Page 33 of The Mirror and the Curse

Feeling sheepish, she explained, “I never sleep well before a big event.”

“I know. Everything’s ready.” Kai spoke and behaved as calmly as though this were any other lesson day.

Eddi blinked. Good. That’s what she wanted. Just a fun day out with an old friend.

Turning her attention to White and Flurry, who nearly pranced in place, she quipped, “I believe I sense White’s emotions. It’s a breakthrough!”

Kai shook his head, but she saw his little smile. “Nice try.”

They chatted easily while preparing for flight as if this were any other day. However, when Kai gave her a leg up, something seemed . . . different. He didn’t touch anything but her boot, and they didn’t even exchange glances, yet Eddi felt . . . electrified.

On their way from the stables to the old cross-country course, which had become their regular launch field, she sucked in deep breaths of morning air, her heart beating quickly as White followed Flurry along the forest path. He occasionally slipped into an eager trot, and she couldn’t blame him.

The sun had not yet appeared between the eastern mountains when they surged into the sky and headed roughly southwest, but as soon as the horses climbed above the peaks, glorious morning light filled Eddi’s vision. The fterotá never suffered from snow blindness or oxygen deprivation since their bodies were intended to fly in these conditions. But if not for the protection of her magically enhanced visor, Eddi thought the brilliance of sunlight reflecting off mountain lakes and ice-capped peaks might have blinded her. Although, to be fair, she probably would have succumbed to cold and hypoxia first without her equally enhanced flight suit.

White radiated happiness. His raw power never failed to give Eddi a thrill, yet something about this flight was different. As always, she was obliged to be aware and vigilant during flight—it was hardly a relaxing activity—but today her heart seemed more connected to White, to the mountains, and to their companions. She somehow sensed that White and Flurry were communicating mentally.

Although no boundary lines marked the resort’s border on the ground or in the air, Eddi feltsomethingat a certain point of their trip. Flurry flew several more miles, winding through another two valleys before she began to descend. White followed, by now an expert wingman.

Eddi guessed their destination as soon as she saw it: a bowl-shaped depression like a vivid oasis of color amid craggy gray peaks and sheer cliffs. Even through her helmet’s filtering system she smelled something lovely, something . . . magical?

First Flurry, then White made a graceful, unhurried descent and landed at a smooth canter in a meadow that shimmered with pink, blue, and yellow wildflowers and golden-green grass. Eddi slid from her mount’s back and dropped her parachute pack to the ground.

Kai had removed his helmet, so she pulled hers off too. The air was delicious, and that beautiful scent tickled her senses. “Kai, what is this place? What do I smell?”

“It’s the magic meadow,” he said with a little shrug and a smile. “If it has an official name, I’ve never heard it. You’re smelling the apple tree near the base of that cliff.” He pointed, and Eddi glimpsed a tree that appeared to shimmer in the morning light. “Want to walk over there?”

“Nope. I want to run. C’mon.” She dashed off, not very quickly since her legs felt bowed after that long flight. No matter. It felt so good to run! Kai easily caught up and matched her pace. Despite the altitude, she wasn’t even short of breath when she stopped before the tree. Its deep green leaves and glossy red apples were a treat to her eyes, and the scent! Eddi halted at a respectful distance, wondering if the tree had grown taller as they approached.

“How did you find this place? Even I can sense the magic, but what does it do? I’m assuming it’s good magic, since you brought me here.”

“It is powerful magic, but yes, it’s good. My uncle first told me about the meadow, and Flurry brought me here. The tree is the magic’s source, but how or why it stands here? That’s a question I can’t answer.” He paused, gazing thoughtfully at the tree. “The first time I came here, I tried to pick an apple but couldn’t.”

“Maybe you came at the wrong time of year?” Just now, every apple in view appeared red and ripe.

“It had as many ripe apples as you see now, but the tree wouldn’t allow me to pick one.”

Something in his voice told her she was being quizzed. “Wouldn’t allow . . .?”

“I decided to try once more to get one for Flurry, since our trip was her idea. That time, I had no trouble at all.”

“Did you pick one for yourself then?”

“No. I picked one to take home for my mother.”

“For your mother,” Eddi repeated.

“Yes.” His eyes briefly glinted at her. “After she ate it, she was in a cheery, generous mood for the rest of the day.” Eddi didn’t speak, but he addressed her thoughts. “You probably don’t remember, but my mom liked you when we were children. She was a happier person back then.”

Eddi was about to ask what changed when he asked, “Ready to pick an apple? I suggest you pick one for White, and I’ll pick one for Flurry. After all, they brought us here.”

Behind them, the two fterotá grazed contentedly, not quite near enough to swish flies from each other, but closer together than Eddi had seen them before. “Sounds fair.” She reached for a large apple with yellow streaks through the ruby red. It snapped off easily in her hand. “Okay, I’m guessing I can only pick an apple for someone else. Is that the trick?”

Kai’s smile flashed. “Got it in one.” He claimed an apple, then produced a piercing whistle that made Eddi jump. Flurry lifted her head, ears pricked, and trotted eagerly toward him with White at her heels. “She knows what’s coming,” Kai remarked.

White seemed hesitant at first, almost in awe of the apple Eddi offered. His nostrils quivered as he stretched his neck toward it. Seeing—and hearing—Flurry relish her apple, he decided to take the chance, and Eddi held it for him while he bit through the glossy peel.Crunch!It sounded crisp, and juice dripped from his mouth—or was that slobber? He closed his eyes to savor the treat, then eagerly took more.

Eddi’s gaze slid from White to Kai, who focused on Flurry’s enjoyment, his expression relaxed. While Eddi was distracted, White took the last piece of his apple in one large bite. “No! Oh, White,” Eddi groaned. Unrepentant, he shifted it around with his tongue, crunching as juice and drool dripped to the grass. Eddi propped her fists on her hips. “You, my friend, have no proper manners at all. How do you expect to impress a beautiful filly while slobbering all over yourself?”

---