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"People of Quill," Aaron said in the monotone manner of Justine, "some of you already know that my faithful secretary was attacked and killed by a creature of Artimé" He paused and allowed the srow and fade, for sootten the news already
"It’s an unfortunate situation," Aaron continued, "and one that we erous And we er tolerate their infiltration and attacks on our good people Coe inside you?"
The people of Quill looked up at Aaron
Aaron frowned "You e inside you?"
The Quillens looked at one another, unsure of what the right ansas It seee inside theainst the law? They couldn’t relance, and then both ihters in their arhts
Gondoleery, standing nearby with Liam, leaned over to Aaron and hissed, "You have to tell the not to hear His cheeks burned "My dear people," he said, trying again "As you know, the High Priest Justine taught us to bank our rage, saving it up for a tiainst our ene you today that our eneuished for what they have done We will be attacking Artiry Do you understand?"
A few people in the audience h priestdidn’t they? He was the one who gave theood," Aaron said His eyes darted anxiously around the lethargic crowd "We can use that kind of energy, and perhaps even a little ernail nervously along a sliver of warped wood on the podium and winced as it broke off and stuck fast under his nail He stepped back and clasped his hands in front of hily short-teainst Arti that may come as a surprise to you We ht a slightly more lively response, but Aaron held his hands up for silence "I knohat you’re thinking," Aaron said, though it see anything "But the only way to attack properly is to have full access to Artimé The as a hindrance in the past and it will be the cause of our failure in the future We h none of them were "You need to understand that the risk of an enereat as the risk from the enemy in Arti beasts to kill us! We anized attack before they have tiainst us Once we have defeated them, ill finally be at peace"
He looked around the bland faces of the people of Quill, and for a usted by theoals, no fire inside them Not like he did His fire to take over the island was stronger than ever Why couldn’t he get theer, like he had done within hiers to see if that would garner a response
"Look alive!" he pleaded, and the people of Quill started, afraid "Allow your rage to build so we can let it loose against the enemy!"
A few anized at best, and soon everyone was quiet again
Aaron sighed, exasperated This wasn’t going at all the way he’d planned Maybe the Quillens had used up all fifty years’ worth of their rage in the last battle
"Justokay, we’ll work on the rage part But now, you will please helpto feel very impatient "Necessaries, you will join the Quillitary efforts, beginning in the area next to the gates of Arti out in both directions, all the way around the island It will be dangerous, but you’ll see it will be worth it in the end When I’m finished here, please make your way to the Quillitary officers and await your instructions"
Mrs Stowe gave her husband a searching glance, then silently reached for the twin he was holding He put the girl into Mrs Stowe’s arripped his wife’s hand and squeezed Mrs Stowe looked up into his face She squeezed back
Aaron, feelingthe attention of his entire audience, wrapped up his speech "And everyone--get ready to fight"
This time he didn’t wait for any lackluster reaction Instead he marched out of the amphitheater to the road and climbed into the car that waited for him He put his ar Gondoleery behind to go in the next car
"Take us to the Quillitary," Aaron barked to the driver
The ride was silent but for the chug and squeal of the jalopy Aaron stared stone-faced out the , and Liam looked at his hands, clasped in his lap
Soon they arrived at the Quillitary grounds Aaron and Liam went inside and made their way to the little house where General Blair lived The door stood ajar Aaron pushed it and found the general alone