Island of Legends (The Unwanteds) Read Online Free

have to rescue you from Warbler again. We have other places to go and people to rescue . . . like your mother.”
    “I know.” Sky closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. “You’re right, of course. But we’re still helping. We need to.”
    She didn’t elaborate, but Alex knew she needed to help to prove that she was loyal to Artimé—even though no one doubted it.
    “That’s fine,” Alex said. “We want you to help, but I alsoneed to trust you. You can fight. But do the right thing and hide if necessary.”
    “If necessary,” Sky agreed. “Got that, Crow?”
    Crow nodded.
    At that moment, a large growl from outside the mansion turned into a full-on roar, making the mansion’s windows vibrate. Alex’s gaze darted from one ship to the next as large wooden planks quickly rose up from every deck. A dozen loud thwapp s peppered the air, and the giant arms swung toward Artimé, releasing objects into the sky.
    “Catapults!” Florence yelled. “Get back! Away from the windows!”
    Alex stepped back as a multitude of things flew toward the mansion. “What the . . . ,” he muttered. “What are they?”
    In the air, the things sprouted parachutes, slowing them down, and as they neared the island they began to float toward the ground.
    “They’re people!” Alex shouted. “Warbler’s first line is landing on the shore.” And they aren’t very big or scary-looking, he thought, a bit puzzled. He turned to face the Unwanteds. “Leaders, take your places outside and attack!”

The Battle with Warbler
    T he Artiméans streamed outside the mansion from all doors as Simber’s continuous roar rendered the Warblerans unable to fight, leaving them cowering instead.
    “Some of them are barely more than children,” Claire Morning said, looking closely at the living arsenal coming toward them. “I wonder if Warbler’s youth took to fighting by necessity, like our young Unwanteds.” She prepared a spell and glanced at Mr. Appleblossom, who was standing next to her with a look of horror on his face. “What is it, Siggy?”
    Mr. Appleblossom stood staring at a girl of about twelvewho was now frozen by a magical spell, a look of fear on her face. He lowered his hand and looked down. “What shame it is to see this cherub’s face,” Mr. Appleblossom said softly. “And cowardly of them to sacrifice their youth to take their Queen Eagala’s place! I have no means in me to do this twice.”
    “They may be children, but they’re attacking us!” Ms. Morning said. She regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. Her gaze swept over the young Unwanteds around them, already fighting, and wondered if anyone on Warbler felt guilty for fighting against children. She doubted it. She reached over and squeezed Mr. Appleblossom’s shoulder. “I understand. You didn’t hurt her, though.”
    “That look of fear is hurt enough, you know.” Mr. Appleblossom nodded brusquely, turned, and walked back to the mansion.
    Ms. Morning pressed her lips together. After a moment, watching her friend Sigfried leave over his convictions, she looked at Crow and Henry and the rest of the generation of Unwanteds who had been fighting since they were small. She continued on with the task, though she wore the dilemma on her troubled face for some time after.
    By now, the other team leaders had given their orders, and the Unwanteds spouted off a plethora of freeze spells, blinding spells, and shackles. Some cleverly thought to use scatterclips, which sent Warbler fighters flying backward through the air until they hit the sides of their own ships and stuck fast just above water level, unable to be reached by those on board.
    As the Unwanteds defended Artimé, the catapult arms moved slowly, skimming the sky as they returned to their initial positions.
    “Prepare for round two!” Florence shouted.
    Just as the last enemy was frozen, the catapults released again, sending dozens upon dozens more young Warblerans soaring through the air and