“I did NOT kill Alex!” Aaron said sharply, and several dissenters began to argue. It was the worst accusation of all of them, and the way they so falsely and blatantly threw it out there hurt more than all the others combined.

“You had him killed, then!” said Frieda Stubbs.

“That is preposterous!” said Aaron, spit flying. Rage grew, and he felt himself losing all sense of decorum. “I loved him more than I can express!”

Simber emitted a low growl, perhaps trying to get Aaron back on track. But Aaron was tired and hurt and absolutely furious. His heart had been broken by his brother’s death, and these people had spread such horrible rumors, not caring how much their words hurt him. This wasn’t what Artimé was about at all. When had this happened to these good people?

Aaron tried to breathe, tried to control his tone while struggling to be heard against the voices around him, which were rising again. “Listen, everyone. I’m asking for you to delay your protest for a few days so that we can focus on stopping the Revinir from attacking all of us. I want you to prepare to fight and protect yourselves. Please! I’m begging you!”

“You’re planning to have us all killed now by this Revinir dragon-person. Is that right?” said Frieda with a sneer. “Is that your answer to everything? If somebody bothers you, you just kill them. You know what you need to do to fix this, Aaron, but you’re too cowardly to do it.”

Aaron focused on the woman who had started Artimé’s descent into madness and felt suddenly very weary. “I am trying to prevent you all from being killed,” he said, his voice ragged, “while also protecting the Revinir’s targets. Just as Alex would have done.”

“You lie!” cried Frieda. “Alex would have gone immediately and destroyed that monster and saved all of us. You’re just standing here, drawing her to us, when you could sacrifice yourself and your evil sisters, and we’d be safe!”

The chants began again. “Fire the mage! Sacrifice the Stowes!”

Aaron felt like he was about to explode. “You have no idea how leadership works! And I didn’t even want this job!” he yelled. “If anybody else would like to be head mage and can save Artimé from this attack, just say the word, because I have had it with all of this!”

There was a split second of silence in which everyone digested the mage’s words.

“Aarrron!” roared Simber. But it was too late for Aaron to take the words back.

Samheed looked aghast. Lani’s jaw dropped. She’d once wanted the job a long time ago, but not now. Not like this.

“Where’s Claire?” Samheed whispered to Lani. “Claire!” he shouted. “Are you here?” But the woman was not present.

Frieda Stubbs stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”