Simber paused for a moment. Everyone was silent, realizing that this was a very different story from the one Fox had told.
“When the mage was finished casting the spell, the kitten’s body warrrmed and she sprrrang to life, mewing instead of talking—in his quest to give Kitten nine lives, Marrrcus forrrgot to grrrant it the ability to speak to humans.” Simber chuckled, his eyes growing misty.
“He was a forrrgetful mage, indeed. But luckily, Kitten could understand Mrrr. Today. He told herrr about the special gift many years ago, but she neverrr had a need to give away the life until today. Which she did, I must add, without a moment’s hesitation.” Simber looked at Lhasa, who had tears in her eyes.
Kitten stood up on Fox’s head and hopped. “Mewmewmew,” she said.
Simber hesitated. “And now she says she is glad to be herrre with you, and she considerrrs you verrry grrreat frrriends.”
“Mewmewmew!”
“She says please don’t die again, Lhasa, because she is afrrraid she has no morrre lives left to give.”
Lhasa smiled, knowing Simber had interpreted perfectly. “I shall keep that in mind and be very careful from now on, dear Kitten.”
“Mewmewmew.”
Simber frowned at Kitten. “Please don’t make me say that.”
Kitten gave Simber a stern look. “Mew. Mew. Mew.”
Simber’s jaw dropped open. “Oh, come on.”
“Mew!”
Simber rolled his eyes. “All rrright.” He sighed, and then mumbled, “She says she is changing herrr name, and would like to be called Kitten LaRrrue, if you please, but only if you want to—it’s totally up to you.”
Palace Discord
Aaron could easily hide his bandaged shoulder under a fresh robe, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. And the pain definitely affected his ability to concentrate and make good decisions. This particular evening he found himself staring out the window at the forty-foot wall where the opening used to be, contemplating the removal of just a block or two, when Secretary came in.
Eva updated Aaron on how Quill had been reacting to his latest address.
“It’s all very favorable,” she said, almost puzzled. “No one is pushing back. It’s like they all really wanted this sort of extreme structure again.”
“It’s not extreme,” Aaron said. “It’s comfortable.”
“Well, whatever you want to call it. They’re welcoming it.”
“Obviously I know what I’m doing.”
Eva sighed. Sometimes Aaron’s arrogance was just a little too much. “Don’t let the power go to your head. You need to take it slow,” she said. “Whatever you’re planning on doing, stop and think a bit first, will you? If you’re going to take over Artimé, be calculated about it. Get everything in order before you start a war.”
Aaron gave her a chilling glance. “I know what I’m doing,” he said again.
She stared at him. He was so naive. “So does Gondoleery,” she blurted out. “Only she’s doing it right. You’d better watch out.”
“Please. Don’t be ridiculous,” Aaron said. “Gondoleery is a crazy old woman who burned off her own eyebrows. She’s not a threat to anybody but herself. Besides, I’m watching her. She’s working for me, after all.”
“Keep thinking like that,” Eva said, fuming. “You’ll get us all killed.”
“Now you’re the one acting crazy,” Aaron said, his voice cold.
Eva stared. “I’m the one trying to help you be more like Justine, but you’re too busy being an ignorant, arrogant child to listen to me.” Eva Fathom turned on her heel and strode out, muttering under her breath.
“You may not speak to me like that!” Aaron yelled after her. “Come back here!” He waited, his face puckered and getting redder by the minute. But she didn’t return.
After a while Aaron went to bed, but he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Secretary infuriated him time and time again—he really didn’t know why he put up with her insolence. She was constantly picking at him. Telling him he was doing things wrong. Trying to take his power away. And now she was insulting him to his face. He’d never quite trusted her, and now he once more questioned his decision to keep her on.
Slowly his anger fizzled and his thoughts turned back to the jungle and the half-formed idea he’d had after his conversation with the rock. Panther would do anything for me. That’s how the rock had made it sound, anyway, and Aaron was eager to test it out. With Quill paying close attention at the moment, maybe it was time to let Artimé get a taste of what was to come.
He couldn’t get the crazy idea out of his mind—let them live in fear for once. Let Artimé see who was in charge on this island, and whom they should be scared of. Because everybody needed to face the truth. Aaron was tired of people not respecting him. His brother had to be taught a lesson. And so did Secretary. He’d show her that her constant undermining was only going to serve as incentive for him to do exactly the opposite of what she told him to do. And he’d be right every time.
By the time he finally drifted off to sleep, Aaron Stowe had hatched a surefire plan that would get him the attention and the respect that he deserved. And Artimé would get the smallest hint of what would become their nightmare.
While Everyone Slept
Before long, Fox and Kitten curled up on Lhasa’s furry side to sleep. Alex dozed off near the fire, and Simber did too, since there was nothing else to do. Florence went out on the claw reef to check on the ship, finding everyone dead asleep, including her detached arm—it didn’t move a muscle. Ms. Octavia would have to reattach it in the morning. In the lagoon she spied the tip of Spike’s spike as the whale floated near the surface, sleeping as well. And then she saw a long tentacle herding a squirming eel’s tail toward the crab’s open mouth. All was good.