Aaron stared at her. Everyone gasped. And then slowly Aaron took off the robe.

“Aaron, stop!” said Florence.

The head mage handed the robe to Frieda Stubbs.

“No, Aarrron!” said Simber. “This is disastrrrous!”

“I don’t need a robe to try to save Artimé,” said Aaron quietly. “It’s better for everyone that this distraction ends now. Good luck, Frieda. You’re going to need it.”

Frieda grabbed the robe and held it up triumphantly, and the people on the lawn erupted in cheers and shouts and expressions of disbelief and horror. People began to panic. “But she’s not even very magical,” said one. “How is such an untalented person going to be in charge of all of us?” shrieked another. “This is crazy!”

“Aarrron!” Simber said once more, his voice awash in desperation and pleading.

Aaron turned to the winged cheetah. In that instant his face fell as he realized what he’d just done to the beast. His face flooded with regret. And then the regret cleared and turned to resolve. “You heard me, Simber. It’s done. I’m . . . I’m done.” He swallowed hard as the cheetah’s face betrayed his feelings.

“Why?” said Simber softly. “Why did you do this?”

Aaron’s face broke, and he covered his mouth with trembling fingers. Then he dropped his hand and turned sharply. “Go, Simber. Frieda is your new mage. I hope you’ll help her like you’ve helped every mage of this land.” He paused. “Please know I’ll be fighting for Artimé more than ever. Believe it or not. We just couldn’t go on like . . . that.”

Florence was speechless. One hand went to her hip and the other to her forehead, and she watched in shock as Aaron turned away. Then her eyes widened as chaos continued all around them. “Get him out of here!”

Before the protesters could descend on Aaron in a frenzy, Lani, Carina, and Samheed pressed through the crowd and grabbed Aaron by the elbows. They dragged him toward the water—it was his only means of escape. Lani stayed at the shoreline to help Florence hold the crowds at bay as Samheed and Carina swam out with Aaron to protect him.

“You really did it this time,” Samheed muttered.

“Give him a break,” Carina snapped at him.

Samheed frowned but was quiet, and Aaron didn’t say anything either.

Once they’d swum halfway to Karkinos, Aaron stopped them and treaded water, breathing hard. “I can make it the rest of the way,” he said. “Go back to Artimé and stay with Simber. And please . . . please find Kaylee and tell her to go to the grandfathers as soon as possible. She and Daniel aren’t safe here. Tell her . . . tell her I love her. And I’ll see them when all of this mess is over.”

Time Ticks Away