Claire and Mr. Appleblossom climbed into neighboring trees near the traditional entrance to Artimé, where the gate had once been. There was no sign of the Quillitary from there.

“I certainly hope we weren’t given false information,” Claire said.

Mr. Appleblossom smiled at his longtime friend. “In ages past we’d climb these trees for fun. What matter is it, if it’s all for none?”

Claire couldn’t help but grin. “You’re right of course, Siggy. There’s nothing to lose by making this a practice run.”

» » « «

The warriors of Artimé bided their time through the slow morning hours, watching, waiting, and listening for the squeals and chugs of the Quillitary vehicles. And just when they thought Liam’s warning was fake, a squirrelicorn darted to Meghan’s side. Meghan signaled to Claire, Claire whispered to a party stationed on the ground, and someone from that party whispered to someone in the next party, and so on and so forth all across the lawn, until someone slipped inside the mansion to alert those inside.

“They’re coming.”

Gondoleery Makes a Move

When Gondoleery finally got around to being curious about the planned attack on Artimé, she left her house and made her way to the palace to see how Aaron was handling things. She heard a loud boom as she walked. The ground shook below her feet. “Stupid wall,” she muttered.

Quillitary vehicles whizzed past her at speeds she’d never seen before. Some headed to the palace, others toward Artimé. Gondoleery sighed. They just didn’t learn. Artimé wasn’t a land of stupid people, and it was a big mistake to treat them as such. They’d be ready for the Quillitary, no doubt.

“Now,” she muttered, “if only I could get everyone in the same place.”

She shoved past the groggy-looking guards at the portcullis and raised a newly redrawn eyebrow at the throng of soldiers who stood alert, guarding the palace.

“What’s happening?” Gondoleery asked, walking up to them.

“We’re safeguarding the palace, Governor. Protecting the high priest from potential attacks.”

Gondoleery snorted. “Well, that’s a relief.” She approached the door. “Let me in,” she said to the soldier standing there.

He hesitated, looked to his superior, who snarled at him, and stepped aside to let her in.

Gondoleery entered and looked around. The entry area was empty. Shrugging, she clumped up the stairs and went down the hall to Aaron’s office. Empty as well. Papers were scattered on the floor. Gondoleery frowned and went in. She scrutinized the papers to see if there was any useful information, and then walked to the window where a statue stood, and peered out. There were soldiers surrounding the palace as far as she could see.

After a minute, Gondoleery left the office and listened at the rickety stairway that led up to Liam’s room, but she could only hear a light snoring sound echoing from the tower. She turned around and went to the conference room, finding the oil press standing alone on the table. Aaron wasn’t there, either. She slunk down the hall to Aaron’s sleeping quarters. The door stood open, and the room was dark.

“Aaron?” Gondoleery called. There was no answer. Where was he?

Gondoleery scratched her head and began to chuckle, just as Liam descended the stairs from his room, yawning.

“Good morning, Gondoleery,” Liam said. “It appears I’ve slept late this morning. Is, ah, is anything new going on in Quill? Or anywhere else?” He’d tossed and turned until very late, finally falling into a hard sleep. Now he fought to hide his anxiety as well as his knowledge of the attack on Artimé, for he didn’t know how much Gondoleery knew about it.

“Oh, there’s something new all right,” Gondoleery said with a laugh. “General Blair has apparently taken great pains to protect the high priest, as you’ll see by the scores of soldiers surrounding the palace. But no one actually bothered to make sure the high priest was inside it before they locked it down.”

Liam frowned. “What? You mean Aaron’s not here?”

“I certainly can’t find him. Have a look for yourself. He’s given them the slip! I didn’t think he had it in him. People are surprising me left and right these days.” She shook her head and laughed again. “Shall we break the news to them, or just let them discover it on their own?”

Liam paled. This wasn’t part of the plan. Where had Aaron gone? The only place he could think of was Artimé, to fight. He was surprised Aaron hadn’t confided this plan to him, and he wondered now if Aaron really did trust him as much as he seemed to. “Are—are you sure?”

Gondoleery shrugged and filed a fingernail on her teeth. “I said have a look yourself—wait, what’s that?” She tilted her head toward the stairwell that led down to the entryway. “Do you hear something?”

There was a faint pounding coming from behind the closed door to the servants’ kitchen. Liam looked at Gondoleery, then ran down the stairs and to the door. He tried opening it, but it was stuck. He slammed up against it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Who’s in there?” he shouted.

The reply was a muffled series of shouts and groans. Liam ran to get something with which to leverage the door, and tried wedging it into the casement. The rotting wood split and the broken door fell open.

Before him, six guards lay gagged and tied.

“Gondoleery!” Liam called. “Come quickly!”