Island of Graves Read Online Free PDF Page B

asked. The numb feeling inside him was still there when he thought of his own dead parents.
    â€œThey didn’t really react at all. It’s just the kind of behavior you’d expect from people in Quill,” Sean said. “It’s maddening, but I shouldn’t have thought it would go any differently.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Alex swallowed hard. “I miss Meg, more than I know how to say. It’s a loss I don’t understand no matter how hard I try.”
    Samheed stared at the floor, eyes full of pain, but he didn’t speak. She’d died saving him. Lani reached out and rested her arm around his broad shoulders.
    â€œWe all miss her,” Lani said. “She was terribly brave. Braver than anyone I know.”
    Others murmured or nodded, and a few wiped away tears. Simber remained still, head bowed.
    â€œShe died protecting Artimé,” Alex said. After a moment, he sniffed hard and cleared his throat, and went on. “I invited you all here because I want to make sure we are doing everything we can to continue protecting Artimé.”
    He told them about his conversation with Liam and what little information he’d gathered about Gondoleery Rattrapp. “No one seems to know much about her,” he said. “We need to change that.” He looked at the team before him, all smart and competent. “And . . . I think we’re doing something wrong.”
    Eyes around the room met Alex’s. “What are we doing wrong?” Carina asked.
    Alex looked at her. “We’re waiting to be attacked again.”
    The group was silent, either puzzled or contemplating.
    The head mage hopped off the corner of the desk and elaborated. “Mr. Today taught us not to fight unless it’s to protect ourselves. And I still believe his method is the right one. However, each time after we’ve been attacked, we work on defense so that when the next attack comes, we can handle it.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?” Claire asked, sitting up in her chair. “We should keep working on that.”
    â€œI agree,” said Alex, “but that’s not the only thing we should be doing. High Priest Gondoleery has made her intentions known. She told us clearly that she intends to take over Artimé. And she has attacked us, with ice. Isn’t that enough? Are we going to wait for her to get stronger and attack us again? I don’t think this was what Mr. Today had in mind. So let’s start with this, like we’ve always said: We will not be taken without a fight. True enough? Can we all agree on that?”
    Everyone nodded or voiced their agreement except Claire, whose face was concerned, but she continued to listen quietly to see where Alex was headed with this.
    â€œGood,” Alex said. “And do we all agree that Gondoleeryhas attacked us with ice, thus starting our next battle already?”
    A few in the group frowned along with Claire, but eventually they agreed once more.
    â€œSo,” Alex said, “by Mr. Today’s method, do we have grounds to retaliate?”
    Almost everyone eventually came to the same conclusion. “Yes we do, Alex,” Florence said, speaking as the head warrior trainer.
    â€œI’m not so sure about this,” Claire said under her breath.
    Alex didn’t hear her. “I agree, Florence,” he said. “I believe it’s time to switch things up and go on the offensive, friends. And I think we must do it now, or we will soon find ourselves mourning dozens and dozens more deaths. It’s frightening, and I can’t stand the thought of it. Frankly, I’m quite scared of losing more of you , my friends and advisors.”
    Simber lifted his head. “What exactly do you prrropose we do, Alex?”
    Alex looked around the room and took a deep breath. “I propose we take Gondoleery out and end the attacks for good.”
    Claire lifted her head,