All's Fairy in Love and War (Avalon: Web of Magic #8) (5 page)

K
ARA FOLLOWED QUEEN
Selinda, King Oriel, and Tangoo along a path surrounded by bright wildflowers. The path wound through the gardens, leading to the fairy stables.

It was a large rectangular building created from living trees. What looked like giant oaks stood at each corner of the stable, their branches interweaving like logs to form the walls. Inside, rows of stalls lined the corridor, each gleaming with golden bark and lush leaves in countless shades of green.

The Fairy Queen led Kara to a beautiful stall made of glossy green ivy and daisies. Inside, a pale green horse with bright flowers in her lustrous mane stuck her head over the half-door and nuzzled the queen’s face lovingly.

“This is Gaia, an Earth Elemental Horse,” the Fairy Queen said, laughing as the mare turned curious azure eyes to Kara.

“Welcome, blazing star.”

Kara smiled and petted Gaia. The animal’s strong magic was warm and pure. She instantly felt a little better. Everyone had acted like this was going to be such a big deal, but she could totally ride this nice horse. Lyra was going to be saved even sooner than she’d hoped.

“Should I just ride her now?” Kara asked.

Selinda shook her head. “Gaia is my horse. Elemental horses only bond with one rider.”

“Oh.” Kara was a little disappointed, but there were probably pretty horses just like Gaia in the other stalls.

King Oriel reached into a stall of gleaming crystal to pet a powerfully built silvery blue horse. “This is Frost, a Water Elemental Horse. We’ve been bonded since I was a child.”

“The blazing star will make a strong rider.”
Frost’s sapphire eyes regarded her thoughtfully.

Kara smiled, and then frowned. Frost was bonded to the Fairy King. She wasn’t going to be riding him, either. Where was
her
elemental horse?

Boom!

A huge blast shook the corridor, followed immediately by loud cries and snorting from somewhere outside the stables.

Queen Selinda walked straight toward the commotion, leaving the stables through the rear doorway.

Kara followed. Out back, a dark and ominous cage stood isolated from the other structures. Kara couldn’t tell exactly what the structure was made of, but it looked like black metal. It was completely enclosed except for a small window set in the front door.

Tall fairies standing guard yelped as a jet of fire erupted from the open window.

Goldie quivered and grabbed a talon full of Kara’s hair to hide behind.

Whatever was in there was angry. Best to keep away from that one, she thought.

The door buckled as something slammed into it from inside. An eye, wide with terror, appeared in the small window. Kara felt a jagged bolt of fire rip through her body, as if her blood were boiling. She gasped, feeling her magic swirling inside, climbing to a fever pitch—it felt like it was going to explode!

Then in an instant it vanished. The window was empty.

“What’s in there?” Kara asked breathlessly. “A manticore?”

Tangoo grinned proudly. “This, Princess Kara, is
your
horse!”

T
HE STONEHILL MIDDLE
School auditorium buzzed with activity. Backstage, it was jammed with costumed students preparing for dress rehearsal. It wasn’t going to be easy for Emily and Adriane to find their runaway hobgoblin. Offering magical assistance, Fred and Fiona popped their little heads out of Emily’s backpack, scanning the scene with brightly swirling jeweled eyes.

“Anything?” the red-haired mage asked the minis.

“Nope.”

“Double nope.”

“Our fairies are here,” Adriane noted dryly, pointing to center stage.

Molly, Heather, and Tiffany were putting finishing touches on the Fairy Ring set. It was decorated with bright silk flowers and paper-mache toadstools, with a backdrop of painted forest trees.

“Wassup?” Joey—the real Joey—approached, carrying a box of light bulbs. He smiled broadly at Adriane. “Good call on the bulbs—the ones I was using were way too low wattage.”

“Cool,” the warrior answered, still scanning the auditorium. She stepped aside as four boys lugged a large prop tree on stage. “You haven’t seen Kyle, have you?”

“Kyle?” Joey frowned. “Not yet.”

“What foul news!” someone cried in a loud, grating voice. “Our Fairy Queen hath fallen ill! We cannot read this scene without Queen Titania!”

Incoming: Rae Windor, student director of the play. She glared at the mages, irritation blazing in her steely eyes.

“Alack, poor Kara,” Emily called out.

Rae grasped her frizzy brown hair and scowled at Joey. “Whither wander you? You’re playing Puck and you’re onstage in five minutes! Get ready!”

Joey shrugged. “I gotta change. See you guys later.” He hurried off stage right—just as Kyle emerged from stage left with Musso.

The hobgoblin’s eyes widened as he took in the scenery. “A Fairy Ring!”

“Hark! Shall I compare thee to a brick outhouse?” Kyle quoted from his Shakespeare insults book.

Rae glowered. “That is so not hilarious.”

“Sure it is. Right, Joey?” Kyle asked the hobgoblin.

Rae’s eye’s widened. “Forsooth! That’s the fastest costume change I’ve ever seen. You’ll make a perfect Puck.”

A fairy rushed across the stage. “Have you the heard news about the Fairy Queen?”

“Everyone’s heard,” a girl dressed in a toga chimed in dramatically. “She is deathly ill.”

“The queen is sick?” cried the hobgoblin. “This is terrible news! Not with the fairy wars brewing!”

Adriane and Emily needed to run interference. Fast. They hurried over. “
Joey,
could we speak to you for a minute, alone?” Adriane asked.

Kyle stepped back, grinning. “Don’t let me get in the way of true love, Romeo. Break a leg.”

“Break your own leg!” Musso grumbled angrily.

Rae grabbed Musso. “Joey, stand in for the Fairy Queen in this scene.”

Musso flailed as Rae dragged him onstage. “But it’s illegal to impersonate royalty! I’ll be turned into a flobbin!”

Emily and Adriane tried to snatch Musso back, but Rae raised her hand imperiously. “Only actors onstage! Places everyone.” She clapped, herding Molly, Tiffany, and Heather. “Mustardseed, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, into position.”

“Where’s Nick Bottom?” Rae looked around as she pushed Musso to center stage.

“Ready, milady.” Adam, a friend of Kyle’s, was playing the role of Nick Bottom, the character who turns into a donkey after a spell is cast on him. He stopped next to the mages. “I heard Kara has some rare disease.”

“Oh, great.” Adriane rolled her eyes.

“What Fairy Ring is this?” Musso gaped as he stepped onto the fake flowerbed. “Where’s the magic mirror?”

“Stick to the script!” Rae yelled. She gestured to another boy standing offstage. “King Oberon, front and center! Okay, now this is your big scene, where you cast a love spell on Queen Titania. And when Nick Bottom comes out, he’d better be wearing his donkey costume. Got it? And… action!”

Marcus, a cute guy dressed in the flowing robes of a fairy king, adjusted his golden crown and stepped onstage.

Musso yelped, diving face first while grabbing the boy’s legs. “Oh great Fairy King,” the hobgoblin groveled. “I have traveled the web and found the Fairy Princess.”

“Hey man, take it easy, Joey!” Marcus hopped up and down, trying to shake Musso loose.

Rae got frantic. “Peoples! Stop adlibbing!” She shoved Musso facedown into the bed of silk flowers. “Stay there and don’t move!”

Musso lay in the flowerbed, eyes darting left and right. “The Fairy Ring has been infiltrated,” he mumbled.

Marcus cleared his throat and read his lines in a loud, clear voice.

Musso dug frantically in his spell utility belt. “I must protect the Fairy Ring!”

Musso held out a small, round vial. It glowed briefly.

“What’s he doing?” Adriane asked, startled as her wolf stone pulsed, signaling danger.

“He’s using some kind of magic!” Emily exclaimed.

“The fairies will reward me generously for dealing with spies!” Musso cried out.

Musso lobbed the glowing green orb at Marcus. “I’ll show you a vile thing!”

Racing over from the wings, Adriane and Emily swung their fists up. Glimmering gold and blue light streamed toward the stage, shielding the unsuspecting Marcus from whatever Musso’s spell was about to do.

With a
twink
, the green spell ricocheted off the mages’ shield and flew offstage.

“Very cool lighting, Joey,” Marcus gave him props. “Really rad.”

“That was close,” Emily said, letting out a breath as the shield faded.

Poof!

A flash of green light erupted off stage.

“Uh-oh.” Adriane grimaced.

“Okay, Nick Bottom, you’re on!” Rae ordered.

“Hee-Haw!”

A loud donkey bray echoed throughout the auditorium, making everyone jump. Adam stumbled onstage, tugging at the ears on his donkey-head costume.

“Excellent!” Rae said. “And… action!”

“Hee-Hawww!” Adam tried to read a line, stumbled across the set, tripped over Musso and flew backstage next to Adriane and Emily.

“Adam, are you okay?” Adriane asked.

“Never better, why?” he scratched his ears and continued to read his lines. “‘I see their knavery.’”

Adriane tried to pull off his mask. It wouldn’t budge.

“Hee-HaW!” Brown fur covered Adam’s shoulders and arms.

“Musso’s spell!” Emily’s hand flew to her mouth as she watched Adam’s tail swish behind him.

“It turned Adam into a real donkey!” Adriane cried.

K
ARA WATCHED ANXIOUSLY
as the black iron cage was pushed into the riding arena on huge rollers. Rocky walls several stories high circled the stadium. The bleachers were filling fast with the kings and queens of the Fairy Realms and their entourages.

“Everyone will be perfectly safe when the shield goes up,” Oriel reassured Kara.

Safe from a horse? She bit her lip. “What kind of horse is this?”

“He is a fire stallion,” Tangoo replied proudly. “One of a kind, forged from the very heart of elemental fire magic.”

“A perfect match for the blazing star!” The fairy king beamed.

“Do not worry, Princess,” Queen Selinda murmured. “The stallion cannot get out.”

“Neither can I,” observed Kara.

“I have faith in you,” the queen said as she gracefully headed toward her seat.

As the guards placed the glimmering cage and its angry occupant into the center of the arena, Kara thought about the Firemental that had once paid her a visit in the Ravenswood Library. Composed of free-flowing elemental magic, the creature was dangerous and unstable, but it had helped her. How she wished she were back in the warmth of that room now, safe with her friends.

She looked to the brave little dragonfly on her shoulder. “Goldie, I want you to leave—”

“Stay with Kaaraa!” the dragonfly protested, gripping Kara’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” Kara said softly, petting the mini’s head. She was grateful for all the magical help she could get. In fact… “Goldie, can you call Fiona?” Kara asked. She held her jewel tightly. “I need to talk to Emily, and fast!”

“Okeee-dokee.” Goldie curled close to Kara’s ear, softly squeaking a series of beeps. “Kaaraa for Emeee,” the mini whispered.

Kara heard an answering peep.

“Hello?” Kara said tentatively.

“Kara?” Emily’s voice floated near Kara’s ear, surprised and relieved.

The blazing star jumped. “Emily, it’s me!” Kara whispered into Goldie’s yellow belly.

“Are you okay?” Emily asked.

Kara fought back tears. “No! I turned Lyra into a quicksilver statue and she’s melting!”

“Oh no!” the healer’s voice echoed with concern.

“I don’t have much time. I have to bond with an elemental horse to save Lyra,” Kara explained hurriedly. “What should I do?”

“Deep breath, Kara,” Emily urged her friend. “Magical animals love you. You’ve already bonded with Lyra, the dragonflies—not to mention half the unicorn population.”

The fire horse snorted and kicked wildly inside his cage. Kara gasped for air. “That’s different.”

“No, it’s not,” Emily continued, calm but firm. “Trust is everything. Open yourself. Feel what the horse is feeling.”

Kara let out a long breath. “Okay.”

“Kara, we’ll get you home! Don’t panic—”

“Good luck, Princess. You’ll need it!” the guards yelled, fleeing the arena.

Sparkling beams crisscrossed the air, forming a glittering dome that enclosed the arena. It was some kind of forcefield trapping the horse inside. And Kara with it.

“Emily!” Kara cried urgently, but the connection to her friend was lost.

With a violent flash, the front of the black cage fell away.

“Ahhh!” Goldie dove behind Kara, who staggered as a wave of intense heat blasted from the open cage. Something seared through her, piercing her mind, burning away any resistance she could offer. Then a wave of power broke over her, pulling her down as if she were caught in a riptide.

A blur of bright orange surged from the stall and flew across the sand. Choking, her eyes watering, Kara squinted through clouds of dust and smoke.

Behind the shield, the crowd surged to its feet, awed by the sight of the powerful creature.

He was huge—almost twenty hands high. Blazing plumes of flame swirled from his body. He snorted, and smoke billowed from flared nostrils. Hooves of molten lava pawed the sand; strong legs nervously danced. His crackling mane and tail thrashed fire. Kara struggled for breath. She had seen many magical creatures, but the thing standing before her was beyond her wildest dreams.

The horse was made entirely of fire.

The stallion’s wild eyes, smoldering like golden coals, turned—and caught Kara in an iron grip of power. She stumbled forward as diamond magic erupted from her jewel, running up her arms and swirling around her body.

Goldie clung to Kara’s neck, talons digging into skin.

Kara hadn’t meant to retaliate, but her magic tore across the sand and slammed into the stallion. Rearing in defiance, fire exploded from his body. Searing heat practically singed Kara’s hair as the creature towered above her and Goldie.

“I’m sorry,” she cried to the stallion. “I can’t stop it!”

A second bolt from Kara exploded like fireworks, sending the stallion staggering back.

With all her might, Kara willed her jewel to stop.

“Nice horsie,” she croaked, clinging to Emily’s advice. Open yourself. Kara stepped forward.

The horse reared back.

“Stay away from me!”
the stallion’s voice roared through Kara’s mind.

She felt the sheer force of the horse’s anger surging through her own body. The stallion raced around the perimeter in a blur of reds and orange.

This is good, she told herself, trying to calm her mounting terror. Any breakthrough is good.

Grasping her unicorn jewel tight, she thought of Lyra. Kara always felt so protected, so safe, when her friend was near. Gathering her courage, she advanced toward the horse.

He snorted and backed away, stirring trails of scorched earth.

“I know you don’t trust anyone,” Kara said soothingly, willing the stallion to feel the friendship she was offering. She pleaded with all her heart. “But my friend is hurt, and if I don’t ride you, she is going to die.”

The horse held steady; he did not back away this time.

Encouraged, she took a step closer.

“I am fire!”
the horse thundered.

The unicorn jewel flared white-hot in her hands as a whirlwind of feelings bore into her like a drill. Hopelessness, fury, confusion, pain, and overwhelming sadness.

“I run alone!”

Trails of fire streaming from his mane, hooves, and tail, the horse charged straight toward her.

The crowd broke out in pandemonium, yelling in fear for the girl.

Before Kara could think, the stallion was on her. She screamed, and diamond fire shot from the unicorn jewel, slamming into the horse with the force of a cannon. The horse fell headfirst, sending dust and debris flying as it dug a smoking trench into the ground.

“I’m sorry!” the blazing star cried, tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face as the horse staggered to his feet.

Somewhere through the buzzing in her ears, she heard the crowd panicking.

“That’s enough!”

“Get her out of there!”

“She’ll be killed!”

Guards were running toward them, long spears with sparkling blue tips held high.

“No!” Kara screamed. “Leave him alone!” She reeled, half-blinded as the magic swelled inside her. She struggled to separate her feelings from the stallion’s but he bore down harder, overwhelming her. Kara’s heart threatened to break apart as the horse’s despair filled her being. She
was
the stallion, trapped, desperate, and alone.

More than anything, she wanted to be free.

Kara’s eyes locked onto the stallion’s. The truth hit her.

The stallion couldn’t control his immense power—just as she could not control hers.

The unicorn jewel erupted in an explosion of blinding colors.

“Stop! Please!” she cried out. But the magic kept flowing, stronger and stronger, as if there were no end to the ocean of power within her. Kara swooned, terrified. Without Emily and Adriane at her side, she was losing herself.

Through the crystal haze, the stallion’s burning eyes locked on hers.

“I am fire!”

“I am fire!”

Raging, Kara flung her arms wide and let the magic go.

The shield exploded in splinters of light, disintegrating as horrified onlookers scrambled from the bleachers.

The fire stallion leaped to freedom, careening over the fleeing crowd in a single bound. Like a flash of lightning, the horse vanished.

The last thing Kara realized before she blacked out was that she was laying on the ground, Goldie circling overhead frantically calling out her name.