Meghan joined him. “I’m so glad you’re here—I thought you did something stupid,” she whispered. She eyed the cheetah nervously. “And I’m really glad he’s on our side.”

Simber growled. “I can hearrr you, Rrrangerrr.”

They were soon joined by three others: a young man named Peter, an older woman named Pauline, and a rather large white squirrelicorn named Rufus.

Across the lawn he saw Samheed and Lani under the leadership of Arija the girrino. He waved, and watched Lani’s anxious face relax. She ran over to him, pressed a note in his hand, and said, “What was up with that report about you?” Alex just shrugged and shook his head. Lani glanced back at Arija and ran back to her post.

Alex caught Samheed’s eye. Samheed had a strained look on his face. He nodded slightly to Alex, and then he dropped his gaze.

“I wonder if he knows about Will,” Alex whispered under his breath. “And if he’s really on our side.”

“He knows now,” growled Simber. “As for the otherrr, I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

Alex startled. “I’ve got to start remembering that you can see and hear so well,” he said.

The great cheetah chuckled under his breath. “I prrreferrr knowing what you’rrre up to, Stowe.”

At that moment Mr. Today and Claire Morning appeared on the rooftop of the mansion. Claire clapped her hands for order, and all in front turned to hush those behind and direct their attention to the leaders. “Commanders, please give your orders and take your stations. The Quillitary is in sight.”

Alex and Meghan gulped simultaneously and exchanged a nervous glance. Alex quickly peeked at the note from Lani. It read, Die a thousand deaths. He looked up, alarmed, and searched for Lani, but she was nowhere to be found. What a horrible thing to say, he thought, shoving the note in his pocket. I thought she was over being immature.

He straightened his vest, going over the various components one more time, even though he knew their locations by heart. Peter and Pauline whispered together. Rufus rose up on his haunches as Simber faced them.

“Ourrr squad was specially designed to complement one anotherrr,” he began. “Rrrufus is agile. He can both climb and fly. His eyesight is trrremendous, as is his bite and skewerrr.” Simber indicated the squirrelicorn’s foot-long horn, which grew from between his little squirrel ears. “Pauline was a theaterrr focus, Peterrr’s a wrrriting instrrructorrr, Meghan is a musician, and Alex is a painterrr.” He paused, and said wryly, “And in case you didn’t notice, I’m an enorrrmous stone cheetah with wings. I come with a majorrr drrrawback—I am not easy to hide. Therrreforrre ourrr squad will be an open, moving tarrrget. But ourrr combined skills should overrrcome most obstacles.

“Please follow my instrrructions at all times, especially when we face combat. Trrrust my orrrders. Frrrom my vantage point I can see much farrrtherrr than you. And because of my experrrience as a prrredator you should trrrust my instincts. Any questions?” He looked at the five who faced him. None had questions.

“All rrright. We’rrre the frrront line stationed at the rrroad. In Quill.” Simber turned and walked toward the opening in the wall.

The front line! A chill of fear moved through Alex as they approached the place where the gate once stood. It had been one thing to go from Mr. Today’s office into Aaron’s dormitory room, but it was quite another to face this ominous, fateful entrance again after nearly a year, and then to stand outside it and take the brunt of the attack—it was completely nerve-wracking.

Simber held his head high as he walked nobly, like a prince, through the wide opening. Mr. Today, who now stood at the entrance, murmured words of protection on each of their component vests as they passed through into the bleakness of Quill. “The words of protection will last the entire day. Please don’t take your vests off—they will help keep you safe.” The man put his hand on Alex’s arm and whispered, “Do you remember the command I used for the glass wall?”

Alex, whose heart was pounding by now, nodded.

“You are capable of casting that, Alex. You are capable of a lot of things. Just be aware that it will shatter if it’s struck hard enough, so it’s not permanent. Above all, have confidence in yourself, and you will succeed. Control your emotions, and you will hit every time.”

“Yes, sir,” Alex whispered, feeling confidence from the pep talk. He nodded and followed Simber onto the dusty road to stand and wait for the Quillitary vehicles. There was nothing in this desolate part of Quill that could be used for cover except for a few scattered posts that held up the barbed-wire ceiling. Alex breathed in the stifling air of Quill, his eyes darting around, feeling very exposed.

Other squads lined up behind and alongside Simber’s, and soon there were over a hundred defenders in place inside Quill, ready to face the oncoming Quillitary. Alex could hear the other squads behind him talking through their plans. The majority of the defenders remained in Artimé, spread out to protect the mansion, hidden behind the lush foliage, and grouped under cover along the edge of the jungle. It would be easier to fight in Artimé, where the Quillitary would be in unfamiliar territory and so shocked at the sight that they would have a disadvantage.

Soon the squealing and squeaking vehicles could be heard. Alex and Meghan stood tall, trying to catch the first glimpse, almost like little eager children of Artimé who could hear a marching band but not yet see the approaching parade.