Arrrtimé.” He looked down at Alex. “I think they’rrre on theirrr way.”

“Alex,” Samheed said. “We have to do something.”

Alex nodded. “I know. I’m thinking.” He looked all around the ship, seeing Florence leaning forward and listening. He ran to her side. “They’re going to need our help. The ship is at full speed—I think I should go ahead with Simber. What do you think?”

“Absolutely,” Florence said. “Take a few others with you—as many as Simber can hold.”

Alex nodded. “Okay. That feels right.” He turned back to the group at the bow and considered his options.

“Samheed, Lani, and Henry, I want you guys to come with me.”

They nodded.

“Everybody else,” Alex said, “hand over whatever spell components you have left. Once you reach the lagoon, Florence will assess the situation and give you instructions, and, Ms. Octavia? I need you to stay on board and guard the ship.”

“Of course,” the octogator said.

The components were gathered into a miserable little heap on the deck. Lani sorted them and handed them out, leaving a few for Ms. Octavia in case the Quillitary decided to attack the ship. Alex arranged his components in his pockets the way he liked them, wishing for ten times the number, then signaled to Simber that he was ready.

Simber dipped a wing. Alex grabbed hold of it and vaulted onto Simber’s back. He scooted forward so Lani, Samheed, and Henry could hop on behind him.