“Everything is going to be great!” Prue tucks us into the pumpkin coach taking us to Royal Academy. “Just listen to your kobolds this time!”
“I’ll say,” Kira says, getting settled in my ear canal. “I thought we were toast last time.”
“And if we lose contact, don’t try to be a hero. Get out of there.” Prue wands her mini magic mirror in front of her. “I have no idea how long this connection will hold up. If you lose me, just remember: swap out one of the jewels in the largest mirror in Olivina’s office for this one, and I should be able to tap into the feed.” She pulls an ordinary-looking pink jewel from her witch’s cape. “Whatever you do, don’t lose this. It was extremely hard to create.”
I extend one gloved hand to take the jewel, then stash it safely in my pocket. Then I pull out the small compact Prue gave me earlier and open it to make sure it still works. My RA lady-in-waiting’s smiling face stares back at me. “Hi, Brynn. Are we still good?”
“Yes, miss!” Her sweet voice comes through loud and clear. She adjusts her white cap and looks around before speaking further. “Make sure you land in the meadow outside the pumpkin patch, and I’ll be there to let you all in through the kitchen. No one will be in there this evening.”
Prue truly is a genius. Not only did she make that carriage and create the jewel that should let us spy on Olivina, but her mini compact has allowed us to converse with Brynn inside Royal Academy all week. While Corden sewed, and the rest of us plotted, Prue and Brynn made sure we knew exactly what was going on inside the school. Thanks to Brynn, we’ve scored an official invitation for Princess Scarlet from the kingdom of Lancaster, who is considering transferring to Royal Academy. Brynn slipped the princess’s transfer papers and a dossier on Scarlet’s “highly promising pedigree” into Hazel Crooksen’s clipboard. Olivina was so excited at the prospect of her new student that she handwrote Scarlet’s invitation personally. We’ve been working really hard to have everything ready in time for tonight.
Raina has made the biggest comeback.
All week, she’s refused to sit down in front of the mirrors for fear she’ll be sucked back in. Instead, she’s been advising Corden on the latest RA fashion trends and even helped him sew the costumes.
When it came time to figure out who should be our “Princess Scarlet,” Tara was worried Olivina would spot her from a mile away. Raina was nervous she’d screw up, and I didn’t think I was the best choice either, so we agreed it should be Sasha. Raina has been filling her in on everything going on at school (that she’s learned from the mirror). Now Sasha can speak intelligently on various topics such as the art of sitting like a lady and how to politely excuse herself from a conversation. I’ll admit that last one could be helpful.
I turn back to the pink compact and talk to Brynn. “When the coach gets onto the grounds of RA, Tara and I will make our way to the castle where we’ll meet you. In the meantime, the coach will take Sasha and Heath—I mean Princess Scarlet and Prince Edgar—to the front of the castle to join the processional.” We’ve gone over the plan a million times, but I’m still anxious. What if we get caught? What if we can’t get into Olivina’s office?
Brynn’s smile eases my worries for the moment. “I remember, miss! It will be lovely to see you again.” Her smile fades. “You have no idea how awful it is being Clarissa’s lady-in-waiting. She expects nightly foot rubs because she insists on wearing five-inch glass heels all day.” She leans closer into the mirror. “And her feet smell.”
This makes me giggle.
“Okay, enough chatting. Let’s go already,” Tara says as she climbs into the carriage next to me. She’s unrecognizable in an ivory gown glittering with small, crystal beans and long, black hair that she dyed with a vegetable rinse Corden made. Corden wanted us all to blend rather than stand out, so he said he didn’t go overboard, but I’d say he outdid himself.
“See you soon. And thank you,” I tell Brynn. I tuck Lily into my pocket even though she’s getting too big for it. She’s grown so much now that she’s spending so much time outdoors. Then I adjust my wig (I’m now a redhead), and climb in after Tara, being careful not to rip any of the feathers on my skirt.
Heath, Logan, and Sasha are already waiting in the carriage. Sasha is wearing a bright-green gown that looks lovely with her newly light-brown hair. Heath and Logan have on double-breasted ivory jackets and royal-blue pants that are tucked into over-the-knee black boots. Swords, which I hope we won’t have to use, hang from sheaths at their waists.
“Don’t forget me!” Raina yells before stepping into the coach. We all inhale sharply. She looks splendid in a pale-blue gown that is embroidered with every color of the rainbow. The stitches swirl in an iridescent sheen that travels up to her hair, which is now curly blond and held back by a feather headband that matches her mask.
“You look unrecognizable,” I marvel.
“I know!” She can’t suppress her glee. “I love it. It’s so freeing not being me! And, you’re so right about this, Devin.” She lifts her skirt to reveal purple polka-dot pants underneath. Sasha, Tara, and I have the same ones. “Pants make dresses so much more comfortable! How have I never tried them before?”
Ready to go, Devin? asks the Pegasus at the helm. Nigel was able to talk to the Pegasi at the Royal Academy stables, and there were two (Boxer and Ronald) that have a beef with Olivina and were happy to give us an assist.
“Yes, take it away, boys!” I neigh back, gripping the seat in nervous excitement.
The coach begins to bounce along, and in seconds we’re taking off into the sky. I look out the window and see Prue and Corden waving from the tree house. We are officially on our way! I turn to the others to find Tara looking green.
“It’s going to be all right,” I tell her. “We’ll keep each other safe.”
Tara sighs. “That’s what you think.”
Sasha unfurls the action-plan scroll in front of her. “Let’s go over this one more time. The coach drops us off near the pumpkin patch, where Brynn will sneak us in a back way. Then it takes off and brings Heath and me to the front where we will be presented to Olivina. The voice changer Corden built into our costumes will make sure no one recognizes us. I am Scarlet, an exchange student hoping to attend RA because I’ve heard great things about Olivina, blah, blah, blah.”
Heath turns to the rest of us. “When we get inside, we fan out. Logan will find out when Olivina is going to be arriving at the party. Don’t get distracted by what’s happening in the kitchen, just find out when her office will be empty. Then have your kobold let our kobolds know. We’ll blend in with the party till the coast is clear, then make our way to the office to plant the jewel. Once it’s attached to the mirror, we make our way back to the rendezvous point by the kitchen, and then we are out of here. Got it?”
“I don’t think I should have come,” Tara says quietly. “I’m going to give us away.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Corden and Prue have thought of everything!” Logan plays with the scarf tied around his neck. “Even I’m not too worried about being recognized. It’s not like many people talked to me at school the first time around anyway.”
“You don’t get it,” Tara starts to say, but stops herself when she sees my compact is glowing.
I open it up and see Brynn again. “Coast is clear!” she says. “The sooner you get here, the better.”
“I think we’re getting close,” I spy the castle’s turrets through the carriage windows. “Kira?” I ask my kobold. “Check with Prue to see if it’s time for the descent.”
I hear a lot of neighing coming from the front of the carriage and wonder what’s going on. Our coach hits a few air bumps, and we bounce around for a moment, then level out.
“Prue says it’s time!” Kira’s voice is so loud over the wind that I hold my ears. “Descend! Descend fast! Now! Now! Now!”
I hear frantic neighing again, and the carriage bounces around some more, dropping slowly.
“What’s going on?” Logan shouts. “Is this normal?”
I try to lean out of the carriage to talk to the Pegasi, but another bounce sends me flying backward into Heath. The carriage starts to drop rapidly.
“We’re going too fast!” he shouts over the commotion. The Pegasi neighs have grown louder. Raina clings to Heath’s arm while I hang on to the other. Sasha, Tara, and Logan are hanging on to the other side of the carriage for dear life. I look out the window and see the ground approaching at alarming speed. We’re moving so quickly, I can’t get to the carriage window to even try to talk to the Pegasi and help them.
“We’re coming in too fast!” Heath yells. “We’re going to crash!” Raina closes her eyes tight.
I’m about to do the same when I see Tara pull a sterling silver wand out of a pleat in her dress skirt. It’s green and black and has scrollwork I’ve never seen before. She pulls herself up as the carriage picks up speed. “Suspendanair!” she shouts, and there is a sudden flash. The carriage begins to slow down, but we’re still so close to the ground, I don’t know if it will help us avoid a crash.
“Brace yourselves!” Sasha shouts as we hold on to loose vines inside the coach. Logan wraps one around his waist.
BOOM! The coach bumps down onto the ground, tossing us around before coming to a stop in the meadow.
I jump out of the carriage to check on the Pegasi. Thankfully they are standing upright and look unhurt, if not a little rattled. I quickly untie them from the carriage.
“Boxer! Ronald! Are you okay?” I neigh. “What happened?”
It’s Ronald, Devin. I think he has a bit of food poisoning. It made him ill, and he lost control of the carriage. He nudges the other Pegasus. I told you that romaine lettuce looked rancid!
I’m so dizzy! Boxer says. I need to stay still for a bit. Is everyone all right? I’m so sorry, Devinaria.
“We’re okay,” I tell him. “You stay still.” Well, at least it wasn’t Olivina this time. I feel guilty for checking on the animals first, so I run back to the carriage. “Everyone inside all right?”
Logan and Raina untangle themselves from their vines and emerge from the carriage along with Tara. Sasha, however, doesn’t look good.
She’s got a bruise on her forehead, and her eyes look dazed. “I feel dizzy. But I’ll be all right. Let’s go.” She tries to walk and starts to fall. Heath catches her.
“Okay, you’re not going anywhere. You stay here with the Pegasi,” I say.
“But…” Sasha holds her head. “I…”
“No buts,” I tell her.
“Do you think it’s a good idea for her to stay here alone?” Logan sounds worried. “She could be captured.” He thinks for a moment. “I’ll stay with her.”
I raise an eyebrow and look at Heath.
“Are you sure?” Heath asks.
“I am,” Logan says, sounding surprised himself. “Just don’t leave us behind, okay?”
“Never,” I promise. “We’ll come back for you or send word to Prue to get you out of here.”
“The only question is: Who is going to be Princess Scarlet now?” Logan frowns and looks from me to Tara.
“It can’t be me,” Tara insists. “It just can’t.”
“I’ll do it.”
We turn and look at Raina in surprise.
“I know Royal Academy protocol better than any of us,” Raina says. “Plus, I schooled Sasha on her fake backstory and everything going on at school. I know Princess Scarlet better than anyone. I can do it.”
I love Raina, but she’s not the best under pressure. We all know what happened last time she got in front of Olivina.
“Please let me do this,” Raina says as if she can hear my thoughts. I don’t mention the vine that is currently tangled in her tiara. “I know I can do it, and I want to help.” She finds the vine and yanks it out, tilting her tiara.
And somehow I believe her. “I believe you.”
“So do I,” Heath says with a smile. “Although it feels kind of odd to be your escort.”
“Tell me about it.” She takes her brother’s arm.
We can get them the rest of the way to the front of the castle, Devinaria! Ronald neighs. We promised we’d get them to the entrance, and we will. We can even do it on land.
“Thank you,” I tell them and look at the others. “They said they can take Heath and Raina.”
“But now you only have you and Tara to distract Olivina,” Sasha says, her voice weak.
“We will be fine. You just rest,” I say with false cheer and smile at Tara. Royal Academy is visible in the distance. It shouldn’t be too far of a hike. “I guess we should start walking.” I take a step forward and feel my foot slip on something hard. I reach down and pick it up. It’s Tara’s wand.
“I’ll take that,” she says. She drops it into the folds of her skirt again. “Might come in handy.”
“Yes,” I say. “It might.”
I don’t mention the letter O I saw engraved in the silver handle.