After a minute, Aaron opened his drawer, picked up the two heart attack spells, and put them in his pocket. He stood up and went to the window, wondering if anyone was hanging around the driveway. When he saw it was clear, he headed out of the palace, down the driveway, and past the guards at the portcullis, where a short line of Wanteds waited to tattle on their neighbors to the new governors in exchange for food. Aaron slowed, thanking them for coming to share their concerns or information. “You’re making Quill a safer place to be,” he said. He continued on down the road.
As Eva Fathom went outside to call in the next visitors, she saw Aaron in the distance turning down the governors’ road. “Now what’s he up to?” she muttered.
She went back inside and looked around Aaron’s desk, checking the drawers. “He took the heart attack spells? Whatever for?” She looked up toward the closet and called out in a soft voice, “Matilda.”
The gargoyle peeked out.
“Has Aaron been seen in Artimé?”
Matilda shook her head.
Eva frowned, then walked over to the gargoyle. She retied the bow around her horn and wiped some dust from her shoulders. “Poor thing, stuck in here all this time without Charlie. Are you holding up all right?”
Matilda smiled and nodded.
“I suppose it’s a bit easier for statues,” Eva admitted. “Anyway, tell Charlie that if Aaron shows up in Artimé today, to beware that he’s got heart attack spells in his pocket.”
Matilda nodded once more and climbed back into the box in the closet where Aaron had dumped her and forgotten her long ago.
» » « «
Arriving in the jungle once more, Aaron stepped out of the tube. He didn’t see anyone at first, but soon he could just barely feel the earth vibrate below his feet, and when he turned, the enormous rock was right there. Aaron sucked in a startled breath. The rock’s ability to sneak up on him was uncanny.
“Hello,” Aaron said.
“Welcome back,” the rock replied in his soft, rumbling voice. “I’m surprised to see you so soon.” He seemed pleased.
Aaron smiled. “I wanted to make sure Panther was all right.”
“She’s fine.”
Aaron started walking, venturing into the jungle down an obvious path that was just wide enough to fit an enormous moving rock. “And how are you?”
“I—I suppose I’m well too.” He moved along with Aaron. “Would you like a tour?”
“I think I have time,” Aaron said. He was dying for a tour, but he didn’t want to seem too eager.
“Stay close to me, or your life could be in danger,” the rock said.
“I will,” Aaron said. “But won’t everyone out here obey me?”
“Not everyone.”
“Not even if you tell them I’m the new head mage?”
“No.”
Aaron pursed his lips. He didn’t like hearing that. He fingered the heart attack spells in his pocket, which he’d brought along for protection even though he hadn’t thought he’d actually have to use them. Now he wasn’t so sure. “This really is a dangerous job, isn’t it?”
The rock seemed to nod. “This path,” he said, “leads into the deepest, thickest part of the jungle, where no light can penetrate. The scorpion lives at the end of the path in a pitch-black cave of branches and vines.” He paused. “Don’t worry. We won’t be going that far.”
Aaron slowed. “Um, we could turn around now if you like.”
“In a moment. Just ahead is where Dog lives.” The rock pulled up to a small hollow in a large tree.
Aaron looked inside. He didn’t see anything. Then slowly the outline of the dog appeared—it had blended in with the rich brown background of bark and dirt. The dog looked peaceful, sleeping there. But Aaron still had the teeth-size scabs on his arm to prove otherwise.
The little dog opened one eye, saw Aaron, and jumped to his feet. His tail wagged. Aaron stepped back, but the dog didn’t attack. He barked a few times.
“Hello again,” Aaron said. “Just passing through. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
The dog’s pointy teeth gleamed. He barked again.
“He’s happy to see you,” said the rock.
“Oh,” Aaron said. “That’s nice.” He waved, and then felt stupid about waving, so he folded his arms over his chest. He really had no idea how to communicate with animals. Or . . . statues. Or people, for that matter.
Aaron and the rock said good-bye to the dog and went back the way they’d come, toward the tube. When they reached the clearing, the rock switched directions and headed down another path.
“Where does this one lead?”
“This leads around the outside of the east wall of Quill. The only other way to access that end of the jungle from Quill is through the secret passage.”
Aaron stopped in his tracks. “The . . . what?”
“Marcus didn’t tell you about that either?” the rock thundered.
“No.”
“Well.” The rock stopped moving. “I’m sure he’s blocked it off by now. He always meant to.” He stayed still. “There’s not much down there, anyway.” Abruptly the rock turned, nearly running over Aaron’s toes to get to the clearing once more and travel down a third path.
“This is the way to Artimé. It’s quite a long walk. My path takes you as far as a stream. You’d have to cross the stream and travel quite a distance to go the rest of the way.”