White Witch, Black Magic

I realize for the first time what it means to be ‘free as a bird’. Neverard’s hooves barely skim the grass as we dash away. For the first time, we’re running towards our own happiness. The only other time Neverard ran this fast was when I thought I was heading to my death.

But this is nothing like that. I know what it feels like to fly, but this is the very first time I’ve ever flown free. I laugh with the sheer joy of it, my braid whipping out behind me. Jake is clinging to my waist tightly. His hands have a reassuring presence.

I glance over and smile at the sight of Avaysia in her wedding dress. The neckline is askew, practically falling off her left shoulder. Her carefully arranged hair is wind-whipped and wild. The veil and one shoe are lost someplace in the grass. Her arms are locked around Wren, as if she’ll never let him go. I’ve never seen her happier.

The palace in Flumen is near the border of Montanum, so our journey is fairly short. Once over the border, we cross into the Sylvian forest. The land slopes beneath our feet, rising up on the left and dropping on the right. We’re at the base of a mountain. It’s the first in the chain that creates the Wide Ridge Mountains. Just as planned, Nyra is waiting for us in the trees.

She smiles when she sees Avaysia. Avaysia, however, is completely bewildered.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“I came to wish you well at your wedding, Princess. Though it seems that ye did not marry thy prince.”

“No. My friends talked me out of it.”

We all laugh.

“But seriously,” Avaysia says. “How did you get here?

Nyra explains to Avaysia about the necklace and circlet. How the dagger can cut through time and space. How we’re planning to use its powers to send Bella home to New York City.

“Be safe in New Yorkie Land,” I tell Bella, hugging her tight. “It seems like a scary place.”

“Only cause you didn’t grow up there. Really, it’s not that bad. No dragons or veela.”

“No White Witches, either.”

“But no black magic.”

“Touché.”

Bella releases me and wraps her arms around Jake. After she’s hugged us each (including Nyra) and reminded us each several times to remember her, she turns to Nyra.

“Are you ready?” Nyra asks.

Bella nods. “I’m really going to miss you guys. Maybe I can come visit?”

Nyra grins. “We shall see what time brings. Everyone, back away.”

She unsheathes her dagger. Her mismatched eyes close in concentration. Then she slashes out so suddenly I jump back into Jake. A thin white line opens in the air. Nyra grabs the tear and widens it. I can see it fighting to close, but she forces it open.

A terrific wind has been kicked up. I remember the wind and darkness when Bella appeared. This is new to Jake though, and he looks terrified. When the sucking sound starts, he grabs my hand.

“What’s happening?” he asks.

“Relax. This is what it was like the first time, too.”

“Go!” Nyra shouts to Bella.

“Goodbye!” Bella calls, just as everything goes dark.

“Goodbye!” we yell back.

I hear Nyra’s distinctive, “Fare thee well!” before the sucking and wind stop. The sun starts shining again. Bella is gone, as is the gaping black hole she went through. Nyra is sealing the edges of the hole together again, calm as could be.

“That was scary,” Jake says.

“Just wait till you try going through one,” Nyra replies. She rubs her fingers over the white line. It vanishes.

“Uh, no thanks.”

“How do you know it worked?” I ask.

“For certain? I do not. But I am fairly sure…”

“Great. Can you send us home like that?”

Nyra shakes her head. “I do not know if opening two in one day would be wise. Nor if I have the strength to create two in the same day. Acting thus is wearing. I must rest before I return home. Fare thee well.”

“Goodbye Nyra! Thank you!”

After another round of hugs, Nyra disappears into the trees. She’ll make her way back to the unicorns, where I’m sure she’ll live out the rest of her days in peace. I doubt we’ll meet again.

Avaysia sighs as Nyra vanishes. “Must be nice to have a place to call home. Where can we go from here?”

“Back to Regnum,” I tell her. I refuse to leave my family to rot in Dominic’s prison.

“Oh, I can’t go back. Imagine what my father would do!”

“He might not let you back,” Wren adds.

“What have you done wrong? There’s not going to be a war, so all is well. Besides, I have to go back. I have to save my family,” I say.

“Well,” Jake ponders. “That’s more of a two person job, wouldn’t you say?”

“Are you implying we should go just the two of us?”

“I am.”

“And what of Vay and Wren?”

“They can stay in Montanum, where no one knows us yet. After we rescue your family, we can all join them there. Start a new life.”

We exchange looks. Wren is nodding. So is Avaysia. Jake gives me a look like, Told you so.

I grin. “I like it. A duo. They can have Neverard, since he’s actually ours. The other horses we’ll have to return to Arista. While we’re gone, Wren and Vay can find us homes.” I glance around at the others. “Sound good?”

Avaysia and Wren nod. “We’ll find the best homes we can. But how will you find us?”

I wiggle my fingers. “I have my ways.”

There are more hugs and good luck wishes. Then Wren gives Avaysia a leg up. He climbs onto Neverard’s back behind her and gives me one last smile.

“Aren’t you glad I didn’t you let you strangle her after she used up our water?”

“Very.”

I watch the three of them ride away. As they disappear into the trees, I turn to Jake.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“Ready for what?”

“To go home. Well, to my home.”

“How? It’s an awfully long walk, and you just gave away our horse.”

I grin. “We fly.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, I can’t turn into a bird.”

“I know. I can turn you into a peregrine falcon. At least, I’m pretty sure…well, I’ll never know if I don’t try, right?”

“This could end badly, right?”

“Probably could. But I don’t think it will. I’m fairly certain I know how to do this.”

“Or so we can hope.”

“Shut up and let me concentrate. Otherwise, you might end up a bird forever.”

Jake is silent. I close my eyes. For me, the transformation is easy. I’ve flitted from human to falcon so many times in the last two days. I try to capture the feeling of weightlessness that engulfs me as I change. Rather than filling myself with it, I direct the power towards Jake.

I hear a shout of alarm. It quickly becomes a squawk. When I open my eyes, Jake has been replaced by a peregrine falcon. He looks much the same as I do when I’m a bird, but his feathers are slightly lighter.

How did you do that?

I hear his birdcalls. They translate themselves into English in my head. “Lucky guess work,” I answer. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to understand me once I’m a bird, but I can still understand you.”

Hurry up and turn. I’m itching to fly. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try.

It takes no time at all to change my own shape. I flap my wings at Jake, squawking. He seems to be able to figure out what I’m saying, though I’m not sure how clearly my words come to him. Bird thoughts, even human thoughts transferred by a bird, are much less complex.

I flap up into the air. Jake follows me. I let him dive and spin for a while before I corral him to my side. I’m eager to head off. I want to be home. I want to recue my family as soon as I can.

Most of all, I want to tan a royal hide.

We circle into the air together, flying higher and higher. I spin on a wingtip. Jake flaps up next to me. If birds can wink, then he does. I squawk back at him. Below, I see Neverard carrying Wren and Avaysia towards a new life. I glimpse silver among the leaves. Maybe it’s Nyra, sleeping in a tree.

Jake flies past me, climbing as high as he can. I follow. When we reach the apex, we tuck our wings and dive. We race towards the earth, spiraling around one another. At the very last second, we snap out our wings and rise up again.

I can practically hear Jake laughing. I realize that I’m not the only one finally freed. He is, too. I loop around him one last time, feeling the breeze on my face.

Then together, we set our sights for home.

The End