Island of Dragons Read Online Free Page A

body.
    Alex had unwittingly helped Henry come to terms with his guilt after the fact. And now Henry knew that if he was forced into the same predicament with the head mage’s life hanging in the balance, he didn’t have to agonize over it. He’d asked Alex a hypothetical question about having the chance to live indefinitely, and Alex had told him point blank that he wouldn’t ever want to have his life significantly extended by unnatural means. It was a relief to know.
    And now that their world was finally at peace, Henry was extremely glad he didn’t have to worry about it anymore.
    But even though they were at peace, Florence started up Magical Warrior Training again, knowing Artimé could never be too prepared. One day, Henry was outside cutting some leaves from his greenhouse plants that Ishibashi had given him. He paused now and then in his work to watch the training, and felt almost wistful.
    On the end nearest him was Thatcher, a young teen from Warbler who was about Henry’s age, perhaps a year older. He had black curly hair and dark brown skin, and orange eyes like all the Warbler children. He wasn’t intimidated by the instructors, and he liked chatting with them. His obvious ease with more authoritative figures was striking. But the blond-haired Warbler girl next to him, Scarlet, was all seriousness, especially in her attempts to mess Thatcher up without him noticing. Henry watched Scarlet for a moment, and then his eyes strayed back to Thatcher, and he observed the Warbler boy’s carefree spirit and sense of humor when he joked with Florence and Ms. Morning.
    At one point Thatcher caught Henry staring and smiled at him, raising a hand in greeting. Henry smiled back and quickly looked down at his cuttings. “I might need to take a class soon,” he said to nobody in particular. He gathered up his cuttings, and then walked in a wide circle around the students to keep from getting accidentally struck by a poor throw.
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    On the day after Alex finished expanding the world, he walked past the hospital ward on his way to the kitchen to get a snack and noticed that every bed was empty for the first time in a long time. He paused, then went in, seeing Henry working alone at the laboratory table with something bubbling merrily in a beaker nearby.
    â€œCongratulations, Henry,” Alex said. “Empty beds. Now that’s an accomplishment!”
    Henry looked up. “Thanks. The last one checked out a couple days ago. Did you finish the expansion in Quill? Anybody give you trouble?”
    â€œYes, it’s done,” Alex said. “No real trouble to speak of, but I’m whipped. Do you have anything that’ll help my sore shoulders feel better? Those were some long, hard days of spell casting. More than I’ve ever done in one stretch before.”
    Henry reached up and pulled a small container of herbal lotion from a shelf. “This should do the trick. Find a nice girl to rub some of this on your shoulders. It’ll feel better in no time.”
    â€œBecause of the lotion?” Alex teased. “Or because of the girl?”
    â€œIt doesn’t really matter, does it?”
    â€œI guess not,” Alex said. “Are you speaking from experience? Do you have a girl rubbing lotion on your shoulders that I don’t know about?”
    Henry grinned. “I’m not really into girls. But no.”
    Alex returned the grin and patted Henry on the back. “Thanks,” he said, taking the lotion. “Do you want me to make this room smaller again? Or do you like it all big and empty like this?”
    â€œI wouldn’t want to tax your poor aching muscles,” Henry said.
    â€œWhy, Henry Haluki,” Alex said, “I think you’re mocking me. You used to be such a serious and respectful young lad.”
    Henry shrugged. “I guess I’ve been jaded by all the battles you’ve dragged me