Page 75 of The Mirror and the Curse

“She was insanely jealous,” Karishma stated flatly. “But you and Fidelio aren’t even together anymore, are you?”

Eddi shook her head. “Not for the past week.”

“He’s not over you yet,” the other girl declared in her unequivocal manner. “I don’t think Raquel ever had a chance with you around.”

Eddi found this declaration painful rather than flattering.

As the pair headed away across the courtyard, Emenike commented over his shoulder, “Congratulations again on winning the Cup for the second year in a row. Quite the feat!”

“Thank you.” Although Eddi was fresh out of enthusiasm, she did appreciate his sportsmanship.

Eddi found White in his stall, blissfully tugging at wisps of hay while Howurl and Miria groomed him. “You go rest, Your Highness,” Miria suggested in her commanding yet considerate way. “We’ll care for the champion.”

“Thank you so much.” Eddi patted White’s neck. “You were totally amazing today. Now the whole world knows what a superhorse looks like.” He wiggled his ears, enjoying her pride in his success.

When Miria touched White’s knee, he lowered his head to let her climb his mane. The brownie settled on the base of one wing and began to work a preening comb through its feathers while White sighed, his wing shivering with pleasure. Howurl already perched on his back, wielding a curry comb as large as his own head.

“Enjoy your spa treatment, buddy.” Eddi stepped back. “Guess I’ll leave you to relax and recuperate.”

Only as she stepped into the aisle did Eddi realize she’d left her parachute pack somewhere, and her helmet. And she was starving.

Before heading back out to face the crowds, she checked the other stalls. Tirador and Ruggero both lay stretched out on their luxurious straw beds, snoring, wings twitching. The other two dozed standing up and scarcely flicked an ear to acknowledge Eddi’s presence. Since Jackrabbit slept outside, the last stall was empty.

Eddi paused again at White’s stall but didn’t disturb the tableau. He appeared to be asleep while the brownies worked away on his wings and tail.

As she turned away, a flash of color caught her eye. On the bench along the wall lay a large red apple—a magic apple, she knew in a heartbeat, and the reddest and shiniest she’d ever seen. She glanced around, then reached a trembling hand to pick it up. Its scent brought back memories of the magic meadow . . . and Kai. He was here. But when? Had he sneaked in while she was distracted, or did she miss seeing it when she entered the stable? She hurried to the main doors. “Kai?”

All was quiet. Her voice seemed lost in the afternoon sunlight and shadows. No horses or staffers bustled around the barns. Two trees stood at the edge of the courtyard, just beyond the brick pavers where no tree had stood before, but there was no sign of the rabbit. With both hands Eddi pressed the apple to her heart.

Maybe Kai had left it for White. Or had he intended it as an apology for not being there to greet her when White landed? Its sweet scent made her stomach growl and her mouth water. She turned back, sat on the bench, and lifted the apple to her nose. If Kai left the apple for White, too bad; the horse had his hay. Smiling, she took a big bite of crisp, juicy flesh and chewed.

“No, wait!” a voice cried just as she swallowed the bite, which had an unexpected aftertaste. Eddi looked up into a pale gaunt face with glowing red eyes. Terrifying!

And yet, her body didn’t react. Lethargy crept through her like fog stealing over a pasture. Her hand holding the apple dropped to her lap. Her shoulders thunked against the wall. She felt her hand relax and the apple roll from its grasp. Then her body tipped sideways, rolled slowly toward the edge of the bench, and sprawled to the ground. Cold hands caught her head just before her forehead could smack against the floor, then gently laid it down. Her eyelids were slightly open, enough for her to see, at extreme close range, the herringbone pattern of the brick floor and a scatter of hay.

And a pair of filthy, battered boots. “I’m a goner for sure,” an unearthly voice stated.

A chill ran down Eddi’s spine. What in the world was this creature?

Small footsteps pattered on the brick, and a tiny hand pressed on Eddi’s wrist. “The princess is alive, but what happened to her?” The worried voice was undoubtedly Miria’s.

“That apple.” Howurl’s dolorous reply. “She ate it. Must be poisoned. Maybe a sleeping potion.”

“The boss’ll kill me. I was supposed to protect her.” Again, that reedy voice made Eddi’s skin crawl.

“But who would . . .” Miria’s question trailed off. “Oh.”

“You guessed it.” The weird voice again. “I was watching out, but she must’ve ordered someone else to give it to the princess.”

“I’ve seen this coming.” Howurl sighed.

“If you did, you might have mentioned—Oh, never mind! We must tell Kai.” Miria sounded resolute.

Howurl heaved a long sigh. “Very well. We’ll tell Kai. Bane, you go tell thesahir.”

“Right-o, mate.”

Eddi heard no more. Had they all gone and left her alone? She wished Miria had stayed.

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