The Reluctant Wizard: The Reluctant Wizard, #1

By A. A. Warne

By day, wizards rule the world. At night, warlocks seek to destroy it. Now, one boy will challenge them both. 

 

Eli never wanted to be a rebel. Stuck in a ongoing war between the wizards and the warlocks, the community often went hungry, homeless and helpless, and Eli wants to put a stop to that.

 

Traveling to the wizardry academy —Terra Magicae— Eli finds himself in the mysterious land of the wizards. Full of lush landscapes and magical marvels, Terra Magicae is more wondrous than he could ever imagine… and more dangerous.

 

At first, his struggles to fit in seem ordinary. But the more he questions the wizards, the more he suspects a sinister purpose behind their bizarre rules and tests. For a dark secret lies at the heart of this mystical land, one so terrible it threatens not only the students at the Academy but the lives of everyone Eli loves.

 

To save them all, Eli must step into the midst of the battle between the wizards and warlocks and defy both sides. He must become the rebel he was always meant to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. A. Warne
• Release date: Aug 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9780648525387

A. A. Warne

A. A. Warne writes elaborate, strange, dark, and twisted stories. In other words, speculative fiction.Located at the bottom of the Blue Mountains in Sydney, Australia, Amanda was born an artist and grew up a painter before deciding to study pottery. But it wasn't until she found the art of the written word that her universe expanded.A graduate of Western Sydney University in Arts, Amanda now spends her time wrestling three kids and writing full time.

Book preview

Prologue

Eli held his one-week-old brother, Algi, in his arms and pressed him against his chest. The wind lashed at them as they stood on top of the dark green mountain. Gloomy clouds hung low, casting shadows in the fading light. The sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon.

Eli’s mother Lili stood beside him with her face buried in her hands. She hadn’t stopped crying since it had happened.

Uncle Izæc placed a hand on Eli’s shoulder. Your father will always be proud of you, he said.

Eli wanted to believe him, but grief was still too raw in his heart.

The mountain in front of them had collapsed only four days ago. They stood on a flattened ledge, the only place that had been deemed safe. Wizards surrounded the family, ready to cast shielding spells if the ground shifted, but Eli paid no attention to them. Instead he searched the rubble for any signs of life. 

His father had built the mine beneath the mountain. It was strong enough to hold a city, he had often said. But now Eli stood in the freezing wind, hoping it was strong enough to hold a collapsed mountain. 

A wizard with long, gray hair and round glasses stepped forward. She held out a white flower and passed it to his mother.

As Lili touched the stem, a bright silver glow laced the edge of each petal. Bending over, she gently placed it on the grass.

Eli turned his back, tears in his eyes. He felt his mother’s pain, sensed it like his own. That was one of his gifts, but at a time like this, it seemed more like a curse. He looked down at his sleeping brother and hoped Algi would never know such pain. Then his gaze swept down the mountain and across the city below. Mighty gates stood in the center of the wall surrounding Terra Magicae, which looked like a small circle from this distance. The city itself spread out from the wall in all directions, while out on the far edge, where the dry desert bordered the mountains, Eli saw his home. 

Would you like a flower, dear? The soft-voiced wizard stepped closer. 

No, thank you, he whispered. 

Very well. She stepped away, then turned and looked toward the city as well. She lifted one arm into the air. 

The city lit up, one small light after another. 

Look. Eli tugged at his mother’s shirt. She turned to stare. 

The streets filled with people, each one holding a candle to honor the dead. The tiny flames illuminated the entire city. 

It’s beautiful, she whispered. And it was. But Eli wished he had never seen those lights. More than anything else, he wanted his father back.

Chapter One

Standing in front of the Grand Wizardry Gates, Eli looked up. Twisted wrought iron surrounded chunks of different metals ranging from bronze to silver. Many designs twined together, but one stood out the most: a black, winged horse perched on a ledge with its back to a group of men fighting each other with spears. Studying it closer, Eli noticed the small details were easily hidden in the large structure. He craned his neck to see the top, but the gates seemed to stretch as tall as the sky. 

Knock and speak my truth, he reminded himself, but his feet seemed stuck on the brick road. He repeated the command several times in his mind.

Knock, Eli!

He couldn’t bring himself to step forward. His father’s voice crossed his mind, a distant memory he couldn’t ignore. No one ever comes back from Terra Magicae, Eli.

He had been told so many times never to knock on this door, but now he faced the gates, trying to work up the nerve to do that very thing. He squeezed his hands into sweaty fists.

Why won’t you just knock? He held his breath. 

The ruckus behind him shook him out of his negative thoughts, and he turned to stare. Merchants and traders filled the courtyard, hundreds of them yelling at one another as they held up their goods. All sorts of items were being traded: fresh greens from the farms, woven baskets, ceramic bowls, tall crates made from different types of wood, and raw materials dug from the mountains. Several large bottles of water that had been collected from the mountain spring caught Eli’s eye. He licked his dry lips. 

Ignoring his thirst, he turned back to the gates. If I can do this, we’ll have plenty to eat and drink, he convinced himself. I’ll never be thirsty again.

"If I can do this," he whispered. But he couldn’t force himself to step closer to the gate. His body refused to obey his brain’s commands; his arm remained stiff at his side. 

He took one step back. And then another.

I can’t do this. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ease the headache throbbing in his temples. But I have to! He let his hand fall to his side and stared at the gate. It seemed bigger than ever. 

He gulped. If I don’t do this, then... then... Then his mother and baby brother would starve. He couldn’t form the words in his mind. Looking up at the sky, he noted the position of the sun and the shape of the clouds, then turned away from the gate and started walking.

It was well-known that the wizards’ homeland, Terra Magicae, lay on the other side of the wall. The only way in or out was through the Grand Gates, but hardly anyone who passed through them ever returned. Only the wizards themselves traveled back and forth, and even they never did so at night.

Eli followed the brick road that hugged the wall, hoping he would be calm enough to knock by the time he made it all the way around and returned to the gates. 

Hooves clopped against the brick, approaching at a brisk pace. Eli stepped out of the way, pressing himself against the cold wall to avoid the horse and rider dragging a cart full of hay along the road. The clattering echo of the cart bounced between the wall and the bordering buildings, many of which stood four or five stories high.

The hay cart passed, and Eli stepped back into the street to continue his walk. His thoughts drifted back to what his father had once said. 

There are five districts in the city. Five in total.

Why five?

One for each finger! Father pointed to his first finger and counted to one.

Wait! Eli stopped him from continuing. A thumb is not a finger.

Father rolled his eyes. True, but there are five districts. Got it?

Eli nodded. 

Do you remember what they’re called?

That’s easy. Aracdia, Stoia, Stonevault, Oxwind, and Xellence.

Father’s smile widened. 

But why are there five districts? Isn’t it all just one city?

Think of it like this. Terra Magicae is the heart. It’s the dot right in the middle. The five districts start in the middle too, and then they each sprawl out to claim their own land.

"But we don’t live in the districts."

That’s true. We live outside the city. We live free.

Eli shook the memory away and saw up ahead green bushes along the buildings. He passed through Aracdia quickly, glancing at the pitched roofs layered with charcoal tiles. The buildings were somber in comparison to the bright yellow walls of neighboring Stoia.

If Eli could live in the city, he wouldn’t think twice before picking Stoia. Leaves draped down from many of the tall, narrow windows, and some homes even had lush vines connecting them to the neighboring houses. But he did wonder how so many people could cram into such small spaces so high in the air. It made him think better of his own home, close to the ground.

Stonevault came next in the circuit. Here, the buildings were made from gray quarry stones stacked together neatly, although many of the arched wooden roofs were weathered and bowed from moisture. Shaking his head, Eli kept going. 

The road wound into Oxwind, where the delicious smell of hot bread, fresh from the oven, flooded his senses. Eli stopped and arched his neck, trying to find the source of the smell. He didn’t see any people about, although brightly-colored curtains flapped from several nearby windows open to the morning breeze. There was no way to tell where the sweet, mouthwatering fragrance came from. His stomach growled, and he had to turn away before his hunger grew too torturous. 

Moving as quickly as he could, he reached his starting point in Xellence. The courtyard looked even busier than before. Children played in the streets, chasing one another and laughing. He wished he could be like that, free and happy, but the grief of the last two weeks still stung. Any thought of his father brought tears to his eyes.

Lost in his thoughts, he found himself back at the gates and once again looked at the sky, but the sun hadn’t moved. Even the clouds looked the same as before. 

What? Confused, he twisted around, searching the gate and the busy courtyard. It should have taken a lot longer to walk around all of Terra Magicae!

Who are you talking to? A man with a scarf around his neck stopped to look down at Eli. 

No one, sir. Sorry, Eli said, backing away. He sensed the man’s emotions: doubt, fear, and a little bit of curiosity. 

The man tilted his head to the side, his forehead wrinkling in confusion as he stared after Eli. 

Eli paced back and forth in front of the gates for several minutes. Finally, he stopped and faced the tall metal barrier that separated the land of the wizards from the communities surrounding it. 

Wizards often left to trade goods with the locals, but locals were never allowed to enter. Eli had heard many stories of the wonders and magic of Terra Magicae, but now he doubted them.

How can a land be so great if it only took me a few minutes to walk around it? Can the wizards really help my family?

He clutched his father’s ring, which hung from a chain around his neck. Rubbing it between his thumb and finger, he reminded himself that the wizards had magic, and anything they might offer him was better than watching his mother grow skinnier and sadder every day, or listening to his little brother cry for food they didn’t have.

All I have to do is knock on the gate and speak my truth, he told himself again. 

Taking the last step forward, he held his breath and knocked so hard he feared he might scrape his knuckles. The sound echoed on the other side, and he squeezed his eyes shut. 

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Eli’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach. With one hand still on his father’s ring, he clutched at his belly, digging his fingernails deep.

They’re not going to listen to me. His body shook and his eyes darted around, searching for the quickest way to run home. 

A faint pop sounded on the other side. Eli cocked his head, listening carefully. It sounded like metal against metal, winding, clunking, churning. The gate opened slightly. Eli stumbled back, eyes wide. 

A tall man with bushy eyebrows stepped out, his long cloak flaring behind him. 

You have returned, the wizard said. 

Eli bowed his head, took a deep breath, and then locked eyes on the wizard. I’m… I’m here to redo the test, please.

The wizard looked him up and down. You can have another chance next year with the rest of the city.

Eli shook his head. But I know the answer to every question.

What makes you think that?

Because, Eli mumbled, I failed on purpose last time.

The wizard stepped aside and gestured for Eli to enter.

Chapter Two

Nothing is ever what it seems, Eli thought as he left Terra Magicae. He didn’t know how much time had passed while he was inside, but no one in the courtyard seemed to have moved. The same kids played in the street, and the man with the scarf still stood there staring at Eli. He cringed. 

Did time not pass? His throat felt even drier than before, making his breath scratchy. But I was inside for hours! At least half the day!

He stepped forward, and the wrought iron gates slammed shut behind him. The noise was so loud it made him jump, vibrating straight through his chest and booming out across the courtyard.

The traders in the market stopped what they were doing and looked at Eli. He bowed his head, pressing his chin firmly to his chest. More than anything, Eli hated to be stared at. Hundreds of eyes poked and prodded him as though he were a newborn being examined. 

As he waited for everyone to return to their normal activities, Eli glanced down at the envelope in his hands. The paper felt soft between his fingers, as luxurious as the robe of the wizard who had given him the packet. 

Speak nothing of this.

Be grateful we’re letting you go.

This doesn’t happen often. In fact, it has never happened. 

The voices echoed in his mind, playing on repeat like a broken song.

Take this letter. Give it to your mother, and no one else.

Although the envelope was light, its importance made it feel heavy. 

What’ve you got there, boy? A woman dressed in rags stepped close to Eli and reached for the envelope. 

In one swift movement, Eli clutched it to his chest and launched forward, slipping into the crowd to escape the woman’s scrutiny. His short height made it easy to squeeze through gaps between stalls and around people carrying bags of apples and small crates of bread. 

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the woman in rags still watching him. He turned his back on her and ran even faster, accidentally bumping into people as he wriggled through the crowd. 

Hey! a man yelled at him. Eli gave him an apologetic smile but kept going. 

When he reached the far end of the courtyard, he stopped. Two wizards stood at the mouth of the road that ran through Xellence to his home in Redshore. 

The wizards looked fearsome in their dark, flowing capes. They had cornered a short merchant with balding hair. Eli couldn’t see the man’s face, but he sensed his worry. 

Eli didn’t want the wizards to notice him, so he slowed down to a casual walk. He tried not to pay attention to them, but he couldn’t help overhear their conversation as he passed.

Where did you get this metal? the tallest wizard asked. The wizard’s cape had a high collar made of stiff fabric that flared out from his shoulders, then curled up and around, hiding the sides of his neck.

Please, wizard, the merchant begged. I only traded for it.

Show me who you got it from.

The merchant’s hands shook as he passed the chunk of metal to them. It was days ago, over in Stonevault. I don’t remember exactly where.

The wizard sighed. Very well. But if you see the person who sold it to you again, or any other type of ore—he waved it in front of the merchant’s face—come tell one of us at once.

The wizard held the metal out in his hand, and it rose upward and zoomed into the sky. Within moments, something came back down. By the time it reached the wizard’s hands, Eli could make out a brown satchel.

Eli froze. He had never seen a wizard do anything like that before. Where had the satchel come from? 

Here’s enough for the week to see you through, the wizard said, passing the merchant several items of food from the satchel. 

The merchant’s panic was strong, causing a knot inside Eli’s stomach. He hurried on, leaving them behind.

As he followed the narrow road through the busy town, Eli saw people pushing carts, carrying bags, and holding items. He hadn’t seen so many things to eat or trade in a long time. Hardly anything made its way to Redshore. 

Suddenly, a wizard stepped out from an alleyway and put his hand up. Stop!

Eli’s feet came to an abrupt halt, and he looked up at the wizard.

Why are you running? The wizard’s voice was loud, his collar pulled up high around his bald head. 

Eli’s throat swelled, and he struggled to swallow the lump. He had never spoken to a wizard on the street before. Even his parents avoided the wizards as much as possible.

I... He hesitated, eyeing the nearby street for the quickest way home. My mother is ex-expecting me, he stuttered. 

What’s that in your hand?

Eli took a step back, clutching the envelope harder. 

Give that to me, boy, the wizard said in a sharp tone.

I... I can’t.

The wizard stood taller, towering over Eli. By the authority of the wizards, he said in an imperious tone, I command you to pass the item you are holding to me.

Eli’s hands shook. But... but...

The wizard’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. Now!

Slowly, Eli held the envelope out toward the wizard. His heart pounded in his chest and his hands shook, causing the envelope to wobble.

The wizard reached out, but before he could touch the envelope, a shiny gold symbol lit up across the paper. 

What was that?!

The wizard gasped, retracting his hand. Put it away. 

Eli clutched it to his chest once more. 

No. The wizard lowered his voice. Some place where no one else can see it.

Eli slipped it beneath his shirt and tucked one end into his pants, the other end pressed snugly against his stomach. Then he waited for the wizard’s next order.

Why are you still standing here? the wizard said. Isn’t your mother waiting for you?

Eli stepped around the tall wizard and broke into a run. Keeping one hand pressed against his stomach, he looked over his shoulder. The wizard was still watching him. 

Launching one foot in front of the other, Eli raced along the road. He passed crowds of people, including a few wizards every now and then. He hoped no one else had noticed the glowing symbol on the envelope. It could make him a target for the warlocks who preyed on the outer settlements.

It took him the better part of the afternoon to reach Redshore, but he didn’t stop running until he crested the hill. Pressing his palms to his knees and breathing hard, Eli looked out over his hometown. From his vantage point beside the lighthouse at the top of the hill, he could see rundown shacks and sheds clustered together along the slopes, all the way down to the rocks at the bottom. Redshore had once bordered an ocean, but now it was a desert wasteland. On the horizon, the sun lowered, turning the sand a darker tint of orange. 

Boy!

Beside Eli, a beggar sat in the doorway of the lighthouse. He wore nothing but a few torn scraps of fabric, barely enough to cover his body. His sunken face and protruding cheekbones stood out at an unnatural angle. Dark rings surrounded his eyes, emphasizing his gaunt appearance. 

The man opened his palm and held it out to Eli. Trade for food, he begged.

Eli studied the ring resting in the center of his palm, made from thick metal with a lacey design along the outer edge. Eli knew the ring must be important to the poor man. He noticed filth beneath the beggar’s long fingernails and stepped away from him.

Food, the man pleaded again.

I’m sorry. Eli pulled his pockets inside-out, showing that he had nothing.

Turning away, Eli squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. If I were a wizard, I wouldn’t let anyone go hungry. I don’t understand why they don’t help all of us, instead of just the families who send their kids to study magic with them. Clasping one hand to his stomach to make sure his precious letter was still secure, he made his way down the steep road toward home. 

The houses seemed unusually quiet this evening, and he found himself searching for people on the streets. When he reached the center of the community, he found hundreds of people clustered together. Slipping up behind the crowd, Eli decided to find out why everyone had gathered. 

We’re expected to go without again? This isn’t fair! a voice bellowed from the front of the crowd. The watching people mumbled and nodded. Something must be done now—

Someone else cut him off. Civil war is upon us! It’s madness to deny it.

Eli searched for his mother among the angry faces around him. 

The wizards will protect us, like they always have! another voice added. 

They can’t protect us at night! a man yelled, deep and strong. 

The people screamed in agreement.

We’re in danger! someone next to Eli shouted, forcing him to cover his ears. 

Eli inched forward, pushing past more people. Between the heads on either side of him, he saw his mother’s braided, dark bronze hair.

A woman at the front raised her voice. The crops were burned over a week ago, and still no food has come through. If we don’t bring in something now, we’ll all starve.

But they promised! another yelled. 

Eli reached his mother and clutched her arm. 

She leaned in and whispered, Where have you been? Clenching her jaw, Lili wrapped one arm around his shoulders and squeezed him protectively. In her other arm, Eli’s baby brother, Algi, lay fast asleep. 

What’s going on? Eli whispered. 

There’s something wrong with the water, she said. 

Eli’s throat went tight. Now the water?

It’s okay. She shushed him. We’re trying to come up with a plan.

But despite her comforting words, her eyes said something different. 

The yelling continued. We can’t wait for the wizards to bring food and water! The traders will just take it for themselves.

We must make more, another added.

Eli’s mother bowed her head.

It’s okay, he whispered. 

She shook her head. I can make more. Tears welled in her eyes. But...

I know. 

He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her arm. She hadn’t been able to use her magic since his father had died in the mining accident. Before that, she had gone out in the community and created whatever anyone needed. When Algi was still in her stomach, Lili had dreamed up all sorts of food, filling their entire home with delicious dishes. Eli had often spent the morning handing them out, but after losing his father, she struggled to make anything. And she no longer dreamed. 

If we can’t get water, the man in front of the crowd said, we’ll die.

I know! a young voice cried. Why don’t we dig for it in the desert?

Yeah! Several people nodded.

That’s not a good idea, Eli’s Uncle Izæc spoke up. That’s bore water, and we don’t know what the warlocks have done to the stream. It’s all connected, so we might get sick from that, too.

The crowd hushed. 

Lili leaned in and whispered, Should we go?

Go where? Eli’s words came out in a rush. Could we cross the desert and live somewhere else?

His mother gave him a weak smile. What I meant was, we should go home.

Oh.

No one can live out there. She gestured toward the vast desert. He didn’t want to admit it, but she was right. No one had survived the journey, and few even tried. 

The man at the front continued to speak. The slums are growing too fast. We don’t have the resources to feed ourselves, let alone any newcomers.

What do you suggest then? Uncle Izæc asked.

We turn to the warlocks!

An argument erupted among the crowd, growing louder by the moment. 

It’s time to go now! Lili pushed Eli toward the edge of the crowd.

But shouldn’t we hear this? he protested. 

No, she snapped. I’ve heard enough. She squeezed his hand tight as she dragged him behind her. 

It’s the warlocks who corrupted the stream! someone shouted behind them.

We don’t know that for sure! 

Voices quickly turned angry. Men pushed and shoved one another, and Eli couldn’t make out what was being said. 

Eli and his mother managed to break out of the crowd before it turned violent. Holding onto each other, they rushed past the great rock wall and along the narrow dirt road, then threaded through the shacks up the tall hill. 

What’s going to happen now? he asked, his voice shaking. They said civil war.

People do stupid things when they’re hungry and thirsty. Lili puffed as the hill grew steeper. But it doesn’t mean we have to as well.

Eli stopped. The weight of what he had done today hit him hard. Was he really going to leave his mother and Algi?

His mother turned after him. Come on. We need to get home, she insisted. 

He didn’t move. 

She held out her hand. He knew she was waiting for him to take it, but he only stared at it in numb disbelief. By tomorrow, he would be gone, and he had no idea how long it would be before he saw her again.

What’s the matter? She scrunched her eyebrows. 

Lifting his shirt, he pulled out the envelope and handed it to her.

Eli?

I have to give you this, he said.

Chapter Three

Eli’s heart thumped against his chest. The fast, uneven beat echoed in his ears.

His mother took the envelope from him and stared at the glowing symbol. Where did you get this?

Blinking rapidly, Eli felt stress creep across the front of his forehead.

Eli, she said, answer me. 

He opened his mouth to speak, but a harsh noise blared in the distance. His hands went to his ears and he hunched over. Bells rang in a screeching chorus that chattered his teeth, rattled through his neck, and danced down his spine.

Let’s go! his mother yelled. 

They broke into a run again. Around them, people raced in all directions, filling the streets with chaos. 

Eli shouted so his mother could hear him over the commotion. What’s that alarm? 

She stopped and pressed herself against the wall of a nearby shack, allowing people to dart past. It must be the call for the wizards to return to their land.

He held onto her arm for support. But it’s still daylight. Why would they need to leave?

Maybe the wizards are needed elsewhere, she said. 

Or maybe, a man said as he passed them, the warlocks are coming.

Eli froze, but his mother remained calm, unaffected by the stranger’s frightening statement. 

Let’s get home, shall we? She twined her fingers around his and dragged him behind her. She refused to slow until they reached their shack. 

She pushed the door open and held it for Eli to enter. He slammed it shut behind him and sealed the latch, locking it tight. 

Is that alarm warning us about the warlocks?

Don’t be frightened, Lili said as she laid Algi onto a large, square floor pillow. Then she straightened to give Eli a strong, reassuring hug. Sometimes alarms go off. What’s important is that we have a home, and if we stay inside, we should be safe.

He nodded, dropping his gaze to the floor when she released him. 

Now, she said, pulling the envelope from her threadbare blouse. What have you given me here?

Opening it slowly, she pulled out the card. Her eyes ran over the page. The more she read, the faster the color drained from her face. 

Eli? she said in a small voice. Her hand flew straight to her mouth, covering it. How did you get this? 

The wizards gave it to me, he whispered. 

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the card. Is this...? 

Eli held his breath. 

This isn’t possible! she mumbled. Her wide gaze finally lifted from the paper and landed on him. How?

I passed the test.

His mother shook her head. The tests were done weeks ago, and the wizards have already made their decision about who to accept. How did you get this? She waved the paper in his face. How?

I went back and told them why I failed. So... He hesitated. They gave me another test.

And?

And what? He shrugged. I got in.

Eli, you need to give me more details! The wizards have never done anything like this before! 

Her shout woke Algi, and the little boy started to cry. She bent over and picked him up, cradling him over her shoulder and stroking his head to calm him. 

But details were exactly what Eli didn’t want to give her. He had told the wizards the truth. The words repeated in his mind. 

Why have you come here today?

He took a moment to think about it. My father died in the mining accident a few weeks ago. My mother makes food for our community, but she’s too sad for her magic to work and now there isn’t enough. But I know she’ll receive an allowance while I’m gone. It will help her feed my brother and she won’t go hungry.

Do you understand the sacrifice you are making?

He had clenched his hands together. I do.

Eli! His mother’s voice brought him out of the memory. Are you going to answer me?

Instead of telling her what he had said to the wizards, he changed the topic. I leave in the morning.

She stopped rocking Algi. For the love of the Great Wizard. That’s so soon...

He nodded. It was too soon, but he could do nothing to change that.

Chapter Four

Mother? Eli stepped forward and took Algi from her. Are you all right? Algi snuggled his sleeping face into Eli’s chest. 

I’m... Lili’s gaze drifted around the room as if searching for something. Eli tried to follow her line of sight, but he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Their few possessions hung in tidy rows on the back wall, and the cushions lay in their usual places on the dirt floor, even his father’s still untouched. I’m fine, Eli. There’s just so much that needs to be done. 

He took a deep breath. Like what?

Your hair. She turned back to face him. Do you know how long it takes to arrange it? And if I had more time, I could make you a new outfit.

Eli looked down at his clothes. They were old and starting to split at the seams. But these still fit.

She paced the room, kicking aside a small red pillow that got in her way. There’s not enough time, she said again.

It’s fine, Mother. You did my hair yesterday, and it’ll hold. And I don’t need new clothes when these fit— 

A knock at the door interrupted him. His mother stopped pacing, and they locked eyes. He shrugged, silently indicating he wasn’t expecting anyone. The alarm in the distance still rang out. 

Since Eli was closest to the door, he stepped over the red cushion and unhooked the latch. The door creaked open, and Uncle Izæc popped his head inside. 

You scared me! Eli said, opening the door wider for him to come in. 

What would you have done if I had been someone dangerous? Izæc asked, raising his eyebrows. It wouldn’t be easy to defend yourself with Algi in your arms. He closed the door and locked it behind him. 

I… maybe… Eli shrugged his shoulders, unable to think of a decent answer. He passed his baby brother back to his mother.

Izæc leaned against the wall to take the weight off his bad knee. Lili? Izæc looked at Eli’s mother. You’re all safe? 

We’re fine, Lili answered. What are the alarms about?

No word yet, Izæc said, but I’ve been asking around. Hopefully, it’s just a false alarm, but I have my doubts. Most of Redshore is without food, and now the water has been tampered with. Ringing the bells might keep people in check.

I don’t understand. Eli wrapped his arms around himself. His uncle’s words disturbed him.

Think about it, Izæc said. "The alarm only went off after the